Page 29 of The Duke Who Claimed Her

“Is that all?” she asked him, making her voice cold. “I spoke with Mrs. Robertson already, and she told me the same.”

“No, that is not all.” Another pause as he worked. She glared at him with anger that she did not expect but clung to anyway. “I will be leaving today for London.”

The statement took a moment to hit.

“Oh…”

“And I expect to be gone for a few days,” he continued. A final flourish of his quill, and he put it down. Only then did he finally look at her. He sat perfectly straight, no emotion on his face, and his gray eyes were empty as if he looked past her, rather than at her. “During which time, I expect you to become familiar with the running of this estate. This is your home now, and as the duchess, you will be tasked with its upkeep.”

“A few days?” Arabella’s frown increased. “Where are you going?”

“I told you, London.”

“What for?”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Business, and that is all you need to know.”

“You are leaving me here?” The question came out accusatory.

“Is that a problem? As you so keenly observed, we are little more than strangers, and I sensed that you wanted such a thing. In fact, I was assured that you wanted your own life.”

Arabella could not explain why she felt such anger. She ought to have cried with relief, sung the Duke’s praises, and told him that he could stay away for as long as he wished. This was what she wanted! Not just to be left alone, but to be left in charge of the estate. Her own person… control of her own life.

I ought to be thrilled!

But her thoughts could not help but return to the previous evening. Even with how cold the study was, she felt that familiar burning rush across her body. She pictured the look in his eyes, saw their desire, and felt his kiss on her lips, so that they prickled with his taste.

Arabella was not so foolish as not to know what the Duke was doing. Whatever had happened between them, he was determined to see that it would not happen again. She doubted that he had business, just as she knew that he was running.

Disappointment washed over her, but she pushed it aside, determined to focus on the good in this news.

“It is not a problem,” she said with a slight sneer. “In fact, I suggest you stay away for as long as you need. I will be fine here on my own.”

“You will not be on your own,” he said. “While I am gone, I expect you to introduce yourself to Timothy, as I expect you to develop a relationship with him. That was, after all, why I married you. The only reason.” He let that final statement sit between them.

“Of course,” she said with a fake smile. “I will do as I promised, just as I am pleased to see that you are doing the same.”

“Did you expect anything else?”

“I guess not.”

They exchanged a silent glance, as if he were testing her, daring her to complain. Was he hoping she would ask him to stay? Arabella might have refused once, but after last evening…

“Is there anything else?” she asked, pushing that thought away.

“No.” He bent his head back over and picked up his quill. “That will be all.” And then, he went back to work, the scratching of his quill the only sound heard.

Arabella continued to glare as if she ought to be angry, but the Duke did not see it. So, she turned and left the study, careful not to slam the door closed.

Once she was alone, she ran through their conversation in her head. It was a good thing, she knew. It was what she wanted. Despite these assurances, Arabella could not escape the feeling that she had just lost something.

And all the while, the feel of the Duke’s lips as he kissed her with passion and unkept desire continued to make her skin prickle…

Chapter Eleven

Arabella ate her breakfast alone. As she did, she expected that such a state of being would become something she would grow used to.

Not that I am not used to it. Were things any better under my father?