Page 88 of The Duke's Spinster Bride
“Honestly, the poor girl has the most unfortunate complexion. And apparently her mother has tried everything, powders, tinctures, you name it and she has tried it. She is at her wits end.” His grandmother helped herself to one of the biscuits. “Are you not eating? Rather unlike you.”
Frederick’s frowned deepened, irritation bubbling to the surface. “Did you seriously come here just to talk about the latest ton gossip?”
His grandmother arched an eyebrow at him, crossing her ankles over each other. “What else would I be here to talk about?”
He gaped at her. “Oh, I do not know, maybe the fact that I let Andrea walk out of my life?”
“What you do with your wife is no business of mine.” She made a dismissive motion with her hand.
He ran a hand through his hair, his mind whirring. “You really expect me to believe that you did not come her to tell me to go after her? To call me a wool-brained fool for letting her leave in the first place?”
“And why would I do that? You know the situation far better than I do.” She wrinkled her nose at the tea and then added another measure of whatever was in her flask before smacking her lips together. “Besides, you are a duke and no one should tell a duke what to do.”
“As though that has ever stopped you.” Frederick felt as though he was trapped in some sort of alternate world.I must be going mad.
“I do not tell you what to do, dear boy. I simply… encourage you to do the things you already want to do.” She took another sip of her drink.
“So you are not going to tell me that I should have put up more of a fight? That Andrea is the best thing that ever happened to me.” He got to his feet and began to pace around the study, not looking at his grandmother. “You are not going to tell me that I am making the biggest mistake of my life?”
This is your home. Not anymore.The words bounced around his head, the sound of slamming doors echoing in between the sound of each of his steps.
His grandmother sipped her tea and replaced the cup on the saucer before crossing her hands on her lap. “Whatever for?”
“To convince me to go after her! You are the one who says that love is the thing that makes life worth living. I expected you to tell me that I was a complete and utter fool. I thought you would march in here, grab me by the ear and tell me to pull myself together.”
“Well, you know how I love to subvert expectations.” His grandmother’s lip quirked upwards. “Life would be terribly dull if I started behaving predictably.”
He thrust his hands into his pockets, kicking at the floor. “You are supposed to be berating me! Calling me all kinds of names and telling me that this is the biggest mistake I will ever make.”
“That sounds far too melodramatic for me to say.” His grandmother sniffed disdainfully.
“Argh.” He let out a frustrated growl, throwing his hands up in frustration.
The small box tumbled from his pocket, landing on the floor and bursting open. Something shiny glittered on the floor in front of him.
He picked it up, still speaking. “I expected you to tell me that I was being a coward and – and…”
He trailed off as he realised what he was holding in his hand. It was a cygnet ring, and beneath it was a tiny canvas with a dazzling blue eye.
He turned it over in his hand, a note falling into it. It was folded so small, he struggled to unfold it without breaking it.
You never did get yourself an engagement ring. And as I have finally captured the blue of your eyes, it seemed like the perfect time to propose. You are my real husband, after all. May this ring remind you of that.
His heart tumbled into his stomach, as he slipped it onto his finger. Realisation dawned on him, and he smacked himself hard in the head. “Oh God.”
“I knew you would get there in the end.” He glanced over to see his grandmother looking so smug he could not help but laugh.
“I cannot believe I have been such a fool.” He tugged at his hair.
It has been days, days since I let her go.Why had he let her go? Why had he just let her slam the door and leave? He should have gone after her.
She wanted him. He wanted her. He loved her.
“I can. Men often are.” She smiled fondly. “And your grandfather was the biggest fool of them all, God rest his soul.”
He swept towards her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You will have to forgive me, but there is somewhere else I need to be. I have to make things right.”
“You really should shave, dear boy. I doubt your wife will take kindly to whatever this is.” She wrinkled her nose.
