“Holding a lady at arm’s length is a cruel thing to do.”
Levi had had enough. “You don’t know her,” he said. “You cannot speak for what she wants, so don’t pretend you can. The only thing you can speak to is what youbelievea lady wants, but you don’t know for certain. And I did not come here to be shamed by you into questioning my choices when it comes to this marriage.”
“You came here hoping I would join you in your complaints and agree that your situation is unbearable,” Gregory said. “But I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong place if that is what you desire. I think the duchess is lovely. And I think if she desires more of your company, that’s frankly more than a fool like you deserves, and you ought to quit complaining and be grateful for her.”
“Some friend you’ve turned out to be,” Levi grumbled.
“You need a friend like me,” Gregory told him. “I’m your only chance at seeing this situation clearly. I’m the only one who’s going to have the courage to tell you what an absolute hash you’re making of it all. So don’t act as if it isn’t something you need to hear, Levi. You and I both know perfectly well that you’re failing to make the most of the situation that has been placed before you. I hate to see you cost yourself the opportunity for a good life— a life you could enjoy.”
“I didn’t marry with enjoyment in mind, Gregory.”
“I know you didn’t. You married for the sake of your reputation. All I’m saying is that two things can be true at the same time.You can enhance your reputation for the sake of your business interests and also enjoy yourself—enjoy your wife. You should let yourself have both.”
He rose from the table. “But you’ll either listen to me or you won’t,” he said. “It’s your decision. I cannot tell you what to do. What I can do is go and get you another drink, if you don’t object.”
“Why would I object to a drink?”
“I begin to think you’re in the habit of objecting to everything,” Gregory said wryly. He sauntered off toward the bar.
Levi sighed as he watched his friend go. It was clear that Gregory did not understand. He didn’t see Levi’s true purpose in getting into this marriage, even though he had been told.
It wasn’tnecessaryto have a close relationship with his wife. That wasn’t what he had married for, and it wasn’t something he was interested in.
He had married because he needed to appear respectable to the ton. To his business partners. Gregory had been very right about one thing—Levididhave a reputation as a rake. People knew that about him. And he couldn’t afford to be seen that way. It was bad for business.
He needed to appear to be settled. Stable. Mature. Having a wife would do those things. And in return, he would offer her thesocial stability and the lack of judgment afforded to a young lady who married well.
That was what this was—an arrangement that would suit both their interests. Nothing more.
And an arrangement like that did not require emotion or intimacy. Bringing those things into the picture would only complicate matters in a way that they didn’t need to be complicated.
No, Gregory was wrong in his suggestions. Levi was making the right choices. Gregory might believe that it made sense to focus on a romantic relationship, but Levi knew better. Such a thing would only distract them both and divert Levi from his true purpose in pursuing this marriage—and it ran the risk of making his wife resent him the way his mother had always resented his father.
Things were awkward between Levi and Caroline right now, but awkwardness was far preferable to resentment.
CHAPTER 9
The house felt unusually cold and quiet.
Levi’s absence at breakfast was by now to be expected, but there was something about the atmosphere that felt strange and forbidding. Caroline could hardly bring herself to eat. She left the table and made her way to his study, hoping she might find answers, but it was obvious that no one had been there recently. The air was chilly, the fire extinguished, and the papers he usually had spread over his desk were put away.
She found Mr. Brown out in the hall. “Have you seen His Grace this morning?” she asked. “I need to speak with him.”
The butler looked rather uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Your Grace—I don’t believe he’s at home.”
“He went out early?” How very like him, to disappear without so much as offering the courtesy of telling her that he was going.”
“No, Your Grace.” The butler wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I—I don’t believe he came home last night.”
Caroline’s stomach dropped.
“Thank you,” she whispered, and hurried away before the blush that threatened to rise could take her over completely.
He hadn’t come home last night? There was a likely enough explanation for that, and it wasn’t one she cared to think about.
Humiliating enough that he had sent her from his room on their first night here. Was he making a mockery of their marriage now by running around with other women?
I don’t know anything about this man, she realized.
