Page 34 of His Highland Duchess
“How kind.”
She could not help but notice that he gave no mention of the future. The implication in his words was that he wanted this arrangement to take on a more agreeable course, yet it still seemed to her that he assumed she would be leaving at the end of the Season.
What this felt like to her was a peace offering aimed at creating stability. He might not wish to remain married, but he did not wish to fight or argue or live in a constant state of tension.Which I should be grateful for. Which I am grateful for. As to how grateful… I suppose that depends on how serious he is.
“That is all you have to say?” he said with surprise.
“Well…” She hesitated, feeling the urge to respond sharply. But he was being kind, so she did her best to curb it. “I do nae ken what else to say. I appreciate the apology, and where it is perhaps a little overdue –”
“There it is,” he cut her off.
“There what is?”
He scoffed and shook his head. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to find fault.”
“I most certainly am nae findin’ fault.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, smirking as he did. “It is perhaps a little overdue? If that is not finding fault, I do not know what is.”
She huffed. “I was merely agreeing with ye, is all – and accepting the apology!” she cried. “It has caught me by surprise, is all. I am nae even sure what to make of it.”
“What is there to make?” he said. “I am sorry that I have caused you such confusion since you have arrived, and now I hope that will not be the case.”
“Confusion. That is what ye call it?”
“Yes…?” He tilted his head, sensing now that she had more to say, which she did. Where she wanted to accept the apology and move on, keeping the discourse civil, she also felt that pesky need to voice what was really on her mind.
“I appreciate that ye have admitted to the mixed messages ye have sent me since I arrived. And I appreciate that ye are willing to allow me to be meself and live in this home as if it is my own. However –”
“And here it –”
“—I still do nae understand what you want from me,” she spoke over him, widening her eyes at him in warning because he needed to understand that she was not being purposefully antagonistic. Not this time, at least.
“I just told you what I wanted.”
She scoffed. “Peace and stability, ye mean. A better way of sayin’ it is ye want me well trained. So I do not cause ye a headache.”
“That is not…” The edges of Lysander’s lip twitched with frustration. “That is not at all what I was implying.”
“It sounded like it to my ears.”
“I was apologizing,” Lysander said defensively. “I did not have to even do that.”
“And I accepted the apology,” she countered. “Although why I did, I cannae even say. You were not apologizing because ye felt sorry for me. Ye did it because ye felt guilty about how ye have treated me. Admit it.”
Margaret knew she was overreacting. This was, after all, what she wanted, wasn’t it? The duke to admit fault. For her to be given a new lease that might allow her to exist in this home without constantly worrying that one wrong thing said would see her chastised. She should have felt relief.
Yet there was a niggling feeling deep within that told her it wasn’t enough. It was a middle ground, but it changed nothing. Not really.Although, what do I even wish for? I am leaving come the end of the Season. Surely, a peace offering is the best I could be after?
Perhaps it was more to do with the man than the situation. Perhaps Margaret wasn’t upset with what he had offered, ratherthat she simply liked seeing him upset despite the absurdity of the cause.
“Of course I did,” Lysander huffed. “And I do not see how that makes a difference? I upset you, I felt guilty for it, and now I am saying sorry.”
“And then what?” she pressed, letting her annoyance take over simply because she liked the way it made Lysander bluster, forcing him to show strength.What am I even doin’?“I am still to leave at the end of the Season, I take it?”
Lysander blinked. “I… well, yes. Why would that change?”
Her eyes widened when she realized the mistake she had made. “It shouldn’t.” She looked away, cheeks turning red. “I mean, it does nae change anythin’. Of course I still wish to leave.”
