She hesitated before the door for a long moment before deciding that it didn’t make sense to knock. He was surely sitting on the other side, testing her—expecting her. Knocking would make her look timid. She needed to look strong.
She drew a deep breath and opened the door—and froze.
The duke had his back to her. He stood in front of the fire, the flame causing a faint glow around his body. His shirt was off, and she found herself marveling at the smooth, angular planes of his body.
Is this the way it happens?
He turned, and his eyes widened at the sight of her. “What are you doing in here?”
“I—” This had made so much sense a moment ago. “I thought you would want…to see me.”
“You thought I would want to see you? It’s the middle of the night,” he said. “I was about to go to bed. Why did you think I needed to see you now? I told you we wouldn’t have to eat our dinner together tonight—I trust something was brought to you?”
“Yes, I ate,” she said. This was going from bad to worse. Why hadn’t she just stayed in her room? Why hadn’t she realized that if he wanted her, he would come for her? “I thought…well, you also said that I had…duties.”
“Duties?”
Did he truly not remember? “As a part of being your wife.”
“Well, yes, but…” His eyes widened suddenly. “Oh.”
Caroline felt her cheeks grow hot. This was hideously unfair. It felt as if she had barged in here like some wanton woman, when she knew perfectly well thathehad been the first to raise this subject. And he knew that too! At least, he should have known it. Why was he acting this way?
Levi sighed and shook his head. “I’m afraid this is all a misunderstanding.”
“Amisunderstanding?”
“Yes, that’s right. I assumed you knew. Lady Prudence did.”
“What are you talking about? What did my sister know?”
“That I’m not interested in that sort of marriage,” he explained. “When I spoke of the duties of a wife, I was talking about managing my household and presenting yourself to the public as my duchess. Those are the duties I’m concerned with. Not…this.”
“Prudence didn’t know that,” Caroline managed.
“I assure you, she did. We spoke of it.” Levi looked at her closely. “Were you thinking that was the reason she ran away? Fear of the wedding night? It wasn’t. She knew there wouldn’t be one. I would have spoken more clearly with you about that fact, but I assumed she would have done so already and that there would be no need.”
Caroline didn’t know what to say. “So…so you don’t want…?”
“I have no intention of touching you,” he said. “Ours is a marriage of convenience, as I’m sure you did know, since there was no courtship to speak of.”
“Of course, I knew that,” she agreed. “I suppose I just…assumed that this would be a part of the convenience for you. Doesn’t every man want his wife to come to his bed?” In books, they always did.
For a moment, she questioned herself. Was itherhe didn’t want? Was there something the matter with her?
But no, it couldn’t be that. It wasn’t possible. He hadn’t wanted that sort of marriage with Prudence, either. Whatever this was, it wasn’t about Caroline. It was about Levi.
“I apologize for the confusion,” he said. He didn’t sound sorry. It sounded to Caroline as if he was trying to end the conversation so that she would go away.
That was fine with her. At the moment, she wanted nothing more than to retreat from this humiliating scene.
“I shouldn’t have disturbed you,” she said. “I’ll go to bed now.”
“I hope you have a pleasant evening.” He was already turning away.
This was a calamity. She had been excused from dinner tonight, but tomorrow she’d be expected to sit down at the table with him. Caroline already knew she would be unable to think of anything but what had happened tonight, and she had little doubt that it would be at the forefront of his mind as well. How was she going to face him?
She fled back through the door into her own room and pulled it shut behind her.
