Page 72 of Three Rules to Wed a Duke

“I’m just very worried, that’s all. I saw him as I was out with my friends, and I thought to discover more about him. You’ve said yourself that he has caused you problems in the past, and I’m trying to understand it.”

“It’s not for you to concern yourself with,” he snapped.

“Then what is? What exactly is my business then? For I’m not to know what you do, where you go, or even who resides in my house! If no one will tell me anything, then they mustn’t be astonished when I seek answers for myself. But I’ve already grown rather weary of the lies and the secrets!”

“The secrets could cause you harm, Frances,” Anthony said, his breaths short and his gaze intense.

“In what way? And if they can cause me harm, what worse terror could they inflict on you, hmm?” she demanded, standing firm.

“It matters not what happens to me. They are my problems, and I’ll not drop them on you to carry.”

“Do you not understand that whatever befalls you is a burden I must carry? This man has already sought money from you, fundsthat will feed me and my future children, God willing. What if he does something dangerous? What happens to me then?” Frances challenged. Anthony looked away, so she followed his gaze. “What happens to your sister?”

That did the trick, she thought triumphantly, though her victory was fleeting.

“What do you know of her?” he demanded, grasping Frances by the arms as if clinging to her for safety rather than being firm.

“Only what she herself has told me after she invited me to visit with her,” Frances said truthfully, though she felt as if she was betraying Abigail’s confidence. “She is a lovely girl and I’m honored to be her sister, too. And therefore, I will do whatever I must to protect her, but I cannot help you do that unless you are honest with me!”

“You have already helped in ways you cannot understand. You’ve done more than you know, and certainly more than you should have had to,” he argued. “Now I must ask that you simply leave this alone.”

“I will not! Whatever you’ve done until now is clearly not working. So let me help you and perhaps we can solve whatever problems you’ve got.”

“No! I will not use you again! You deserve better than that!” Anthony hissed before looking stricken at his confession. He stepped back, his fists clenched at his sides as if he could strike something. Frances went pale.

“Using me… you only married me as a ruse, didn’t you,” she whispered, flooded with a sudden wave of humiliation.

“Frances, please allow me to explain,” Anthony said, though he continued to look over her shoulder towards Sir Perry.

“There is no need. I should have known, for what sort of man marries the first woman he sees at a party. I’m the one who was foolish enough to think your talk of seeing me there and being stunned by my beauty would be true.”

“Frances, stop. That was true! I swear it,” he insisted, but Frances shook her head.

“Please. Don’t.”

“You don’t understand—”

“No, I must say that on the contrary, I finally do understand. It’s why I’m a stranger in my own home, why you hardly even look at me, let alone speak to me. You insisted I be present at every meal, all so it would look like you were happy in marriage, all so you could create the appearance of having a wife. It all makes sense now, and I feel utterly stupid for it.”

“Frances, that is not why! I must explain it to you. Please!”

“I’ve heard all I need to, thank you,” she whispered tearfully as she slipped out of the doorway. Anthony blocked her path. “If you will please step aside, I should like to go collect my things.Lady Agnes has graciously agreed to take me in, at least for now. I will not be a bother any longer.”

“Frances, no. I need you to listen to me,” Anthony said, stepping around in front of her once more and looking her in the eye. “I need you.”

“I wish to go,” she said, her voice low but firm.

“I beg you to permit me to explain. Then, if you still want to go, I will deliver you myself, anywhere you like.”

Frances paused. She hated the weak feeling that was consuming her, the part of her heart that was still clinging to the thin hope that Anthony’s words could undo her hurting. The image of Abigail’s smiling face appeared in her mind, prompting her to at least consider his offer.

“All right. You may say your peace before I go.”

CHAPTER 28

Frances arrived home with Anthony and was relieved to find Sara had already returned. The lady’s maid rushed to her side, but Frances merely said she would explain later.

“Shall we speak in my study?” Anthony suggested, his tone somber.

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