Page 28 of Married to the Duke By Midnight

Jo hesitated as she studied his expression. He did not look angry, which she took as a good sign.

“If you do not want to answer that is perfectly fine,” Robert told her. “I was merely asking out of curiosity.”

“No, I… it is fine. I went to the milliner today. With Beatrice. Mrs. Oakley, that is.” Jo blushed at the thought of the fifteen flimsy nightgowns Beatrice had made her buy.

“Nightgowns have a rather short life the first year of one’s marriage,” her friend had muttered and smiled when they were at tea at Gunter’s afterwards.

“Why?”

“He will rip them off, obviously,” Beatrice had whispered close to Jo’s ear.

Jo’s mind had flooded with the image of Robert above her. His hands placed at the neckline of her nightgown, his eyes meeting hers as he was silently asking for her permission to rip it open. Jo had shivered at the thought. Then immediately pushed it away.

Her marriage to Robert was not like Beatrice’s to Mr. Oakley. She and Robert had agreed to marry, because they would both benefit from it – not because they were in love or desired each other greatly. Or at least Robert did not desire her. Jo was starting to realize that she found him attractive and if he was not unkind in the bedroom, she might probably… perhaps most likely… even enjoy it.

Jo had felt her cheeks flush with heat at the thought.

“I think we should order at least fifteen by the light in your eyes,” Beatrice had announced with a smirk.

It seemed impossible now though that any nightgowns would ever be ripped. She and Robert were sitting opposite each other like strangers. Jo could not fathom how they would cross the divide from mere acquaintances to bed partners. They were not even sticking to her list anymore. They should have talked more about themselves to become better acquainted, but it seemed they were constantly busy.

“Which milliner?” Robert asked. “My mother and Maggie always visit Madame Durand, but you are free to choose of course. I will have an account set up for you wherever you wish,” Robert told her conversationally.

“There is no reason for that,” Jo hurriedly assured him. “I have my own money,” she reminded him.

“Yes, but I should like to pay.”

“But there is no reason to.”

She needed the dresses to feel more like a duchess; she could not let him pay for them.

“Jo, I insist on paying,” Robert told her firmly. Lines formed beside his mouth. She had never seen him this stern.

“No, you shouldn’t…”

It felt wrong that he had to pay the cost of her insecurity.

“Jo, you are my wife!” Robert interrupted her a little too loudly and the room fell deadly quiet as they stared at each other.

A million thoughts swarmed Jo’s head at the same time, but the most persistent was the fear that she might have misjudged Robert. She had married a man she did not know; anything could be hiding under the surface.

“Jo, I beg your pardon,” Robert assured her in a much gentler voice. He pulled an upholstered stool in front of her chair and moved to sit on it. “I didn’t mean to snap.”

He sighed deeply and looked down at his hands.

“It is forgiven,” Jo told him, because she felt she had to.

And she was not angry at him for snapping, simply stunned that it was in his nature. She felt out of her depth because he argued this strongly over a matter that seemed benign.

“Why would you think you had to pay for the dresses yourself?” Robert implored and looked at her. His deep green eyes searching her face were making her uncomfortable. Or perhaps it was his nearness. She could feel the warmth from his large body. It felt strange and unsettling being so close to him.

Jo stared at the window behind him to avoid his gaze, hoping it would make her composed enough to formulate her thoughts clearly. Her jaw worked as she mulled over what to say.

“Would you rather discuss it at a later time?” Robert asked.

Something in his tone told her that he was used to dealing with people who needed time on their own to contemplate matters. Perhaps Xavier. Jo appreciated his offer but would rather solve their disagreement now.

“No, I…Now is fine,” Jo sighed heavily and looked at her lap.