Page 13 of Duke of the Sun

The Duke became rigid and tense. “You do wish to rile me, don’t you?” he hissed. “That is what this all has been. Let me tell you now, your Grace, that I am more than riled.”

His words threatened to force her to shrink backwards. She tried to look away, but the Duke pressed on, taking thunderous steps closer to her. Above them, where there was once not a thing in the sky, a darkness brewed. Clouds inched closer to the sun, heavy with rain and thunderstorms. As the sunlight became more and more muted, the Duke loomed dangerously over her.

“You have made it your mission to not only bleed me dry of funds,” the Duke continued, his voice low and growly now that he was only a foot away from her, “But to tarnish my very name as well.”

“Your name?” she repeated. “I haven’t done such a thing! I haven’t even left the estate to -”

“Thatis my point exactly,” he interjected. “Have you or have you not heard the rumors that surround our marriage?”

Cordelia pressed her lips together as Irene’s words echoed in the back of her mind. “It has only recently come to my attention,” she replied. “Though I cannot see the importance behind it. They are only rumors, after all, and from the Ton, no less. Little can be taken seriously from them.”

“Are you that careless?”

Her lips parted in surprise, and though she wished to retort with something confident, all she could produce with a short exhale. Her pride felt stunted.

The Duke continued on. “While you might think you have used your time in solitude for good, you have only made sure that the reputation my family has prospered on is nothing more than a folly.”

“What happens to your reputation outside of these walls does not concern me!”

“My reputation is your reputation,” he said.

She looked away. “I daresay I cannot agree.”

“Believe me,” the Duke muttered, “You need not say it.”

Cordelia shot her gaze back to him. The moment she held his stare, she was whisked away to a moment two years ago, when they stood beside each other in the small, quiet church. Even in his intimidation, Cordelia found herself undeniably drawn into his aura, eager to know what it was that made him so reclusive. He left her without a word, without the mere kindness of an explanation. But now that he was back before her, Cordelia was desperate to know his truth and know it well.

For a moment she caught herself softening to him. Perhaps she did overstep. Perhaps the rumors the Ton so easily tossed about were from her own carelessness.

“Listen to me,” he suddenly said, “And listen well.”

Almost instantly, when his snaked tongue lashed back out at her, Cordelia forgot what she was softening herself towards.

“You have left me no choice,” he said. “I will be taking my rightful place in the estate for the rest of this Season.”

Cordelia’s eyes went wide. “You -”

“I am not finished.”

Her mouth clamped shut, too surprised to let her stubbornness roam freely.

“Once I have cleaned up the mess you have made, I will return to my private estate.”

The anger burst back through Cordelia. Her hands grew into fists once more as she held his stare, unable to stop the heat from rising to her face as her rage became stronger. “Everything you claim to be caused by my actions are not to blame for this,” she seethed. “A simple redecoration o-or flourishing garden has nothing to do with the Ton’s watchful eye! It isyou,your Grace, who has -”

“You will attend the Season,” he raised his voice to talk over her own, “By my side, as the married couple the Ton expects to see.”

“And if I refuse?” she blurted, not even pausing for a moment to think.

The Duke inched even closer, leaning down till his breath managed to fan over her face. His musky cologne filled the air between them. He remained there, his eyes scanning every bit of her, as if he wished to see her back down.

Cordelia held her ground, though the intimidation crept into her skin and forced her to gulp loudly.

The Duke smirked without the slightest bit of humor. “I doubt you will,” he murmured.

Before Cordelia could even gather up a response, the Duke spun on his heel and marched back towards the backdoors of the estate. As he took the steps two at a time, he paused at the entryway, the shadow of Hunters lingering within the threshold. The Duke took a look over his shoulder at her.

“I suggest you prepare yourself,” he called out, “Wife.”

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