Chapter 7
To her husband’s credit, once they walked through the doors of the manor and were away from the public eye, he did exactly as he promised—as she asked. He treated her as little more than a house guest… and often even less than that.
In fact—and while it might have been her imagination—Helena couldn’t escape the feeling that the Duke was trying to avoid her. Although she could only guess why he would do such a thing, she could only guess.
Taking my warning seriously, it would seem. Unless there is another reason.
They did not dine together that first evening, nor did they break their fast the following morning.
Helena was not overly surprised by this, even if it was a little annoying.
She was set to live in this manor for the next few months, and the last thing she wanted was to be treated as if she did not exist.
But she was also stubborn, and she refused to speak with the Duke about any of it because she knew exactly what he would do.
He would mock her, she was certain. He would make fun of her. And likely, he would insinuate another reason why she wanted to spend time with him, making her flush and squirm under his indomitable gaze, teasing her because he seemed to thoroughly enjoy how uncomfortable he could make her.
Helena was still convinced that there was a good reason for this.
All it was was a matter of circumstance.
She had been caught by surprise; that was all.
Uneducated in the ways of romance and courtship, and so out of her depth that the smallest fraction of attention saw her undone. It had nothing to do with the Duke!
It was the truth as she knew it, but she did not want to take the risk. Nor did she want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm.
So it was that her days took on a routine of their own. One needed to pass the time. One needed to keep her distracted.
She spent most of her days writing. Although her manuscript was finished, it was far from perfect, and she threw herself back into it with a mind to seeing it published.
How she would do that, she had no idea. But that was a problem for later.
She explored the estate, getting to know the staff as she did, learning her way around and how things operated. This was her home for now, and she needed to treat it as such.
She wrote to her family and her friends. She read often, devouring books beyond what was normal. She took up stitchwork. She found the music room and renewed her skills on the pianoforte.
She… she… she… she was bored. And as the days wore on, as the Duke continued to avoid her, she was starting to realize that this way of doing things simply could not go on.
It was thus a surprise when one week after their marriage, as she sat at her desk and scribbled notes in the margins of her manuscript, the Duke appeared suddenly in her room.
It was early in the morning, she had just finished breaking her fast, and as had been the case all week, she was not expecting to see him.
“Good day,” he greeted as he strode inside, not bothering to knock. “I thought I would find you here.”
“Oh!” She just about fell from her chair in surprise.
“Careful,” he chuckled wickedly. “I would hate for you to fall and bruise yourself. People might begin to wonder at the cause. They might say I’ve been beating you.”
He was in good spirits, and the way he spoke to her might have suggested that they had not spent the past week without once seeing one another. Nor would it suggest that he was the cause.
This annoyed Helena to no end. It probably shouldn’t have. Probably, she should not have cared. But there was just something about her husband that frustrated her more than anything ever had. Seeing the smirk on his lips and the smile in his eyes, she could not contain her wrath.
“Oh, I would not worry about that.” She put down her quill and turned to face him, crossing her arms and cocking an eyebrow. “That would require you and me to be in the same room together. Which, as far as I have seen, is as likely as the sun rising in the night sky.”
It was stupid, but Helena wanted to upset him. But typically, she received no such reaction.
“Are you upset with me?”
“Of course I am not,” she snapped.
“You have a funny way of showing it.”
She exhaled, the anger leaving her as quickly as it came. “I am not upset with you. I am merely… I have not seen you all week. I have not heard a word from you. You might have left the country, for all I know.”
“Is that not what you wanted?”
“What? No, I never said such things.”
“You implied them,” he said simply. “The speech you forced upon my ears, about wanting to be free to do as you please. Strangers, I believe, was the term you used. How insistent you were that this marriage was for appearances only. I thought the less you saw of me, the better.”
She opened her mouth to argue, only for any sensible argument she might have had to die on her tongue.
He was correct in a way, as she had said these things and hadn’t exactly clarified what they meant. But she also thought that he was being purposefully obtuse!
In fact, from the way he was smiling at her, forever cocky and self-assured, she got the distinct impression that he was toying with her. Having fun seeing her upset.
“So, I was right. You have been avoiding me,” she huffed.
He shrugged. “Not exactly. I have just been busy with work, that’s all. Have you needed something? Has there been anything you required that you have not been able to find or been shown to?”
“Well, no. In that regard, I have been fine.”
He laughed softly and walked deeper into the room. She was still seated, which was a mistake, because he came at her in a way that made him tower over her. She reared back, thinking to stand but not wanting to make it seem that he was having any effect on her.
“I see,” he sighed and shook his head. “You have missed me.”
“Do not be absurd,” she scoffed and folded her arms.
He was standing over her, and she was forced to look up at him.
“Are you sure about that?” His blue eyes twinkled in the morning light. “I confess, I did not consider how attached to me you might become. My fault, really, for being so charming.”
She snorted. “Is that what you think you are?”
“You tell me.”
She attempted to glare at him, wanting him to see how ridiculous he was being. But it was a weak thing, unable to batter through the charm and confidence he exuded as if they seeped from his pores like body odor.
Suddenly, Helena was feeling rather hot. She squirmed uncomfortably, forcing herself not to look away even though she wanted to. He continued to look at her, a smile in his eyes, a knowingness behind them as if he could read her mind.
If he can do it, might he let me know what I am thinking, at least? It would certainly make things clearer!
And then the Duke broke the silence like a hammer smashing into a pane of glass.
“I have good news for you!” he declared, spinning on his heel and striding across the room. “News I hope will solve all your woes.”
She balked, taking a deep breath as she came back to herself. “News? What news?”
He reached the door and spun about, flashing his eyes mischievously. “We have been invited to a garden party this evening. Which means that…” He looked at the window, furrowing his brow. “We ought to leave just after noon, I think. Yes, that will do nicely.”
“What!” she cried. “A garden party? Today?”
“That is correct,” he said. “It has been a week since we got married, and we must be seen together, dear wife. Confirming for all how wonderfully in love we are and all that. You know…” Another wink. “As per our agreement.”
“You cannot be—why did you not tell me?” She was out of her chair, caught between racing for her wardrobe and… and…
She wasn’t even sure.
“I am telling you now,” he told her rightly. “We leave just after noon.” He turned to leave, but then paused and looked back at her, his smile growing. “Oh, and Helena. Although there’s no need to say it, I suppose I must. I expect you to look your best, worthy of a duchess. It will be expected.”
Her mouth hung open, shock and surprise rippling through her.
The Duke bowed and ducked out of the room, leaving her alone to grapple with what was a most strange interaction. One that she had no idea how to feel about.
But then again, as she was starting to learn, that was rather common where her marriage was concerned.