Page 44 of The Duke's Hellion

“The special license?” she asked.

“Yes, among other things I had to do.”

“Do what?” He watched as she stifled a yawn.

“Were you sleeping?” It was a stupid question, but one he couldn’t take back. She just yawned in response. “I’m sorry. This can wait.” What had possessed him to gift the present now? He could have waited until morning…but here he was, practically holding her up with his eyes she was so tired.

“I’m up now. What is it?” She plopped herself down in an armchair, palms up on her thighs.

“This is for you.” He handed over the package. “It’s a wedding present.”

“Oh, I didn’t get you anything—”

“No, you weren’t meant to. I just,”—he raked his hands through his hair—“know this is difficult for you.”

“For me?”

And he knew he needed to start their marriage, however flimsy it would be, with truth. “You want the dream, Mimi.”

Her cocked brow prodded him to continue.

“You want the fantasy. The love. All of it. But scandal has forced your hand.”

His words must have probed something inside of her, for she sat upright now. “I’m not being forced to do anything. If I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t.”

Of course she would put on a brave face. She was fearless. Mostly.

“I understand—”

“Actually, I don’t think you do. I have my reasons to marry you. And it’s not just because of the scandal.” Her arms were crossed over her chest now. Her signature gesture of stubbornness.

“What are your reasons?” And he shouldn’t do it, but he had to ask, “Do you…have feelings for me?” It was rude, selfish, andarrogant to ask the question. Especially when he knew (didn’t he?) his answer.

She studied him for a beat and then replied. “You’re a duke. You’re kind. You’re close with two of my sisters’ husbands, or soon-to-be. We shall all be quite close. It will be lovely.”

But the tone impressed upon the word lovely didn’t quite ring as prettily as it should have. It sounded like the way a woman said everything would be fine even though everything was chaos andfinewas not on the horizon. But he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Her hands twitched against the wrapping of the gift in her lap. “Are you going to open it?” he asked. It was as good a time as any to change the conversation. It wasn’t fair to press her about her feelings.

Without even looking up, she murmured, “Yes, thank you.” And her hands were tearing away the paper.

She didn’t say a word as he observed her pulling out a navy-blue-and-gold quiver. Her hands ran down the sides and along the embellishments. Though her hands revealed reverence, her lips were pulled down at the corners.

“Do you like it?” He had to know.

“Yes,” she answered in a hush tone. “It’s perfect.” It was all she said as she stared at the quiver.

And he couldn’t help wondering if it was a good thing or not to enter their friends’ wedding day with perfection. In one way it was good. A clean slate (of sorts), a kind and considerate beginning. Then again, it could all be downhill from here on out. Her facial expression was impossible to read.

“We should sleep.” When he stood up and offered his hand, she gave him a look of surprise and shot a quick glance at her bed.

“Uh…I’ll be going to my room. You sleep here.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Of course that’s how it will be.” She jumped to her feet without taking his hand, clearly wide awake in irritation now.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said. And before either of them could change their mind, he leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to her temple. “Sleep well.”

*

---