Page 106 of A Virgin for the Ton's Wolf

Scarlett strode into the study, pausing only for a perfunctory knock before she pushed the door open and let herself inside.

“I thought I said that—” Hudson stopped mid-sentence when he saw her. “Scarlett.”

She hoped her saccharine smile was enough to convey her utmost displeasure at being left to her devices the whole day. When his expression remained aloof and neutral, the irritation she had been struggling to keep at bay the whole day erupted.

“You may be able to continue on with your life without needing the company of other human beings, but I am different,” she told him.

“I have never mistaken you for an average woman,” he admitted with a slight hint of a smile—one that almost shattered her resolve.

Scarlett stiffened as she looked him squarely in the eye. “I will be going out with a friend tomorrow.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Which friend, my dear?”

“Would it truly matter to you?” She smiled scathingly.

“Of course, it does.”

“You have given me a fine impression today of how much I matter to you,” she said sarcastically. “Far be it from me to impose myself upon you and your busy schedule,husband.”

The gloves were off now. She could not stand being treated so. Besides, she found it extremely worthwhile to see the slight surprise on his face, the slight tick in his jaw when she reminded him of who he was to her.

“You may keep to your business and other such demands on your time,” she informed him with a defiant tilt of her chin. “AndIshall be enjoying the company of other people.”

And then she turned on her heel before he could say anything else.

For this round, she would claim victory.

The next day, she managed to convince Alice to spare some time away from her son to enjoy the fresh air at the Park. With Evie still in the early stages of pregnancy and Phoebe hard at work on her next book, she was fortunate enough to have the company of her dearest friend.

“You have that glow that tells me married life suits you better than what you feared, dearest.” Alice smiled at her knowingly.

“Oh.” Scarlett blushed. “On that accord, it is not that bad,” she muttered in frustration. “But he is the most baffling creature I have ever encountered. And they say that we women cannot make up our minds!”

Alice smothered her laughter behind a gloved hand. “I see. So, even the Wolf himself cannot escape the pitfalls of the first weeks of marriage.”

“I had thought that the honeymoon period would be the best days of a marriage.” Scarlett pouted. “If this is how it is, then it does not bode well for the rest of our time together, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, it will get better, I assure you.” Alice’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Perhaps Wolverton just needs to… settle into his role a little bit better.”

Oh, he had settled in—and quite nicely at that. Scarlett could not help the heat pooling low in her belly whenever she thought of the one night they had been together. However, the day that followed stole the joy of it more keenly than she would have liked.

“Oh, wise Alice! Teach me your ways!” she begged her friend.

“You wretch! You must not act so childishly this time. We are married women now, and we must maintain our dignity.”

“What dignity are you ladies talking about on such a fine day?”

Scarlett whirled around to find her brother strolling towards her with a tight smile. Beside him, Lord Colton strode at a more sedate pace, but there was a slight furrow in his brow as well.

“None of your business,” she told her brother a little too waspishly.

She was still annoyed with him for the stunt he had pulled on the night of the opera.

“Well, I do have some business with you. Important business,” he told her solemnly. “I meant to catch you at Wolverton Estate, but you were not there when we arrived.”

“We?” She raised an eyebrow. “You mean you and Lord Colton?”

Her brother let out a huff of frustration. “Scarlett, be reasonable for once!” His jaw tightened. “I should never have allowed you to marry that man!”

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