Page 79 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

Louise went back inside, hearing her father’s angry footsteps retreating into the garden.

She rejoined the group, feeling Christian’s eyes on her the entire time, but she avoided looking at him.

“Where is your father?” her mother asked, looking at the terrace in surprise.

“He left, Mama.”

“Left?” Lady Northbridge echoed, furrowing her brow.

“I believe he had some business to attend to,” Louise offered, acutely aware of Christian’s eyes boring into her. “Urgent business.”

Lady Northbridge shifted in her seat, appearing uncomfortable suddenly as she cleared her throat. She looked over at Christian, her hands clenching into fists in her lap.

“I see. Well, I would not wish to be here without my husband. Your Grace, I can only apologize for him leaving without bidding you farewell. I am sure he had a good reason.”

Christian’s expression was nonchalant, but he nodded his head at her respectfully.

Marcus leaned forward in his chair and carefully handed Jack to Louise. “I would be happy to escort you home, Lady Northbridge,” he offered solemnly.

“Oh, there is no need, Lord Marcus. But I am most grateful for the offer. It is not far, and I shall enjoy the walk.”

“I insist,” Marcus said, standing up.

Lady Northbridge looked rather startled by his persistence, but her shoulders did relax, and she sighed. “Very well then.”

Christian rose too, and the whole party showed the Countess to the door.

As they stood in the entryway, Lady Northbridge turned to Louise and pulled her into her arms. “It was lovely to see you, as always,” she said earnestly.

Christian was murmuring something to his brother, his voice too low for either of them to hear, but as their attention was elsewhere, Lady Northbridge leveled Louise with a sharp look.

“Will you allow me to visit you without your father, dearest? I do not want us to become estranged because of the… bad blood between them.”

“Of course, Mama. You are always welcome in our home. I hope you know that.”

Lady Northbridge smiled gratefully and gave a single nod before Marcus offered her his arm and they walked out into the chilly air.

Louise watched them go, her mother’s youthful gait reminding her once again of how much she had sacrificed for her father and how little he seemed to appreciate it.

“What is it?” Christian asked tersely as soon as they were out of earshot. “You came back inside as white as a sheet. What did your father say to you?”

Louise shook her head, her eyes lingering on Marcus and her mother. “Let us return to the drawing room. I do not wish to speak about it here.”

Christian looked as though he wanted to insist, but as she walked away, he followed her back into the room.

As Louise listened to the gentle bustle of the staff below stairs, she mulled over how much her life had changed in so short a time.

A week ago, if anyone had asked me if I would defend my husband against my father, I would have laughed at them. And now here I am, protecting him above all else.

Once they had returned to the bright drawing room, Louise looked around the floor for Jack. She had placed him on a chair before they left the room, and now he was lying beside the fire, his belly to the flames, his paws splayed out happily.

Louise turned back to Christian, who closed the door rather defiantly and crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at her. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, uncertain how to begin the conversation.

My father has insulted Christian in every manner imaginable. It is a question of which offense to reveal first.

“What did the Earl say?” Christian demanded.

“You must promise not to be angry.”

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