She was so lost in her delight for her sister’s circumstance that it took her a moment to realize that Val had not spoken. She could feel that he was suddenly very tense again, and she bit her lip. Had she said something that upset Val? Was she talking too much?
“Val?” she asked timidly. “Is something the matter?”
Her husband sniffed, and she could tell that he was giving her a tight smile.
“I forgot that I have an urgent business matter to oversee,” he said in a clipped voice. “Forgive me, but I must cut our walk a bit short.”
Cecily nodded, but she could not help feeling very hurt by the abrupt change in Val’s mood. They seemed to be getting on so well as they walked. She felt they were making great strides to building a relationship with one another.That is what foolish women get,she thought sadly.You knew what to expect when you married him. Why did you expect it to suddenly change?
They were silent all the way back to the mansion. Cecily felt her cheeks grow warm with shame. She should have known to never expect anything apart from the marriage of convenience that Val had promised her. And yet, part of her could not help hoping for more. Would she be left longing for the rest of her life?
Chapter Twenty-one
The next day…
As Frank helped him dress in a green coat and brown knee-breeches, Val felt heavy with guilt. He had not failed to spot the sparkle in his wife’s eyes when she spoke of her sister’s courtship. With the business-like way she had handled the discussion regarding their marriage of convenience before the wedding, Val would have never guessed that she was a romantic at heart. But as she talked about her sister’s love interest, it had become very clear that she was.
“If your brow furrows any further, it will soon be touching your mouth, your Grace,” Frank said. “What troubles you?”
Val sighed.
“I can only imagine how it must have appeared to Cecily when I did not join her for dinner,” he said. “Especially after the way I left her during our walk yesterday.”
Frank nodded.
“And you think she is upset with you?” he asked.
Val shook his head.
“I think she is hurt,” he said.Terribly so,he added silently. “And even I can admit that she has a right to be. My behaviour must seem very odd and confusing to her.”
Frank murmured with understanding.
“Then, you must apologise,” he said matter-of-factly.
Val scoffed.
“Do you truly believe it is just that easy?” he asked.
Frank shrugged.
“You will not know unless you find out, your Grace,” he said.
Val thought about it for a moment. Frank was right. Maybe Cecily would be closed off to him for a while if he tried to apologize. Or, perhaps, she wouldn’t. But instead of apologizing to her at dinner the previous night, he had hidden from her.
Worse still, he had lied to her to get away from an uncomfortable situation. Even if he didn’t care at all about Cecily, he was not one for telling blatant lies. And it happened that he was starting to care for Cecily, though in what way he was uncertain.
“Very well,” he said as Frank finished with him. “I shall try and apologise at breakfast.”
Frank nodded knowingly.
“Very good, my Lord Duke,” he said.
Val rehearsed what he would say to his wife as he went down the stairs. He decided that straightforward and genuine was best. Cecily seemed to appreciate those things. And in truth, she deserved no less. He went to the dining hall and was unsurprised to see that Cecily was not there. Had she decided to hide from him?
Disheartened, he thought of where else she might be. He knew that she sometimes took tea in the pink parlor instead of breakfast. But he also thought she might take breakfast in the drawing room. As he passed the parlor, he saw it was empty. He hoped that she would be in the drawing room.
He continued down the hall toward the drawing room. He vowed that, if she would allow him, he would make up for his previous day’s behavior with her. When he reached the room, he entered timidly, half expecting to not see the Duchess sitting there. She was, however, and it hurt his heart to see that she looked a little sad and pensive.
