Page 44 of Married to the Icy Duke
There was a tense sort of silence on the carriage ride home. Tommy was asleep, thankfully, and oblivious to any sort of atmosphere.
Isaac was glad of that. Charlotte was right about her warnings. A man could let his moods take charge. He’d known men who made their whole households suffer with their foul moods and bad tempers, and then turned around and congratulated themselves on being fine husbands and fathers on account of the fact that they did not beat their children and wives.
I will not be the same, I swear it.
Charlotte sat opposite him in the carriage, tucked into a corner with Mary sitting beside her with the sleeping Tommy on her knee, and Thalia beside her.
Sybella sat beside Isaac, and she was uncharacteristically quiet. That was not a surprise, considering that she knew more thanmost about the situation regarding Matthew and his brother. It was a tragic tale, and in Isaac’s opinion, nobody was to blame.
Clearly, Matthew did not share the same opinion.
The carriage clattered to a halt in front of the house. Isaac sat still, letting the ladies climb out first. When he finally exited the carriage himself, he found Perling waiting for him, anxiety written clearly on his face.
He lifted his eyebrows. “Problem?”
The butler swallowed. “The Duke of Stonewell is here, your Grace.”
What on earth is Gabriel Harding doing, calling without an invitation?
“I imagine he’s here to see his wife or sister,” Isaac responded.
Perling shook his head. “No, Your Grace. He was most clear. He is here to seeyou, before he sees Lady Charlotte or her Grace. He was most insistent. I … I was unsure about granting him access, but he was so …” There was a pause while Perling groped for the word. “Firm,” he managed at last.
Isaac winced. “I can imagine. Those Orions are fiery creatures, you know. Perhaps they ought to be calleddevils, rather than us.”
“If you are trying to provoke Thalia and I,” Charlotte said, her voice quiet, “you are wasting your time.”
Was that a joke? Was she trying to lighten the mood? He glanced sharply over at her and was surprised to find that he could not quite tell. She stared back at him, cool and placid, and her face betrayed nothing.
Clever girl,Isaac thought, biting back a smile.
“I showed him into the library, Your Grace,” Perling continued. “Since I thought the parlor would be wanted when you all returned.”
“Very good, Perling.”
“I’ll come in with you to speak to him, if you like,” Charlotte offered.
He glanced at her and pursed his lips. She was trying to help, he realized. She thought that her brother was angry, for whatever reason, and was trying to mediate whatever anger would flare up. It was kind of her. Kinder than he deserved, considering how thoroughly he’d ignored her no-touching rules.
Just the memory of the kisses they’d shared, and the soft, breathy noises of pleasure she’d made at the touch of his hand, made Isaac’s chest tighten and his groin flare with heat.
Steady, now,he warned himself.Now is certainly not the time.
“No, thank you,” he responded. “I shall manage this myself. Besides, you ladies have several bandboxes to pore over. I shan’t keep you from such amusements. I imagine I shan’t be long.”
“Good luck,” Thalia murmured, sounding very much as if she were trying to choke back a laugh.
Isaac chose to ignore it and strode inside.
There was absolute silence as he approached the library, and Isaac couldn’t help but wonder whether Gabriel had slipped out when Perling was not looking. That would make things easier, to be sure.
Then he pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of Gabriel Harding sprawled in his favorite chair, arms folded tight, and face white with anger.
“There you are,” Gabriel responded coolly. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”
Isaac smiled grimly and pushed the door closed behind him. “I am ready to guess that you’ve had me followed all day, so it should be no surprise to you when I return.”
Gabriel sniffed. “Of course, I had you followed. Did you think I’d allow you to take my wife and my sister out for a day without my tracking your every move? The wretched fellow lost youfor a few minutes or so after you and Charlotte left Gunter’s—unchaperoned, which I need hardly remind you willnothappen again—but he found you a while later exiting a park. I’ll request a full explanation ofthatfrom Charlotte later.”
