Page 44 of The Duke and the Accidental Bride

Something needed to give. Desperate to find out once and for all what Duncan might do if he was pushed to the edge, Isabella decided that she needed to stop waiting for the moment to appear and to just create it herself. And with the Mayfield Ball right around the corner... the timing couldn’t be better.

Chapter Fifteen

Isabella was left speechless.

She stood in the doorway to her bedroom, staring at her bed, unable to comprehend what she was looking at or how she should react. What she shouldfeel.

“Do you like it?” Duncan asked from behind her.

“I... you did not have to --”

“I told you that I would.”

“Still...” She stepped into the room, nervously, as if she was worried to make any sudden movements. “There was no need.”

“I wanted to,” he said as he followed her in.

She shook her head and turned back to face him. Unsurprisingly, he looked rather pleased with himself, aware that he had done a good thing and that it was very appreciated. It was but one of many ‘right things’ that he had done this week, even if this felt more significant than the others.

Isabella had been certain that all the gift giving and compliment paying was false. That Duncan was only doing it to force her into compliance so that she wouldn’t annoy and anger him. The appearance of a happy marriage without any of the excitement.

This time, it felt different.

His delight appeared real. And for the first time this week, Isabella was forced to question if there was more to what was going on here than she had thought.

“It’s for tonight,” he said. “The Mayfield Ball. Our first night out together and I thought it best if you looked your best. A high ceiling to reach, I know,” he added with a chuckle. “But I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“Either do I,” She returned the smile, and this time it felt genuine.

Duncan had bought her a dress for the ball. An elegant gown of emerald and forest green, darker over the body, with a lighter chemise that flowed into a gorgeous skirt. The hemming and stitching were golden, the intricate lace pattern was flowery, and the design was modest with its higher neckline and sleeves, but still tight fitting to show off her curves.

And it wasn’t just the dress that had Isabella gasping. There was jewelry to match. A pair of ruby-encrusted earrings. A silver tiara that looked to have been inlaid with gold. And a necklace that Isabella looked at but did not want to touch because it was such a delicate piece of craftsmanship that she worried she might break it.

“Duncan...” She was back to looking at the ensemble, unable to put into words how she was feeling.

“You like it, then?”

“I love it.”

Tonight was going to be the night that Isabella turned Duncan back against her. With an audience to watch, Isabella had planned on doing just enough to force a confrontation that was sure to set Duncan on fire.And myself, for that matter.

Easier to do when she had convinced herself that she was doing them a favor. That Duncan wanted her to. That he was being purposefully false because he didn’t really mean anything that he said.

The appearance of this dress, and Duncan’s delight at seeing her reaction, brought into question all these so-called truths that Isabella had known as fact until thirty seconds ago. Now, she wasn’t sure what she thought, what she knew, or what she was going to do!

Was it possible that Duncan’s affection was genuine? And that he didn’t want her to force him into the monster whom she was so desperate to finally meet? That hewantedher to behave.

And if that was the case, did that mean he was trying to make something of this marriage? Where all Isabella could think to do was destroy it?

Needless to say, Isabella was more than a little confused. And as she slipped into the dress and put on the jewelry, gasping at how utterly stunning she looked, while blushing to imagine the Duke’s expression when he saw her for the first time in it, she questioned if she should go ahead with her plan tonight. Or if she even still wanted to.

“Have I told you yet how beautiful you look?” Duncan spoke out the side of his mouth as the two walked through the foyer. Beyond, Duncan could hear the ever growing sounds of the Mayfield Ball, so he figured it was best to slip in one final compliment before they became swept up in the festivities.

“You have,” Isabella said, pressing her lips together to keep herself from smiling. “But I suppose once more will not hurt.”

“That is the last time, I swear it,” he said. “I fear that any more and it might go to your head.”

“Oh, Duncan, who is to say that it hasn’t already.”

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