Page 44 of His Highland Duchess
But that he had come to find her at all was telling. Margaret could sense that it was done with a purpose, hopefully to clear the air between them once and for all. For that reason, she was resolved not to back down, regardless of what happened next. The end of their marriage or the beginning of it.Although what that might mean, I haven’t a clue.
They reached the manor, and still nothing was said.
Lysander kept her in his arms as he carried her through the home, up the stairs, and toward her room. Once inside, he hurried forward, placing her gently on the sofa before the hearth before bending down to light it; a fire was quick to catch, burning bright and hot.
“Here…” He said, tending the fire until it burned bright and hot. “You are freezing.”
“I am fine.” Her body was shaking from the cold, but the heat of the fire did much to warm her. She could feel it washing over her body.
He scoffed. “You are so…” He gritted his teeth. “Wait here.” The duke stormed from the room.
Margaret’s heart was racing. Partly from fear of what was to come. Partly from excitement. She did not know what she wanted to say or what the duke might say. But she knew that whatever it was, it would come to define them.
The duke arrived back a moment later, carrying a stack of blankets in his arms. He went for her, quick to unfurl the blankets. About to wrap them around her, he paused and looked her over. “Your clothes,” he said.
“What about them?”
“They are soaking wet.” He bit into his lip as he considered. “Take them off.”
“Wh–what?”
“You will freeze if you do not.” He raised an eyebrow at her, no sense that he would take no for an answer.
Margaret did not know if it was such a good idea to remove her wet clothes… while at the same time knowing that she should. The duke continued to watch her expectantly, again that sense that he would not simply allow her to deny him.He is just being caring. That is all…
“As you say…” Nervously, Margaret rose and began to undo the front of her dress. “Do you…” She hesitated as it loosened. “Do you mind turning around?”
He did so without comment. She watched the back of his head, her skin prickling and already feeling far too warm. Nonetheless, she dropped her wet dress; it fell in a heap at her feet, then she stepped out of it and took the blanket, which she quickly wrapped around her shoulders.
“Ye may turn around now,” she said softly, her words trembling.
“Better?” he asked her.
“Much…” She sat back down, careful to keep the blanket around her naked body. “Thank ye.”
The duke nodded once in satisfaction, only for his expression to suddenly turn toward anger. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?” he asked. “All it would have taken was one stray branch to fall, or lightning to… to…” He sighed and took a breath. “I am glad you are not hurt.”
“And Spotty?” she indicated the puppy in her lap. It looked up at the duke as if begging for him to accept it.
The duke’s expression was iron. “You should not have adopted a stray dog without speaking to me first.”
“I was nae aware that I needed permission.”
“Where my daughters are concerned, you always need permission.”
She could not help but scoff. “Ah yes, I should have known. I am but a temporary resident in this house. I should really ken better than to think I can make decisions without asking. Shame on me.”
The duke groaned with frustration and rubbed his eyes. “That is not what this is, Margaret. Do not twist my words.”
“I twist nothing. Perhaps if ye were clearer on what ye wanted, I would nae be left to interpret as I have been. Like a blind man trying to find his way down a hallway he’s never walked before. It’s nae wonder I so often stumble into rooms where I am nae allowed.”
Things were growing heated between them again, and Margaret wasn’t in the least bit surprised. Oh sure, she knew this was not the right tactic to take if she wanted clarification, but she simply could not help herself. She even agreed about the puppy,knowing it to be wrong of her to simply adopt it, and still, she dug in her heels stubbornly.
I am just so sick of having nae control over anything. Worse, the duke takes this as a given.
She was expecting Lysander to take up the assault as he always did, his pride demanding it. Considering too how rudely he had dismissed her earlier, she was under no false impressions about how he was feeling. What was more, she wanted him to. It was a story she was starting to get used to. They would fight. Their arousals would peak. And then he would be on her. Nothing would be said, but answers would be given, and when they were done, all would be forgiven.
Not that this would solve anything, she realized in that moment. Despite how much she wanted it, for it was an easy and right feeling, after what had just happened with Julian, she knew that this time she could not let it come to that. They needed to talk. They needed… they needed answers.
