Page 73 of The Duke's Indecent Match
Some days, he was uncertain whether his anger at his father was more for shattering that illusion or for the mess he’d left them in.
As the carriage rumbled back down the drive, Nathanial turned away from the window.He had a lot of work to do, and for once, it was not pinching pennies or scrounging or tearing his hair out over lack.
Instead, he would finally have funds… and he wanted to ensure that he did far better to provide for his family than his father had.He’d already prioritized the debts they still owed—he’d done that ages ago—but the amount his wife’s dowry provided went well beyond that.
He had investments he wanted to make.
He had a list of things he wanted to do for the Hall.
He had a list of staff heneededto hire and an even longer list hewantedto hire.
Neither of which had gotten as much attention from him as the debts.
Nathanial needed to figure out what he could do to improve their lives, the estate, and balance that with an eye toward the future.
He had barely gotten into it before there was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”Lifting his head, he tried not to show his impatience.It was rare he got to enjoy tending to finances or be excited about it.The interruption was not entirely welcome, but with his family out of the house, it could only be one of the Milfords.
Miss Milford opened the door and stepped in.Her expression was particularly blank.
“Your Grace,” she said, bobbing a curtsy.“I came to confirm to you that her grace’s sheet was marked, as expected.”
“Thank you, Miss Milford,” he said, and she bobbed another curtsy, taking herself out the door and shutting it firmly behind her.
Despite his eagerness to get back to the accounts, Nathanial leaned back in his chair, turning the news over in his mind.He’d felt certain, last night, that his wife had been a virgin, but he’d still asked for confirmation.Thinking about his wife brought him a certain amount of tension, and he’d thought that might be the worry…
Now that he had the confirmation, he knew that the question of his wife’s virginity had not been his concern.There was no loosening of tension, no release of frustration.Ithadoccurred to him that one reason for trapping a duke might have been because she was already with child… but he had not truly believed it.
Not thought it fitting her character.
But considering her first deception, he’d wanted to be sure.
If only his new certainty made him feel any better.
Last night had been another kind of revelation.Her passion, her obedience…
But he’d also discovered what a light sleeper she was.
When he’d entered her room, she’d been still, her breathing even.Yet she’d woken as he’d approached the bed, before he’d even come alongside it, giving herself away.Perhaps she no longer felt the need for deception, but it had confirmed the initial one.
No wonder he’d felt the urge to spank her at that moment.He’d barely been able to tolerate hearing her voice.And yet that urge had eventually been subsumed by the desire to kiss her.She’d been everything he could have wanted in a wife on their wedding night.
If only it had come about in a different manner.
Well.At least he did not have to worry about a cuckoo in his nest.Which should have made him feel far better than it did.
But he was still left with the question—why him?
27
Kalina
The carriage was well sprung and extremely comfortable.She had not recognized the coat of arms on the door, but a little questioning of Hereford’s sisters made for easy conversation on the way into the village.The Earl of Harrington was one of their neighbors who frequently allowed them to borrow a horse or the carriage when they needed.From the careful way Julianna phrased her explanation, it was clear they tried not to tax his generosity.He was not often in the country, though his wife had spent most of her time there with her daughter until the daughter married Lord Hyde.
Learning about the neighbors took up most of the drive to the village, which had not been on the road Kalina had ridden in on, so she stared out the window in curiosity.She was not entirely sure how to judge by English standards, but it seemed a rather large village, bustling with activity and people.
The carriage came to a halt in front of a shop with a large glass window, dresses and fabric displayed in it.A moment later, the footman who had accompanied the coachman was opening the door to the carriage.Fiona squealed with excitement, bouncing in her seat, and her joy was infectious as the others disembarked from the carriage.She put a smile on all of their faces, as well as several passersby.
