Page 33 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
Sally faltered, looking pale and ashamed.
“Y-Your Grace, it wasn’t my intention to offend you – either of you!” she stammered. “I only wished to help my daughter with her new born as I am now a grandmother and it is my duty –”
“I will provide my wife with all the help that she needs,” Julian retorted with a glare, wrapping an arm around Anna’s waist and gently tugging her closer to his side. “This is none of your concern and therefore, you should stay out of the matter. You havehelpedenough.”
To Anna, he said in a softer tone, “Come with me,” and he began to guide her in the direction of his study.
“B-But she –” Anna tried to protest, but he cut her off.
“She can see herself out.”
Once they had put a good enough distance between themselves and Sally, Anna gasped,
“Nicholas. I must go to him. He was crying –”
“I’m sure he has been tended to already, seeing as he has fallen silent now. Thank goodness, otherwise I would need to inquire why you have so many maids if none of them know how to soothe a single infant.” Julian sighed, releasing her from his hold and walking ahead, into his study.
Just like he had said, Anna noticed she couldn’t hear the sound of Nicholas’ cries anymore, heaving a sigh of relief at the peace that washed over her at the quiet air that filled the house. Reluctantly, she followed her husband and as soon as the door slammed shut behind her, Julian asked,
“Did you somehow forget that you own this house?”
Frowning, she shook her head. “I did not. Why would you think –”
“No, no, I believe you must have. That is the only plausible explanation for why it took so long to send your mother back from whence she came.” Julian rebutted, folding his arms and staring at her expectantly, as though he was waiting for an admission of her forgetfulness.
Ah, Anna sighed to herself. She had only just begun to feel as though it had been too long since they’ve had a spat.
“I did not forget,” she stated through gritted teeth. “I was simply trying to handle the matter as delicately as I possibly could.”
“Delicacy doesn’t get the job done. She would have been out of your house and your hair much sooner – and without my help – if only you had toughened up and done what was necessary.” Julian shrugged, as if it was so easy.
“Well, I did not ask for your help. You had no reason to get involved!” she snapped, frustrated by how ridiculous all these situations were, lining up to irritate her one after the other.
Julian sighed and stepped towards her, his tone growing softer the closer he got to her side.
“Of course I had a reason to involve myself. It irritates me to witness disorder – within my home no less. You forgot your place and so, she felt as though it was all right to ignore hers and challenge you. But you are aware that no one can disobey you in your house, right? Surely, you know this. Just as you know that it was your mother you trapped you – trapped us in a scandal. It was she that put your reputation, your life at risk.”
Something prickled along Anna’s skin as a chill raced down her spine.
“You know. I mean – I told you but –”
“Yes. I know. I never actually thought it was you who had planned it. I saw your face when we were found that night. I understood it wasn’t your fault.” He replied gently, not touching her but still somehow enveloping her with immense warmth.
Anna risked a glance up at him, a little startled by just how close they were.
“Did you mean what you said? Will you actually help me?” she asked softly, a tad unsure.
Julian stared down at her, his insides twisting into knots, bending his will and destroying his ability to refuse her – to deprive her of anything.
“Yes, I did,” he told her, because it was impossible to say otherwise when she looked at him with those eyes.
Those eyes that beckoned him to erase the distance between them, that gaze that demanded he hold her in his arms and claim her rightly, as she was meant to be, that stare that dared him to take her breath, her moans, her shivers of pleasure and her ecstasy.
It wouldn’t take much, he thought. Another kiss would suffice, would put them right where they had left off and as soon as he can touch her –
“I never had any lovers.” Anna blurted out suddenly, unsure of why she felt the sudden need to tell him then and there.
“What did you say?” Julian asked carefully, swearing that he had heard wrong.
