He chuckled, dropping her wrist. Her skin seemed to burn where he had touched her. Madeline drew her hand almost protectively back to her chest. She half-expected to see red finger marks on her skin, but there was nothing. She could still feel his touch, though. How odd.
“I’m not sure that I have ever been dismissed so absolutely,” Tristan laughed, shaking his head. “And it’s a little irking to find that the first real dismissal of my life is coming from my bride.”
Madeline clenched her jaw, temper flaring. “You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”
His smile faded. “You don’t enjoy being laughed at, do you?”
“Nobody does. And to be clear,Your Grace, I shall tell you now that you had better take yourself a lover, because I willnevershare your bed.”
He flinched backward, real surprise flickering across his face.
“What?”
She wanted to laugh, although the matter was really not funny. “Why are you so shocked, Your Grace? You already told me I need not. Did you perhaps not mean that?”
“Well, I…”
“So, out with it, then. Does this mean that the engagement is over? Do you truly want to marry a little wife like me, who cares nothing for you and has no interest in sharing your bed?”
There was a taut silence between them. Tristan was not smiling now. Madeline did not allow herself to look away. Perhaps it was silly, but she felt as though the air almostcrackledbetween them.
Tristan spoke first, breaking the silence.
“Well,” he said at last. “That’s a blow to my pride. I was not aware that I was quite so repulsive.”
Madeline flushed deeper. “I did not say that you were repulsive. I am sure many women find you attractive. If they like that sort of thing, that is.” She gestured weakly at the duke in general.
His eyebrow flickered. “How kind of you.”
“I only mean to say that I do not want my own children. I adore Adam, of course, but I am frankly relieved that you do not require an heir of your own.”
There was a long silence after that. Tristan’s gaze never wavered. The man didn’t evenblink. It was extremely off-putting.
“That’s a rather unusual opinion for a woman to hold,” he said at last.
Madeline bit her lower lip. “Unusual, but not unheard of.”
“Hm. And why do you not want to bring little Madelines into the world?”
She should have expected this question. Clearing her throat, Madeline smoothed the front of her gown, looking away.
“I just don’t, Your Grace. I’d prefer if we left it at that.”
She could still feel his gaze on her. At last, he sighed.
“Very well. It’s of no concern of mine. You and I share a love of Adam and an interest in his well-being, and that is where our common ground ends.”
“I agree.”
“As do I.”
She sniffed. “There’s no need for us to keep on walking together then, is there?”
He pursed his lips, gaze meeting hers once more. His eyes—those curious red-brown eyes—seemed to drag her in somehow. It was a very strange feeling.
“I suppose not,” he responded. “But I wish to take a walk.”
“Well, I wish to go back to the house and Papa.”
