Page 40 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
“I am sure it is perfectly—Ow!” Rowen plopped down into the chair and winced. “Good Lord, did they pad this with bricks?”
“I told you so.” Tobias laughed at the look on her face.
“You need not be so smug about it.” Rowen stood up and rubbed her backside.
Tobias shrugged, feeling the tension in his muscles ease as things popped and cracked in a satisfying way. “I just enjoy being right.”
“Well, I thought the chair would be to your liking, seeing as you do not care for extravagance or frills.” She gestured to the bit of furniture.
“If I must have an armchair, then it must at least be comfortable.” He wrinkled his nose in distaste. “That is both ugly and uncomfortable.”
“What about that one?” She pointed to another armchair that looked even worse.
Tobias gave her a sidelong look. “Do you actually like it, or are you just trying to wind me up?”
“Me? Wind you up? Perish the thought.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, clutching a hand to her chest.
He felt the corners of his mouth quirk up and shook his head, turning away from her. “I think this one would be better.”
“And you accused me of having taste like a maiden aunt,” she teased. “That looks like it belongs in a gentlemen’s club on the brink of bankruptcy.”
“And how would you know what furniture belonged in a gentlemen’s club?” Tobias cocked his head.
Rowen’s ears turned red. “A woman never reveals her secrets.”
“But we are married, and everyone knows that such things are not kept between a man and his wife.” He leaned towards her.
“Do you mean to tell me you have told me all of your secrets?” She shook her head. “I doubt it.”
“I am an open book.”
“If that is true, then I am the Queen of England.”
“Your Majesty.” He executed an overly formal and deep bow, sweeping out an imaginary cloak behind him.
She threw her hands up in the air. “You are utterly ridiculous.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a mocking bow.
“It is not a compliment.”
He shrugged. “From you, even the harshest word seems a most kind and generous compliment.”
“How do you always manage to say such nice things in the most irritating way?” She pursed her lips, and her eyes flashed. Though whether it was with amusement or frustration, Tobias was not sure.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I am exceptionally talented.”
“And so very humble.”
“Of course.”
Before he could say anything else, a loud voice called, “That is the one! It is perfect!”
Tobias turned to see a fat, red-faced man pointing to quite possibly the ugliest table he had ever seen. Beside him was a petite, mousey-haired woman who was nodding her head excitedly.
“Yes, darling. Oh, you have such a good eye for this sort of thing.” She patted the man’s arm. “It is so elegant, so beautiful. We will be the talk of the ton!”
“Yes, Cissy, we certainly will. It will go perfectly with these chairs.” The man gestured to several nearby chairs that clashed so violently with the table that it looked like they were at war.
