Page 27 of Denying a Rakish Duke
Joseph’s eyes lifted to the priest— the simple words caught in his throat that he knew that he needed to utter. It was just something that he never intended to do. Two simple words and his fate would be sealed hence forth. If he remained silent then he would condemn the woman beside him to a fate worse than death in the social circles of theton. “I do,” he said quickly, the words fumbled too clumsily into the open air, and Vanessa exhaled her bated breath.
The kiss that they shared was chaste, dispassionate. For the first time, Joseph was overly aware of just how few sets of eyes were on him and the woman that he now would have to call his wife.
Tobias Farbridge stood from his pew and started to clap fervently, his beefy hands slapping together artlessly as he added another perceived victory in his mental scorebook. Nobody else in the room seemed to share his joy— not even Lady Farbridge who rose and turned for the exit before they had a chance to pause for the well wishes of those in attendance.
The Duke’s carriage awaited them just outside the doors of the chapel, and Vanessa wasted no time before heading directly toward it. Joseph had to nearly jog to properly catch up with her. “Lady Vanessa— erm, wife, should you not wish to say goodbye to your family?”
Vanessa gestured to the footman to open the carriage door for her and took the first step upward without bothering to wait for assistance. “Why should I? They can have nothing more to possibly say to me, and I have nothing to say to them either. It will be best for all involved if I simply go.”
“You cannot possibly mean that.” Joseph placed a hand on the carriage door and held it open. “I understand that perhaps tensions are higher than they ought to be at this very moment, but I fear that you shall regret it if you do not say goodbye to them.”
Vanessa looked past him to the church where her mother was likely watching from a window. She looked so pained, so at war with herself, before she finally shook her head and slid into the carriage.
“They have already arranged for all of my things to be sent over to the Estate, Your Grace. Should you not find that suitable per whatever arrangements that you have made with my uncle as to my lodgings, I shall be of no trouble to you. I am certain that he has paid you handsomely to actually get you down the aisle in the first place. As I was never the prize you intended, I must thank you for sparing my sister shame as a result of my mistakes. I shall not be troublesome to you in any way.”
“How long have you been practicing that little speech?” Joseph asked. He was offended at her tone and the blank way that she spoke to him as if his declarations to her the other evening had never even happened.
“Since I was instructed to be docile and express my profound gratitude for your lowering yourself so far to elevate my position when I so clearly do not deserve it.” Vanessa stared at her hands, pulling a section of her skirt tightly between her fists and focusing all of her energy on it.
“They said that to you?” Joseph whispered as the carriage door closed.
“Not in so many words, but I am not blind, and I am not feeble minded. I could put the pieces together.”
“Is that how you truly feel about this union?”
“I do not see what my personal feelings on the matter have to do with anything. It is said and done; we are married.” A knot formed in Joseph’s throat. Certainly, things had not been ideal, and if he had had his way, then there would not have been any others involved until he had asked for her hand from her Uncle— but it was apparent to him now that despite what had transpired between them … he must have misunderstood her intentions.
“So, you have married me to spare your family scandal … and for no other reason?” Vanessa looked up at him finally. There was no more raging sea in her eyes, there was no hint of fire or flicker of temper that he had been obsessed with since the first moment that he saw her— there was nothing there. Her eyes were still as beautiful as ever but ice cold.
“What other reason could there be?”
He understood then. She had affixed him in her mind with all things negative as the reason for the strife in her family. Whatever possibility that might have been able to grow between them was gone now. He steeled himself and sat up straight in his seat. “I see.” His own words were as icy as her stare. “Then we are agreed that this shall be a marriage of convenience and nothing more?”
It hurt how badly he wanted her to scoff or to insult him for being a fool. He did not wish for her to agree with him— but agree she did. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
Is that truly what she wishes?She had only agreed to marry him because of the threat to her sister’s reputation. He could see it in her eyes. She wanted nothing at all to do with him. It was the very least that he could do— give her the distance that she required.
“You understand that I shall have no intentions of discontinuing my … personal activities now that we are wed. You shall have your own chambers and servants as you need them. I shall provide for you, but my husbandly duties of producing an heir with you— shall be the extent of our union?”
He wanted her to say no. He wanted her to throw herself into his arms so that he could tell her that everything was going to be all right. He wanted to smooth her spirit with soft, flowery words, but she was not a delicate rose to be placed onto a shelf and admired … she was a thorned rose. He was foolish to think that a couple stolen moments might perhaps work out for the best.
She said that she could never be with an unfaithful man— and yet she sat across from him, and she nodded. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
His jaw set, his lips pressed into a firm, dissatisfied line. “Then it shall be so.”
ChapterSeventeen
“Your Grace, might I have a word with you, please?” Vanessa asked sweetly after dinner that evening. The servants had started to clear the dishes from the table and back to the kitchens. The sheer enormity of the home would take some getting used to, but the overly extensive tour that she had been given by the housekeeper upon their arrival had helped her orient herself slightly.
She knew that she would have to find her way to her chambers shortly to spend another long sleepless night on her own, consumed by her thoughts. While the housekeeper had been more than accommodating thus far, her lady’s maid had been attending to her affairs but was not due to arrive until the next morning. Certainly, she could manage herself for one evening.
Joseph paused halfway to the door of the dining room, seemingly prepared to make a hasty retreat. He gave her a put-upon sigh and turned slowly on his heel to face her. “What is it?”
“I have one request for you, should you be willing to indulge your new wife, Your Grace,” Vanessa beseeched, forcing as much sugar into her voice as possible. The effect was instant. Joseph’s nose crinkled, and he sneered for only a moment before the irritation was gone as quickly as it had come.
“But of course. Ask it, and I shall do my best to accommodate.”
“Keep your harlots away from me.” Vanessa flicked her ice-cold eyes up to him, pushing uneaten food around the plate that had yet to be cleared with her fork. “I do not wish to see them. I do not want to smell their cheap perfumes or oils in the halls— keep them as far from me as possible. If you have any respect for me at all, you will do this. If you do not— then I shall take no responsibility for whatever happens to them should they cross my path.”
