Page 65 of Married to the Forbidden Duke
“I’ve always had a good head for numbers.” She chewed on her lip, and he forced his attention from her face back down to the paper she held in her hand. The numbers from the latest crops. The market prices had gone down, particularly on milk and wool, and although he was in no trouble yet, he would have to think about the best ways to proceed.
“Well, do you care to assist me?” he offered. “I have my steward look over my calculations, but if you can do it, then that would certainly be more convenient. And I’m open to any suggestions you may have. Once the Season is over, we can travel to the country and you can see the land for yourself.”
Her eyes gleamed. “I would like that very much.”
“But I must stay here until the end of the summer,” he shrugged. “I’ll return for the August shooting season, but not before.”
Her expression stilled somewhat. “Your reputation?”
“It has improved over recent weeks, at least somewhat, but it’s not enough.” His father would not be satisfied with that meager improvement. He had lost so much of the respect his name was due—and while he knew much of it was his own fault, he could not stop trying to fix it.
“We can attend another ball together?” she suggested. “I can play the model wife. The model Duchess, even.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“Besides,” she added with a sly smile, “you have yet to speak with Lord Denshire and convince him to let Helena marry dear Mr. Kingsley.”
Frederick groaned, slumping back on his armchair and patting his lap. To his delight, she settled there. “I shall meet with him tomorrow,” he promised. “And I will do what I can.”
“Good.” She kissed the side of his neck. “I will leave the house and go riding, I think. That way, I won’t make Lord Denshire uncomfortable.”
“You don’t make him uncomfortable,” he gave her a sideways glance.
“He doesn’t like me.”
Frederick wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. “He doesn’t like the risk that you have posed to myreputation. That’s not the same thing. Remember, the first time he met you, you charged into my wedding and accused me of ruining your life to the extent that all of London was filled with rumors about how I must have seduced you.”
She snorted. “At least it should be obvious now that you haven’t gotten me with child.”
No, he hadn’t, although that was still a dream of his. Still, he could accept that it would come in time, and now was not the moment for that conversation.
“That’s something,” he agreed. “And now we’ve chosen to put the past behind us, he can have no more issues with you. Just be patient with him. He’s defended me, rather avidly, for as long as I can remember.”
“Well, I can respect that. A friend who remains loyal through thick and thin is a good friend to have indeed.” She tensed, then sighed. “I am sorry for ruining your wedding.”
“I am not.” He held her closer. “You cannot conceive how lost I was then. The only way to make amends I knew was to marry well.”
“Instead, you married me.”
“And I was able to make amends in a far more satisfying way.” He kissed her hair. “Although, I do wish you had gone about it in a slightly different manner.”
“I have no doubt,” she said dryly. “When you came to the house, my uncle thought you were going to demand financial recompense.”
“Well, I was. I hadn’t put you together with the girl I had visited once after the accident. It was only afterward that I knew, and I could hardly fail in my duty to marry you then.”
“How perverse it seemed at the time.”
“Yes, you made that perfectly clear. But would you have rather things had been different?”
A long pause as she thought. He did his best not to tense or let his thoughts get the better of him.
“No,” she said eventually. “If you hadn’t offered for me, I would have been stuck in my uncle’s house with nothing to do but sit and embroider. My cousin was due to go to London, you know—she must be here now, but my aunt has not so much as written to say they have arrived.” She sighed again. “They were kind to me, in their own way, but they never understood me, and I believe they never thought of me as anything but a burden.”
“Then show them what youcanbe.” He nodded at the doorway. “Walk over there without your stick. I’ll be right behind you.”
After a moment, she rose from his lap and gripped the side of the desk to support herself. Then, her head held high, she walked with only a minor limp to the door.
When she turned back, her face was glowing with pride. He, too, glowed with pride, although he hadn’t moved from beside the desk.
