Page 38 of The Unwanted Duchess

“I wanted to tell you that I heard what you said to my father,” she said carefully. “And I am incredibly grateful to you for it.”

“Did he tell you about it? Because if he did, I doubt that it was the complete truth, and I’m certain that he made me out to be far more cruel than I truly was.”

“I heard you myself,” she giggled. “I stood in the hallway with my ear pressed against the door like a child. It is not my proudest moment, but it meant that I could hear everything clearly.”

“Ah, so you enjoy eavesdropping? I would never have guessed.”

“Well, there is a lot that you are yet to know about me.”

“And I cannot wait to, but you must admit that it is rather unladylike to listen to the conversations of others.”

“Yes, and I am not exactly the typical sort of lady, am I?”

Graham had to laugh as he shook his head. She was certainly something else, but it was by no means a bad thing to be. He hoped that she knew that, and part of him knew by the way that she carried herself, that she certainly did.

“Besides,” she continued, “it would not surprise me in the least if all of Mayfair had heard the two of you. I expect that sort of ungentlemanly behavior from my father, but I assumed you would remain more pleasant than him.”

“Were we truly that loud?”

“Yes! It was as though I was listening to two rowdy schoolboys.”

“Then I suppose you have met your match — an ungentlemanly gentleman for the unladylike lady.”

“I suppose you are right, and it is quite lovely.”

“You say that as though you are going to now disagree.”

“I do not. It is only that… Well, you and I are not a love match. This is a marriage of convenience and nothing more, yes?”

“As you wished, yes.”

“So there had been no cause for you to argue with my father like that, yet you did. Why?”

That was an excellent question and one that he had not planned for. He knew that she would likely be satisfied with the simple explanation that she was to be his wife thus he had to do his part to ensure the marriage was beneficial for her as well as himself, but that alone was not the truth, and he refused to lie to her.

“The reason I did it,” he explained, “and why I had felt extremely compelled to do so, is because I will not tolerate a bully.”

“Is that what you believe my father to be?”

“It is what I know him to be, and the idea of him having one final laugh at you is something that I cannot bear the thought of.”

“But you had already read the contract before visiting. Why did you not discuss it with me first?”

“Because there are things that are not for your ears.”

“Why is it not for my ears? It pertains to me, and so I am more than justified in wanting to be told in advance what it is you are going to do.”

“That is understandable. I shall refrain from acting on your behalf in future.”

“That is not what I mean. I only want you to tell me what you plan to do in the future, and why it is that you are going to do it. This is a partnership, and so we must both remember that and act accordingly.”

“In which case, you deserve the truth,” he sighed. “I spoke to your father in that way because it is the only way to deal with vultures such as himself.”

He watched her for any sign that she was angered by that name, but there was nothing. She even nodded slightly in agreement, a far cry from their first meeting. He could not help but smile faintly though it was soon replaced by a frown.

“What is it?” she asked, brows furrowed.

“Samantha, I was not supposed to be the Duke.”

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