Chapter Nine
Tittleford Hall
Near Chiddingfold
Surrey, England
Two days had passed since that lovely night when she and Caleb had danced and then succumbed to passion amidst the bluebells and the moonlight.
It had been one of the most glorious nights she’d ever experienced.
He made her feel free and almost joyful, and she couldn’t wait to spend the remainder of their time together.
Tea was a couple of hours off, but she had asked him to meet her at the dower house so they could have tea together uninterrupted.
It had been raining steadily since the morning, which meant there would be no walks over the acreage or kissing in the woods.
Until then, she had correspondence to answer.
No sooner had she spent a half hour at her secretary in one corner of the cheerful room than the door slammed open with enough force that it bounced against the wall. Fear played icy fingers down her spine as she jerked her head up and beheld the duke standing in the frame.
Oh, dear God.
“Tittleford. I wasn’t expecting you home for another few days,” she said in a low voice as she rose from her chair. Was Caleb somewhere in the manor house? Would he have been informed the duke had returned and might try to make certain she was safe?
“I decided to reschedule some meetings and quit London,” he said as anger flashed in his eyes. Slowly, he came into the room, stalked her over the floor.
“Oh?” That didn’t bode well. As much as she attempted to keep various pieces of furniture between them, he was crafty, and wasn’t having any of her strategies. “How were your business meetings?”
“Not that you need to know, but they were fruitful.” When she moved behind a winged-back chair, he grabbed it with both hands and then flung it out of the way. “However, upon waking this morning, the butler informed me that you haven’t conducted yourself as a proper duchess in my absence.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Though her throat was dry from fear, Angelica gestured toward a nearby sofa. “Why don’t we sit down and converse like civilized people?”
“After what you’ve done?” The yell echoed off the walls; his face was a thundercloud. “You’ve betrayed me, Angelica!”
Cold gooseflesh rippled over her skin. Her husband wasn’t drunk, but he was in a temper. And how dare the butler tattle on her! “I didn’t betray you, especially when we haven’t had a real marriage from the moment you spoke vows to me.”
The duke’s face purpled with further anger. “That is not for you to say, but you took my damned solicitor into your bed. You fucked another man!”
At all costs, she needed to protect Caleb. “That’s absurd. The butler is telling tales.”
“Don’t lie to me!” He sprang at her before she could move, and then slapped her cheek hard enough that she stumbled backward a few steps. “He said he saw the two of you coming from a walk and you looked like you’d been thoroughly pleasured.”
Pain throbbed through her cheek and head.
Tears seeped from her eyes, and still, she would try to divert his anger and the line of questioning.
“It sounds like the butler needs to find himself a woman if he’s grasping at the truth and distorting it.
” Even still, she scuttled away from him with a hand to her hot cheek.
“I’d trust him more than I trust you.” His eyes flashed with anger. “Out of all the men, you chose the solicitor to have an affair with?”
“I don’t know why you are so upset, Tittleford.
Haven’t you done the same to me, and from the first night of our wedded life?
Spent time with your mistress before coming to me?
” Where she’d found the strength or the courage to stand up to him, she couldn’t say, but it grew from the pit of her belly, and she let it.
I’m done letting this man control me and keep me under his heel.
“It is my right to do what I please.”
“What of my rights as your wife?” Straightening her spine, Angelica took a few tentative steps toward him. “What of my rights as a woman, of the mother of your children?”
“You have none, of course.”
“That’s not fair!” Not completely in her right mind, Angelica rushed at him, only to be grabbed and then flung against the wall.
Pain skittered through her back and her head as she fell to her knees.
None of it was fair, and she knew from the bottom of her heart that women shouldn’t be treated like this.
It wasn’t their lot in life, couldn’t be.
“A real man, a true man, would never lay hands on a woman—his wife—in anger or jealousy.”
“A man has the right to do anything he wishes, and if he does not, a duke certainly does.” He hooked his hand around the upper part of her arm and yanked Angelica to her feet. Then he gave her a violent shake. “You belong to me, and you’ll do as I wish.”
God help me. “I’m not an object to be owned, and since we’ve been nothing to each other for at least five years, I owe you nothing.
” She wrenched out of his hold. “In fact, I have made a decision.” Inclining her chin, she ignored the pain and fear as best she could.
“When you return to London at the end of the month, I will remain here.”
“For how long?”
She shrugged. “Until one of us dies. I will not step foot in London again. Surrey is where I will reside for the foreseeable future, because if you want me for nothing more than a place to land your fists or your anger, if you continue to disrespect me, I am done with you and this union.”
“Bah.” He shook his head. “You have responsibilities as my duchess.”
“Not any longer.” With narrowed eyes, she stared him down.
“We have nothing to show from this union except our children. And even they must know what sort of man you are toward me, toward practically everyone.” She braced herself for another barrage of blows, but the duke stood his ground.
“The truth is, you are a horrid man, Tittleford, and I hope you come to realize that soon, else eventually you will spend your life alone.”
When she thought he might relent, he struck out with a fist, catching her in the abdomen, which made her once more fall back with a cry. Thank goodness for the wall. It was the only thing keeping her upright. “Your opinion means nothing, Duchess, but I will grant your request to stay here.”
“It wasn’t a request.” Though she wanted to cry, she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her hurt. “Apparently, to you it means nothing, for you’ve never valued me. But to others, it does. I matter.”
His sneer turned her stomach. “Women in our world are to do whatever the men in their lives tell them. You’re to bear children, keep a household, be a hostess. That is all. Business, commerce, leadership are all a man’s realm.”
“Perhaps when we wed, but not anymore. Times are changing in England, Tittleford.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t want this life for our daughter, and I pray to God she won’t know the loneliness, the pain, the abuse, and the lies that I have. It is no way to live.”
When she went to move around him and then out of the room, the duke put a hand into her hair and yanked her head backward.
She had no choice but to meet his dark gaze.
“A man owns his wife. She is his to do what he pleases. You knew that when you married me, but hear this. If you ever try to cuckhold me again, I will kill you.” There was something in his tone that brooked no argument.
She stifled a whimper of both fear and pain. “And Mr. Marsden? What of him? He wanted no part of this; I seduced him, ordered him, if you will.” If she told enough lies, perhaps it would keep Caleb safe.
“I’ll think on it, for he is a good solicitor, but he deserves to be punished for touching what is mine.”
Another tremor of terror twisted down her spine. “Leave him alone. I’ll do whatever you want if only you’ll leave him unharmed.” Caleb deserved none of this. He was far too good a man to be caught up in this Drury Lane farce. It would make for a long life indeed, but she would do anything for him.
I love him.
For long moments, the duke stared into her face then he released her, thrust her from him and watched with cold eyes as she hit the corner of a table. “I shall decide soon, but if he were smart, he would leave this estate. Distance is needed, yet even London is not far enough, I think.”
I must warn Caleb.
As best she could, Angelica screwed her courage to the sticking point.
“God, you are the prick everyone says. I pity you.” Then she walked out of the room even though her whole body shook with fear and reaction.
Perhaps she’d gained confidence thanks to Caleb’s attention and support, but finally telling her husband what she thought of him felt good.
An hour later, she sneaked outside the manor. The duke had gone into the village, no doubt to seek out a whore or a tavern; she didn’t much care.
However, a footman had delivered a short missive to her that directed her out of the house.
Meet me in the store house outbuilding, for it’s not so obvious a place to talk.
Of course it was from Caleb; it had to be.
The housekeeper had swiftly joined her once she’d reached her suite.
As she always did, the dear woman put a healing salve on her bruises and bumps.
She had some very choice words regarding the butler, and Angelica couldn’t help but agree.
Still, she wouldn’t have changed anything even though it meant danger and pain.
After a restorative cup of tea, she’d dismissed the housekeeper with promises to retire early tonight behind locked doors.
Not long afterward, with her body stiff and sore, and with pain still radiating throughout from everywhere the duke had hit her, she moved slowly but she donned a dark cloak, put up the hood, and then ventured out into the rain.
She appreciated the gloomy atmosphere, for it matched her mood, but the abject hopelessness she held in her heart was what troubled her the most.