The Duchess’ Replacement (Unrelenting Lords #2)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

S arah walked into the dining room the next afternoon. She spent all day with Mrs. Bates going over schedules and meeting more of the household staff. She was exhausted but she was feeling more confident in her role of Duchess.

The one thing she was not feeling better about was Charles. She had not seen him all day. His noticeable absence was grating on her nerves. Not only was it incredibly rude but she couldn’t help but notice the staff take notice of his avoidance of his new wife.

Samuels held out the chair for Sarah to sit in.

She looked at the empty chair across from her.

“Thank you, Samuels.” She said as she unfolded a napkin and placed it in her lap. “Tell me, will His Grace be joining me tonight?”

Samuels cleared his throat. “No, Your Grace. I fear His Grace has been locked away in office all day. He is a-”

“Very busy man.” She sighed. “Yes. I know. It’s all I hear.” Sarah didn’t try to disguise the frustration in her voice.

Last night was exactly what she needed. She got all of her tears out and now she was left with pure annoyance and angst. Before she came down for dinner she had a brief moment of hesitation. She considered eating in her room again, but she’d be damned if she was going to hide in her room like some lost and hurt lamb.

Her mother raised her better than that.

“No worries, Samuels.” She brushed the notion off. “I will visit him in his study after I eat.”

Sarah had to bite her lip to hide her smile. The abject horror written across Samuels face along with the tension that rolled off of him was amusing.

She quirked an eyebrow. “Am I not allowed to visit my husband, Samuels?”

Watching him fidget and squirm gave Sarah a rush of excitement.

Mayhap their loyalty to him isn’t out respect, but fear.

Sarah snorted to herself. That seemed more likely the case. She had originally thought everyone spoke highly of her new husband out of respect but the way the poor butler was shifting in front of her, it was more likely they were afraid of him.

Not to mention the peculiar way Lizzie and Mrs. Bates reacted her to questioning about eating with him in his study last night.

Well, lucky for her, she was particularly good at standing her ground and engaging with bullies. She finally felt some semblance of control settle within her.

Sarah leaned towards to where Samuels stood.

“Don’t worry.” She whispered. “I will tell him that you fought me tooth and nail but you finally gave in because I used my feminine wiles on you and you’re no match for me.” She winked, hoping to break the tension.

To her satisfaction, Samuels breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, Your Grace. I remember our first encounter. You are not someone to be trifled with.”

Sarah let out a laugh that echoed through the empty dining room.

“If I’m not being too forward, Your Grace. It is nice to see you smile. You looked quite worrisome at the church.”

Sarah looked up to Samuels. “You were at the church?”

Samuels nodded. “Mrs. Bates and I were in attendance on behalf of His Grace.”

The familiar scene flashed before her eyes. She remembered seeing a man and a woman in the pews opposite her mother and sister.

“Ah. You’re right.” Sarah settled back into her chair.

“Yes. I’m feeling a bit more settled now than I was then.” Sarah chuckled. “For the most part.”

Samuels nodded and excused himself to see to other duties.

Sarah acknowledged his departure and returned to the plate in front of her. She told herself she would enjoy the moment.

Spending the day acclimating to her new role, speaking with the servants, having a good meal brought a sense of familiarity she so desperately needed.

It also gave her the resolve to march right up to that study door and demand entry.

As soon as she finished with dinner, it would be time for her husband to know his wife was not just a trophy he could set somewhere and take out when needed.

She had opinions and her own set of rules she needed implemented as well.

Charles sat at his desk, pouring over his ledger. He’d have to find a new supplier for meat, prices were going up and he was going to start losing money soon.

Charles put down his pen and rubbed his eyes.

A knock at the door had him sighing. “Come in.”

A second passed and the door didn’t open.

Charles looked at the door and quirked an eye brow. Did he imagine it? He looked at the clock. It was past dinner time. Maybe his brain was telling him it was time to take a break.

Another knock came, this time a little softer.

“Come in!” He bellowed.

He sat back in his chair impatiently waiting for the door to open. He rested an elbow on the arm of the chair, his fingers restlessly rubbing his chin.

The door creaked as it was pushed open ever so slowly. The anticipation was irritating him.

“Well, in or out. What do you want?”

Just then a dark blonde head popped through the door.

Sarah .

His eyes narrowed on her as she slowly stepped into his office. She was unsure of her place with him and that’s how he liked it. There have been too many times in his life where he was not in control of the narrative and he vowed he’d never give that power up again.

Once fully inside she closed the door and looked around the room.

He cleared his throat and her vision snapped back to him. She took a deep breath and a look of determination coated her features.

It stirred something within him.

Charles hid his smile behind his hand. He liked to be challenged. It brought more satisfaction when he, undoubtedly, got his way.

“How long are you going to avoid me?” She huffed out in annoyance.

Charles pursed his lips.

“I don’t recall avoiding you. In fact, I haven’t seen you. How could I avoid you if I haven’t seen you?” Charles kept his voice light and nonplussed.

He was delighted that he could actually witness her temper rising within her. A beautiful red flush crept high on her cheeks as her eyes widened. She threw her arms out wide, signaling to the room.

“That’s exactly what I mean Charles. I haven’t seen you because you’ve been holed up in here for two days!”

She continued her march towards his desk. She slammed both hands down on his ledgers and leaned across his work.

“Do you know how it feels to be married to a stranger, come to his home, and be left to fend for oneself in a new role with no support from said stranger, other than one introduction to a butler and housekeeper?”

Her chest was rising and falling with each little puff of angst she dispelled. She was a firecracker when she was angry. He couldn’t help but think about all the ways he could get her to explode. Charles shifted in his seat hoping to cover the swell in his trousers.

“I am not going to seek you out, Sarah. If I need you, I’ll find you. I would expect the same of you.”

Feeling more in control, he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest.

“This is a marriage of convenience, remember?” He said lightly. “I saved your name, and in turn, you helped keep Eli in somewhat good standing.”

Sarah clucked her tongue. “Marriage of convenience, indeed. Nothing about this feels convenient.” She chided.

Charles lazily lifted a shoulder. “Your opinion on the matter of convenience makes no difference about its validity. Truth is that’s exactly what this is.”

Charles tightened his jaw before he dropped his hands to his lap.

“And another truth is, you’ve made a grave mistake, my dear wife.”

Her eyes flickered when he said “wife,” causing his lips to twitch but he refused to smile.

“Two days in and you’ve already broken a rule of mine.” He tsked.

Sarah straightened. Her lips formed into a tiny, perfect ‘o’ and it pleased him greatly.

Charles pushed away from his chair and stood up to his full height, relishing how her eyes widened even more when he was fully standing.

She licked her lips. But with a little shake of head her indignation returned.

“What are you talking about?” Her voice had a slight shake to its timber, but for the most part she was doing an excellent job at keeping her emotions at bay. “I have not broken any rule. How could I? This is the first time I’m seeing you.”

Charles stalked around his desk and came to stand in front of her. Her body shifted as if to take a step back, but her lips tightened into a thin line and she held her ground.

Satisfaction rumbled through Charles.

She tilted her head to meet his eyes.

He didn’t lean down, he only lowered his eyes. “I told you you were not to bother me unless there is an emergency.”

This close to her he could see tiny flecks of gold in her hazel eyes. Eyes that were currently staring back at with him with no good will.

“This,” he took a step closer to her, causing her to crane her neck to keep eye contact, “is not an emergency.”

She continued to stand still. No movement was between them, just their breaths crashing into each other.

“How was I supposed to know you were all right? You could have been dead in here and no one would have been the wiser. Isn’t that an emergency?”

Charles allowed one corner of his lips to tip up.

“Plenty of servants have seen me, all you had to do was ask. Samuels has been in many times, one to even tell me that you had asked about me for dinner.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“I should have known he would tell you.”

Charles chuckled. “My dear wife, I know all that happens in and around my house and don’t forget it.” His voice was low and rumbled deep from his chest.

She must have felt the vibration because her eyes dropped to his chest before they roamed their way back up to his.

“What is my punishment?”

Four words. Four simple words, spoken just above a broken whisper, ignited a fire so hot it threatened to consume Charles right there on the spot.

A wide, devilish grin spread across his face.

Every fiber of Sarah’s sanity was screaming at her to run but she was frozen in her place. She was completely enraptured by dark green eyes that were becoming darker the longer she stared into them.

Whatever animal growled within his chest when he spoke called to something deep within her and her body was at war with her mind.

He had yet to answer her question, but with him hovering over her, overwhelming all of her senses, she couldn’t even remember what she asked him. She most likely couldn’t even tell someone her name if she were asked.

“So anxious for a punishment, are we?”

Sarah’s eyebrows burrowed. “What-”

Her words were swallowed by his mouth that had crashed down onto hers. If she was transfixed by his eyes, then she was completely lost to his kiss.

She’s been kissed before, but it was mostly mashing her mouth against Byron’s while his novice hands fumbled around her waist.

There was nothing inexperienced about the way Charles kissed.

With one hand he pulled her waist into his body while his other hand pulled her in from the back of her neck. He took advantage of her mouth, open from shock, by thrusting his tongue into her mouth.

She had one errant thought before her body’s reaction to the kiss stole her conscious thought. That single thought was, He was right. He wouldn’t be gentle.

His one arm snaked around her waist pulled her up so her feet dangled just above the floor. He sharply turned and placed her on top of his desk. Without breaking the bruising kiss, he willed her legs open by using his one knee to nudge them open so he could stand in between them.

He cradled her head within his hands, angling her head just right so he could deepen their kiss.

Their tongues danced around each other. His challenging her timid responses to his more calculated movements.

A moaned escaped her lips and reverberated into his mouth. She heard a sharp inhale and his grip around her face tightened.

With one hand still holding the angle of the kiss, his other trailed down her neck to her chest, leaving gooseflesh in its wake. It stopped on top of her breasts and grabbed ahold of one.

His massage was a bit rough but it only excited Sarah more. He was unleashing something she didn’t realize was hidden within her.

Sarah’s body reacted by arching into his. She felt like a reckless wanton woman but she didn’t care. Whatever spell this man cast over her she was grateful for it.

Her hands reached up and found purchase in his luscious dark locks. Her nails raked along his scalp causing him to take in another sharp inhale.

Knowing she caused this intimidating man to lose his breath sent an electric shock throughout her body. Her body came alive under his touch. She wanted more.

Her legs wrapped around his body, pulling him in closer. She began to think she didn’t need to wait the rest of the ten days, she could do this now.

She could give herself to him in this moment and they would officially be husband and wife. And, more importantly, she would want it.

Before this moment she was confused about their arrangement, but no man can kiss a woman like this and not want a relationship from her.

The thought blossomed hope within her heart and her body tightened, once more, around him.

Charles slowed their kiss and pulled away.

Sarah sat for a brief moment, not wanting to open her eyes to reality. She wanted to stay in the dream a little longer.

Sarah reluctantly opened her eye, expecting to see his flush face, and the same longing she felt displayed in those green eyes.

Instead she was met with a stern look as if she were a wayward child being punished.

Punished.

Charles took a step back, breaking her hold on him. Her legs dangled from the desk and her hands felt achingly empty as they fell to her lap.

She wrapped her arms around her middle, he had taken all the warmth from her when he stepped away from her.

“Stopping here is your punishment.” His voice held no emotion other than mild annoyance.

“You may go.” He nodded to the door.

Sarah’s cheeks burned in embarrassment. Any word she thought to speak caught in her throat. Which was fine because she couldn’t decide if she wanted to rage against him or cry out in shame. If she spoke it would be just a jumbled mess and she had made too much of a fool of herself already.

She stood up and righted her hair and dress. Shame crept into her movements. She hunched her shoulders and dropped her eyes to the floor. Her legs willed her to run out of the room, but something reminded her that she had promised herself no more hiding.

This was her house, this was her husband. If she were going to have any sort semblance of a normal life her, she had to make a stand sooner or later.

He may have won this round, but she would not give him the benefit of watching her run from him.

With new resolution she relaxed her shoulders and lifted her head. She turned to her husband and a movement caught her eye.

She may be naive with some things, but thanks to the books she read she knew she wasn’t the only one affected by their kiss. He might have a better poker face than her, but, thank heavens, God gave men a noticeable tell when it came to arousal.

Sarah raised a slight eyebrow at Charles.

He didn’t move to hide his arousal, or apologize for it. He continued to stand there, seemingly unaffected.

Sarah had to credit his sense of control. Something itched in the back of her mind that had the butterflies flittering around her stomach again.

He matched her expression and raised an eyebrow, daring her to acknowledge what she saw.

She clucked her tongue and turned back towards the door.

“I’m retiring to my room if you need me.” She said with a sway of her hips.

“Sarah?” His voice, demanding.

She stopped and only dipped her head to the side to acknowledge him.

“Next time I will not go so easy on you.”

She nodded in acknowledgement and walked out the door hoping beyond all hope he did not see her slight stumble from her weakened knees.