Page 53 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

Keeping you here with me. Not letting any other man touch you.

“Our marriage is being closely watched this evening. It seems that the Duke of Wexford is continuing to spout rumors about us, you see. And there he is over there, glaring at us.”

Cordelia turned, and Nicholas breathed out, glad that he’d not said what he’d really thought. The rage was slowly cooling from his veins, but Wexford’s eyes on them weren’t helping.

“There is no need to give people any more chance to talk. Best they move onto a new topic.”

Cordelia’s gaze returned to his, and Nicholas pulled her a little closer. At least, for the duration of the dance, she could not step out of the circle of his arms.

“Is that really the reason why you did this? And why you rejected Lady Rosemere?”

Nicholas cleared his throat. Her voice had an expectant tone to it. Was she trying to make him appear honorable again?

“You’re nothing but a monster. Plain and simple.”

Nicholas was surprised at the sudden return of his father’s words to his mind, some of many which were uttered to him as the years passed after his mother’s death.

“Your fault, it was,” His father had told him again and again, as he sank into the mire of too much drink and debt.

And a monster is now holding onto an angel from Heaven.

Nicholas’s duchess was too good for him; that was the long and the short of it. He would only taint her if she began to think of him as something good, and if he allowed himself to believe it.

“Yes, that’s the only reason,” he said a little stiffly. “I want you to live a comfortable life, Cordelia, with the children, free from the sting of gossip.”

He thought he could sense the slightest bit of disappointment in her eyes, but he ignored it. It was best to disappoint her now than later. She glanced at Wexford again.

“We can never let him near the children, you know. While his presence is odious, I feel better that I can see him here rather than think of him as hurrying to our home under the cover of darkness to take them back.”

Our home.

Her use of those words made a lump rise in his throat, but he swallowed it down. He gripped her waist a little tighter, bringing a lovely gasp from her lips, and she turned back to him, her body just a little bit closer.

“He wouldn’t dare. And every footman of mine is a strong lad with instructions to protect the children at all costs. Now,” he said, about to lean closer to her when the song ended, and couples parted, applauding for the musicians.

Grumbling at the interruption, Nicholas let go of Cordelia and bowed, but he quickly offered her his arm to lead her from the dance floor.

“We need to find you a drink, love,” he said, leading her towards the edge of the ballroom where they came across her family.

“Your Graces!” the viscountess said, clearly delighted to see them both.

Nicholas was loath to let go of Cordelia, but it made him happy to see her embrace her mother and sisters with such delight.

“How lovely to see you,” the viscountess said, curtsying to him.

He greeted her and the sisters, but hurriedly they all began speaking at once to Cordelia, and the viscountess drew him away to a table with glasses of punch.

“Your Grace, my solicitor has told me what you’ve done,” she said. “All those debts. Paid.”

Nicholas shifted uncomfortably on his feet and pulled at his cravat. When he made eye contact with his mother-in-law, she was practically beaming at him, her eyes full of unshed tears.

“Yes, well, it is the right thing to do. And they were not your debts nor your fault. Now, you can live freely and in comfort.” He nodded stiffly, picking up a glass of punch and handing it to her before grabbing one for himself and Cordelia.

“Thank you,” she said, touching his arm. “You have been a blessing to us in so many ways. And Cordelia is looking well this evening,” she turned to look at her daughter still in animated conversation with her sisters.

“Yes, she certainly is.” There was that damned lump in his throat again. Clearing it, he added, “Now if you don’t mind, my lady, I should like to take my wife about the room.”

He groaned inwardly at the delighted smile she gave him, and he slinked away, stepping up to Cordelia to offer her her cup.