Page 70 of A Virgin for the Duke of Scars
He was still seated at his desk, the empty glass in front of him, when his grandmother knocked on his door.
“It did not escape my notice that you and your wife did not come down for dinner last night,” she said when he reluctantly invited her in. “And you were in separate quarters, according to Juliette.”
“What business does Juliette have in my marriage?”
“She is concerned that you are about to ruin the one thing that has made you happy,” the Dowager Duchess said with a stern expression. “And I have come to beg you not to do the same thing.”
Aaron did not say anything. He just poured himself another glass.
“Your silence speaks volumes,” she added. “You know that she has changed you. She has made you happier. It may not be what you want, but she is what you need.”
“I do not want anything,” he answered. “I did not need a wife. I do not need one now. And I do not need anyone meddling in my affairs.”
“Be that as it may, she has made you happy. Do not do anything you will regret.” The Dowager Duchess paused. “And I must remind you that we are attending a house party this evening. It would not do for the Duke not to make an appearance.”
“You need not worry what thetonthinks of us. I will be at the house party with Theresa on my arm. We need not make up for that to happen.”
“All the same, I wish you would reconsider. I will leave you to your vices if that is what you wish. Theresa is in the stables, so you are free to leave your quarters if you so desire.”
The Dowager Duchess stepped out of his room, leaving him to the one thing he felt he could do today: get foxed. He would attend the cursed house party, the one thing drawing him back to his wife.
Maybe it was for the best. There was little risk of touching her there, with the eyes of thetonon them. Theresa would be a novelty tonight at her very first party, and everyone would clamor for her.
He had promised he would not allow anyone else to dance with her tonight. That meant he would have to dance with her himself.
We need not do more than dance.
He tried to comfort himself with the thought that he did not need to kiss her lips or touch her intimately. She would spurn his touch if he did not agree to her demands. And he simply couldnotagree to her demands.
He could not take the risk of her leaving him.
CHAPTER 22
“Am I not going to ride to the party with you?” Theresa asked as they stepped out of the manor and headed to the stables.
She had looked forward to her ride all day, assuming that Aaron would still accompany her.
“You saw the reaction of thetonwhen you arrived at the garden party on horseback. Would you rather face their criticism again?”
“As you wish, husband,” she said quietly.
She bowed her head and followed Juliette in the opposite direction toward the carriage. She bit back the tears that pricked the corners of her eyes.
She had not thought she would face so much rejection from Aaron, not when he had been so understanding and thoughtful from the moment she became his wife.
“It would not do for you to arrive on horseback,” the Dowager Duchess said. Theresa hoped the woman had not noticed her disappointment at the way her husband acted. “Perhaps when you have been here longer.”
“I know you are right,” Theresa sighed. “But there is freedom in riding on horseback that a carriage ride can never offer.”
The Dowager Duchess and Juliette were quick to share the sordid affairs of the people who would be in attendance. She knew who was looking for a wife, who would show up already foxed. Theresa did her best to tune in, to try to memorize the names of people she had met and would meet that night.
Like her husband, she could not muster enthusiasm for the people and their vices. Perhaps they were well matched after all, even if they were never to be intimate.
When they pulled up to the house party, a footman helped her out of the carriage. She looked toward the stables, where she knew Aaron was already waiting. It was so much faster to travel by horse than by carriage.
If he had gone to the party without her, what would she do?
Juliette nudged her and nodded her head to the left, where Aaron was waiting at the door for her. “My brother would not have abandoned you at this party, Theresa.”
