Page 54 of The Replacement Duchess

“Colin,” she said softly yet pointedly, “I am not a fool, and you shall not take me for one. I know what is expected of me tonight.”

“How?”

“I asked a maid. I know that you know what this night should entail, so I shall ask you again. Is this to be a real honeymoon?”

He bit his lip. He knew what he wanted to say, as any gentleman who had just married would, but he also knew that he respected her far too much to do anything of that nature. His friend. She was his friend and always would be, and they had been quite clear on the matter of children.

“I shall let you decide,” he uttered.

“But you are the husband.”

“And when has that ever made a difference to us?”

“I know, but the maid told me you might change your mind once you owned me.”

“Owned you?” he echoed. “I cannot believe what I am hearing. Are you overtired?”

“Possibly.” She laughed softly. “You are right, I am acting out of sorts. I shall stay in my room tonight, and then we shall discuss the matter in the morning, when you and I are in a better position to discuss it.”

He simply nodded. He did not know what had happened to her, but he did not like how willing she was to placate him should he ask. It was not her nature, and such a sudden change could only have meant that something had happened to her, something that she was not telling him, and such a prospect made him feel quite unwell.

“Very well then,” she replied. “Might you show me to my room?”

“Of course.”

Colin soon realized that such a situation would not be ideal. His father had arranged the bedchambers so that they were apart from one another. He was to stay in the east wing, and Diana on the other side of the house, with the nursery in the middle—not that it mattered of course.

“This is your room,” he explained, opening the door.

She stepped inside with wonder. “This is… Well, it is far larger than my bedchamber back home.”

“This is your home now,” he reminded her.

“Oh! Yes, I suppose it is, isn’t it?” She laughed softly. “Then I shall call the other place my father’s house. In any case, this room is far larger.”

“Then I can only hope that you are comfortable here. I would hate for you not to be.”

“It is perfect,” she assured him. “Now, where is your bedchamber, in case I need you?”

He shifted from one foot to the other. “It is on the first floor, on the other side of the house.”

“But this is the third floor, Colin.”

“I am aware.”

“So you shall be that far away?”

He nodded. He had hoped that she would like such an arrangement, even if he did not, but he immediately he saw how crestfallen she was at the prospect. He hoped that she would call it unfair and tell him that it did not suit her at all so that he did not need to push her, but she simply nodded sadly. Hewould have suggested otherwise, but she seemed so willing to do whatever he wanted that he did not dare. It had to be her choice, whatever happened.

“Goodnight, then,” he said suddenly. “I shall see you in the morning.”

“Yes, goodnight,” she mumbled, closing the door firmly the moment he stepped outside.

He felt as though he had committed a great grievance against her, but he did not know what to do. He had done it for her, had he not? It was for her own sake, even though he wished to spend the night with her.

And it was not even because he wanted anything from her. It was simply because they had hardly seen each other that day. It had all been about vows and their first dance and the festivities and showing all in attendance that they were the match of the Season, even if Colin was quite aware that the opinions of those in attendance would not be so easily swayed. Regardless, he had barely spoken a word to her in spite of the fact that they had been together all day and he missed her.

And it was quite ridiculous, he thought as he entered his own bedchamber, that he was her husband and she was his wife, and yet due to a decision his father had made years ago, they had to be kept so far apart. It hardly made any sense. That was when he realized that his father was no longer the Duke,hewas, and so he could make any decision that he wanted.

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