Page 31 of The Icy Duke Claims a Bride

“You don’t care to make your life easy, do you?” His grandmother laughed, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. “You essentially accused your wife of trying to murder you during your honeymoon, and you’re wondering why she has taken offense. Oh, this is priceless!”

“Catherine is the only newcomer to Redbridge Hall,” Hugh stated, annoyance in his voice. “She can’t deny that. You asked about all visitors and newcomers, and I told you.”

“Do you honestly think it likely that Catherine would try to kill you?” the Dowager Duchess asked, still amused.

“I barely know her.” Hugh evaded the question, instinctively sensing the absurdity of this notion and wishing that he had never spoken it aloud in front of either woman.

“I’ve known her family well over the years, and I know Catherine by reputation. She’s a young woman with very firm moral principles and a high opinion of her own rectitude, as you might already have discovered. She does not go about poisoning dukes, no matter how much they rile her up.”

“But do you think it’s any more likely that Uncle Edwin would do such a thing? I can’t bring myself to believe that.”

Rebecca’s sharp blue eyes narrowed, and her smile became more strained, although it did not vanish. “No, I cannot believe my own son would do that. But we can’t deny that your death would be advantageous to Edwin. Maybe some friend or a hanger-on of his is looking to curry favor with him and is acting without his knowledge. As I said before, an unusual number of Edwin’s business rivals do seem to meet with misfortune, all to his advantage.”

“I always thought you were joking about that, Grandmother.”

“I was in the past, but this revelation has made me rethink matters. I shall ask some questions around the ton—discreetly, of course. In the meantime…”

“I should avoid all guests and remain secluded here at Redbridge Hall.” Hugh let out a humorless laugh. “Yes, I think the same. No great hardship for me.”

“You should remain secluded here with Catherine, I was about to say—if she’ll still have you. If someone is trying to kill you, it’s all the more important that you produce an heir as soon as possible.”

“Grandmother!” he said indignantly. “I am not a piece of breeding stock from the stables. Anyway, you heard what Catherine just said. She can’t stand me.”

“Nonsense.” The Dowager Duchess waved a hand in the air. “Are you entirely blind? Did you not see how she looked at you when you came into the room, Hugh? I certainly noticed it. Unless I am very much mistaken—and that is a rarity—Catherine is half in love with you already.”

“What?!” Hugh spluttered, incredulous at the suggestion. “I have no idea what you are talking about. I saw and heard nothing of love.”

His grandmother shook her head. “Catherine called you an awful man. That was actually rather funny, and some way from thinking you’re a monster. It was also quite fair, seeing the circumstances. Why don’t you just show her that you’re not so awful?”

“I’ve tried,” Hugh answered wearily. “But I can’t seem to make her understand what I’m saying.”

“Then I suggest you try again. Try harder. Try listening. You need to make a success of this marriage, Hugh,” Rebeccainsisted. “And remember that Catherine may well have saved your life yesterday.”

“Yes,” he agreed reluctantly, his jaw set, not wishing to display any excess of emotion in front of his grandmother, especially since she seemed to favor his new wife so much. “I do intend to make a success of my marriage. But I don’t think it’s going to happen quickly.”

Even if he were rejected and insulted, he must try again to establish some understanding with his new Duchess.

Catherine had swept up her cloak from the hallway and stormed out of Redbridge Hall. How could Hugh have suspected her of such a dastardly act and even accused her in front of his grandmother? Only a few minutes earlier, she had been dreaming of kissing him again, but now all she wanted to do was slap him across the face.

There was a light rain outside today, although it was not cold. Catherine kept to the paths, away from the muddy ground, and soon found herself approaching the gamekeepers’ huts. An idea came to her head as she spotted Bellchurch and another elderly man in a similar attire who was presumably one of the under-keepers.

“Good morning, Bellchurch. I’m glad to have seen you. I wanted to ask your advice on something animal-related.”

“Of course, Your Grace. Mr. Todd here might also be helpful. He knows this area and its wildlife like the back of his hand.”

“It’s not wildlife I had in mind. I’d like to get a dog.”

“A lapdog?” Bellchurch asked, touching his grey-stubbled jaw in thought. “Like a King Charles Spaniel, you mean? There’s a breeder in the next county I could recommend if that’s what you’re looking for. All healthy animals and suitable for ladies—”

“No, I want something larger than that.” Catherine indicated the rough size with her hand. “Something more active.”

“A hunting dog?” he suggested. “His Grace doesn’t hunt, and we don’t keep hounds here these days. But if you wish to shoot and you want a dog to fetch in birds and the like, I expect I could find one from a neighboring estate. Many ladies do go out shooting these days, I hear.”

“I want a companion dog, one that could keep up with me on a long walk and would bark at ruffians outdoors, or intruders in the house. I’m not too fussy about the exact breed, but it must be suitable for outdoor and indoor life and must not bother the cats too much.”

Todd laughed a little at her request, while Bellchurch continued to stroke his chin in thought.

“I don’t think there’s a dog that won’t sometimes worry the cats, Your Grace,” Todd warned her. “But if they’ve been raised withcats and learned to keep away from them, that’s the best you can do.”

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