Thalia’s own childhood flashed through her mind and she shuddered again. “I know for a fact they will not.”
It was subtle, but a hint of frustration worked itself across the Duke’s features. “Thalia…”
“I am sorry, Your Grace,” she hurried to explain. “And please, know that I am not trying to escape my duties. But I just need time.”
“Time to get to know me better.”
“If that is acceptable?”
She looked at him with hope, begging that despite all she knew of this man, that he had a heart inside that ice-cold chest of his. That he was capable of feeling emotions like a normal man.
Time seemed to slow down as he studied her. Thalia could hear her heart thumping in her chest. Her body was shaking, her mind was rebelling, and she was all but certain that he was about to tell her not to be so foolish and then take her, as was his right.
“Caspian,” he said finally.
She blinked. “Excuse me?”
“My name,” he said simply. “It is Caspian. If you wish to get to know me better, or pretend that you do, you might start by using my name. Your Grace…” He shook his head. “There is no need for it.”
“Oh.” She blinked again. “I… yes, thank you. That is a good point. Caspian.”
He nodded once. “One month, I am willing to wait. But know this, Thalia, if the time comes and you try to escape your duties…” His expression hardened. “That would not be wise.”
“I will not,” she promised. “One month, that is all I ask.”
“So be it.” He looked at her a moment longer as if daring her to argue. She met his stare, wanting him to see that she was being truthful. And then, without another word, he strode across the room.
When he opened the door, he turned back a final time. “If you need anything, my room is down the hall.”
“Thank you,” she said, finding that she meant it.
He nodded once and closed the door behind him.
Thalia exhaled the moment he was gone. Her legs were still trembling, and she stumbled to the bed, collapsing onto it. The room turned around her, she could not stop shaking, and when she tried to calm her breathing, she found such an act impossible.
What just happened? How had it happened?
Thalia supposed that the what and the how did not matter. What mattered was that ithadhappened. She had just given herself one more month, a time frame during what anything might happen.
Now, it was likely too much to hope that during that time, the Duke would grow bored of her or change his mind and decide he did not want to have a child with her. This meant that she needed to use the proceeding month to do as she claimed: get to know the Duke better.
But Thalia did not want to get to know the Duke better. She did not want to grow close to him. She did not want this marriage at all!
The marriage she did want, the marriage she’d hardly dared hope for, was withered on the vine. And it was time she remembered that.
Chapter Eight
“What are you doing here?” Thalia asked the question without thinking, only realizing once the words left her mouth how rude she must have sounded.
“I think I am breaking my fast,” her husband said simply. He didn’t even blink at her tone.
“I…” Thalia hesitated by the doorway. “I can see that.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Forgive me,” she said as she took a step into the room. It was done carefully, as if worried she might step on a booby trap. “My meaning is, that I did not expect to see you here.”
“In my own home?”
