Page 73 of Her Bear of a Duke

"I have had other things to think about, namely the strangers in my home."

"The very same ones that you invited here, yes I am aware."

"Dorothy, I–"

"No," she said firmly, turning to look at him. "You do not understand how these last few days have been for me. I have had to pretend to be happy in front of my friends, trying to convince them that in spite of what they have seen of you, you are a good husband. You have left me trying to understand what I could possibly have done to warrant such treatment, and you have given me no explanation while it was inconvenient for you."

"Do you want to know what is inconvenient?" he snapped. "My niece crying in my arms, saying that you plan to never allow heraunt to return, that Lady Annabelle is on her way to the poor house, and that she deserves it completely."

He expected a rebuttal. He expected her to refute the claims, and to protest her innocence, but she did not. Instead, she rose to her feet, her expression blank, and turned away from him, walking out the door.

"Dorothy," he called. "Dorothy, do not walk away from me."

"If that is what you want to believe, then do so. You and I both know that she was the sort of lady you wanted to marry, you simply could not have her. Fear not, I will not be another obstacle to overcome."

He chased after her in an instant, her words ringing in his ears. It did not make any sense; he had made his dislike of Lady Annabelle agonizingly clear, and he was angry that Catherine had heard it but his feelings towards her aunt remained unchanged.

"Dorothy, stop it. I want–"

"I do not care what you want. I am going to say my goodbyes to my friends, and then I am going to return to my room and you will leave me be. You have done quite enough as it is."

She left him standing in the hallway, his mouth agape. His wife had always been pleasant and easy to talk to, non-confrontational, but something had changed and it had been very sudden indeed.

"Let her go."

He bristled, turning to see Lady Annabelle behind him.

"I do not appreciate you eavesdropping."

"It was not my intention to. I was hoping to see your wife before my departure, so that I could apologize for what I did to her. I am uncertain as to why she is so angry with me, but I hope to make amends for Catherine's sake."

"You are the last person that she wishes to see right now, but I thank you for wanting to try."

"Then perhaps I might stay a short while longer? It will give her time to think on matters, and I know that Catherine will appreciate it. Besides, the both of you need to take time for yourselves, and Catherine would hate to lose the three of us at once."

His determination wavered. It was true that Catherine had been out of sorts since she had told him what Dorothy had said, and she had been desperately clinging to Lady Annabelle since then. Was it cruel to take the one lady she wished to see away from her?

"You have three more days," he sighed. "And that is only because it will benefit our niece."

"Of course, Your Grace. Thank you."

She left quickly, and Morgan went to look outside at the carriages. All of Dorothy's friends surrounded her, and he eyed Lady Emma closest of all. She was, after all, the first to have been accused of hostility. He did not see any malice in her, but after Catherine had accused Dorothy of the same thing it all made more sense.

The group of ladies saw Lady Annabelle as a threat, and it had been needless. He hardly liked the lady at all, and he thought they knew that. Regardless, it had all happened and it left him needing to speak with Dorothy and trying to understand it.

He gave her the rest of the day to calm herself, and then went to see her again that evening. He did not know what to say to her, except ask her why she had done it, but he hoped that the words would come to him once he saw her.

He knocked, and there was no response. He knocked again, and when there was still nothing he pushed the door open. Once more, she was sitting at her desk, but this time she was writing.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

She turned at once, glaring at him.

"I told you I do not wish to see you."

"It is not as simple as that, not when you and I have something to discuss."

"I have nothing more to say to you. I do not understand why you have been so cruel as to believe the worst of me, but it is not something I wish to know. What I do know is that I am undeserving of it, and I will not wait until you are happy to tell me why you no longer care what I have to say."

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