Page 36 of Married to the Forbidden Duke
“Why, so you can ensure they won’t come to fruition?”
“If you suspect me of that, why invite me at all?”
“Need I remind you that you’re my wife? And as my wife, you have a right to these events if you should so choose. I would not deny you.”
She frowned at him. “Even if I were to act against you?”
“That isyourdecision, not mine.”
“And you would do nothing to stop me?”
He held her gaze steadily at the top of the stairs. “You accused me of acting in my own interests by helping you. Perhaps this will show you that I am determined to offer you what I can even when it threatens to damage my own interests.”
Her breath caught and her cheeks flushed. She turned back to the stairs, chewing her lip, and he studied her profile as he helped her down the steps, content to leave the conversation there. Of course, he doubted that she would stand up and argue with a collection of lords, particularly when they were debating political matters. But he did rather wonder what her active mind would make of it all.
“My ambitions are to finally take my place in politics and bring about reform.” He slanted a glance at her. “Not everyone in there agrees.”
“About what in particular?”
“Well, our voting system is neither fair nor representative. It is very easy for me to sit back and do nothing about it, but while I have a voice in politics, there are many who do not.” He pursed his lips. “And in my experience, owning land is not the only valuable qualifier to know if a man has the best interests of the country at heart.”
She was looking at him as though she had never seen him before. “You wish to overthrow your own place in the world?”
“Is that what you think? If we were to extend the vote to all men, would that really be so bad?” he asked.
“Even men who have no training in politics?” she replied.
“Speaking from experience, my dear,” he said dryly, “there are plenty of men likethatwithin the gentry.”
“But why does it benefit you?”
“We all remember France. The ordinary people cannot be silenced. They must have a choice. Reform is an easier path to take than something more drastic. We still have nobility, and we still have a king. It would be a shame to lose both merely becausewe are too short-sighted to know when our people will no longer stand for corruption within our government.”
“Those are strong words,” she murmured, as though testing him.
“They are.”
“And you believe them?”
“If I did not, we would not be having this conversation.” They reached the bottom of the stairs, and he looked at her. “How are you? Are you well? Does your leg pain you?”
“No more than usual.” The mention of her leg sent heat flooding her cheeks once again, and he wondered if she, too, was thinking of that time in the carriage. Seeing that it put a new spin on the way she had been avoiding him. It was clear shewantedto despise him. And if anything made her less inclined to do so, she avoided it. A form of protection, he supposed.
He would break down those walls brick by brick if he had to.
He did feel strongly about political reform, but more than that, he wanted to live a life worthy of respect. To prove to her—and anyone else watching—that he was not the same man who had caused the accident all those years ago.
He might never be able to erase what he had done, but he would take steps to repair the fallout of his damages. Somehow, in time, the good he did would outweigh the bad.
And one day, he hoped his fiery wife might see that.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Alice left her hand resting lightly on Frederick’s arm as they entered his dining room. Although she didn’t like to admit it, his steady presence made her feel more stable, even with her stick. And he barely seemed to notice her weight, or the way she leaned on him in support.
The necessary introductions were made and Alice prepared herself to preside over the dinner table. This was another responsibility that she had never been taught—hosting her husband’s political dinners. The gentlemen, all starched and middle-aged and beyond, all stared at her with open interest, then proceeded to largely ignore her. Their implication was clear: she had no role here save to smile, look pretty, and ensure that the gentlemen had everything they needed.
She held her glass of wine in her gloved hands and considered how she might go about this evening. Frederick had shocked her with his defense of ordinary people—people she had not thought a Duke would ever consider.Reform. She had sparedlittle thought for politics during her transient and chaotic life, but now she thought perhaps she ought to have done.
