Page 82 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“Were you lying to me? Did you mean it?” He could hear the coldness in his voice, see the way it made her recoil.
A part of him begged him to let it pass, to do what he had always done and shrug it off, but he could not. He had trusted her, and what had that gotten him?
“Frederick, I… I meant what I said, but we never talked of children.” Andrea swallowed and looked at the floor. “I did not… I did not think you would want to…”
“You mean you hoped? You hoped I would not want children?” Frederick shook his head, running one hand along his jaw as a mirthless laugh escaped him.
“No – I – I said I am not sure that –” Andrea began but Frederick cut her off, holding up a hand as he narrowed his eyes at her. “You said you were not sure youeverwanted to be a mother, Andrea. Was that a lie?”
“No. I… A child is a big decision Frederick, I am allowed to have my doubts.” He saw anger burst to life in her eyes, stoking the curling, rancid emotion within his own chest.
Doubts.The word broke something inside of him. It was as though a door had slammed into place across his heart. He turned his gaze to Andrea, and she met his gaze, chin jutting forwards.
“How long have you had these doubts?” His voice was little more than an icy hiss.
“What?” She took a step away from him, a hand going to her chest.
“How long Andrea?” He twisted his mouth in disgust, turning away from her. “Actually, do not answer that. I know the truth. You have had one foot out the door this entire time.”
“Frederick, no, that is not true!” She grabbed his arm and he tugged free of her grasp.
“Liar!” He roared as he rounded on her, his heart exploding in his chest. “Those herbs by your bedside… They were to prevent pregnancy, were they not?”
Her eyes widened; it was all the confirmation he needed. He clutched a hand to his stomach as it roiled and burbled. He knew she was saying something, could feel her tugging at his arm but he shook her off. The pounding of blood in his ears drowned everything out.
“I know about your secret bank accounts Andrea. Or should I say, Andrew Cowper.” He sneered as all the colour drained from her face.
“How do you know about those?” Andrea breathed.
“You kept them from me, all this time. I was stupid enough to convince myself it meant nothing, that I was being paranoid, but now I see that I was right.” He pointed a finger at her. “They were your exit strategy.”
“You are wrong. That is not… That is not why I have those accounts.” She let out a frustrated growl.
He rolled his eyes. “Do you really think I am that stupid?”
“You are acting like it!” She shouted. “If you would just give me a chance to explain things.”
“Why? So I can listen to more of your lies?” His voice broke with emotion and he turned away from her. “Was this just some sick little game to you? Was I some passing amusement?”
“Do you really think that little of me?” Andrea shook before him, every muscle in her radiating with barely suppressed rage. “Do you think I am the kind of woman who delights in toying with other people’s hearts?”
“I have no idea what kind of woman you are. Clearly, I do not know you at all.” Frederick dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands, relishing the pain that flowed through him, using it to fight the lump that threatened to form in his throat.
“Nor I you. You are not the man I thought you were.” Andrea hugged her arms tightly around herself, shifting her weight from foot to foot.
“I thought you wanted to see me for who I am. What? Is it not what you expected?” He let out a bark of laughter that sounded more like a screech of pain. “Sorry to be such a disappointment.”
Every word dripped with sarcasm as he bowed to her. His eyes drifted across the floor and when he looked up, he saw her standing by the bedroom door, both hands curled into fists.
Her words were little more than a whisper, but they cut through the silence like a knife through butter. Her eyes pinned him to the spot, like an insect in a display case, forcing all the air from his lungs. “Do not act like it is you who is the disappointment.”
Frederick wet his lips with the tip of his tongue. “Are you trying to imply that you are the disappointment?”
“I am not implying it, simply stating the fact. You claim that I see you as a disapointment, yet it is clear you are placing your own feelings onto me.” She inhaled deeply, shaking her head. “You are the one acting like I have done wrong. Like I am the villain in this tale, simply because I said I was not sure I wanted to have children.”
“And how am I supposed to behave when my wife tells me she has no wish to be a mother?” He crossed his arms over his chest, not caring if it made him look petulant.
The blood rushing in his ears dulled his senses, and yet he could still hear her words with perfect clarity. “I do not know, but perhaps you could stop treating it as though it as simple as breathing air.”
