Page 31 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

She watched the duke's hands as he removed the wrapping from the cheese and sliced some off. He placed the slice on a small plate beside a cracker. Three grapes were placed on the side of the plate and a small dollop of jam beside them. The plate was handed to Margaret.

“Some wine too?” he asked, pulling the bottle from the basket.

“Yes, it seems like an occasion for wine.” Margaret was not sure what she had hoped to achieve by saying that. If he had not just shared about his aunt, they might have enjoyed the wine as a treat on a summer’s day, but now it seemed like they were drowning their sorrows.

The duke opened the bottle and poured wine into a small glass for Margaret. After passing her the glass, he filled one for himself. Margaret sipped at her drink, looking out at the other boats on the lake. Some with couples, others with happy children, and some people out on the water alone. Everyone looked happier than she felt.

“My father was the same,” said the duke. “Perhaps it runs in the family.”

Margaret did not turn to face the duke. She did not know how to respond to the statement. She only knew that he was hurting and he was about to spill some more of that pain. She wished she could be the one to help him, but that was not the nature of their relationship. Instead, she sipped at her wine and waited.

“My mother died in childbirth,” he continued. “I never knew her, but I heard she was a good woman. You know, it is funny. It was my aunt who told me the most about my mother, even though they were not related by blood. My father would not speak of her.”

“I am sorry,” said Margaret again. It was all that she could manage.

“She told me how my father used to be. That is funny now too, in an ironic and tragic way. She would tell me of how happy and carefree he used to be, and how he changed so much after my mother passed. I blamed myself for her death for the longest time, and I probably still do deep down. I think I blame myself for how my father was. He was a good father, don’t get me wrong, but he was a humorless man. That’s why I need to carry out his wishes.

“My aunt was the one who told me how much he changed after my mother died, and then she did the same when my uncle left. Perhaps she thought that I would not notice the change. They both hid themselves off from the world, but in very different ways. My father lost his happiness, and my aunt gained too much—but she faked it. I….”

Margaret finally looked over at him, looking deep into his soul and the sadness contained there.

“I should apologize to you,” said the duke.

“You have nothing—”

“No, I do,” he interrupted. “I brought you out here for an enjoyable day, and then I shared my life story with you. I didn’t mean to burden you with this.”

“No, it is fine,” maintained Margaret. “It makes you more human. I am glad you shared with me.”

Margaret was glad that he had shared with her, but deep down, she wanted to prove that the staff had been right. She wanted to say or do something that would make the duke laugh or even smile. But she had nothing. She could do nothing to take away his pain.

CHAPTER15

Making Amends

“Again, I want to apologize for what happened on the lake,” said the duke.

“You do not have to,” said Margaret. “You shared what was in your heart, and that is only a good thing.”

Margaret was frustrated. She had entered into this arrangement knowing exactly what she was getting into, and while she had only been intimate with the duke once, it had been one of the most enjoyable events of her life. Now, everything had been delayed.

She had mentioned to him one time that she had not been to a ball, and now they were at a ball. She would rather be in his bed, but she could not come out and just say that. Margaret thought about it. Perhaps she could. She could tell him that she did not need all of this, that they did not need to do what a married couple would do and that they could concentrate on making a baby.

Perhaps it is about more than that,thought Margaret. The duke had not told anyone the real reason for marrying Margaret, and maybe he wanted to put on a show for everyone. Margaret took a deep breath. She almost laughed. She was prepared to force herself to go to a ball, something most women dreamed of, to get the duke into bed.

When she really thought about it, the situation was a win-win. She needed to live more in the moment. She could enjoy the ball, and then they could enjoy each other.

“The Duke and Duchess of Garriot!” announced the steward.

Margaret had still not gotten used to that. She was not a duchess by any means, but it was only she and Arthur who knew that. Still, he put on a large smile, held the duke’s hand, and entered the hall with him.

And, it was amazing.

Margaret had not known what to expect, but from how her father had described it, she thought it would be similar to a cattle market doused in debauchery. She should have known that he would not have done it any justice.

“This is beautiful,” whispered Margaret.

“I am glad that you like it,” said the duke. “We shall dance the night away, and there will be food and drink, and I promise that I will show you a good time this time.”

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