Page 37 of The Viscount's Diamond Bride
“Are you sure? I was rather abrupt. The day had been long, we’d drunk a good deal of champagne… well, never mind. I would never have intended to hurt you.”
She took another sip. “Well, let us be grateful that I amnotoffended, then.”
She’s lying. She’s furious,Graham realised with a jolt. But I was quite convinced of its justness, putting distance between us. Did I hurt her pride somehow? Perhaps so, but she should not need to endure marital relations to save herpride.
He considered, briefly, the idea that Ursula had beenlooking forwardto sharing his bed but rapidly dismissed it. It seemed unrealistic, really. Everybody know that Ursula, as the Diamond of the Season with an ambitious mamma, was looking to make a good match. She had allowed several men to pursue her, men who anybody with eyes could see that she was not the slightest bit attracted to. She was clearly willing to make a match solely for money and status.
Graham did not blame her for that. Many young women did just the same. However, it did indicate that she was apracticalwoman, one who did not much care about intimacy and her own feelings about it.
Well, that would not do with Graham. He had never, ever lain with an unwilling woman, or even an ambivalent one, and had no intention of beginning to do so.
He glanced up, dragging his eyes from his plate, and found Ursula looking directly at him, her brow furrowed and her lips pursed. At once, she looked away, and he felt his stomach drop.
What does she want from me?
Before he had a moment to speak, the door creaked open and Richards stepped apologetically in.
“Your lordship, the Dowager Lady Sinclair is here. She is demanding to be shown in.”
Graham sighed. “Oh, my word. I suppose we had better show her in. What are your thoughts on the matter, Ursula?”
Ursula had poured herself another cup of tea and was serenely sipping it, all trace of her earlier discontent entirely gone.
“Whatever you wish, husband,” she answered mildly.
She certainlyisangry at me,Graham though morosely, but that was a problem for later. For now, he had a more pressing problem.
“Show her in, then, Richards,” he said. The butler bowed mournfully and left the room.
Seconds later, Graham heard his mother’s voice drifting along the hallway.
“…toldyou that I would be welcome! Goodness gracious me, Richards, you are a great fool.”
An instant later and Margaret burst into the breakfast-room, sailing to her habitual seat at the head of the table and plumping down hard.
“That butler of yours is getting quite uppity, Graham,” she groused, shooting poor Richards a glare. “He said thatImay not be welcome! Can you imagine it?”
“It is the morning after my wedding, Mother,” Graham answered grimly. “Guests are not customary.”
“Yes, well, I am yourmother. I imagine that if Ursula’s mother came to visit, she would be given admittance.”
Graham glanced over at Ursula, trying to catch her eye. Ursula only stared down at her tea and said nothing.
His mother seemed to decide to drop the subject. Sniffing, she shifted, making herself more comfortable, and poured herself a cup of tea.
“Well, you two are not in particularly high spirits, are you?” she remarked, glancing from one to another. “For newlyweds, I would say you are rather subdued. I hope you the adjustment to marital life is not provingtoochallenging.”
Graham clenched his teeth. “Mother, please. We are adjusting very well. I am just…” he paused, not wanting to saytired. “… I am just trying to enjoy my breakfast. We both are.”
“Hmm,” Margaret grunted. “If you say so. Ursula, I must just say that no man wants to see such a discontented and sour face on his wife first thing in the morning.”
“Mother!” Graham snapped. “I won’t allow you to speak to my wife in such a way.”
Ursula shot him a quick, surprised glance. He was under the impression that he saw a little gratitude there, too, before it was gone.
Margaret scowled. "Indeed, there is no call for such warmth of temper. I thought she might enjoy a little advice from a woman who hasbeenwedded, that’s all.”
An awkward silence fell over the table after this. Margaret slurped her tea. Graham stared down at his plate of kippers and found that his appetite had entirely deserted him.
