Page 20 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
Dorian had known Reginald for his entire life, since he was old enough to have memories of his own, as the man had worked for his family since his twentieth years. Now, well into his sixties, Reginald was as much a part of Dorian’s world as the air he breathed and the food he ate. And when he had been at war, forced to leave his sister here on her own, Reginald had been the one to care for her.
The point was, he owed the man everything. But that did not mean he wasn’t about to get angry when the wrong thing was done. As it had been now.
“If I may…” Reginald stood at the doorway to Barbara’s room, careful not to enter because he knew Dorian’s mood well enough to not do such a thing. “You requested that I not disturb you until this hour, Your Grace.”
“Yes, but –”
“Just as you requested that I do as I could to make Her Grace comfortable and at home. She requested this of me, I was not in a place to deny her. I did as I had to and no more.”
“He has a point, Brother,” Barbara said. “This is on you.”
Dorian groaned. “You’re right, Reginald. And I am sorry for snapping…” He clenched his jaw with frustration. “I just wish that you had not been so quick to assist her.”
“For that, I am sorry.”
“What is she playing at…” Dorian bit into his lower lip as he considered what he had just been told. That his wife—desperate as he’d been to ignore her so that she might leave of her own accord—had taken it upon herself to organize this party of his whether he was there to help her or not.
“I would say she is doing as you instructed her to,” Barbara laughed. “And rather thoroughly by the sounds of it.”
“You are not helping!” he snapped at his sister.
She scoffed. “I am not trying to.”
“I will remind you that it is your fault that she is here in the first place.” Indeed, he had already argued with his sister over the fact, and she had not even tried to deny it.
Why is she so darn eager to see me and Penelope spend time together. She knows why I do not wish it. Just as she knows how pointless such a thing will be.
“And I will remind you that the very reason all of this is happening in the first place is because you are hosting a house party which I had told you again and again that I do not –”
“Yes, yes,” he spoke over her sharply. “I am aware. This is all my fault and now I am forced to reap the consequences.”
“There.” Barbara beamed. “Was that so hard to admit?”
He glowered at her, and her smile grew.
It was a strange situation that Dorian found himself in. And not just what Reginald had informed him of, but everything. His wife, being here, what she wanted from him, what he had promised her…never in a million years might I have imagined it would come to this.
Even three days later and Dorian was still struggling to come to terms with Penelope’s sudden arrival. Putting aside the lie that had been spun to get her here, that she’d come anyway was what caused the most concern.
Stranger still, that she was not angry at him as she should have been.
Did he want her to hate him? It would have made things easier. At least that way she would want nothing to do with him. But that she cared little, and that she wanted… a child. He had no idea how to feel or what he should do.
That he agreed to her terms was a kneejerk reaction, and truly he did not think it would get that far. He figured that a few days of avoiding her and she would understand how he really felt and simply leave. He wanted her to leave. No, heneededher to leave.
That she hadn’t, that she was now taking matters into her own hands, was not only concerning but cause for panic.
“She’s in the office right now?” he confirmed with Reginald.
“She is, Your Grace.”
He groaned, knowing now what he needed to do. “As you say…” Another groan and he stood from his chair and started across the room. “I will speak with her.”
“Good luck,” Barbara called after him, humor in her voice.
He turned back and glared at her. “I don’t suppose you’ll be joining me.”
She looked at him flatly. “Would you want such a thing?”
