Page 48 of The Unwanted Duchess

CHAPTER 16

In spite of it all, it felt rather brilliant to be leaving London behind.

It had been home for as long as Samantha could remember, but that was only because it was the only place that she had truly been to other than Diana’s household. Not only that, but her place of birth had never truly felt like her home.

Nowhere had.

“So…” she began tentatively, “that was quite something.”

“Quite.”

That was all that her husband said to her, and he did not even turn to look at her to say it. Instead, he continued to look out of the window as if he wished to be anywhere but there.

“Did you not wish to leave yet?” she asked. “I must admit that I did not see too much of you, and I understand if our leaving interrupted your fun.”

“No, I do not miss the wedding.”

“Very well, then.”

It was strange. For all of his quirks, he had never been distant with her. If anything, he had been all too close to her, and though mildly aloof, it had never been to such an extent that she did not know whether she was liked or loathed by him.

Time seemed to crawl on, and even though she knew the household was not too far away, they would need to stop for the night before their arrival. It was, at least, in the direction of Diana’s home. At worst, she would simply have to spend a lot of time there.

“Your Grace, I —”

“Graham,” he said bluntly. “We are married now. I do not like my title as it is, and now that we have a good enough excuse, I shall never want to hear any allusion to it again.”

“As you wish. In that case… Graham, when will we be stopping?”

“Before nightfall, I believe. It should not be too much further from here.”

“That is good because I am quite parched from the vows. They were quite long, were they not?”

She was trying to make him laugh, but he did not. He seemed to not want to speak or to laugh or to be anywhere near her at all. She shifted in her seat, wondering what had happened that day that had made him dislike her all of a sudden. She missed how he treated her when they first met, if anything, because at least then he recognized that she existed.

“Did my father say something to you?” she asked. “Or my brother?”

“Beyond empty congratulations and possible business ventures that I want no part in, no. That is, your brother’s congratulations and your father’s business plans.”

“So, it is my father?”

“It is nothing, Samantha.”

She sighed, looking out of the window as the city streets became greener the further from London they were. It was all as empty as she felt.

At last, they reached an inn. It was a welcome break from the silence, and it felt warm even in the cool evening air. There were people, and they were all speaking to one another kindly. There were no harsh words exchanged or tussles as she had picturedwhen she imagined what her father did on his nights away, but normal people eating and drinking. She longed to be a part of it.

“I shall have someone show you to your room,” Graham said briskly as they approached the door.

“No!” She squeaked before clearing her throat. “I mean, if it is all right with you, I would rather speak to some of the locals here. Would that be all right?”

“I… I suppose so. I can stay nearby if you wish.”

“You need not trouble yourself, honestly. If all else fails, I can ask to be shown to my room myself.”

“Very well. I shall tell them you are here, and I shall be in my own room should you need anything.”

But when he left, she felt as though something was missing from her. She shook the thought from her mind. Graham did not wish to speak to her, and he did not seem able to tell her why, and it was her wedding night, and she was determined to enjoy herself.

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