Page 33 of Captured By the Cold Duke
“I’m sure they loved that.”
“Exactly,” she snorted. “They retaliated by spreading rumors that I was difficult and selfish. A perfectionist who never thought anyone was good enough for her.”
Thomas mulled this over. “You always were abitof a perfectionist growing up,” he said, smiling slightly. “But I always liked that about you.”
She gave him an annoyed look. “Yes, well, that streak of perfectionism led me to be ostracized by most of the men of theton, and hence being in a position to be married off to Lord Rochford, and hence?—”
“Ending up as my wife?”
She gave him a dubious look. “Well, yes.”
“The men of thetonare foolish if they fear a woman simply because she’s a perfectionist,” he said dismissively. “That reflects more on their own characters. They are afraid you will find them wanting—which you probably would—and therefore avoid you to find women of weaker characters who will tell them what they want to hear and flatter their egos. Trust me, you are better off without any of those men.”
She tilted her head to one side and gave him a coy smile. “Am I better off with you, then?”
“But of course.” He smiled widely. “I appreciate you.”
Her smile faltered, and he remembered that they were not even living as proper husband and wife.
You idiot, he chided himself. But he was determined not to let this ruin the moment.
“Those gentlemen were terrible to spread those rumors about you,” he said. “And I’m very sorry you had to experience that.”
“Thank you,” she said, very quietly.
He thought for a moment, then said, “And while it is perhaps less extreme than what Lord Dawson did, I think both are symptoms of the same disease: the disease of thinking that, as a gentleman, you are entitled to whatever you want from a lady. You heard Lord Dawson: he thought that because Lady Chastity had shown interest in him and ‘teased him’—which I know she had not—he was entitled to whatever he wanted from her. Those gentlemen who spread those rumors did the same thing: they wanted your hand in marriage, and when you expressed your own desire and said no, they couldn't bear it.”
“I hadn’t thought of it exactly that way,” she said slowly, “but I have noticed that these past few days, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how they treated me. Their words, the way theyinsulted me when I told them I didn’t want to marry them, keep repeating in my head. I have been surprised by how much Lord Dawson’s behavior brought up those memories. So, I think you are right: they are cut from the same cloth.”
“It sounds as if you are traumatized. And that Lord Dawson’s actions brought it up again.”
“Yes.” Cherie gave him a small, sad smile. “I think you’re right.”
It was quiet for a moment, and Thomas had to fight the urge to reach out and take his wife’s hand.
He began to eat his breakfast, an unaccustomed feeling of satisfaction filling him up. After several minutes of silence, he looked back up, only to see Cherie watching him, with an anxious, shy look on her face. The moment he caught her staring, she colored and looked back down at her plate.
“Was there something else?” he asked after a moment. It was odd for Cherie to struggle to say something. It was something he had always liked about her: she had an opinion about most things, and she was never afraid of making it known. As she’d demonstrated amply since their marriage.
“Well… yes.” Her cheeks grew pinker, and his puzzlement at her strange behavior grew as well. She glanced up at him. “My friends and I were wondering if you wanted to join us in our board game tonight.”
“Oh!” Thomas had not been expecting this, and he was a little flattered. “Are you sure you want me there?”
“Well… again, it was Samantha’s idea,” Cherie said quickly. “She thought that Chastity might be more comfortable if you were there.”
“Really?” This surprised Thomas quite a bit. “I would think my presence might be distressing for her, as it might remind her of that horrible day…”
“On the contrary, according to Minerva, she has been nothing but excited to see you again. She believes you to be the most chivalrous and honorable man in theton, after how you saved her.” His wife’s eyes twinkled. “In fact, Ithinkshe might have a little bit of a crush on you.”
“Oh, Lord.” Thomas felt his cheeks grow pink. “I very much hope she doesn’t!”
“Why?” Cherie raised an eyebrow. “Because you’re taken.”
“And because she’s the sister of my wife’s best friend!” Thomas said, his cheeks now blazing. “And it’s mortifying…”
“Relax,” Cherie said, laughing. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Ladies just tend to get a little fond of the men who save them.”
“You didn’t,” Thomas pointed out. “When I saved you from being ruined.” He grinned as her mouth opened in surprise and then narrowed to a thin line in annoyance.
