Chapter Twelve
Diana
One week later
Diana sat at the writing desk in her parlor morning room, attempting to focus on her correspondence.
She hadn’t written a single letter in the time she’d become the Countess of Powis.
Her husband kept her too preoccupied to have the energy to give it much thought.
And every time she attempted to write, her thoughts would drift back to Graham and his behavior over the past several days.
He’d been affectionate and attentive, even more so as the days went on. He was even desperate at times in the way he’d take her. And as much as she adored the riding lessons and the physical attention, and the multiple orgasms, she couldn’t help but wonder why.
And then there was that man she had seen leaving Graham’s study. She didn’t get a good look at him, but he appeared to have been rubbing his jaw. As if he were struck.
But what reason would her husband have to strike a man? The idea seemed impossible, but the way he’d taken her against the door was almost feral. And his hand was bruised.
Later, Diana went back to his study to get a look at the papers on his desk, but they weren’t there.
She searched through all of his drawers but didn’t find the one that had mentioned something about a payment.
And she questioned if she was even certain of what she saw.
It was only a quick glimpse, so she could have misread the whole matter.
But anytime she asked if they might start implementing her ideas for the estates, she would very soon find herself in the afterglow of passion.
He’d suggested that they take a couple weeks to just be a married couple before their lives became focused on their household matters. A small honeymoon of sorts, he’d said.
Diana wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe that it was all it was, a considerate husband wanting to shower her with affection. But deep down, her practical mind believed something was amiss. And the last time she’d ignored her practical mind, she had ended up betrothed to a stranger.
While that had worked out seemingly well, she wasn’t certain she could ignore that voice inside of her again.
She only had time to ponder all of it at present because Graham had left for a meeting with his solicitor.
She had half a mind to have Luna saddled and go for a ride in the park alone to clear her head.
Her lessons had progressed and they had taken to riding in the park together, which was one of her favorite parts of the day.
The door opened and Hannah swept in, followed closely by Marina and Juliana.
“Mitchell allowed us to come up to surprise you. We’ve come to see how you are with our own eyes,” Hannah announced, settling onto the sofa. “We’ve hardly seen you since the wedding.”
“I am glad to see you all.” Diana set down her pen. “I suppose I have been rather… occupied.”
Marina’s knowing look made Diana look away to avoid acknowledging her meaning. “Yes, we can imagine that your husband is taking up much of your time as you continue to learn all you can about each other.”
“Indeed,” Diana said, giving Marina a pointed look before motioning for them to take their seats in the nearby settee and chairs. “I am so fortunate that you all have called while he is out.”
“And how are you finding married life?” Juliana asked gently. “You look radiant, and perhaps a bit tired.”
Her friends were going to be relentless in teasing her.
“Marriage does change many things. I underestimated how much different my life would be.” Diana reached for the bell pull to ring for tea. “It’s all a bit overwhelming at times.”
“Overwhelming?” Hannah leaned forward with concern. “In what way?”
Diana hesitated, twisting her wedding ring.
She wanted to confide in them, but how could she voice her fears without sounding foolish?
“It’s just… everything happened so fast. I have learned things about my body I never knew.
Thanks to Graham, I have become proficient on a horse, which is something I never thought I’d be able to do.
And I share my life with someone I have come to care about, but still don’t fully know. ”
“That’s perfectly natural,” Juliana said in support. “Marriage is a great adjustment, even under the best circumstances.”
“But you do care for him?” Hannah asked.
Diana felt her skin grow warm. “Yes, I do. Very much so and more than I expected to. But that makes it all the more frustrating when I can’t help but feel that he is hiding things from me.”
“What makes you think he’s hiding something?” Marina asked, already condemning the man given her tone.
“Well…” Diana glanced around at the expectant faces of her closest friends as she tried to decide what she would divulge.
And then she finally decided she would tell them.
“He asked for my help with estate management before we married. Said he had use for my knowledge and wanted me as a true partner in how things were managed. But now whenever I try to discuss improvements or ask about accounts, he brushes me off.”
“All men think they know better about business,” Marina said, rolling her eyes.
“But that’s not it,” Diana insisted. “He doesn’t act superior. He acts… evasive. And there are other things that concern me.”
There was a knock at the door and then a maid entered to deliver the tea tray. Diana busied herself with preparing tea while her friends eagerly waited for her to continue.
“What other things?” Hannah asked once the servant had departed.
Diana set down the teapot and looked at each of her friends.
“Days ago, I saw a man leaving Graham’s study.
I didn’t get a good look at him, but something about him seemed…
off. Not the sort of character that one would typically associate with.
And he appeared to be holding his jaw, as if he’d been struck. ”
“Struck?” Juliana’s eyes widened. “And you think—”
“I don’t know what to think. When I found Graham afterward, his knuckles were bruised and he seemed off.”
“That does sound concerning,” Hannah said carefully. “Did you ask him about it?”
“Of course I did. But he dismissed it, saying it was nothing important. Then he…” Diana paused, not making eye contact with her friends. “Well, things became quite intense.”
Marina’s eyebrows rose knowingly. “Ah. And you let him distract you?”
“I couldn’t seem to help myself,” Diana admitted. “I have become nothing but a wanton where my husband is concerned, and I lose all sense. It’s maddening.”
“Is there anything else that concerns you about his behavior as of late?” Juliana asked.
Diana released a long audible breath. “I can’t be certain, but I thought I saw some sort of demand to pay. I didn’t see the amount, but it struck me as odd. And when I went to find the correspondence later, it was gone.”
Marina huffed and then set her teacup down on the table. “Diana, I hate to ask this, but I feel I must. Are you absolutely certain Graham’s intentions toward you were honorable from the beginning? I know you don’t believe it to be the case, but it isn’t a new tactic for a man to trap a woman.”
Diana gulped, not ready to face what it would mean if Marina were right.
“I just can’t believe that he would have done so.” She wasn’t certain her voice held the same conviction as her words.
“Of any of us, you are the one to think the most practically,” Marina said, her voice gentle but relentless.
“You were compromised quite conveniently for a man who had just inherited a title and it seems very well might have required funds. Now he’s having mysterious meetings with unsavory characters, hiding financial documents, using physical intimacy to distract you from asking questions… ”
“Marina!” Juliana protested.
“No, she’s right to voice it,” Diana said quietly, not wanting to believe any of it, but struggling to find another explanation. “I’ve wondered the same thing myself. And now he won’t let me see the very finances I’m supposed to be helping with.”
“But he gave you Luna,” Hannah said, trying to offer comfort. “And he teaches you to ride every day. Surely that shows he cares about you, regardless?”
And that was the problem. He did seem as if he cared about her a great deal. But then why was he acting so strangely? And if he had trapped her and lied to her about it, couldn’t he be capable of lying about other things? It could be the work of a fantastic actor.
“Perhaps,” Diana said, still pondering.
“Have you demanded honesty from him?” Marina asked. “And refusing his… distractions until he explains whatever is going on?”
“I’ve tried,” Diana said miserably. “But when he touches me, I become completely senseless. My resolve crumbles entirely and in those moments, none of it seems to matter.”
“There seems to be much about marriage I don’t understand,” Hannah said, sipping her tea. “When the timing is better, I am going to need you to explain it to me.”
Diana couldn’t help but laugh a bit at that. “I promise I shall do so.” Then her shoulders dropped. “Once I sort out what all of this means.”
Before anyone could say anything else, the door opened and Graham swept in. “Diana, I… Oh, I didn’t realize that you had company.”
He gave a small bow. “Ladies, I apologize for interrupting.”
“Not at all,” Juliana said, rising from her chair. “We were just leaving, weren’t we?”
Hannah squeezed her hand as she passed, whispering to her, “Guard your heart, dearest.”
Her friends each gave him a small nod and took their leave without another word. Once they were alone, Graham moved to her side, his hand finding the small of her back in a way that had become like second nature for them.
“You appear upset,” he said gently. “Were they troubling you about something?”
“No,” Diana replied, turning to face him fully. “They’re concerned about me.”
“Why?” He stared back at her, the concern and care present in his expression. She just couldn’t believe that it wasn’t real.
Diana looked into his green eyes and she would swear that she spotted love reflected back in them.
“Because my husband is clearly distressed about something and is keeping things from me.”
Graham’s jaw tightened and then he reached for her. “Diana—”
“Don’t,” she said, stepping away from his touch. “Don’t attempt to lull me into dropping this. Just… please. Tell me the truth.”
For a moment, she thought he would finally tell her. His eyes were wild with emotion, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides as if he were fighting some internal battle.
He raked his fingers through his hair. It was what he did every single time she questioned him. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
She closed her eyes to gather her strength and then asked the burning question. “Did you trap me into marriage with you?”
His eyes went wide. “What?”
“Did you set up what occurred so I’d have to marry you?”
“No, Diana,” he said quickly. “I swear to you that I didn’t do so. You must believe me.”
Fool as she was, she was inclined to believe him, but that still didn’t explain some of his behavior.
“Do you need my dowry to pay off debts?”
He ran his hand down his face. “No. I do not. Your dowry is in an account that is meant for you and our future children.”
She released a small sigh, relieved that the worst of her suspicions weren’t true. If what he said was to be believed. But it still didn’t explain why he had acted so strangely. And she decided she had to continue with her questions. “What about that man? Your hand was bruised. Did you strike him?”
Graham paced a couple steps before her, almost like a caged animal. “He was a shady character my cousin associated with. He is vile and I wanted him out of our home. I don’t want someone like that anywhere near you.”
She moved closer, searching his face desperately. “Then what is it that is troubling you? Why won’t you just tell me.”
Graham cupped her face in his hands, his touch so warm and gentle, that she wanted nothing more than to just lean into him and feel the hardness of his muscular chest. “Because you’re everything to me, and I need to protect you.”
“From what?”
Instead of answering, he kissed her, and Diana melted. She wanted to resist, to demand answers, but her treacherous body responded as it always did, wanting more and more of him.
When he pulled back, his eyes didn’t leave hers.
“Marrying you has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I did not plan it, and if the rules of our world were different, I would never have forced you to marry me, but I thank the stars every night that we have found each other. Just please believe that.”
He kissed her again, deeper this time, and Diana let him because she did believe him. Even if that meant ignoring her practical mind once again.