Page 80 of A Virgin for the Duke of Scars
“The clue is over there,” Aaron said, pointing to the desk in the center of the room. “First drawer on the left. The letter opener with Lady Sophia’s initials on it.”
“We should return to the party,” Theresa muttered, grabbing the letter opener and heading toward the door.
She waited for him to unlock it, and as soon as he opened it, she was enveloped by a cacophony of chatter and laughter. They were, understandably, the last ones to return with the clue.
No one else escaped from the party to argue with their husband, make love in the library, and then return as if nothing had happened.
“I do not think I can stay here any longer, husband. I have a headache and wish to return home. I will go thank Lady Sophia. If you would be so kind as to have the footmen bring the carriage around.”
CHAPTER 25
Aaron stared as Theresa wove her way through the crowd to thank Lady Sophia for a lovely evening. And the truth was that itwasa lovely evening, though it had nothing to do with the party.
This evening had been nearly perfect, and he had managed to ruin it.
He watched as Theresa approached their hostess with a curtsy. The more she practiced, the more graceful she became. He remembered the night he found her practicing in front of the mirror in her room. What progress she had made in fitting into high society.
As she said her goodbyes to Lady Sophia, he moved toward the back door that led to the stables. He wanted to get his wife alone as soon as possible to try to fix the mistakes he had made.
He wove through the crowd with a stern expression on his face to discourage people from stopping him for conversation.
Not for the first time, Aaron was grateful that people deemed him beastly. It would keep them from stopping him when he was in such a hurry to leave the people of thetonbehind.
Morgan made a move to stop him and inquire about something, but Aaron held up a hand and kept moving. Maybe that was why it took him a few moments to register the hand that had landed on his arm.
His instinct was to shrug it off and keep moving without even looking back. But he was surprised at the touch. Very few people would dare touch him, as beastly as he was.
Reluctantly, he turned around.
The first thing he noticed was the blonde hair falling around the delicate shoulders. A dress so tight that it seemed almost indecent. A face that he could still see in his nightmares, retching in the hall outside his bedroom.
Isabella.
“Now is not the time,” he growled. “What more could you possibly wish to ruin this evening?”
“We have not had an opportunity to speak tonight. Nor did we have the opportunity to speak at the garden party last week.”
“Did you not think that it was perhaps intentional that we did not speak on either occasion?”
“I have not had a chance to speak to you since your wedding. I have to express my deepest condolences.” She gave him a demure smile, as if they were sharing a private joke.
Aaron did not think anything about his wedding was worth joking about. Especially not tonight, when he had just consummated his marriage.
Instead of rising to the bait, he stayed quiet and stared back at her.
Isabella hesitated for a moment, her smile wavering. But then she straightened up and squared her shoulders.
“Marrying a nun must be an experience,” she drawled. “You deserve so much more than a woman like that can offer you.”
“And you believe that you could have offered me more?” Aaron scoffed. “Let me be clear. Even if you say I deserve more, you deservenothing. You were ruined the moment you dared to look at my wife.”
Isabella opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She clenched her jaw, trying to look dignified in the face of his cutting remarks.
Aaron had no more patience for her or the games she wanted to play.
“If you come near my wife again, it will be the last thing you do.”
“Your Grace, you misunderstand me,” Isabella said, a slight quiver in her voice. “I only mean that you and I were a much better match.”
