Page 22 of Married to the Cruel Duke

“Quite. I would be too.”

“I’m sure she will find the room itself more than adequate.”

“I hope so. Please check in with her tomorrow and see if she needs anything.”

“I will, sir.”

He nodded. “Very good.”

“Will there be anything else?”

“No, that should be everything. Thank you.”

She hesitated.

William sighed. “Yes, what is it?”

“I just wanted to ask if you were sure with all of this. It might be a lot with her-

“That hardly seems like an appropriate question.” He cut her off. “I’d prefer if you didn’t pry into this matter.”

Mrs. Anderson blinked in shock, a look of hurt flashing over her face. She quickly covered it with a professional mask. “Very well, your grace. Forgive me for asking.”

William shook his head. “What’s done is done. Don’t let it happen again.”

“Of course your grace. If that is all, then I think I am going to retire for the night.”

“Very good,” he said before continuing his own way to his bedroom.

On his way, he found himself making a small detour to walk by her door. It was late, it had been a long day. He was sure she must be asleep by now.

He didn’t want to wake her, but he couldn’t help but stop outside her door and listen for a moment. Of course there was no sound from inside, only the stillness of the night.

William shook his head. What else could he have expected? He made his way the rest of the distance to his room, shutting himself inside.

William never spent much time in his room. He never spent much time about his study in general, so the room was fairlyspartan. It had what he needed, a bed, a wardrobe, a dressing table with a wash bason, brush, and a few other toiletries, but that was it.

After all there wasn’t a need for much more than that was there?

He shucked off his clothes with little care. Any mess he left behind would be a problem for morning William to deal with. For the moment, all he wanted to do was lay down and wipe the day from his mind.

He couldn’t help but wish that he could have a do over of the past few weeks when he woke up.

Rebecca was a wonderful girl, far better than was fair given her situation. He wasn’t sure if he could do this.

William shook his head alone in the darkness. It didn’t matter if he could or couldn’t handle it. He had already made his choice.

There was no going back now.

CHAPTER 6

The next morning, Rebecca awoke warm without being uncomfortably hot for the first time in what felt like the first time in her life. She smiled to herself, running her hands along the soft, luxurious sheets. She still couldn’t believe all of this was hers!

It all felt far too good to be true.

She laid there for a few more moments before pushing from the bed and making her way over to her wardrobe. It wouldn’t do for her to be seen as shirking her responsibilities as Duchess of Danton. Looking through her dresses, she picked one and pulled it on with little thought before sweeping her hair out of her face and setting off to begin her day.

Just as Rebecca stepped into the hall, she almost ran straight into a maid with a tray.

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