Page 69 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

Christian looked around him in frustration. There seemed to be twice the number of trees he could recall and far too many places for couples to be seen and not heard. His agitation was growing, and he was desperate to find his wife.

Gabriel looked unfairly put together, looking around them with a steady eye. They were drawing a fair amount of attention, and Christian was once again relieved that he was married. He would definitely have to buy Gabriel that bottle of whisky he had demanded—there were already a number of ladies looking curiously in their direction.

“There!” Gabriel said suddenly. “By the lake.”

Christian turned to look, and his heart kicked against his ribs as he recognized Louise’s curvaceous figure and his brother’s thin form beside the water’s edge.

He set off at a fast pace while keeping her in sight, and Gabriel had to jog to keep up with him. As they approached them, Christian’s blood began to boil at the way she easily laughed with his brother. Her eyes were focused on Marcus, and he could hear her speaking about her book with great enthusiasm.

“And just as I promised, you shall be the first person to see it,” she said, looking up at Marcus admiringly.

Marcus grinned, his white teeth flashing, looking unfairly handsome despite his poor health. “I am truly privileged, in that case.”

Privileged and in a position that is superior to her own husband’s!

“Indeed,” Christian bit out, his temper rising. “You arevery muchprivileged, it would seem.”

Louise and Marcus turned toward him in surprise, and two things happened simultaneously—Louise’s eyes flashed with anger, and Marcus rolled his eyes, which only made Christian’s irritation spike all the more.

“Christian!” Louise gasped in surprise, before curtsying to Gabriel, who bowed in return. “Duke,” she said easily. “I did not know I would be seeing you both today.”

Her eyes darted from Christian to Gabriel and back again, and Christian tried to keep his face as blank as possible.

You are a fool to have come here. What did you expect to happen as a result? You simply look infatuated.

Gabriel bowed before stepping forward and extending his hand toward Marcus. “Lord Marcus, I cannot tell you how glad I am tosee you among us again.” His voice, which was often cold, held an unfamiliar timbre.

Marcus smiled at him warmly as the two men shook hands.

“I am most pleased to see you well and returned to the bosom of your family,” Gabriel added.

Marcus nodded. “I, too, am glad to be home, Your Grace. Has Orions fallen apart in my absence?”

“Very much so,” Gabriel joked. “I have several documents that I need you to review. We cannot be trusted with anything.”

Marcus snorted. “I am looking forward to returning as soon as I can. I have missed the place.”

“Youhavebeen missed,” Gabriel said. “Ensure that you are fully recovered before coming back.”

Then, he stepped aside, the affection and kindness in his expression fading away as his usual strict mask slid back on.

“I did not know you were coming to the park today, husband,” Louise said, her expression cold.

“No. I had not intended it, but Gabriel insisted that he needed some exercise,” Christian answered blithely.

Gabriel made a noise in the back of his throat at that.

“Well then,” Louise said icily, “we should make sure that he gets some.”

With that, she held out her arm to Christian, and he took it without question.

They walked a little way ahead of Gabriel and Marcus as the two men began to converse about Marcus’s absence and how things had been at the club.

“You are being ridiculous,” Louise hissed, perfectly summing up Christian’s feelings about himself and triggering his anger all the same.

“Of what are you speaking? Is it so unusual for a man to wish to spend time with his wife?”

“It is unusual for him to follow her when she is spending time with hisbrother. I have told you there is nothing between us. Do you not believe me? Considering that this marriage is nothing more than a convenient arrangement, I am amazed you are here at all.”

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