Page 31 of Her Duke for Thirty Days
The wedding breakfast happened even faster than the church ceremony. Fortunately, the guests were as focused on the food and the drinks as they were on the married couple, so it was easy to steer the conversation in whatever direction he wanted. Throughout the entire ordeal, he managed not to speak a single word to Phyllis, apart from a few nods and smiles, which seemed to be enough for everyone.
As soon as it was all finished, the couple retired to the drawing room for some privacy. This was where they were to set out some fundamental rules regarding this arrangement, so that it would function as well as it could.
He paced about the room, while she chose to take a seat. Although he was turned to her with his back, he could feel the heat of her gaze on the nape of his neck. She was waiting for him to start speaking, only he had no idea where to commence.
When he finally turned to her, he cleared his throat first. He tried to focus on the task at hand, not on how she seemed to look even more beautiful in the afternoon glow of the sun which oozed through a nearby window.
“You will, of course, have a chamber to yourself here.” He believed this would be a good starting point. He felt a little nervous as he spoke, but he knew he had to keep going. Speaking about these formalities would be a way to ease each other into this new life they were to lead together. “I know many married couples who do not share a bedchamber, so I do not think this will raise any eyebrows.”
“I know you need an heir,” she said, completely taking him by surprise. “I would like a chamber to myself here, but seeing that I am your wife now, I will not refuse you. I know what my duty is… I mean, if that is what you want of me.”
She was standing as she spoke, her voice resolute, without any fear. He admired her for saying that so boldly, without even being asked to do such a thing. To be quite honest with himself, he had not considered it before. There were so many other things on his mind, occupying his every waking thought that the idea of an heir never even crossed it.
However, now he was curious. For some inexplicable reason, the thought of kissing her was titillating. It inflamed him in ways he wasn’t expecting. He was not supposed to be reacting to her in such a manner at all, which confused him. He tried to make sense of his own inner commotion by continuing in the same manner he had commenced.
“No,” he shook his head decisively. “I don’t need an heir. You are free from that obligation.”
He felt he had said that a bit more aggressively than he ought to have, but that was the only way he was able to control his racing thoughts. The refusal was not meant solely for her, but for him as well. Entertaining such thoughts, even for a flicker of a moment, might prove to be highly dangerous.
“Like I said,” he continued in a different direction, fearing any more talk of a situation where they would be left alone, unattended and focused on each other, “you are free to pursue your pastimes and interests as you’ve done so far. I shall not control you in any manner, as long as it does not breach our agreement. You will have your own privacy here, and I expect to have mine.”
“What about my sister’s wedding?” she suddenly asked. He could swear that for a moment, he heard hope in that lovely voice of hers. But he banished the thought. Hope for what? All they needed to do was respect each other and everything would work out just fine.
“We shall attend it together, of course,” he clarified. “That is yet another clause of our agreement. We are to appear together in public for such occasions. I doubt they will happen that often, so it should not be too difficult.” He paused for a moment. “Is there anything else left unsaid?”
She shook her head. He took that as his opportunity to withdraw to the solitude of his study and sort out the emotional mess inside his mind.
“In that case, I shall leave you in the hands of our skilled housekeeper, Mrs. Kensington. She will tell you all you need to know about the household, as you are now the lady of the house. My mother is here, of course, but as you’ll see, she keeps to herself.”
“I understand,” Phyllis nodded, her hands locked in front of her.
She looked like a little lost lamb, who knew that it would never be able to go back home. He wanted to tell her that it would be all right, that it wouldn’t be so bad living here, but those words refused to leave the confines of his mind. Instead, they were both enveloped in silence that seemed to pull them even more apart. He wondered if that was what their life would be like, just two strangers living under the same roof. After all, that was what they had both agreed to.
“Well… all right then,” he repeated, feeling a little silly. “I shall be in my study if you need me.”
He turned around on his heels and hurriedly left the drawing room. On his way to the study, he stumbled onto Mrs. Kensington, giving her instructions what to do.
“Rest assured, Your Grace,” the hearty lady who had outlived two husbands while she had been in their employ answered with a voice of a hard worker. “I will tell her all she needs to know about the house and her obligations.”
“Just… don’t overdo it, Mrs. Kensington,” he blurted out without meaning to. “She doesn’t need to do anything if she does not want to. That is fine. Just… in case she does.”
The wise old lady tilted her head a little, her deep blue eyes piercing through the depths of his very soul.
“If you will permit me to be so bold with you, Your Grace, but it is so refreshing to see a young woman in this house, and you being so utterly in love with her,” she gushed at him.
“In love?” he echoed, flabbergasted, a part of him fearing that these words echoed so loudly through the house that they would somehow, no matter how impossible that might have sounded, reach Phyllis’ attention.
The lady chuckled. “I’ve seen the look of love many a time in the eyes of my dear Albert and Winston, God rest their souls. I would recognize it anywhere.”
“Yes,” he nodded, gesturing at her to go. He had no intention of explaining himself to her, or to anyone for that matter, although her insinuation was rather preposterous. “She is waiting for you in the drawing room, Mrs. Kensington. Do hurry.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” she replied with a bow and disappeared down the corridor.
So utterly in love with her…
The words froze him in spot.What nonsense,he thought to himself.The old lady must be going crazy…
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
