She paused with the cake and looked up at him.
“You are the kindest person here, Mr Arnold. I wouldn’t wish to reprimand you for anything.” Her words startled him.
She thinks me kind?
They shared a smile, one that made him shift between his feet.
“You barely touched dinner, Your Grace. Was there something wrong with the food?”
“There was nothing wrong with it,” she said hurriedly. “It is certainly my husband’s favourite.”
“Ah … but not yours.” Owen realized the mistake he had made and cursed himself for it.
“No,” she said softly and shook her head. “I am afraid though my lack of eating well has little to do with the food.” She looked nervous. To see his duchess so anxious that the blush was seeping across her cheeks again, Owen took a step towards her. He wished he could touch her, just a gentle comforting touch to the back of her hand, anything to bring her comfort, yet he was not permitted.
“What is it, Your Grace?” he asked, hoping the gentleness of his tone was enough.
“Eating alone all the time is an unhappy affair,” she said as she eagerly took another bite of the chocolate cake. “Sadness … it is not always the best companion to eat well.”
“Ah, I see.”
It was like a veil had been lifted, and he was peering beneath, seeing the real heart of the duchess. She couldn’t meet his eyes but kept her gaze firmly on the cake instead.
“I wish I could see you happier, Your Grace.” The words slipped out before he could stop them, and he earned her gaze another time. She smiled softly.
“You have certainly made me happy with this,” she said and dug into the cake again. “So, thank you.”
“Any time, Your Grace.” He bowed once more and hurried out of the room, feeling somewhat adrift. He was usually so anchored that he knew his place and responsibilities with this job, but he had a light feeling hanging around his shoulders.
If there is a way I can make the duchess smile, I will certainly be doing it from now on.
That would include bringing her more chocolate cake.
Chapter 3
“I need to make myself happier,” Diana whispered to herself as she walked across the corridor. She already knew Gilbert was off out again today, supposedly visiting London for a while, something about a business trip, though no matter how many times she asked what business it was concerning, he refused to tell her. If she were going to ask him her question, she would need to do it before he left.
She turned down the corridor towards his chamber just as he was leaving.
“Gilbert?” she called to him. He turned to face her and abruptly closed the bedchamber door behind him. It was so sharp that it echoed loudly across the corridor. “Is everything all right?” she asked, nodding her head towards the door.
“Perfectly,” he said, with his sharp blue eyes moving impassively over her. “I am leaving now. There is important business to attend to.”
“I know. I only wanted to speak to you briefly before you went,” she said hurriedly. Gilbert sighed and looked around, appearing most put out by this idea. It made Diana hang her head a little.
I must not speak out of turn.
Yet doing as her father had told her was not making her very happy. It was time she tried to change things a little.
“I wanted to ask you something,” she said before trailing off. There was a sound in Gilbert’s bedchamber. “What was that?” she asked.
“Nothing.” He reached forward and took her arm. She flinched in surprise at the touch. He so infrequently touched her. Granted, he had touched her on their wedding night; she still felt stiff whenever she thought of that night. He had taken what he wanted, in order to consummate the marriage, but she had not enjoyed it.
She rather feared when he would visit her at night again, asking for his right to her marriage bed. Fortunately, it was something he did not seem particularly interested in returning to, much to her delight.
Gilbert took her arm and steered her across the landing towards the staircase. She glanced back to his bedchamber, wondering what the sound could be.
“Your valet seems to be making quite a bit of noise,” she said distractedly.
