Would not act as if she cared.
She did not care.
Who are you trying to fool?whispered an insidious voice inside her. Stupid voice.
“I was visiting a friend,” he said.
Afriend.
Instantly, the beautiful Duchess of Longleigh rose to her mind.
“All day and night?” she pressed.
Curse you, Callie. What are you doing? Return to your chamber.
But she lingered, there at the threshold, awaiting his answer. The caring lover of the night before was gone. He seemed different this evening, but she could not quite define how or why.
“Did you miss me, wife?” he mocked, that sensual mouth of his quirking into a taunting smile.
Yes.
“No. There were merely some matters which arose I wished to discuss with you,” she said, careful to keep her voice as even as possible.
“Matters?” Holding her gaze, he shrugged out of his coat and began unbuttoning his waistcoat.
She ran her tongue over her lips, thinking she ought to flee for certain now. “Household matters. What manner of friend were you visiting?”
His grin deepened, damn him. “Not a female friend, if that is what you are asking, princess.”
The relief sweeping over her nettled.
She tamped it down. “Your affairs are none of my concern. Forgive me the interruption. I will speak with you tomorrow. Good evening, my lord.”
“Wait.”
She paused when she would have spun about and returned to the safety of her chamber, as was wise.
He crooked a finger at her. “Come here, little wife.”
Little wife.
She did not know why the phrase, uttered in his silken voice, sent a rush of heat to her core. She also did not why her feet were moving. Padding across the threadbare rug. Obeying him.
What was wrong with her?
Callie stopped just beyond his reach. “What do you want of me, my lord?”
“My name on your lips for a start,” he drawled, his gaze dipping to her mouth.
She was sure she ought to deny him. “You would have heard your name on my lips quite a bit had you not been absent all day and night.”
Her tone was tart. Drat him. He was getting the best of her. She did not want him to see a weakness.
“You are angry with me,” he observed.
“Not any angrier with you than I was before,” she lied, not sure why it mattered so much.
Her pride, she supposed.
