Violet wondered if this was foreshadowing of what their marriage was to look like. She swallowed a big gulp. The ceremony was over, the vows exchanged, and she was now Duchess of Bernight.
“Welcome to your new home, Your Grace,” one of the maids greeted politely.
Home.Violet plastered on a smile, but it did not reach her eyes. It would be a stretch to call it home. While the estate itself was grand and beautiful, it felt as cold as the man she had just married. She felt small and out of place, like an intruder in a world she didn’t belong to.
The Duke stopped at the foot of the grand staircase, turning to face her. “Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, will show you to your chambers. If you need anything, she will arrange it.”
Violet nodded again, her voice caught in her throat. She watched as he turned to leave, his long strides taking him toward what she assumed was his study. But before he disappeared from sight, she found her voice.
“Wait.”
The Duke paused, glancing back at her with a raised brow. “Yes?”
Violet took a deep breath, summoning all the courage she could muster. “I… I think we need to talk once. In private.”
The Duke shot her a curious look which quickly melted into amusement. “Private?”
Violet gestured towards his study. While she detested the idea of being alone in a room with him, it was not wise to have private conversations in front the staff.
“There is no need to go into the study,” he stated in a matter of fact tone.
His gaze swept the room, taking in the presence of a few staff members lingering at the edges, then, in a tone that brooked no argument, he said, “Leave us.”
The room stilled for a moment as the staff exchanged uncertain glances, but within moments, the scene changed entirely. Chairs were pushed back, people started to scramble, and within moments, the room was empty, save for the two of them.
The Duke turned back to Violet. “Satisfied?
She swallowed hard, unnerved by the way his presence seemed to fill the room now that they were alone. “You did not have to make everyone leave like this, Your Grace. The two of us could have simply gone into your study.”
The Duke shrugged, unbothered. “I find this more expedient. Though I have to say, Duchess. I expected you to wait at least a little bit before getting me alone like this,” he said in a bored voice, but his eyes were watching her intently.
She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. “I think we should set some rules.”
His brow lifted. “Rules?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice firmer now. She wouldn’t let herself be swayed by the reaction that she was having to him—though she was all too aware of the way he towered over her and how domineering he had been in his swift dismissal of the staff.
As if he was making it clear thathewas the one in charge here. She hated to admit it, but a part of her found that rather inviting.
“I am waiting for you to explain yourself, Duchess,” he said, suddenly breaking her out of her thoughts.
“Oh,” she flushed, steadying herself. “I just believe that it is best if we discuss things. This arrangement may be unconventional, but we should at least have boundaries. Forbothour sakes.”
Though, at this moment with how much he seemed to be impacting her, it seemed to be for her sake alone.
The Duke turned fully toward her, folding his arms across his chest. “Fair enough, Duchess. Pray tell, what might these rules be?”
Violet’s pulse quickened under his steady gaze, but she pressed on. “First, you are never to enter my room. Second, you are not to approach me without warning. And third…” She hesitated, her cheeks burning as she forced herself to meet his eyes. “Never touch me.”
For a moment, there was silence, and then the Duke’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Never touch you? My, my. That’s quite a bold demand, Your Grace.”
“I mean it,” Violet said, her tone sharper than she intended. She wondered if anyone else had ever said that to him before—her mind spiraling back to the rumours about it. If she was to be the first, thenso be it“This marriage is only on paper, and I expect it to remain that way.”
A playful smile played on his lips, and he took a slow step toward her. “And what brought this sudden need for boundaries?”
Violet thought about her reasoning and realized that it mostly came out of fear. She did not know what to expectfrom this marriage, so it was wise to set these boundaries so that there would be no unwanted surprises.
She then took an instinctive step back, her cheeks flaming. Heintimidatedher. She hated it.
