Page 69 of Her Tiger of a Duke
“He has arranged separate rooms for us. I will admit, it is nice to know that I am not alone.”
“You most certainly are not. Men are easy to understand, if you are willing to think like one. Might you wish to share with a stranger?”
“I suppose. He is a good man, but I do not understand him. There are times where I feel like he wishes to love me, but just as I allow myself to believe it, he disappears again, pulling away as if he hates me.”
“And what is he afraid of?”
“I do not know. He will not tell me.”
“And yet, he will have made it known to you. There will have been something that has told you everything you need to know, and all you need to do is find the things that you have missed.”
“But I do not believe there has been anything. I do not know anything about him, and with how he is I do not believe that will ever change.”
“Then why did you marry him, if you do not mind me asking?”
Grimacing, she explained what had happened, and how the friend they were visiting was his betrothed at one time. Serena listened intently, laughing at parts of it, and then sighing when she finished.
“I see. Well, that will never change if you let it continue.”
“Which is precisely why I am trying to change things, but he will not let me. He tells me that we cannot discuss it, and that is the end of it. I wish that there was more that I could do.”
“Well, you have not been married long. As you said, you were strangers before. Perhaps all that he needs is time?”
Beatrice hoped that was the case. She sat with Serena a while longer, listening to her stories about her and her husband, and then as she went to her room Owen stepped out of his. He was dressed only in his shirt and trousers, and he was looking at her almost desperately.
“Where have you been?” he asked.
“With the other guests. You went to your room, and I was not yet tired.”
“You should have told me. I prefer to know where you are.”
“All you had to do was come to the sitting room, if you wished to see me. I was not far away.”
“That does not matter. You should have told me you would not be in your room.”
“Then you should not have left me standing alone,” she snapped. “If you truly care for my safety, then act as though you do. It is not difficult, Owen.”
She entered her room without letting him say another word and sat on her bed. His actions were confusing, and it was frustrating her to no end. They were supposed to be a united couple, but they could not agree on anything at all. Beatrice looked forward to seeing her friend, so that she could at last speak with someone that understood her situation.
In spite of everything, she slept well. She wondered if it was because she was exhausted, or perhaps because she had stood her ground. It was clear that Owen was going to do exactly as he pleased, no matter how it affected her, and so she was more than happy to do the same. It hurt to know that he had not changed his mind, but she had known who she was marrying and what he wanted.
As they made their way again, Owen cleared his throat, at last looking at her properly.
“Did you at least enjoy your evening last night?”
“Indeed. I met a very kind lady, and we talked for a while. It was nice to simply be Beatrice for a night.”
“You can be Beatrice when we are home.”
“No, I cannot. I am a duchess, with servants catering to my every whim and an enormous household to run. Last night, and I suppose during this visit, I will simply be myself, and I have missed that.”
“I understand. I miss being who I used to be, too.”
There it was once again. He was opening himself up to her, and while she wanted to be pleased about it, she knew what was going to happen. He would come close, only to pull away again, and knowing that made her less inclined to care.
And yet, she could not help herself.
“And who were you before?” she asked.
