Page 40 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

“Ha! You should spend some time with the women in my circle, Your Grace. I can assure you, your reputation is deemed a triumph, not something to be derided.”

Louise searched Charlotte’s face for any hint of sarcasm. “Is that so?”

“Absolutely. Men will always be horrified when a woman defends herself. I thought it was marvelous.”

“I did break his nose.”

“Yes, and seeing as Lord Fortescue enjoys looking down it so much, I hope it has made his entire perspective crooked.”

Louise was laughing so hard now. She had not interacted with the Duke of Stonewell often, but his sister seemed to be the absolute opposite of him—she lit up the room.

The two ladies settled in their chairs, and Charlotte eyed Louise’s glass.

“Is that sherry? What an excellent idea.” She called over a waiter to order herself a glass and then sat back in her chair, studying Louise with some interest. “If you don’t mind my asking, what is being married to the Duke of Egerton like? I have known him for some time.”

“And…?”

“Oh, Christian is one of my favorite people in the world, but I would not wish to be married to him.” Charlotte paused, swallowing hard. “Not to say… Sorry, that was rather crass.”

Louise chuckled. “Not at all. It is rather refreshing to hear another lady speak her mind. It has been… interesting, so far. I suppose you know the circumstances of our marriage?”

“A little. But it is not my business. My brother says you are terribly sensible and will straighten Christian right out—and he is rarely wrong.”

Louise hesitated, strangely touched by those words. “Thank you… I think.”

“Mustyou make a nuisance of yourself in my club?”

Louise turned to see Christian striding into the room. His hair looked less perfect than usual, a lock falling over his forehead. She stared at it, a surprising pulse of heat rushing through her.

I wonder what he is truly like when that cold, prim façade falls away and he allows himself to let loose.

But then what he had just said registered, and her irritation flared.

“I have not been making anuisanceof myself,” she said icily. “I have been explaining to the members of your club why they are not permitted to ridicule me.”

Christian’s eyes narrowed. “Ridicule you?”

“Yes, me and my father.”

Christian glanced at the door, his face darkening. “Who were they?” he barked.

“It is clearly no matter, considering I was making anuisanceof myself.”

“Good evening, Christian,” Charlotte said hastily, looking between them with deep amusement. “I very much approve of your wife.”

Christian turned to her with such irritation on his face that Louise recoiled at it, but Charlotte simply met his gaze with a wan smile.

“Excuse me, Charlotte, I would like to have a word with mywife.”

And without any warning, he gripped Louise’s arm and dragged her out of the room.

“Let go of me this instant,” Louise protested as Christian led her through the club.

He avoided overly occupied rooms, finally veering down a narrow corridor and toward a private room. It was a room that he and Gabriel had used when they first opened the club and needed a place where no one could find them.

He dragged her inside and closed the door behind him.

She wrenched her arm free, huffing. “Is this any way to treat your wife?”

---