Page 37 of Captured By the Cold Duke
“Of course,” Cherie said quickly—perhaps too quickly because the earl raised an eyebrow.
“Indeed,” he said, lingering on the word like a cat stalking its prey. “And when shall we be wishing you congratulations on producing an heir to the duchy?”
“My lord!” Cherie gasped. She could feel herself growing pink in the face. To ask a lady such a question was a great impertinence, and from a man she hardly knew, like Lord Rochford, it was deeply inappropriate.
However, he didn’t look at all abashed as he raised an eyebrow. “You can’t blame me for asking,” he said. “After all, it is my business whether or not you and the duke produce an heir. Without one, I am the heir to the duchy.”
“I am well aware of that,” Cherie said coldly. “But I would kindly ask you to refrain from inquiring into matters of such a deeply personal nature.”
“We are family now, Your Grace. There is no need to stand on ceremony with your own cousin.” Rochford’s leer made her skin crawl, but Cherie tried to force herself to remain calm.
“We might be family now, but we are not so close as that.”
Rochford spread his hands wide. “Well, I hope you will keep me informed as to when we can expect such happy news. I’d like to know as soon as possible whether or not my position in life is changing drastically.”
“Well then, you’ll be waiting a long time,” Cherie said without thinking. The moment the words left her lips, she was filled with horror and mortification.
Why did I say that? I just gave him everything he wanted to know!
Rochford leaned forward at once, interest gleaming in his eyes. “Is that so?” he asked, his eyes sweeping over her. “And is there a particular reason why I will be waiting so long to find out if you are with child?”
“I only meant—” Cherie tried to think quickly. “I only meant that it takes some months to be sure of such a delicate situation.”
“Indeed.” But Rochford didn’t look convinced, and Cherie felt herself redden even more. He was watching her with narrowed eyes, and she got the terrible feeling that he could see through her mask and glean all her secrets. “You know, I am an amateur herbalist myself,” he said at last. “And I would be happy to mix a potion for you that might help inspire the duke to action… if that is what he requires. Or, if the problem is you, I have many remedies already at my disposal that clients have found helpful.”
“There is no problem!” Cherie said shrilly. “With either of us!” But she knew she sounded guilty as charged.
He knows. He knows that Thomas and I are not living as man and wife.
“The dukeisinterested in producing an heir, isn’t he?” Rochford asked after a moment, and Cherie’s heart began to race. Her hands suddenly felt wet, and the back of her neck prickled with sweat as well.
“Of course he is,” she said, trying to keep her voice as even-keeled as possible. “Why wouldn’t he be?”
The earl shrugged, but there was a steely glint in his eyes that Cherie didn’t like at all. “Perhaps he feels that his line is not worthy to pass on.”
Cherie frowned, the vagueness of this statement grating against her. “Why would his line be unworthy?” she snapped. “He is one in a long line of dukes. He comes from one of the most illustriousfamilies in the realm. A son of his would be from a far better line than a cousin such as yourself.”
But her attempt to get the earl riled up didn’t work. Instead, a strange look once more came over Rochford’s eyes, almost as if he knew something that she did not. It made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. But after a long moment, the earl shrugged again, and the look in his eyes vanished.
“The duke’s relationship with the late duke was strained,” he said lightly. “Fathers and sons can have such complex feelings about one another. It can even make some sons wonder if it is such a good idea to become a father.”
Cherie leaned forward. She could feel the anger rising in her, and she suddenly knew that she had to go on the offense. “You had a difficult relationship with your father, didn’t you?” she said, her voice low but firm. “Tell me, my lord, does that make you not want to be a father?”
The earl blinked, clearly taken aback that she was privy to this information, but he recovered quickly.
“Yes, my father and I didn’t get along,” he said at last. “But at least he saw me as a proper son.”
“What does that mean?” Cherie asked sharply.
The earl smiled. “There is much your husband doesn’t tell you, isn’t there?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cherie said through gritted teeth. “Either speak plainly or don’t speak at all.”
“It’s as I thought,” he said, smiling contemptuously and leaning back against the sofa. “You should ask the duke more about his relationship with the late duke. I think you would find it… informative.”
“The duke has told me plenty about his relationship with his father,” Cherie said coldly. “I know the late duke was a cruel man, which is why it makes sense he favored you at one point. The current Duke of Wheaton isnota cruel man, and if that made his father dislike him, then I will take that as a compliment to my husband.”
“Indeed.” Once more, the earl spread his hands wide. “I’m sure you know much more than I do. But I was very close to the late duke, Your Grace, and I know there were moments when he did not feel as if Thomas was anything like him.”
