Page 74 of Married to the Cruel Duke

“No!” she said a bit too quickly. “I mean- well there isn’t much he could do anyway. We shouldn’t interrupt his business. It’s so rare for him to go out.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you wanted him to come back a bit early.”

She shook her head. “I will be all right. Why don’t you go bring me some lunch.”

“Of course, I can do that. Do you need anything else?”

She shook her head. “I should be all right. I think I just need a few minutes to think.”

“Of course, ma’am. I’ll be right back with your meal.”

Then she scampered off and Rebecca had a moment to catch her breath. She knew she to figure this out before William returned home.

She didn’t think she could face him otherwise.

CHAPTER 17

William groaned as his home finally came into view. He always hated days whenhe had to go into town for work. They grated on his nerves. Everything about it was pure misery.

It started as soon as he left the house that morning.

The streets were crowed due to some last minute market he hadn’t heard about making the carriage slow.

After thinking it over for a minute, he sighed tapping on the door to signal to the driver.

“I’m afraid I don’t have the time to be stuck in this. I will walk from here.”

The driver hesitated. “Are you sure, your grace?”

“Yes, I don’t have time for anything else.”

“Very well, your grace. I will be there to pick you up at the agreed upon time, but please do call me earlier if you need anything.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Then with little other option, William stepped onto the street and began making his way towards Patrick’s office.

No sooner had he stepped onto the streets than he wished he hadn’t. It felt like every pair of eyes in the market were on his neck, staring at his scar. That wasn’t even to mention the amount of whispers that seemed to start the second he stepped past people.

It was as if they couldn’t even to bother waiting until he was out of ear shot to start talking about him.

After what it felt like an eternity, he managed to make it to Partick’s office. When the door was firmly shut behind him he let out a sigh.

When his solicitor saw him he frowned. “Did you have a pleasant trip here?” he asked in the way that made it clear that he did not think William had had a pleasant trip.

“There’s no reason to discuss that.”

“I was just trying to make small talk.”

“That’s quite all right. There’s no need for that. I think it would be best if we simply moved on with our business.”

He hesitated.

“Please, the sooner we do, the sooner I can go home.”

Patrick chuckled. “Very well, I don’t want to keep you from your lovely wife.”

And to his credit, Patrick didn’t get off topic for the rest of the day. It was only as they were packing up their notes and papers that the conversation turned personal.

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