Page 22 of An Accidental Bride for the Duke
Overcoming her initial surprise, Iris suppressed the fear that had started to creep inside of her. Despite how upset Philip clearly was with her, she decided then that he had no right to be.
He can’t have it both ways. Wanting nothing to do with me and wanting to keep me on a short leash at the same time. And he needs to know it.
“I wasn’t aware that I worked for Mr. Tibbitt,” she said sharply.
Philip leaned back. “Excuse me?”
“This is my home,” she said bravely. “You yourself said as much. And I should not have to ask permission to sneak about in my own home, nor should I be made to feel bad for doing so.” She crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow at him.
The duke said nothing.
She could not see his eyes, but she could feel the glare in them. Iris knew already that he was no fan of her talking back at him, and she braced herself for his wrath. Which… well, she was more excited for than she should have been. Already her skin began to tingle at the mere thought of it.
“Unless you mean to tell me why I cannot visit this wing of the manor,” Iris tried next, fidgeting under the duke’s gaze. “You still have not said. Am I to simply guess?”
“Follow me,” Philip said.
“What?”
“Follow me.” And with that, Philip turned and strode from the library.
Iris hesitated, not understanding at all what had just happened. She considered ignoring him entirely, a thought that lasted for less than a second because even she was not such a fool to test his anger twice in one day.
She hurried after him, catching him a moment later.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
He gave no response, striding quickly through the house and back toward the western wing. From there it was up the stairs and down the hall, silence sitting heavy between them. And all the while she could feel his frustration mounting.
A moment later and she realized where he was taking her. But this only made her angry.
“You’re taking me to my room?” she said, unable to believe that was the case. Surely not.
“I am.” Philip threw open her door and strode inside.
Iris stood outside the door for a moment. Bewildered and confused, uncertain of what this was. That he was upset with her, that was clear. But what on earth was this really about?
With no choice, she followed the duke into her bedroom.
He was standing at its center, his arms followed, a scowl fixed across the large features of his face. “What were the three rules I gave you?” he said immediately.
She blinked and came to a stop. “The three rules? What are you?—”
“Do not disturb me unless there is good reason. You will provide me with an heir within the month. And thirdly…” He raised an eyebrow. “You are not to snoop into my personal life. Two days and you’ve managed to break two of those rules already. I wonder why I bothered.”
Iris was frowning, not entirely certain she understood. “I wasn’t snooping into your personal life.”
“Yes, you were.”
“No, I wasn’t,” she said stubbornly. “I was merely exploring the home—my home. I had every right! If you did not want me to do so, perhaps that should have been the third rule.”
He groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Did you stop to think aboutwhyI did not want you in the eastern wing? Or should I have been clearer. Perhaps this is my fault.”
“You…” She gave her head a shake. “Your family. What do they have to do with the eastern wing?”
He flashed his eyes with anger. “And again, you break one of my rules. I can’t help but wonder if you are doing it on purpose, of if you are trying to get under my skin.”
“That’s not fair!” she cried. “How am I supposed to know what does and does not constitute as snooping? Seeing as you have told me next to nothing—given me nothing to work with. Am I to keep my mouth closed from now on? Stay in my room like a prisoner, so that I don’t risk upsetting you.”
