Page 17 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
As he left his study and walked in the direction of the dining hall, he could not help the strange itch of anticipation brewing beneath his skin.
He had thought of his wife, a lot more than he was willing to admit even to himself after they had gone their separate ways the night before. He had not been able to snuff out the twinge of regret that had echoed in his chest as he pulled away from her.
He blamed it on her revealing nightgown that had haunted him, even when he had finally managed to fall asleep. It was ridiculous, how annoying she was with her need to fight him on everything, yet he could not seem to ignore her completely.
Julian arrived at the dining hall, surprised to find that although the table had been set for two, he was the only one who was ready for breakfast.
“Is the duchess still asleep?” he had asked a maid who came forward to serve him.
She glanced over her shoulder nervously, before shaking her head.
“No, Your Grace.”
The duke shrugged, assuming that she was perhaps running a little late and might eventually arrive, settling down to eat his own meal.
But Anna never came down for breakfast.
As Julian wiped the corners of his lips, he could not help but stare at the empty spot that had been set up for her, completely untouched.
“Where is the duchess?” he voiced without thinking.
“With little Nicholas, Your Grace.” The maid who had served him replied carefully.
“Who?”
“The child, Your Grace. He has been quite fussy all morning, so she decided to stay with him and ensure he ate and got some rest.”
Oh. Perhaps she had decided to take his words to heart and take better care of the boy.
Julian nodded, and rose to his feet, beckoning his steward forward.
“Have the stable boy ready a horse and prepare my things for riding. I would like to go out in an hour.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Julian had always enjoyed riding. It was the one thing that seemed to bring him some semblance of peace, ever since he was a child. It was also the only thing his father taught him that he had held onto.
His childhood had not been particularly thrilling, and the echoes of the past resonated too deeply within his chest whenever he considered his current predicament as a married man. Which is why Anna’s impression of him frustrated him to no end.
She clearly did not understand that he had done so much for her, choosing instead to view him as a villain, rather than someone who had made compromises for her sake – to his own detriment.
Anna thought too highly of herself for someone who had connived with her mother to marry a duke and felt entitled to his belongings. And he would not stand for such behavior.
If she was unwilling to learn how to conduct herself, he would gladly show her that he was not to be trifled with.
The day passed along uneventfully. He went for his ride, thankful for the fresh air and open space that gave him a chance to clear his head. When he returned to the estate, he decided to explore the house and take note of the changes Anna had made.
Just as it had been upon his arrival the day before, he could tell how much extensive work was put into the renovations and refurbishing of the estate.
There was almost no trace of the dull walls and boring furniture he had forced himself to stare at for long, seemingly endless minutes while his parents fought continuously.
Not unless he looked closely.
He had almost expected her to rid the estate of the portraits of his parents, but she did not, opting to make the gallery where they were stored brighter, giving the lifelike depictions of his mother and father a peaceful glow that they never knew.
It would seem that the house was not the only thing that underwent some changes, but also the staff.
There were so many new faces, eager young maids who seemed to enjoy working within the estate. Each hallway carried traces of light and quiet giggles. He had heard mentions of the duchess ever so often, and only positively.
