Page 20 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
Rising to his feet, Oliver interjected, “I am afraid that it is my fault. I brought the gift that I mentioned in my note yesterday. I did not think you would be out when I came to call. Her Grace was gracious enough to keep me company whilst I waited.”
“You are early. I will receive you in the study while Her Grace finishes her tea.”
The Duke turned on his heel and left the room without giving Aurelia the chance to protest.
Oliver rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to her with an apologetic smile. “Thank you for the tea, Your Grace. It was lovely meeting you in person. I hope we can get to know each other a little better in the future.”
He bowed politely and followed the Duke.
Aurelia stood and watched his retreating back, feeling her frustrations grow.
She had been so close to getting more information about her father. There was no denying the fact that doubts had set in sinceher wedding. The more time that passed without any effort on his part to see her, the more she realized that something wasn’t right.
The father who had raised her did not resemble the man who had sold her to the Duke.
She needed to know more about him, and about the man she had married.
Silence filled the study as Philip poured them each a glass of whiskey, taking his time as he caught his breath following his long ride.
He’d taken to riding in the afternoons, even though it felt like a chore. Yet, he reasoned with himself that anything was better than bickering with his wife.
“Is that truly how you greet your wife after coming back from God knows where?” Oliver took a seat in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace and waited for Philip to join him.
“She is my wife in name only. There is no need to stand on ceremony, given the parameters of our agreement,” Philip grunted and fell into the empty armchair, rubbing his hand over his chin.
“Parameters?” Oliver raised an eyebrow and reached for the glass of whiskey that Philip had placed on the small table between them.
Philip grew weary as he realized his friend would not stop badgering him until he got to the heart of the matter. He had hoped to keep his arrangement with his wife a secret, but Oliver was a trustworthy man. He had turned his life around after leading a debauched lifestyle that had caused his family a great deal of discomfort.
“Aurelia Godwin is my wife in name only. I do not intend to pretend as though she is not the daughter of Gabriel’s murderer. Nor do I intend to consummate our union and risk carrying on that devil’s line.”
Philip shook his head and threw back his whiskey in one gulp, feeling the warm sting at the back of his throat.
“Ah, and who exactly are you punishing with this decision? Aurelia or her father? Perhaps both?” Oliver sat back in his chair and waited for a response, pensively chewing the inside of his cheek.
Clenching his jaw, Philip placed the empty glass beside him and stared into the empty fireplace. It was far too warm to light a fire, yet he longed for the crackling of the logs that would distract him from his thoughts.
“Elton Godwin deserves to be punished for what he did.”
Oliver leaned forward in his chair and clasped his hands between his knees. “And is your wife to be punished alongside him? Forgive me for sticking my nose where it does not belong, but I do not think that your wife had any idea of her father’s wrongdoings. She seemed surprised when I mentioned that I knew him from my gambling days.”
Philip’s head snapped up and he glared at his friend. “What else did you tell her during my absence?”
“Nothing that she does not already know. We discussed the stallion, and then her father. She wanted to know more, but you, quite rudely if I may add, interrupted our conversation.” Oliver cocked his head as his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
Philip leaned back in his chair, relaxing a little. “You are not to speak with her ever again in my absence. I do not wish to risk the possibility of Aurelia feeding her father information about my life. I am keeping her at a distance, and I would advise you to do the same.”
Oliver deliberated for a moment as he rubbed his hands together and stared at the empty fireplace. “I believe that you are making a mistake. I doubt that your wife knew anything about her father’s actions, and I doubt even more that she is supplying him with information.”
Irritation flowed through Philip’s veins. Who was Oliver to question how he managed his affairs?
“You cannot be angry with her for talking to anyone who gives her the time of day. The poor lady seems to be pining for company. I hesitate to repeat myself, but your wife is innocent in all of this.”
“She is a Godwin. Make no mistake that her loyalty will always lie with her father,” Philip snapped when he felt that his friend was getting too personal for comfort.
What business was it of his if he chose to keep his wife at a distance?
Placing his hands on his knees, Oliver pushed himself up and stood. “I will not tell you how to conduct your affairs, Philip. But I do think you are wrong for punishing Aurelia for her father’s behavior. There is also another thing you said earlier that is incorrect.”
