Page 94 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

By the time she returned to Berkeley Square, Marina had resolved to speak to Leo about her concerns, both regarding his changed demeanor and the unsettling sense of being watched. Their relationship had moved past the stage of polite avoidance.

As she entered the house, Henderson informed her that the Duke had not yet returned from his meeting. Marina nodded, handing over her bonnet and gloves before making her way to her writing room. Perhaps she could capture some of her turbulent thoughts on paper while waiting for Leo’s return.

The door to her writing room stood slightly ajar though she distinctly remembered closing it before leaving. Marina slowly pushed it open and surveyed the space with renewed wariness.

Nothing seemed obviously disturbed, yet the atmosphere felt different somehow. It was as if someone had recently occupied the room. Moving to her desk, she found her journal had beenshifted slightly, and the pen she’d left uncapped was now placed in its holder.

Marina pulled open the drawer where she kept her most recent writing, and a cold certainty settled in her stomach. The pages were there, arranged as she’d left them, but the top sheet lay at a slightly different angle than the others, as if it had been lifted and replaced by careless hands.

Someone had been reading her private writings, not her published stories but the personal reflections she shared with no one. The intimate thoughts that included her growing feelings for Leo, her hopes for their future, her lingering fears of rejection.

Marina sank into her chair, questioning if the culprit was a servant, a stranger who had broken in, or someone familiar.

The thought that it might be Leo himself, perhaps seeking confirmation of her true feelings or evidence of deception, was too painful to consider.

Yet as she gathered the disturbed papers and secured them in a locked box she kept for her most private writings, Marina couldn’t shake the suspicion that the strange occurrences of recent days were connected to the change in Leo’s behavior.

Whatever was happening, whether someone was indeed watching her or simply her imagination was running wild, she needed to address the growing distance between herself and Leo. Perhaps what they needed was not confrontation butreconnection. After all Leo had done for her—protecting her from Giles, supporting her writing, sharing his painful past—she wanted to do something special to show her appreciation.

“Betty,” she called. “Could you ask Mr. Henderson to join me here for a moment?”

Though clearly curious about why he’d been called to the Duchess’ private rooms, the butler arrived with his usual dignified bearing.

“Your Grace requested my presence?”

Marina gestured for him to enter. “Yes, Henderson. I was hoping you might assist me with something of a personal nature.”

His expression remained perfectly neutral. “Of course, Your Grace.”

“I wish to give His Grace a gift,” Marina said. “Something that would hold meaning for him. You’ve served the Duke for many years, and I thought you might have insights into what he might appreciate.”

Henderson’s formal demeanor softened slightly. “That is most thoughtful of Your Grace. His Grace is not a man who easily expresses his preferences, but there are certain things he has valued over the years.”

Marina leaned forward eagerly. “Such as?”

The butler considered for a moment. “His Grace has always been partial to fine pocket watches. When he was younger, before his travels began, he kept a collection of them. I believe he found the precision of their mechanisms appealing.”

This was new information to Marina. She had never seen Leo with anything but the single gold watch he carried daily. “A watch collection? I’ve seen no evidence of this.”

“The collection was broken up after… some things happened,” Henderson said carefully. “His Grace retained only the watch that had belonged to his grandfather which he carries now.”

“I see.” Marina considered this. A pocket watch seemed a deeply personal gift, one that acknowledged Leo’s appreciation for craftsmanship and history. “Are there any particular watchmakers he favored?”

“Breguet,” Henderson replied without hesitation. “His Grace always admired their superior craftsmanship.”

“Thank you, Henderson,” Marina said, her mind already forming plans. “You’ve been most helpful.”

After the butler left, Marina jotted a note to her banker to withdraw the funds necessary for such a significant purchase. She had been saving her earnings from her writing, building a small reserve of independence. This seemed like a worthwhile use of those funds.

The following day, while Leo attended a meeting of the House of Lords, Marina visited the most prestigious jeweler in London. The proprietor greeted her with deference and ushered her into a private viewing room when she explained her purpose.

“A Breguet for His Grace? You show excellent taste, Your Grace,” the jeweler said as he presented several exquisite timepieces for her consideration.

Marina examined each one carefully before finally selecting a gold pocket watch with an engine-turned case and a white enamel dial. The watch featured a perpetual calendar and moon phase indicator, complications she knew would appeal to Leo’s appreciation for precision.

The price was extravagant and consumed most of her saved earnings, but Marina felt a glow of satisfaction as the jeweler packaged the watch in a leather presentation box. This was no mere trinket but a significant gift that reflected the depth of her gratitude.

She spent the afternoon composing a note to accompany the gift, discarding several drafts before settling on words that expressed her appreciation without venturing into declarations of emotion that might make Leo uncomfortable.

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