Page 30 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
“I remember the deal,” Dorian said, clearing his throat as he did. “And assuming nothing changes and all goes as planned, I don’t see why I will renege on our agreement.”
“Good,” she said a little too loudly. “That is… I just wanted to make sure.” And then, she laughed awkwardly.
Dorian said nothing at first.
Sitting behind his desk, leaning back, he wore the slightest of smirks as his eyes roamed her. She tried to stand tall, acting aloof, but she felt her body shake and her limbs tingle as those eyes drank her in. They paused on her waist, on her chest, and then on her lips. And his eyes flashed quickly, the meaning behind which felt a little too obvious.
The tension in the room grew as the silence settled.
Penelope found herself licking her lips.
Dorian’s smile widened, his eyes flashed again, then they held her in their unwavering stare, the sense that he was daring her to ask the question. That being, was she capable of doing such a thing as sleeping with him when the time came. How much did she really want that child…
“If that is all?” Dorian said finally, breaking the silence.
“Y – yes,” she stammered loudly, gasping to feel the tension break. “That is all.”
“Wonderful. Write to your cousin and let me know when they plan on arriving.”
“I will.”
“Good.” He looked at her, raising an eyebrow as she stared back blankly.
“Yes. Good. I will…” She gave her head a shake, feeling foolish – feeling like he could read her mind. “I will go.” And that was what she did.
She stumbled into the hallway, her breathing heavy, her body so hot that she was sweating. For two weeks they had managed to work together, able to avoid the elephant that sat big and awkward in the room between them. Maybe they both just assumed something would give before the time arrived? Maybe they had hoped it would?
Clearly, as things stood, both knew well that this deal of theirs would be fulfilled, just as both knew what that would mean.
I want a child. And Dorian is the only one who can give it to me. And that is all I want. I am not doing it because… it is not for… he knows why!
Penelope hurried through the house, her mind turning with anxiety. When she and Dorian were little more than strangers, things were simple, and that was how she liked it. Now she had no choice but to question if perhaps she was wrong to grow this close to him. Would it be easier if she kept her distance from now on? Surely it would be.
And for a brief second, she thought to do just that.
Then again… did she even want to keep her distance? Did she want it to be an emotionless transaction so that once they were done, she could go home and forget about the duke once and for all? If only she knew.
Whatever she decided, it would come to define not just their marriage but their entire future. A future together, or one apart? That was the question to which Penelope could not fathom an answer.
CHAPTER TEN
“And when are they arriving, exactly?” Barbara asked, and Dorian could hear the panic in his sister’s voice.
“In a couple of days,” he told her. “Likely, they will be here for a day or two before the party begins.”
Barbara nodded to herself, swallowing back what looked like a lump forming in her throat. “Good. That is… it will be nice to have more people in the house. Nice for you to have someone to bother, other than me for a change.”
Dorian cocked an eyebrow at his sister. “Is that what I do? Bother you?”
She shot him a wicked grin. “Almost constantly.”
He laughed gently and started into the room, making for where his sister was sitting on the bed. There, he sat beside her, restinga hand on her lap. “You know Albina and Joseph, Barbara. How many times have you met them?”
“They are your friends, not mine,” she said, speaking into her chest.
“Which is why you should get to know them better.”
With news that Joseph and his wife would be arriving in a few days’ time, Dorian had come to see his sister so that he might break the news to her personally. So that he might prepare her, as he knew she needed to be prepared.
