It was such a turnabout from the discussion they had just been having that for a moment Caroline couldn’t make sense of it. “Is this a joke?”
“Why would it be a joke? You’re determined to renovate, and I’m going to allow it. Unless you’ve changed your mind now?”
“I haven’t,” she said. “This needs to be done, and I’m sure you can see that. Look at this place.”
“What’s the matter with my sitting room?”
“You can’t possibly think it’s fit for guests.” She gestured around at the dismal room. “I doubt you’d have come in here yourself if you hadn’t been so determined to avoid breakfasting with me.”
“You flatter yourself,” he told her, sitting back in his chair.
“I hardly see it as flattery to suggest that my husband is going to great lengths to avoid my company. Do you imagine that I’m honored by that?”
“I imagine that you think everything I do is motivated by you. I assure you, that isn’t the case,” he said. “I’m having my breakfast here for reasons that are entirely my own.”
“So, you mean to tell me that you’re avoiding the dining room and taking your breakfast in a room you very obviously haven’t used in months, and it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m in the house? You’re just doing that entirely for your own reasons, which have nothing to do with me and it’s self-centered of me to imagine that they might. Am I understanding correctly?”
“Yes, that’s about it,” Levi said. “And if you don’t mind, I would like to finish my breakfast in peace. Your appraisal of the failings of my manor’s style can wait until this afternoon, I think. You don’t need to be here right now.”
Caroline blew a puff of air out of her mouth, but what could she say? She couldn’t force him to allow her to stay. And he had given his permission for the renovations she wanted to make, even if he did seem determined to make that as difficult as possible. She didn’t want to antagonize him under the circumstances.
“Very well,” she said. “I hope you enjoy breakfasting alone in a dusty room, Your Grace. I can see why it was so important to you to take a wife. It seems I’m going to have a very significant role to play in your life, aren’t I? I have to say…” She drew a breath, knowing that her next words would be risky. “It’s a good thing Prudence was spared this. I know she longed for a marriage in which she was seen as a human being and not just an accessory to some arrogant duke’s household.”
His face darkened. “I don’t know how you dare to speak to me like that,” he said, his voice a low growl. “Think me arrogant if you will, but you’re right about one thing—Iama duke.”
“Am I supposed to be frightened of you?” she asked him, holding her ground. “If that was what you wanted, you married the wrong person. This could have been alleviated if you had taken the time to get to know me before claiming me to be your wife as you did. But I suppose it never occurred to you that anyone could look on you without fear—is that it?”
“You needn’t fear me,” Levi told her. “But youwillrespect me. And you will leave this room right now.”
For a moment, she considered resisting that order, staying here just to spite him.
But it would accomplish nothing, she knew, so she simply inclined her head in a mockery of submission and left the sitting room.
Out in the hall, she found Mr. Brown. “I need your assistance,” she told him.
“Of course, Your Grace—how may I be of help?”
“You may confirm this with His Grace if you’d like, but he’s requested that I begin some household renovations and has indicated that I’m to take whatever money I need in order to complete the job. What I need from you is to put me in contactwith the vendors who can help—is that something you would be able to do, Mr. Brown? I don’t know quite where to begin, I’m afraid.”
“Yes, I can assist you,” Mr. Brown agreed. “I’ll put together a list of people for you to contact, and I’ll also see to it that you have access to the estate’s resources so that you may begin your project.” He smiled. “I’m excited to see what you’ll do with the place, Your Grace. As I know you’ll tire of hearing, it will be good to have a woman’s touch around here.”
“Thank you.” She returned his smile. “It’s also good to feel as if I have someone’s support in this, Mr. Brown. The duke is wise in his choice of staff, and I’ll make sure he knows I think so.”
Mr. Brown nodded. “Thank you very much, Your Grace.”
Caroline spent the rest of the day walking about and surveying the house, hoping more ideas would come to her for the renovations she hoped to do. In that way, she was fortunate. She had never realized she possessed an eye for this sort of thing but quickly realized that she must. By the end of the day, she had a long list of improvements she wanted to make to the manor.
The duke was sure to be driven mad.
And though she knew she shouldn’t, Caroline couldn’t help but feel that agitating him was a benefit to the whole situation.
CHAPTER 7
Caroline had written at least seven letters to her parents inquiring about Prudence and her well-being before she finally received one in return.
It came in with a large pile of invitations, all of which were delivered to her over breakfast. There had been invitations every day of the past three—the season was about to begin, and it was time to plan which balls they would be attending. Caroline reminded herself that Levi had promised to attend with her—she would have to hold him to it.
But for now, the letter from her parents was more important. She tore into it eagerly, thrilled that they had finally taken the time to write back.
