Page 30 of Married to a Wicked Duke
“I cannot wait to try them,” said Veronica excitedly. “I have never had so many colors to choose from before.”
“Is the room large enough for you?” he asked. “There is a bigger space on the other side of the hallway, but I thought the view of the garden would inspire you.”
Suddenly overcome with affection for him, Veronica reached impulsively for his hand. His fingers felt warm between hers. At the feel of him, her pulse began to quicken. “This room is perfect,” she said. “I cannot thank you enough.” She met his eyes. “I do not think anyone has ever done anything quite so thoughtful for me before.”
His grip on her hand tightened almost imperceptibly. “Well,” he said, his voice husky, “a gifted artist like you should have the means to make the most of her talents.”
Affection swelled in Veronica’s chest.
What if Gemma was right? What if life is about to surprise me? What if I have chance to find love with my husband after all?
The thought was almost frightening, and it caught her off guard. But Veronica could not deny the warmth she was feeling for this man. Nor could she ignore the way her body had come to life at the feel of his skin against hers. She felt her gaze pulling towards his lips. Felt a faint tug between her thighs.
The Duke reached out and cupped her cheek with his palm, his thumb tracing a path across her smooth skin. He stepped closer to her; so close she could feel the warmth of his body. So close his breath tickled her nose. Veronica felt a tightening in her belly. An ache in her breasts. Felt a sudden, desperate desire for him to kiss her again.
Veronica heard her own loud inhalation. She knew what was required of her as a wife, of course—her older sister had made sure she would not face any surprises on her wedding night. And while she was undoubtedly nervous at the prospect of sharing her bed—and her body—with a man, those nerves were almost overridden by excitement. Overridden by the need for him she could feel building in her core.
She could feel the way her husband’s eyes were drinking her in. And some part of her knew that he was aching for her body as much as she was for his.
“Your Grace,” she said softly, her heart thundering, “my quarters are very beautiful, and I thank you for them. But I wondered if…” she swallowed, “if we are to share a bed as husband and wife?”
After a long second, she saw a look of hardness fall over his eyes. He stepped back, letting his hand fall from her face. “Ours is a marriage of convenience, madam,” he said stiffly. His voice was cold and expressionless. “A marriage in nothing more than name.”
Veronica’s eyes widened. What had happened to the warm, considerate Duke she had been speaking to moments ago? “Your Grace?” she squeaked.
“I have neither the time nor the inclination to entertain a lady who wishes to play house.” He began to stride towards the door, making it clear the conversation was over. And making it more than clear that they would not be sharing a bed—on their wedding night or any night. “I have seen to it that you have extremely comfortable quarters of your own,” he told Veronica brusquely. “I suggest you make the most of them.”
ChapterTwelve
Veronica woke with the dawn the next morning. After the Duke’s terse words yesterday afternoon, he had disappeared into his own studio, leaving his new wife to her own devices. Unable to bear the sight of her husband, she had asked for her dinner to be brought to her room and had locked herself away in there for the rest of the night.
During the night, Veronica had alternated between tears and raw anger—both at the Duke and at herself. How could she have been so foolish to think even for a second that they might grow to love each other? Her husband had made it clear he would never let anyone through the walls of ice he had erected around himself.
“Ours is a marriage of convenience, madam.”
And that meant Veronica would never be a mother. And she would never have a chance to explore the depths of the desire the Duke had awoken within her. The thought brought a rush of fresh tears and she hurriedly wiped them away.
After requesting her breakfast to be brought to her room, Veronica sent word to her sister, asking her to come and collect her. Gemma had told her to notify her when she had time to begin the mural on the wall of the orphans’ school, and Veronica could not think of any better way to take her mind off her heartless new husband, and the life that now lay out before her.
“What happened?” asked Gemma, the moment Veronica climbed into the coach.
Veronica smiled wryly. “Is it that obvious?”
Gemma shuffled along the bench so her shoulder was pressed to Veronica’s. She took her sister’s hand in her own. “I can tell you have been crying,” she said gently.
Veronica took a deep breath, determined not to cry again. “I do not know how I am going to do it,” she admitted. “I do not how I am going to survive being his wife.”
Gemma frowned. “Surely it cannot be so bad? Was he…too forceful, perhaps? Did he not take your needs into consideration?”
Veronica shook her head. “Nothing like that. In fact, he made it abundantly clear that we are married in name only. He wants nothing to do with me. Last night, he…” She faded out, not wanting the repeat her husband’s hurtful words, even in the company of her sister. “Well, after the wedding breakfast, I barely saw him. We did not even eat dinner together, let alone…. well… you know…” She closed her eyes. “And the things he said to me, Gemma. He just turned on me, like… Like this was all my fault.”
Gemma squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.” She bent her head to catch Veronica’s eyes. “Give him time. I’m sure this wedding was as much of a shock to him as it was to you. And, well, I have heard what they say about him being a something of a recluse. Surely it cannot be easy for him to suddenly be sharing his life with another person.”
Veronica sniffed. “I did not imagine you would take his side,” she admitted.
“Oh I am not taking his side,” Gemma assured her. “Believe me. If I saw him, I’d have very strong words for him about treating my little sister so poorly. He would rue the day he was born.”
Her words brought a faint smile to Veronica’s lips. “I just wanted a husband who would love me,” she sighed. “And now I have a husband who cannot even bear to be in the same room as me.”
