Page 65 of An Unwanted Virgin for the Duke
Meanwhile, the Marquess calmly scooted forward in his chair so that he could look squarely up at the Duke.
The moment was thick with tension.
The Marquess rose to acknowledge the Duke’s presence. Daphne shakily followed.
“Excellent timing. I was simply enlightening your wife on various topics of import, such as the hidden histories of the French court as well as the benefits of having a game of whist when you do decide to host a party.”
However, Adrian’s eyes were now fixed solely on his wife. Daphne could feel him studying her, probing her secrets. She felt her cheeks burn even though she had nothing to be ashamed of.
What is he doing?
What was he doing to her? He thought that she was betraying him with his friend, even though he was the one who was out almost every night.
“Duchess,” Adrian said, saying her title like an insult for the very first time. “I believe you may have some correspondence waiting for your attention in another room.”
“I—I don’t,” she protested.
“The Marquess of Amberwell and I have many things to discuss.” The dismissal became clearer and colder. He did not expect her to remain there.
Daphne had no choice but to rise, her heart heavy in her chest. She knew that anything that came from her would be listened to at the moment, not without suspicion. Anything she said would only fuel Adrian’s paranoia.
So, she gave Amberwell a brief nod before heading for the exit.
Adrian merely waited for Daphne, his wife, to leave the room. When he heard her footsteps fade in the distance, he lunged for Caleb’s arm. His grip was harder than he meant, but he was too furious and out of sorts. His fingers dug into the muscle, but his friend never fought back and didn’t say a word, either.
“We have an urgent matter to discuss, Amberwell,” Adrian growled.
Again, there was no answer, but he was not going to wait for any. He dragged Caleb out of the door and across the hall into his study.
“Wolfcrest! What in the blazes are you doing?” Caleb finally protested, as he stumbled a little on the way into the other room.
“You don’t get to ask that. I should be asking you what you were doing here.”
“I am merely looking out for your wife’s well-being. I know you’ve been frequenting The Obsidian Card lately, more than you should since Kettering can handle the place,” Caleb replied calmly.
“Oh, you were looking out for her?” Adrian asked, knowing that he was pushing their friendship too far. “Remember not to touch her. Your hand should not be on hers. Moreover, do not fill her head with sentimental nonsense. You have no business saving me or her but at least know that is not part of my darkness.”
“That’s why I am here, Adrian. Your darkness has not yet reached her.”
Adrian looked left and right inside his study, as if he could not believe he had dragged his friend all the way here to talk about what he felt.
He rubbed his face with one hand and took a deep breath. He still could not believe how he had let jealousy command his actions. It made him see things more clearly, and what he saw frightened him.
Two hours later, Adrian left the townhouse, still feeling guilty at the way he had left things with Caleb. His friend had managedto go home on his own, even clapping his back before turning on his heel.
At Obsidian Card, the Duke found himself again focusing on the management of his primary gaming establishment.
As usual, the air was thick with smoke so he did not even get to wash off himself when he went home to see his friend visiting his wife while he was away. He’d come storming in after the butler told him that Amberwell was inside and that Daphne had received him.
He did not know quite what to expect. Daphne was an innocent woman, but she was also a lonely woman. His friend was loyal, but he was not happy with the Duke’s way of handling his marriage. Adrian supposed anything could happen and he might not even be able to blame anyone else for the fallout.
Inside the Obsidian Card’s private office, he spoke with Kettering. He needed someone to talk to while his mind was still reeling from the day’s events.
“Salthouse had insulted my wife, but I had to step forward and put him in his place,” Adrian reported over a glass of whiskey. He knew he didn’t have to share this anecdote with his colleague, but he felt the need to talk to someone he could trust.
After all, Kettering was on his employ and not the other way around, but he also needed someone to listen to him. Just listen.
“At this point, nobody would be brave enough to question the legitimacy of our marriage again, at least not in public.”
