Page 38 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

Their marriage of convenience had gotten off to a rotten start but thanks to that singular conversation, Diana had found new hopes for it in ways that she had never imagined. What would it mean for them in the future? She still could not say. She was not even certain what she wanted. But she and the duke were being honest for the first time and that, she decided, was a good enough start.

And besides, if there was more of this afternoon in store for her...I suppose I could very much get used to it.

“What of you?” Diana asked.

“What of me?”

She rolled her eyes. “I realize that I know little of your upbringing... or much about you at all.”

Magnus shifted uncomfortably. “That is because there is not much to tell. Truly, a very boring tale.”

“Oh... well... I rather enjoy boring tales.”

“I doubt you would like this one.” Again, he shifted uncomfortably, a clear sign that this was a topic he did not wish to discuss.

Ordinarily, Diana would not push. They had come so far this afternoon that there should not have been a need. They lay together in her bed, fully clothed but still wrapped in one another’s arms. The day was young, they had so much time and their moods were piqued, why take the risk and insist that he open up?

But that was just Diana. Stubborn to a fault. Wanting to learn more about her husband. Again, neither seemed to fully understand what they expected from this marriage, and she just knew that learning more about her husband was the right place to start.

“Were you...” She hesitated. “Were you close with your father?”

Magnus stiffened. “Not particularly.”

“And your mother?”

She could feel him pulling away. “In a fashion.”

“You moved to the Americas when you were twenty, yes? I am curious, why the move? It is not every day that a duke in waiting gives up his title to travel as you did.”

He did not speak right away. Lying on his back, he stared at the ceiling, lost in a memory that she could see in his eyes brought him tremendous amounts of pain. And when she saw this in him, Diana wished she had followed her first instinct and said nothing. Still, she was learning about her husband, and this right here was a brand-new lesson.

“I think it is time we seize the day, don’t you?” Magnus pulled his arm out from under her. “Lest the staff begin to worry.”

“Magnus...” She sat up as he stood from the bed. “I am sorry. I did not mean to push.”

“Push?” He frowned at her as if he had no idea what she was talking about. “You did not such thing. I just think we best show our faces. We do not want rumor to spread,” he then added with a wink.

He was hiding something. Or running from it. Despite how far they had come, and how open she had been with him, he was clearly not ready to share with her secrets from his past. Was it because he did not trust her? Was it because he did not think she was worthy of knowing? Or was there another reason, a darker reason that she couldn’t guess at because he refused to share? If only she knew.

“I best see to the girls,” Magnus said as he strode across the room, leaving her on the bed. “Perhaps it is best if you...” He reached the door, turned back and smiled. “A bath. And that’s not to say you are dirty,” he added quickly. “Just a little sweaty. Although I take some blame for that.”

Her smile was soft. “I think you are right. Will I see you later?”

“I do not see why not.” He smiled once more and stepped through the door, closing it behind him.

Diana remained on the bed, staring at the closed door, feeling a strange mix of emotions that moved between joy because she had finally connected with her husband to despair because despite all that had happened she still felt as if there was a gulf separating them and until that gulf closed then this marriage, whatever it might be, could not progress beyond where it was.

A marriage of convenience still. Albeit, with some much-needed spice. And it was about damn time.

ChapterFourteen

“You do not have to be here, if you do not want,” Diana said to Magnus as the two stood on the front drive of the manor in wait. “I know you are busy.”

“I want to be here,” Magnus said, a small lie, but one that was believable enough. “It is important that your mother see us together. If I did not greet her at the very least, how would that look?”

“As if you are avoiding her,” Diana said. “Which might be the smarter action.” She winked. “You would not be the first to do so.”

Magnus chuckled. “Oh, she is not that bad.”

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