Page 31 of The Duke of Lies
“You sound skeptical,” Diana said, depositing herself on a chaise near the windows. She propped her feet up and rearranged her dressing gown to cover her legs.
Verity sat in her favorite wingbacked chair situated between one of the windows and the hearth and put her feet on a footstool. “I had no idea he even had a favorite book. In the months I knew him before he disappeared, I’d never known him to read anything.”
“Not even an estate ledger?”
“Goodness, no.”
“Couldhe read?” Diana asked.
Verity thought for a moment, then laughter bubbled from her chest. “I honestly don’t know. He must have.”
“I know you didn’t care for him,” Diana said slowly. “But I have to say he seems rather charming. I think Simon likes him.”
“Everyone likes him.” Verity couldn’t keep the bemusement from her tone. “It’s beyond peculiar, Diana. He simply isn’t the same man I married. It’s as if his entire personality was swept away by the ocean and replaced with someone else’s.”
Diana cocked her head to the side as she folded her arms in her lap. “How is he different?”
Verity leaned back against the chair and tried to categorize the ways. “That’s difficult because it really is in every single way. He’s much kinder, gentler, more patient, much more involved in the estate, and he knows things he didn’t before, such as how to build things, or is eager to learn them. Honestly, his thirst for knowledge is astounding. He’s absolutely thrown himself into the estate since his return.”
“That all sounds very good and positive. Are you unhappy about it?”
“No, it’s just strange.” Verity surrendered to the need to share all the suspicions that had crowded her mind over the past fortnight. “There are other things too. None of his clothes from before fit. He said it was because he’d changed physically after working on a ship, but Kirwin thinks he’s a bit taller, and I have to agree.”
Diana’s brow creased. “You don’t know for sure? I could tell you Simon’s exact height using my hand above my head.”
“Yes, well, your and Simon’s marriage is far different from mine.”
Diana winced. “I know, and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Verity sat forward and gave her an earnest look. “Please don’t feel badly. It’s not your fault. It pleases me so much to see you so happy.”
“Thank you.” Diana blushed. “I-I am happy. More than I ever thought I could possibly be.”
“And you deserve it after everything you’ve been through.” They’d been raised by awful men, brothers with a penchant for disparagement and other abuse, though Diana’s father was far worse than Verity’s. Both men presented a pleasant and affable face to the world, but to their families, they were ruthless.
“So do you. I sometimes think your time with Rufus, though short, was more terrible than the abuses I suffered with my father. But you’ve never revealed specific details.” Diana’s gaze was full of compassion. “And I am not asking you to.”
Verity appreciated that. Diana was the one person she could tell, but to share her shame wasn’t something she was sure she could do. Instead, she returned to the ways in which Rufus was different. “His boots didn’t fit either. I would guess his feet are too big.” She’d stared at his feet countless times since Kirwin had told her about him not wearing the nearly new boots.
“That is odd. You can explain gaining muscle while working on a ship, but a change in height or foot size seems inexplicable.”
“I will say that my feet did grow a bit after I had Beau. I feel I should share that with you given your condition.”
Diana stroked a hand over her belly. “Fascinating. My body will change in many ways, I suppose. I only hope Simon will still find me attractive.”
“I think you could turn into a weathered old hag, and he would only adore you more.”
Diana laughed. “Perhaps. He does seem enamored of me, but no more than I am of him. Goodness, it’s a bit revolting, isn’t it?”
No, it was wonderful. Envy burned Verity’s chest as she struggled to respond. “Not at all.”
Sobering, Diana knitted her hands together and settled them on her stomach. “So what do you think all this means? Could it simply be that he has changed? Simon asked him about it this afternoon.”
“He did?” Verity said sharply.
“Yes, is that bad? He only asked what had happened to improve his disposition. Or something like that.”
“Rufus doesn’t like discussing his time away.”
