Page 52 of A Duchess for the Mysterious Duke
Marina huffed as if she were disappointed that he still had to ask. “It is your dishonesty which I cannot forgive, Phillip. Your title is a matter which has been resolved, yes, but what of your other women? My sister has just completed her first season in society. If your uncle is privy to your activities outside of our marriage, then so, too, is the ton. It is only a matter of time before such vulgarity is printed in the papers. I have never expected you to fall in love with me or even to be loyal to me, but I did expect you to give me the opportunity to protect myself and my family by preparing me for the inevitability that the truth would be revealed.”
Phillip’s face ran pale as he watched the pain he had moments ago seen a small flicker of build on Marina’s face. For a long moment, he was unsure how to make it right. It was clear to him as he watched her that his uncle had not only made up vicious lies but confirmed certain suspicions which his wife had held, perhaps since before they were wed. His reputation preceded him, and the Duke felt suddenly that he had been insolent not to get ahead of it. Of course, she thought that he would betray their union. He had given her many reasons to think so—his distance, his irregular comings and goings, his own silence.
Just because he knew who he was and that he was not capable of showing her that sort of disloyalty did not mean that she could figure that out for herself without his explaining.
“Marina,” he said gently, the quietude of his voice coaxing her to meet his gaze. The sight of tears in her eyes made his heart pound. “Let me show you something.”
CHAPTER 39
Marina’s father tried to protest when she asked to use the carriage. He did not know the specifics, but he knew that his daughter was not one to offer her forgiveness readily or easily.
“My concern is that you are making a rash decision, Marina. I do not wish for you to feel pressure to remain in this marriage if it makes you unhappy. I should never?—”
“Papa!” Marina reached out to touch his arm. “You and Mama raised me to make smart, sound decisions. I have not yet made one. We are going to see something which Phillip thinks will help me to make one.” She gave him a gentle smile. “Do not fret. I will return here and explain soon. I promise.”
The Earl turned and gave Phillip a long, angry look while Olivia came to Marina to give her a tight hug. They did not need to exchange words; Olivia wished her sister the best and hoped that she would get to her destination with a sound mind.
Marina and Phillip spent the first half of their carriage ride in silence. They each wanted to reach out but were unsure how to speak to one another until the Duke, at least, bridged the gap.
“There are no other women,” he said plainly. Marina’s eyes widened as she looked at him. It pained him to see the disbelief on her face. What, exactly, he wondered, had the scandal sheets printed about him? Then, he felt the familiar flicker of betrayal flare up within his heart. It was evidently not the gossip that had convinced her, but his own flesh and blood come to visit her for the express purpose of ruining her opinion of him.
“Phillip, there is no need to continue to lie to me about it. I do not need to know about your exploits in detail, but, surely, we can come to a compromise and agree not to pretend.”
“Marina, I do not wish to conceal the truth from you.”
She seemed to become exasperated then she heaved a great sigh and turned her face so that she did not have to look at him. “You are seldom at home when you ought to be. You keep irregular hours. You have a long history of rakish behavior that is known to every soul in London. And…you push me away each time we grow close enough to touch. You may be six years my senior, but I am not a babe. I know what an affair looks like.”
Phillip could not help but smile, turning his head to hide his amusement from her. “My history of rakish behavior?”
“Of course. Your own uncle is known to brag about your exploits whenever he gets the chance.”
Phillip’s mood soured again immediately. “Have you not learned by now that my uncle is not a worthy source of information?” he snapped. “My past does not define who I am today, Marina, even if the rumors you speak of were true. I barely spoke to my uncle while I was away. He sent money, but he was too afraid of upsetting my father to write or visit me, lest he be caught. Any exploits he spoke of were purely of his own imagination. I have no reason to welcome you into my home only to sully your reputation. There is no point in being a duke if the entire ton looks down upon the poor duchess whose husband cannot be loyal. Think, for a moment, Marina. Of what you know of my parents.”
Marina gave a small gasp. “You would not do to me what your father tried to do to your mother,” she agreed quietly. “But your schedule?—”
“I am taking you to see what I have been doing while I am not home presently.”
“Your behavior when we?—”
“I have been…avoiding intimacy with you, yes. Not because I am finding it elsewhere, Marina. Because I?—”
The carriage came to a jolting stop, and Phillip instinctively reached out to hold Marina in place by her shoulders as she was jostled about.
“Are you hurt?” he demanded, looking her over for any signs of injury.
“I’m not,” she answered quietly, her eyes locked on his. It was only then that he realized just how close they were in the carriage and sat back, giving her space. Phillip glanced at the pinkness that had arisen on her cheeks, and he did not show it, but her blush gave him a spark of hope. Perhaps he had not yet lost her after all.
As they exited the carriage, Phillip put his hands on his hips and looked proudly at the country manor before them. It was not as large as their home, but it was large for a house in the country. It sat at the top of a short hill, overlooking a lake and a field of wildflowers. Marina could hear the chatter of chickens mulling around in the yard and the babbling of a nearby brook. It was picturesque. She could clearly envision herself spending the fall and winter months here, taking long walks next to the water, and bringing her siblings here to swim during the summer.
“What is this place?” she asked.
“Yours,” Phillip answered, watching her with a proud smile. She whirled around to look at him.
“Mine?”
He nodded. “I have been looking for a property. A winter home for us so that we can spend time away from society without going too far from your family. I have another home that I often spend time at in Paris. Originally, I intended to live there full-time. But I have seen how much you care for your siblings, and I could not bring myself to leave you at our estate, cold and alone, nor rip you from those you love so dearly.”
“What of the home in Paris?”
