Page 49 of A Duke Makes a Deal
Silas stopped midway up the stairs, forcing Clara to stop as well since he held her hand. He was a step above her, which only made her feel minuscule as he stared at her.
“Trembley’s concerns are not mine and I won’t have you bothered by his opinions. Do you understand?”
The authority in Silas’s voice sent a shiver down Clara’s back. Though he held her hand tightly in the same firm grip as he had in the chapel, Clara couldn’t see any anxiety in his eyes. In fact, he appeared almost solemn.
Unable to think of a clever response, Clara nodded. They continued up the stairs and were soon making the long and nerve-racking walk down the northern corridor to their private bedchambers.
Clara kept her eyes on the ground in front of her. To say she was nervous was an understatement. She knew what was about to happen and while she had never experienced anything like it, she had heard that it could be an unpleasant experience if one’s partner was unkind or inconsiderate. She knew that Silaswaskind and considerate, but all the same, she couldn’t quitemanage to will her nerves away as they approached the third floor.
Chapter Twelve
Upon entering thebedchambers, Clara felt herself begin to shake. Her nerves were wrought with tension and as she stood in the center of the room, waiting as Silas closed the door, she heard the door click. Then, she heard a deep sigh.
Clara frowned. He sighed? Confused as to why, she turned to see him leaning against the door, his eyes closed as his head pressed back against the wood. He was fully dressed, not changed in any particular from how he had been moments before, but there was a shift in his posture, making him appear almost relived. She studied his face as he breathed, noting the stubble that had begun to grow around his cheeks, chin and neck. His black brows and dark, curling hair that had been held by pomade had dropped slightly, and his dark skin seemed to glow in the light of the candles the maids had lit. He seemed tired, if not content.
His eyes opened and focused directly on her and she felt her heart begin to beat furiously. He really was attractive, far more so than she usually allowed herself to realize, for it was dangerous to admit that she had married a man far superior to her in every way.
Feeling slightly insecure, she held her spot until he pushed himself off the door and came towards her, tugging at his cravat as he did.
“A successful night, I suppose,” he said as he walked past her, leaving her feeling slightly empty. There was no heat behind his words, no emotion. He seemed really rather composed. Frowning slightly, she turned to watch him as he walked about the room. “We are married.”
“Yes, we are,” she said, ignoring the crack in her voice.
He sat on one of the chairs that faced each other at the foot of his bed as he removed his boots. She jumped at the touch of his hand on her shoulders. Turning around, she saw him hold his palms up, his face confused.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said unconvincingly. She swallowed and nodded at the large mirror that hung on the far wall. This room was nearly identical to hers. “You have a very unique style.”
Silas glanced around the room, seemingly unimpressed before he undid the buttons of his vest.
“I did not decorate it.”
It dawned on Clara that Cynthia had most likely chosen all the décor.
“Oh. Well, it is, um, quite unique, indeed.”
“Yes,” was all he said.
Clara wondered what she had said that had agitated him. Perhaps he was offended by her wording?
“I didn’t mean to say that I don’t like it,” she tried. “I only meant that I’ve never been in a room that was so, well…opulent I guess would be the word. I’ve certainly never seen black silk drapes,” she said, walking to the bed. “Do you have an affinity for mirrors?”
“No.”
“Oh,” she said, frowning. “Then why are there so many in this room?”
“I’ll show you later,” he said.
Clara shrugged to herself, curious as to why he was being so short with her. Her hand came up to the bed posts as her fingers gently traced over the suggestive wood carving. “And I’ve never seen a bed like that before.”
He did not respond and after a long moment she turned to face him. Silas was watching her intently and she wondered why his body seemed tense. Swallowing, her eyes shifted back to the bed and then back at him. He followed her stare.
“You wouldn’t happen to be nervous? About…” he nodded towards the bed. “…that, would you?”
“Nervous?” she repeated. “No, of course not. What a silly thing to be nervous about.”
His brows lifted.
