Page 79 of A Bride for the Cruel Duke

He had spent a lifetime guarding himself from such feelings as this. For so long he had lived as the Cruel Duke that he had begun to believe that’s who he was. For a short time there, Caroline had eroded the façade and made him believe he could be more… that he could be happy. Tonight, however, this moment right here, proved the opposite.

What was more, it presented him a chance to end this marriage once and for all. Not because he wanted to, but because he felt he must. For his own sense of self-preservation. For Caroline’s too, as she deserved so much more than he could give. This marriage could never work, would only lead to heartache, and it was time that Anthony admitted this. No more lies.

I am a coward, I know. But a coward for the right reasons. It is because I care so much for Caroline that I must do this. And it is because she has made me see what it is to care, that I know it is the right thing to do.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

“Ithink you should go,” Anthony said, his voice so quiet that Caroline barely heard it.

She took a second to register what he had said, having been staring at the table as she tried to process what on earth had just happened. When she did, she snapped her head up to find Anthony looking away from her. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, still refusing to meet her eyes.

“I don’t think that I did.”

He took a moment, still refusing to look right at her. She could see his body trembling as he worked to control his temper. Never before had she seen him lose control like this, an insight into the man other people told her that he was.But that isn’t him. Not that I have seen. Not the man who I am married to.Or so she thought.

Suddenly, he clenched his jaw and forced himself to meet her eyes. She gasped when she saw the anger pass behind them. They were stained red, glistening as if he was withholding tears. But he did not blink, nor did he look away.

“I said that I think you should go.”

“Go…” She frowned and leaned back. “Go where?”

“I do not care,” he said, almost a snarl. “Anywhere other than here.”

“Anthony…” She blinked, hearing the words but not understanding their meaning. “What are you?—?”

“Go!” he roared, and she jumped. “Leave, now! Before I change my mind.” He curled his lip at her in fury and shook his head as if in pity. “Consider it a mercy.” With that, he put his head down and stormed from the dining room.

Caroline remained where she was, rendered utterly speechless. Unsure of what had just happened, just as she was unsure what to think.

Her family had been typically antagonistic—Daniel, especially. It was no wonder then that it had upset Anthony as much as it had done, although the way he had acted upon it was more than a little surprising.

Not once since she and Anthony were married had she considered her husband to be an evil man. Not cruel. Not a monster, despite what was said. But this evening, right here…is that who my husband truly is? And all this time, I have simply failed to see it?

She could not believe it. Just as she could not believe what he had told her to do just now. He was simply upset was all, overreacting as was his right. And for that reason, Caroline did not hesitate in jumping to her feet and giving chase.

“Anthony!” she called after him as she breeched the foyer, by which point he was at the base of the stairs. “Wait!”

His foot landed on the bottom step, but he did not continue his climb. His body turned stiff and rigid and she could literally see him fighting to control himself. “I told you to go,” he said without turning around.

“And I am choosing to stay.”

He laughed darkly. “You think you have a choice in this?”

“Do I not?” she challenged him. “I am your wife, this is my home, and I have every right to stay here. You cannot just ask me to leave.”

“And yet that’s exactly what I am doing—no?” He took a deep breath, still not looking at her. “I am not asking you. I am telling you.”

“And I am ignoring you.”

“Caroline…” He groaned. “Please, don’t…”

“What happened just now…” She started across the foyer, wanting to go to him but unsure if she should. “It was not your fault. Daniel… he is the one who?—”

“It is not Daniel,” Anthony cut her off. “He said nothing that was not true or didn’t need to be said. I am the one who?—”

“Did nothing wrong.”

---