Page 24 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
When she glanced into his eyes, she saw a dark look in them that she had never seen before. His jaw was set, and he held her firm, closer than was strictly necessary for a waltz. Yet it did not feel like a cage.
His body language reminded her of a bodyguard, eyes alert for any potential threat. She swallowed, a mix of emotions filling her.
“Are you all right?” The Duke’s voice was strained with emotion.
“I will be. Though you are holding me rather closely, more than is entirely proper.” She pointed out.
She had meant it to sound light, but it came out more wobbly than she had intended.
“Propriety be damned.” He growled, the ferocity in his voice sending shivers down her spine. “Does he always speak to you like that?”
“Who?”
“Your Father.” He spat the word like it was poison.
“It does not matter.”
“It does to me.” His voice was softer than she expected, his eyes searching her face as though looking for signs of injury. “Has he spoken to you like that before? Has he hurt you?”
She swallowed, the intensity of his gaze piercing her. She tried to smile, but she could not. There was a pained expression on the Duke’s face that shook her.
She shook her head, unable to break free of his gaze. “He was drunk.”
“That is no excuse.” His voice was full of iron.
“You need not concern yourself.”Just leave it alone.She still could not turn from him.
“Did he hurt you? Just now? Has he hurt you before?”
“I am unharmed, he did not touch me earlier.”Not in any way that matters.She chewed on her bottom lip.
“But he has before?” Duke Caverton’s voice was soft.
“Leave it be, Frederick.” Andrea breathed.
His face softened for a moment, the use of his Christian name seeming to touch some part of him. “He has hurt you before.”
It was not a question. Andrea said nothing. The Duke’s muscles were so tense she was surprised he could still dance. He was practically vibrating with emotion.
“He will not hurt you again. Not while I am here.” His voice was edged with uncontrolled rage. “If he so much as looks at you, I will break him like a twig.”
The music stopped and they broke apart. Andrea shook her head. Her breathing was ragged. It felt as though there were a vice around her chest.
She could tell by the wild look in his eyes that he meant every word. The pain on his face scared her more than his anger. He wanted to protect her, to keep her safe.
I want him to keep me safe.
“No.” Her eyes were wide and she wrenched herself away from him, shaking slightly.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she rubbed her arms, trying to calm the blind panic that filled her. Her own muscles tensed like a deer getting ready to flee the hunter.
I cannot let this happen.She could not bring herself to look at him as her eyes filled with tears. “No. That was not the agreement.”
“You are my wife.” His voice had lost all of its rough edge.
It drew her gaze like a moth to a flame. The wildness of the moment before had vanished, and in its place was only pain. His features were soft with it, and it broke something inside of her.
“Only on paper.” She realised she was reaching towards him, as though to lay a hand on his chest and hastily curled her fingers into a fist, drawing it to her own heart. “He ismyfather.Iwill deal with him.”
