Page 84 of Bound to the Heartless Duke
Cecilia, having overheard, leaned across the table with a playful grin. “Oh, he’s enjoying himself. Just look at him, trying not to smile.”
Ava joined in, as they all liked to tease Magnus. “We all saw the way he looked at you, Lily.”
Lily’s giggles died down, and she arched an eyebrow.
“How did he look at me?” she asked, trying her best not to sound too bothered.
“Like he might just throw you over his shoulder and carry you out of the room,” Eveline replied, digging into her Food. “Which would be quite the scandal, considering there’s still cake to be had.”
Lily laughed, even as she glanced at Magnus, who said nothing.
Dinner progressed, filled with that joy and warmth and stories of the past. But beneath it all, Lily felt that weight again. That heaviness attached to her smile. That ache behind her ribs.
And maybe amidst the laughter and chatter, Magnus noticed, because she felt his hand brush hers beneath the table.
The touch sent a shiver through her but he felt far away, distant, and cold still. Even now that his hand was on her thigh, it still felt as though he were far away.
The ride back to Blackmore Manor was quiet.
The silence wasn’t oppressive, but it held… something.
Lily watched the passing scenery through the window, admiring the warm glow the August twilight cast on the trees. Her hands rested in her lap, clasped tightly, though she wasn’t sure why.
Maybe because the realization was sinking in deeply now. She was his wife now. Magnus Wyndham’s wife.
Yet she had never felt less certain of what that meant.
Magnus hadn’t touched her during the entire ride. Not once. Not her hand. Not her waist to guide her inside. Not even her shoulder in passing.
And it wasn’t just restraint. It was distance. A carefully maintained one. One that had been renewed the evening they kissed at the theater.
She told herself not to care. And yet, she still did. In fact, she cared more than she ought to.
Eventually, they arrived just before evening.
Blackmore Manor was as she remembered it—still, silent, opulent, and well-staffed. And the atmosphere felt like every other evening. It was hard to believe they had exchanged vows earlier that day.
They climbed out of the carriage, and Lily was immediately introduced to her new lady’s maid. At that moment, she deeply missed Summer.
Her room had been prepared, as well as Magnus’s. But they were separate rooms.
Of course, they are separate.
A few minutes later, she was standing in the candlelight, alone once more in her new chamber.
She couldn’t sleep. She had dressed in the soft satin nightgown that had first belonged to her late mother. She fingered the lace trimming the neck fondly.
Although she had never imagined her wedding to be this loveless, she had already made a promise to wear the gown on the night of her wedding.
She felt both foolish and vulnerable, but the way the silk cooled her skin made it worth it.
She did not know what to expect, if she were being honest. Not exactly. But surely… surely something more than silence. Something more than coldness and distance. From him.
Without thinking twice about it, she crossed the room and opened the door. The luxurious manor was still. No music, no laughter, no sign of celebration. No sign ofhim.
She chewed on her lower lip. Perhaps… perhaps he was waiting. Perhaps he?—
She exhaled sharply.
