Page 98 of A Bride for the Forbidden Duke
She lifted her chin, her mouth quivering, the only betrayal of her true emotions. “Then I shall return to London after my brother’s ball, and I shall leave you be. If you wish to live in that manor, childless, alone, and pushing everybody away who tries to care for you, then you may do so, but I shall not stand by and watch.”
Angrily, she walked away from him.
She waited for him to call her name, to bring her back to his side, to kiss her and beg forgiveness, but only resolute silence lingered, and by the time she reached their carriage, Veronica could not keep her tears at bay any longer.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Will you truly not join me downstairs?” Veronica asked her husband.
He looked at her with disinterest as he had every time they had passed one another in the last two weeks since their argument in the park. It was as though time had reversed, and he was back to ignoring her once again.
It broke Veronica’s heart.
“It is your ball,” he answered tersely. “I do not see why I must show my face.”
“Because you are supporting the Earl of Grantham,” Veronica said sharply. “And we agreed to do this together.”
“You seduced me into agreeing.”
“And you did not complain nor push me away.”
He paused, finally setting that heavy gaze on her properly, as though he was seeing her for the first time in days. Perhaps he had. Perhaps he was not looking through her right now, instead taking in her ball gown of the purest blue silk and lace decoration.
“You are leaving after the ball, are you not?” he asked, ignoring her comment.
“Yes,” she said tightly. “As promised.”
Is he truly not going to fight for me to stay?
“Then enjoy your ball, Duchess.”
Veronica bit her lip, stifling her pain. She pulled back, leaving the doorway, and pressed herself back against the wall outside of the Duke’s second study up on the first level of the manor. She had already begun work on his main study, and now, she regretted every moment she had spent planning such a grand gift for him.
A heavy sigh came from the room, and she took that as a sign to walk away. He would not join her, and she would not force him to attend.
Downstairs, she prepared herself for her guests arrivals and within the hour, they began to.
She stood in the entrance hall alone, greeting her guests one by one. There were faces she recognized, faces whom she had once called friends but received no support from during her brother’s absence, and faces whom she did not like entirely but was happy they had shown.
Soon, the only faces she cared about came through the door, and Veronica’s unease from the last two weeks shifted into something lighter, more relieved.
“Mama!” she said happily. “Robert.”
The two walked in, her mother in a heavy velvet gown of midnight, and her brother scrubbed up and groomed perfectly, back into the role of the Earl with ease. He had cut his hair and shaved, presenting himself properly as he approached her.
“Duchess.” He bowed to her, a smile on his face, and she curtsied. “Thank you for hosting this ball tonight. The last two weeks have greeted me with more ease than I anticipated, but tonight’s celebration shall further solidify my place back among theton.”
“I do hope so.” She grinned, hugging her brother.
Her mother stepped forward, embracing her. “My darling.”
“Mama,” Veronica greeted. “How was your journey?”
“Long and terrifying,” she sighed. “It seems your brother found more interesting facts to tell me about the pirate duels he engaged in while in captivity.”
“I am only trying to keep the evening light,” he laughed. “I shall leave you both for a moment and venture into the ballroom.” He bowed his goodbyes, and Judith looked at Veronica steadily.
“Something is amiss,” she guessed. “And your husband is not at your side.”
