Page 21 of The Heartless Duke's Bride
Colin came over. He had a curiously dark expression on his face. “We had better be off, Nancy,” he urged. “The party is clearly over.”
Nancy frowned. “Is everything all right?” she asked. “What were you and Edward just discussing?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with,” Colin said. “Come on. The carriage will be waiting for us, and it’s very late. I want to get you home.”
Nancy nodded, a frown etched across her face, and she allowed Colin to lead her to the door.
Lydia watched them go, worry beginning to grow in her mind. She hoped everything was all right. Colin seemed to be upset about something, and while it was impossible to imagine him ever taking his feelings out on Nancy, it didn’t look like the two of them were in for a particularly enjoyable evening.
She sighed, then turned to find Edward finishing his drink a few feet behind her. She went over to join him.
“It was a very good party, wasn’t it?” she asked, smiling up at him, hoping the expression would conceal her nerves.
She knew she had done a good job of showing him confidence so far today, and she wanted to keep that going. He didn’t need to know how anxious she was feeling about what came next.
He glanced at her. “It served us well,” he said dismissively.
“Are you ready for bed, then? Or perhaps we should have some tea first?”
She found herself hoping he would take her up on the suggestion of tea. It might help to have a conversation with one another, to relax a bit in each other’s presence now that their guests were gone.
But he shook his head. “My staff will take you to your room,” he said. “Ourstaff, if you prefer it. Your lady’s maid is already up there. Violet, I believe?”
“Violet is right,” she replied.
“If you want tea, speak to Violet. She’s had an introductory training in the ways of the house already, and she’ll know what to do to provide for your needs.”
“Well… I thought you might like to have teawithme,” she suggested.
“It’s very late, Lydia,” Edward said.
“I know that. It doesn’t have to be tea. It just seemed like a good idea to help us relax from the excitement of the day,” she explained.
What was she doing wrong? It was clear that something about this conversation was affecting him in a way she hadn’t intended, but she couldn’t put her finger on the problem.
“I don’t need tea,” she tried again. “I’m very happy to do whatever you’d like right now, Edward.”
“You’ll be shown to your room by my staff,” he said. “I’ll see you in the morning for breakfast if you’d like to come down.”
“Do you mean…” She hesitated. “Are you saying you won’t be joining me in my room tonight?”
She felt ashamed to be so forward, but at the same time, the question had to be asked because she wasn’t sure she understood him. She needed the answer.
He nodded. “I have business to take care of,” he said. “If you should need anything, I’ll be in my study. I don’t like to be disturbed there, and the room will be off-limits to you—it’s the one place in the house I’ll ask you not to go. But if your need is dire, you may speak with Violet, and she will know how to get a message to me there. Though I prefer not to be interrupted, I do understand that this is your first night at Westfrey, and that you might need to speak to me about some things. Don’t hesitate to send a message should anything arise.”
Lydia frowned. “You really have to work tonight of all nights?”
“We’ve already had this conversation,” he reminded her. “Business doesn’t stop just because I happen to have gotten married. I took the time to dance with you while our guests were here because I saw that was something that mattered to you, but now everyone has gone home, and I expect you to retire and give me my space.”
“It’s our wedding night. I understand you might not have time for me every night, but tonight of all nights, I would have thought…”
Edward sighed. “Lydia, I think I’ve been unclear with you about something.”
“What do you mean?”
“I won’t be joining you in your room. Not tonight or any other night.”
Lydia’s heart sank. He couldn’t mean what she thought he did. “I don’t understand,” she managed.
