Page 13 of The Duke's Treasure
Edward nearly crowed in triumph. He had gotten under her skin – he knew he had – even if she refused to acknowledge it.
The more he saw her, the more he was captivated by her spirit just as much as he was by her beauty. It seemed she did not have to put much effort into her appearance – whether her hair was down and wild around her shoulders or tamed upon her head, she had a natural grace and elegance that he was sure had only been ripened by her maturity. He supposed she was likely about thirty, although he knew far better than to ever ask such a thing.
“Are you not in mourning?” he asked as she led him into what appeared to be a ballroom. She was pointing out the artistry of the paintings upon the ceilings and the marble columns, all angels and religious motifs, when he interrupted her.
She paused with her mouth open, mid-sentence. “In mourning?” she repeated.
“Your husband died what, six months ago?” he said. “Should you not be wearing black?” He gestured up and down at her brilliant red gown. He hoped he did not come across as judgemental, but rather, he was truly curious.
“I should be, yes,” she said with a small smile. “And when I am out in public, I do wear black, as is expected. But the truth is, Your Grace, I do not often do what is expected of me. And the fact is, I hated my husband. So why should I spend years clad in mournful black clothing when I am, in fact, glad that he is dead?”
Edward knew that many a man would be put off by her words, and he could see the defiance in her eyes, as though she was waiting for him to respond critically.
Instead, he grinned. “You are much smarter than most, my lady.”
“I know.”
He laughed then, a laugh that echoed over the harsh surfaces of the ballroom, and when she joined in with a throaty chuckle, a tingle ran through him that he had been the one to bring out such emotion in her.
“This home is beautiful,” he said as they continued on through drawing rooms and parlors, rooms that would have been found in a manor in England but here had slightly different styles and motifs, “but we know that there is nothing to be found here. Would it be possible to see the marqués’ chambers?”
“Why?” she asked dryly. “Do you believe he hid a shipful of treasure in it?”
“No,” he said with a snort. “I believe there might be a clue within as towherethe shipful of treasure might be.”
“Very well,” she said, leading him up the stairs, stopping in front of the door that must have been her husband’s. It caused his eyes to slide over to the door next to it, as he was certain that was where she must sleep. “Here we are,” she said, pushing open the door, and he followed in after her.
The marqués’ chamber was styled in deep reds and navies, befitting the lord of a manor. Edward couldn’t help but wonder if the marqués had spent much time within.
“Go ahead,” she said, gesturing toward the room. “Look as you wish. If my husband had any secrets, I have no desire to keep them hidden.”
“Very well,” he said, walking over to the small writing desk and beginning to look through papers.
“What does your wife think about this adventure of yours?” she asked, her question said with apparent nonchalance, causing him to smile, for it showed him that she was more interested in him than she wanted him to believe.
“I do not have a wife,” he said.
Her brows rose, as she was obviously shocked by his answer.
“An English duke of your age without a wife?” she said. “What about heirs?”
“I will have them, eventually.”
“Best get on it quickly,” she said, amusement in her tone, and he turned around to look at her.
“How old you think I am, anyway?”
“Past the age when a man of your ilk should be having children,” she said.
“A man can have children at any age,” he countered, and she rolled her eyes.
“Yes, I have been told, but you never know what could happen to you. Especially when you are intent on following any small clue that might lead to a ridiculous treasure hunt.”
“I have a brother.”
“Right, the one I would like,” she said with a smile.
“And you?” he said, turning the conversation around. “Will you marry again?”
