“I am happy that we are finally on the same page,” he said, and then got up. “Now, I shall leave you to finish your food. Have a good night, duchess.”
“As should you, duke.”
The door slammed behind him, and Harriet was left pondering over what he had just said.
A practical marriage, fit for rational individuals.
CHAPTER 7
Simon sat in his study the next morning, preparing to pen a series of letters. He had to get to the bottom of the situation, and figure out who this child belonged to.
It was a problem in which he did not wish to entangle himself, but one that had been forced upon him. He was going through some correspondence when a familiar voice boomed from the doorway.
“Simon Wylde, you old rogue! Have you missed me?”
Simon looked up, confused at first by the interruption, but then a genuine smile broke across his face.
“Anthony! It’s been far too long.” He stood up to greet his friend. They embraced briefly, then Simon gestured to a chair. “Come, sit. How did you know I was back in town?”
“Oh, you underestimate me, dear friend. You know that I have my ways,” he grinned.
Simon raised an eyebrow, “Impossible. I did not tell anyone.”
Anthony chuckled, throwing his hands in the air. “No worries, you caught on to my bluff. In actuality, I was merely passing by and decided to visit. As you know, I have been on my Grand Tour for the last several months.”
“Ah, yes,” Simon nodded. “Tell me, then. What sort of adventures have you been having?”
“Oh, the usual — ruins, art, scandalous affairs. You know how it is on the Grand Tour,” he grinned.
Simon chuckled, shaking his head. Such was expected from his friend, who was a notorious rake who never once expressed the urge to settle down. ‘Love is a great thing, a grand thing. Why waste it on one person?’ he would say to Simon.
“So nothing but the usual, then?”
Anthony guffawed. “Nothing but the usual. But enough about me. Tell me about yourself. It seems that you have undertaken some adventures of your own in my absence.”
Simon’s smile faded slightly. “You’ve heard correctly. Life has taken an unexpected turn.”
Anthony leaned forward, his grin widening. “So, tell me about this wife of yours. Rumor has it you’ve been avoiding her like the plague.”
“Is that what the gossips are saying?” his frown deepened. Perhaps Harriet had not been as adept as she thought in keeping the details of their arrangement a secret.
“You know that people talk. Luckily for you, though, I am here to report it.”
“I would rather not know,” Simon looked away. “It’s complicated, Anthony. Harriet and I… we barely know each other.”
“I feel the same way about my lovers,” Anthony grinned, causing Simon to pass him a reproachful look. “Just joking, my friend. It seems to me that your problems are not so serious, though. You share the same roof — how difficult can it be to get to know her?”
Simon balled his hands in fists. “You would be surprised. I have spent some time with her these last few days, and I do not think we get along.”
“Then that is even better,” Anthony nodded, “It adds a twist of drama to what otherwise can be a monotonous affair.”
“Marriage, you mean?”
“Of course,” Anthony nodded. “Don’t you think?”
“I am afraid that I have been far busy with other problems to even think of it like that,” he sighed, slumping back in his seat.
“More trouble? Ah, it seems like you’re on quite a spree. What is it this time?” Anthony inquired.
