Page 41 of The Duchess' Replacement

Several servers came in with a tray of meat and other sides that made Sarah’s mouth fill with saliva even if it did remind her how their people were being forgotten outside these walls.

Her stomach growled reminding her she hadn’t eaten a bite since breakfast.

She opened her mouth to ask Charles a question but promptly closed it, remembering her earlier resolve not to be the first to cave into conversation.

“Everything all right, Your Grace?”

Sarah looked up to one of the servers standing next to her..

“Oh, yes, sorry, did you ask me something?” Sarah inwardly chastised herself for not being present. Here she has concocted a competition between her and the Duke in which she wasn’t entirely sure he knew he was playing.

Sarah sighed. Her mother was right. Sometimes her imagination got away from her.

“I only offered you something to drink, Your Grace.”

Sarah looked at her empty glass. “Oh, yes. I would love some, thank you, Christopher.”

The young man smiled at his name. She made it a point to learn everyone’s name, it made her feel more connected to her new home.

She took a sip, peering over her glass to her husband who was still staring at her. Only now he was cutting his meat without looking at it.

Sarah swallowed a healthy portion of her wine and sputtered a little afterward. “I hope your day treated you well, Your Grace.”

Charles blinked and a wide, triumphant smile spread across his face.

Blast it. I was right.

Sarah rolled her lips. He was waiting for her to talk first. She pushed her annoyance to the side. After all, she had more pressing matters to discuss then seeing who talked first.

“It was going smashingly until I heard my wife went into town without telling me.” He said before he took a bite of a potato.

Sarah picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of meat.

“I’m sorry, husband. I was unaware of that rule. I’m pretty sure I remember them perfectly.” Sarah squinted her eyes as she looked up towards the ceiling. “Let’s see. Ah yes, the first one was I will mind my business when it comes to your family.”

She popped a piece of meat in her mouth and chewed. She swallowed and pointed her fork at Charles. “I already broke that one.” She said with a smile. She thought she saw the corner of his mouth twitch but she couldn’t be sure.

“The second was I will not disturb you unless there is true emergency. As I don’t see visiting the people that live within our duchy as an emergency, you can’t be referring to that one.”

Sarah brought her fork back down and poked another piece of meat. “Number three was I will fulfill all my duties as Duchess. I would think getting to know the townspeople would be a part of that. And there is one more…” Sarah brought her fork up to tap her chin. “Now what was that one?” She stuck her fork in the air. “I remember,” she said brightly. “I will give you an heir,” her voice dropped to annoyance. “How could I possibly forget that one.”

“I couldn’t fathom as you seem to have lost your manners.” Charles growled.

Sarah tilted her head in defiance. “I match respect, Your Grace. You show me respect, I show you respect. It’s simple as that. It is a quality I find most helpful when deciding who is worth my time.”

Charles scoffed. “And those people,” he nodded to the window, “down there? Are they worth your time?”

Sarah cocked her head in disbelief. She rose a finger to the same window he gestured to. “Those people are your people, Your Grace! Why do you speak of them in such a manner?”

Charles’s face darkened. “They are not to be trusted, Sarah. I would expect a better judge of character from you.” Charles pinned her with a look. “Although, you did think my brother would be a suitable match.”

Sarah’s vision blurred with quiet rage. She took a few breaths to settle herself. She just learned another characteristic of her husband, he is quick to lash out when he felt out of control.

Noted.

“I beg to differ, Your Grace.” Sarah made sure her voice was steady and even. “I may have only met them for a few moments but what I saw was resilience and pride. They were kind and-”

Charles huffed out a laugh, stopping her words. “Kind. They are not kind. They see you as a way to get to me. Trust me, Sarah, they will only use you and hurt you. And I will not be there to rescue you especially since you were warned.”

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