Page 64 of Her Tiger of a Duke
The carriage ride home was quiet, but pleasant. Beatrice, after all the excitement, had grown very tired very suddenly. As she leaned against his arm, she felt herself falling asleep.
When they arrived at the estate, she kept her eyes closed, waiting for him to awaken her and help her out of the carriage. Instead, she felt him lift her into his arms and carry her inside. Not wanting to reveal that she was awake, even if only just, she remained still, and when at last she felt herself placed on a bed, she noticed that it was not hers. She opened her eyes, only to see that she was in her husband’s room.
“I thought you might like to join me tonight,” he suggested.
And oh, how she did.
CHAPTER 26
When Owen awoke the following morning, Beatrice was still sleeping beside him.
She looked so peaceful that he could not bear to awaken her and instead took himself to breakfast. It had been a long day, and a longer night, and he knew that in spite of how good it had all been, a difficult conversation would inevitably follow.
She would ask him why he was blocking off the forest, and he could not tell her the truth about it.
It killed him inside, for in every other way their marriage was only becoming stronger. He enjoyed spending time with her, and the more he learned about her the more he fell for her, but that was precisely why she could not know the truth about him. There was a chance she would hate him for what he had done, and he could not allow that to happen.
When he finished eating and went to the forest, he saw Mister Johnson at work already. He was around halfway done, and it was an imposing structure. Though not pleasant to look at, Owen was at least comforted by the fact that he could not see what was on the other side. It brought him peace to know that he could no longer look at the place that had plagued him for so long.
“Do you like it?” the older man asked. “I thought that if I had some of it finished before you came to assist me, you might have thoughts.”
“It is perfect, though perhaps it could match the surroundings better?”
“We could use some of the branches from the trees,” he suggested, “or perhaps make it a darker wood? I do not mind starting again.”
Owen thought of all the work that had been done and shook his head.
“That will not be necessary. It is perfectly fine as it is.”
“Very well, then. Might your wife like to see it?”
“No, she has little interest in all of this. Should she come to see you, it would be best if you do not discuss it with her.”
“Ah, she is not happy about it then?”
“She is not best pleased, no. She rather likes the forest, but given the danger it presents, it is for the best that we do not go into it.”
“I understand, Your Grace. If you like, I can finish this myself, and you can take Her Grace to the village. I will be finished tomorrow.”
He was about to disagree, reminding him that he promised to help when he remembered something. He had planned to take Beatrice to a local inn, and after everything that had happened they were yet to find the time. The timing couldn't have been better; by the time they got back, the fence would be completed, bringing the matter to a close.
He returned to the dining hall and waited for her. Once she had eaten, he announced his plans, and she lit up at once.
“How splendid! I have been looking forward to this.”
“If you need rest after everything–”
“Not at all. We can rest after I have seen this inn of yours.”
He smiled, and they prepared to leave quickly. The road to the village was one he knew like the back of his hand. He had traveled it so many times that he could close his eyes and see the journey. That day, however, was different. He was not the Duke returning to familiar ground; he was a husband bringing his wife there for the day, and he intended for her to enjoy it.
Owen glanced across the carriage. Beatrice sat opposite him, a soft light on her face from the window. Her posture was composed, as always, but there was curiosity in her eyes that he had not seen before. She had been quieter than usual that morning, which given what had happened the night before was no surprise.
He had been furious at the time. Nobody was going to be cruel to his wife, not if he was there to hear it. It was not how she would have handled it, and he knew that, but he could not allow it to continue for a moment longer. He needed it to stop, and he knew precisely how to do it.
“It is not far now,” he said, breaking the silence. “You shall see the church spire when we round that hill.”
She smiled faintly. “You’ve said that twice already.”
