Page 66 of The Replacement Duchess

“I thought this was my house too.”

“It is ours, and you need to respect me when I tell you no in the same way that I do for you.”

“So that is the end of it, is that what you are saying?”

“Yes. That is the end of the discussion, and frankly, I do not care whether you are happy with it or not.”

He left as soon as he said that.

She stared at the empty doorway, wondering if he would turn around and return and apologize for how he had spoken to her, but he did not. It did not make any sense. He had always been so kind to her and understood her needs, but at the mere mentionof a room, he exploded. She knew that she should leave the matter alone and let it end calmly as she had done before, but she did not want to.

And so she would not.

CHAPTER 19

Whatever the Duke’s reason, Diana wanted to know why he was being so strange about the situation, and so she would do what was necessary to find out, even if it destroyed the friendship that they had built so far.

She had tried to push her thoughts about him away since they had met. The rumors were ignored, the way he found her and Samantha was accepted, his proposal of a marriage of convenience was agreed to without too much question, and yet whenever she asked him about himself, he shut himself off to her completely, as if he did not trust her, the one thing that he had asked her to do for him.

In a way, Diana was thankful that he had been so unkind. He had proven her right, that he could not be trusted, and that she was not in the wrong for refusing to believe that he would take care of her. She would have been happy with herself if his attitude did not make her so miserable.

The household had changed immediately, as if the sun stopped at the front door and there was only thunder inside. The stormy Duke had not locked himself away, instead walking around the house with a book in his hand. Diana wanted to be mature. She wanted to give him space and speak with him afterwards, but she could not help herself.

“You know, Your Grace,” she called as she passed him, “books are typically read in libraries.”

“Then it is a shame that my house does not have one.”

Diana pretended not to care that their house had so quickly become only his.

“And why is that?” she snapped.

“Why is it a shame? Because now I have nowhere to read this book without being pestered. I do not take kindly to my day being interrupted, and you would know that if you ever listened to me. I enjoy quiet at times, and there is nothing wrong with that.”

“Then why is there no library if you wish to read quietly? There are plenty of rooms that could be one.”

“That is none of your concern. You are only holidaying here, aren’t you?”

“I can ask you whatever I like, as I can trust you, can I not?”

But he kept walking, no longer acknowledging her.

“I shall take that as a no, then,” she called out.

“You may take it as you wish. I do not care to argue with you.”

Diana huffed, going outside to take some air.

It was as though he had changed in seconds, and a part of her wanted to understand why. She knew that he had asked her not to press the matter and that she had agreed not to, but that did not change the matter of his temper. He had begun to treat her as he did mothers in ballrooms or as the plague. He had been communicative about every problem that they had faced, but now…

Now she hardly knew him.

He passed by a while later, not acknowledging her, carrying a drink rather than his book.

“Have you finished reading?” she asked.

“Yes, it was quite pleasant.”

“Ah, then where might you be storing it, so that I might read it for myself?”

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