Page 60 of The Duke's Return
She trailed off as Julian grunted, setting his hat over his head.
Thinking something was to be said or needed, she paused. She waited for him to say something. Except that he didn’t. The man didn’t seem to mind her now. It was like she wasn’t there. All he did was slouch back while stretching out his legs. But stillhe didn’t touch her, decidedly collapsing into his own sort of exhaustion.
So he knows I am here and takes care not to touch.
“Wasn’t this evening lovely?” Genevieve inquired politely, wondering if something was wrong. If she had done something wrong.
Not even bothering to look her way, he said, “Hm. Just fine, just fine.”
Right. Tonight was all acting. Just acting. Nothing but acting… But wasn’t any of it real?
All of those moments she had felt with him that evening ran through her mind even now as he put distance between them. All at once he had shut her down. A wall set between them.
“Fine,” Genevieve echoed with a bitter tang on her tongue. Confusion gave way to frustrated. She balled her hands into fists and took a breath. “Everything is just fine.”
The rest of their ride home was quiet. She was first out of the carriage and in her bed chamber before long, fuming. Only she didn’t know if she was more upset with Julian for his exemplary acting or for her traitorous heart for daring to hope for something real.
CHAPTER 23
Scrubbing his face, Julian watched Genevieve leave the mews in a quiet but fierce stomp. She disappeared into the house. He knew the path she would take. Soon, he would follow it to his own bed chamber.
But not yet.
He gave her a moment alone to create the separation between them. It was for the best. If he was too close for her for another minute, smelling her sweet perfume, thinking about her soft skin… those pouty lips of hers dearly needed a kiss but he would not do it.
She is not for me.
“Your Grace?”
Jerking his head up, Julian forced a smile for the butler. “What are you still doing afoot? Come, let us get ourselves to bed. It has been a long night.”
“Was it not enjoyable, Your Grace?”
“It was…”
He trailed off, looking for an appropriate word. Except nothing appropriate came to mind.
The evening had gone entirely as it should and yet not at all as he had anticipated. Everyone had looked their way when he was with Genevieve. The few times he had glanced closely at the others, he had seen the clarity of their curiosity and envy. He’d even heard a few of the whispers––
“Never have I ever seen two people more in love with one another. Their behavior together is hardly decent. What a complete spectacle. I can’t look away.”
“My father in London said that the duke was in trouble. The only trouble he faces is keeping his hands to himself.”
“Oh, that? Yes, absolute nonsense. Balderdash. Tell him to see for himself. The duke is terribly in love. He looks like he wishes to worship her. Do you think he could teach my betrothed to behave the same way?”
Everything was going just as he had hoped. It should have been a clear success. All of his hard work was coming to fruition. Not only was he preparing new contracts with most of his tenants to capsize any prior protests, but the country gentry could provide proof he was there and he was more than capable of running his duchy.
As for his wife, Genevieve played so prettily the doting and proper duchess on his hand. Too pretty. She smiled even when he could see the strain in her eyes. She melted sweetly when he made any gestures, and she engaged everyone who spoke to her.
She may not particularly enjoy it, as she claims, but behaving as a duchess apparently is what she was meant to do. Thehousehold respects her, the gentry are enamored by her, and I…
Julian shook his head.
It didn’t help that he had heard her vulnerable story of her home life before becoming a duchess. He hadn’t realized until that moment just how glad he was to have her.
But it was all too sweet to be trusted. It had to be. Everything always was. Now he simply had to convince his heart of the matter.
“Your Grace, is there something I can do to help you?”
