“And he is a man, so that is his right, but he should have changed his priorities long ago. He has a wife now, a family to protect, and that should be more important than whatever he continues to run to.”
“He likely knows that. He is not a fool, but he seems to believe he is right, or that he has no other choice.”
“And perhaps he does not, but if I do not understand why that is, then what is the difference? He should want to please me, as his wife.”
“And he may well. I know that he is not what you may have expected, but he is not a bad man.”
“So you all say, but I cannot see it. All that I know is he had a duty to me, and he did not fulfil it. He does not want to even now. All that he wants to do is control me, as if I am to blame for it.”
Her maid gave her a look of pity, and Anna wished that she could think of anything else. Once before, she had a varied range of interests, but ever since her husband had returned, he was all that she could think of, and she did not know whether or not she liked it. All that she cared about was whether or not her husband wanted her, and all she could wonder was why he did not.
And she was not going to let that continue.
“I must go,” she said suddenly, standing. “Thank you.”
She raced down the hallway, not stopping when she reached his door to consider her actions. She was going to find out why he was continuing to neglect her, and why nothing that she said seemed to make a difference to him.
She barged in, determined not to let him have the final say.
She froze the moment she entered.
Standing before her was Spencer, wearing nothing at all. His skin was still damp from his bath, and though she had intruded, he was smiling at her, as though pleased that she had seen him.
“Good evening,” he greeted. “I was not expecting a visit this late at night. You were not waiting for me in the kitchens again, were you?”
She did not respond. Her eyes betrayed her, slipping completely unpermitted over his form. She had admired his clothed body so many times in the last week that she felt she deserved to see it in its entirety, just once. Even in formal dress, it was obvious that his legs were long and strong, but the elegant swell and dip of muscle made her breath catch.
She had looked at his arms many times and wondered how they would look holding her up—or even holding her down—but there was a difference when she saw them bare, in the warm glow of the candlelight. He was toned and muscular, his stomach flat and leading to his–
She turned around, almost yelping.
“It is proper for one to knock first,” he teased. “Then again, I do not suppose that I would have chosen to look any different. You do always choose the strangest times to arrive at my door.”
She could not believe how casually he was speaking, as though she had not invaded his privacy and seen him unclothed. It was as though he enjoyed being seen by her, and though it angered her greatly, she had to admit that she enjoyed looking at him in return.
“Get dressed,” she instructed. “We are going to talk.”
“I need not dress myself at all, if it pleases you. You are my wife, after all.”
“It does not please me. I want a sensible discussion.”
“And that would not be possible as it stands?”
“You know that it would not. It would be practically impossible.”
“Because it pleases you.”
“Not at all!”
But it did. She was still furious, but it would indeed have pleased her for him to remain as he was. There was a lot he could do to please her—her traitorous memory presented her with an exhaustive list drawn from her novels—and none of it required clothing. But shewoulddo what had to be done.
“I shall give you one final offer of it.”
“And I refuse it.”
He chuckled, and she heard the rustle of fabric. She waited for it to quieten again, and then she turned to see him wearing his trousers, but remaining shirtless.
She bit her lip without thinking, and that only earned a grin. He was deliberate in his actions, knowing perfectly well that she wasaffected by him. She had read so much that it was only natural that she would think of him in that way, and it was not helped when he only encouraged her to have such thoughts to begin with.
