Page 81 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it is a little like dealing with a toddler. Albeit, a very tall, very strong toddler.”
“I am not a child.”
“No, but you are drunk, and the two things are rather indistinguishable from one another.”
“Children should not drink.”
“No they should not. And you should perhaps drink a little less.”
“I can do what I want.”
“And you have just proved my point. This is excellent practice for when we have children of our own.”
Andrea inhaled sharply. Her blood ran cold as she looked up at him. Her father’s parting words bursting into her mind.You killed your mother. What kind of mother do you think a wretch like you would be?
“Children?” Andrea breathed. “You want children?”
“Not right now, of course. We have already established you are far too drunk for that. But some day.” He turned towards her and frowned apparently just realising how still she had become. “Why?”
You will never be happy.Her father’s eyes glinted in her mind. She clutched at her chest. Where had the air gone? Why was it so hard to breathe?
“Andrea? Are you all right?” Frederick’s eyes widened as she faced her. “Do you need to be sick? I can fetch a chamber pot – just.”
“I do not want children.” The words tumbled out of her before she could stop them.
Frederick arched an eyebrow at her, bemusement clear on his face. “That is okay. As I said, it is not something we need to think about just yet, there is plenty of time still.”
She shook her head, but it only made the world around her feel more fuzzy, more confusing. Swallowing, she closed her eyes and said, “I… I am not sure I want to be a mother.”
In the darkest corner of her mind, she swore she heard her father laughing.
ChapterTwenty-Eight
“It is okay if you are not sure, like I said, there is still plenty of time for us to decide on when to have a child.” Frederick’s ran a hand through his hair as he looked at Andrea, and he tried to give her a reassuring smile.
He could feel her stiffen in his grip. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he frowned at her. He followed as her eyes darted between him and the top of the stairs. Her fingers were white around the banister.
He tried to guide her towards the door and into the bedroom, but she was rooted to the spot.
“I mean… I am not sure I ever want to be a mother.” Andrea was not looking at him, instead, staring at the floor.
The slight haze of the alcohol lifted from him as the world snapped into clear focus. His hands dropped from her sides. He shook his head, trying to understand.
“You… You do not want children? At all?” he asked.
It made no sense. She wanted to be with him, she had said she wanted a real marriage. Children were a part of that. The memory of the bank accounts he had discovered resurfaced. The ones in male names.The ones she tried to hide.
Ice spread through his veins. Every hair on his body stood at attention. He was aware of Andrea resting against his arm. He heard her voice as though from a great distance.
“Let’s talk about this in the morning. We… We were having such a nice evening.” Her fingers closed around his wrist but he jerked from her grasp.
He shook his head, retreating further from the steps. “I thought you wanted a real marriage.”
He stumbled as she approached him, twisting as she reached out. He felt as though he had swallowed a barrel full of eels.How could I have been such a fool?
“I do.” She gestured towards the door with one of her hands, her voice imploring. “Please, Frederick, let’s talk about this in the morning.”
