Page 51 of A Bride for the Forbidden Duke
Henry truly thought about simply turning back around and walking out, but something stopped him. Perhaps it was the restrained emotion with which she had spoken several nights ago. Perhaps it was that he recognized the desperation of loneliness through an invitation of breakfast. Perhaps it was simply that he did not have the energy to ignore her today.
Yes, that was it, he decided. He did not have the energy.
So, Henry nodded. “Very well.”
A footman pulled out a chair on the other end of the table, but Henry shook his head. “I shall sit next to Her Grace.”
The footman bowed in acknowledgement before pulling out the next chair and servants prepared him a plate of breakfast. Henry ignored it for the time being, despite the delicious smell. Even Veronica had barely touched her food.
“I wish to discuss the changes around the house,” she told him.
He enjoyed the way she spoke, as if she was in charge and knew everything. It amused him. More so, he liked to put her in her place in that teasing way that had her eyes sparkling, as if she waited for him to do so.
“Seeing as you have avoided me like the plague, Your Grace, I thought we could discuss it over breakfast.” She leveled an unimpressed look at him that he found rather audacious. “I have waited here each morning, only to watch you hurry past. So if you have stopped playing your avoidant games with me, we could discuss the changes.”
“Hmm.”
“I am sorry for not discussing them with you sooner at the very beginning, or since, really, but you are not a very approachableman. And when Idoapproach you, I fear your temperament gets in the way of a neutral discussion.”
“I do not have a temperament.”
“And I am sure that sweet insistence eases your sleep at night,” she muttered, almost to herself.
He liked her like this, her wit playing him at his own game, not afraid to speak back to him. She was not always like that. When she was vulnerable, it showed, but when she was haughty… oh, it pleased him. It riled something in him.
I do not care what she riles, he almost argued internally with himself.
“I will remind you that it wasyouwho made this offer of our arrangement,” Veronica said, meeting his gaze. “And if it is to continue for the foreseeable future, then we should be able to discuss matters together. If you will listen to me now, we do not have to argue about changes I make in your pointed absence further along the week or month.”
He hesitated before nodding. She had a point.
He sipped at his tea and gestured for her to continue.
“I have dual plans,” she said, laying out sheets of parchment to show him diagrams she, or a servant perhaps, had drawn of the garden and…
He frowned. His study.
“As the garden is being changed, I wish to work on your study, if it is not too disturbing. Of course, the changes will be gradual for you to cause minimal interruption to your work. Alternatively, I can organize for as much to be done as possible during one of the days you are out at meetings.”
He motioned again for her to continue. He realized she had expected resistance. He did not like her changing things, but he had to admit the garish decor of the house was something he loathed.
Henry cleared his throat. “Gradual will be much better,” he said. “If you wish for my input.”
“I do.” She nodded. “Thank you. I thought it would perhaps be easier if it is gradual, so you do not come home after a stressful day to a big change. That is quite jarring, is it not? My mother did that with her parlor one year. I left for afternoon tea, and when I returned, our drawing room was pink.”
“Atrocious,” he muttered dryly, sipping more tea for something to do.
He liked the sound of her voice. She talked enough for both of them, and he found he did not mind that morning. If anything, he was allowing himself to relax in her company. He liked that he did not have to say a great deal in response.
“I took the liberty of sending for your plans for your study in Turner Hall,” she told him, and he blinked, surprised.
“You did?”
“Yes,” she said. “I found the furniture maker who crafted your desk, and the workers that designed your study the way you wanted it, so I have plans to employ them to recreate it right here in Westley Manor for you.”
He blanched. Surely…surely,she was trying to gain something for this odd nicety.
He did not miss London or society by any means, but he did miss his study. For Veronica to have arranged to design this house’s one the same…
