Page 48 of The Duke's Return
Genevieve shifted almost like she wished to step away from Julian. What he was doing now was probably not entirely appropriate. But he didn’t care. He wanted the message perfectly clear, that no one dared come close to his wife. Fortunately, she stayed put and grew soft beside him.
“That sounds very fascinating,” she said, interjecting in a bright tone. “It must keep you very busy.”
“Indeed. Truthfully, that is what I am looking for in every plant and garden and sculpture. Even the ballrooms. Everything uses the maths whether we are creating something useful or beautiful,” Mr. Kantbury carried on.
It sounded like they were bound for a lecture if they weren’t careful. “What a wonder it is you are here spending time with us when you could be counting,” Julian remarked dryly with a smile.
“Yes, well, I do believe in being a man of many talents.” Mr. Kantbury paused as though he expected Julian to say something in return, but he offered nothing. The young gentleman hesitated and glanced at Genevieve one last time before offering a partial bow. “And with that, I am afraid it is time I took my leave. Mathematicians are notorious for dull conversation, and I should like to leave you with fonder memories than numbers for now. It was a pleasure meeting you, Your Grace.” He turned to Julian. “Your Grace.”
Julian nodded. “Good evening.”
And then he was gone, leaving Julian with his wife.
She immediately jabbed an elbow in his waist to gain a foot of freedom. The moment she opened her mouth, he put out the glass to her with an innocent and charming smile.
“Thank you,” she muttered sourly before accepting. She sipped twice before narrowing her eyes at him. “You didn’t like him.”
Whatever weight had sat heavy in his chest a minute ago was deflating at last. He could breathe more easily now. Sipping his wine, he glanced around the ballroom and wondered if there were more threats he would have to address before the evening was out.
Then Julian turned back to her. “I don’t dislike him.”
“No?” she asked tartly. “Because you certainly fooled me. And him.”
He smiled in a way that would endear any woman to him. Or rather, any woman besides his wife to him. Genevieve only rolled her eyes and it was another reminder that she was remarkable in many strange ways. He would have enjoyed flirtations with her when they had been younger and freer, he imagined.
But today was another day.
“It’s not about liking or disliking. It’s simply that I have no interest in watching my wife flirt with someone else when I’m pretending to be madly in love with her.”
A scoff passed her lips in the next moment. “Pretend?” She drained her glass and put it back in his hands. “I wasn’t born yesterday nor the day we wed. We all know, as well as I, that you have done much more than pretend with countless other women. Your Grace,” she added with a hard edge.
She has the right of that, I cannot deny. Once a rake, always a rake. There is no forgetting my past whether I wish to or not. How society deems it appropriate for a man to do as he likes but for women to live in gilded cages is beyond me.
Still, this wasn’t going to be a fight that Genevieve would win. As he accepted her glass, Julian took the chance to lean in so he could smell the punch on her breath.
“Perhaps, but I’m not married to them.” He studied her face for a moment before settling on her eyes. “I’m married to you, darling.”
CHAPTER 19
Genevieve couldn’t decide if she wanted to hide away in the shadows, slap her husband, or kiss him. But it didn’t matter. She couldn’t do any of them no matter how close or charming or annoying he could be with her.
The blush on her cheeks ignored her.
Feeling the heat crawling up her face, she forced herself to turn away. Every muscle in her body felt tight. Even her stomach was clenched as though she was waiting for something more to happen. As though Julian might do something more.
He wouldn’t, of course. She knew this. The man was a flirt. But he was married now and the one person he had no honest interest in was his wife.
Me. And this was what I wanted. Wasn’t it? A husband who isn’t here and doesn’t care what I do. A husband with full pockets who leaves me in peace.
Which was what she wanted in this moment because the man was devious and charming even while frustrating her andflattering her. It made everything too confusing. Her heart was turned all about, she knew that, and it complicated everything.
She told herself she didn’t care. Rubbing her hands together, she grasped the fan on her wrist and turned back to face him with the hopes of convincing him she’d needed to tidy up a ribbon on her dress.
“I was only…” Genevieve halted when her gaze met Julian’s.
Once more, he was gazing at her oddly with that unsettling expression that made her stomach twist and her heart flip. It was clear he was thinking. The way his gaze shifted about her face even now told her there was much on his mind.
And still he studied her. The music played, the empty glasses in his hands forgotten, and all Julian noticed was her.
