Her husband…
She swallowed hard.
Seeing him thusly did little to calm her nerves. He had not an ounce of fat on him. His white skin stretched tightly over an abundance of sinewy muscles, making her wonder how he’d spent most of his life. Doing hard labor, she imagined.
“I didn’t know dukes could look like you.”
He stilled at her words but then turned to study her. “And how is that?” His jaw clenched. “Unrefined? Crude?”
“Oh, no! You must think very poorly of me to think I’d develop such an unfair opinion of anyone.” It was her turn to frown. “You look…” Her gaze dragged unwittingly over his chest and abdomen. “Strong. I’ve never seen a duke that looked even remotely like you. They are usually very slim, effeminate almost. Except for my former fiancé, and he was only an earl when we were betrothed.” And then she covered her mouth with her hand.
Did he know she’d been thrown over already?
Would he care? Most noblemen most definitely would consider her damaged goods.
Apparently, the Duke of Pemberth wasn’t like most noblemen.
“What should I call you?” She could hardly imagine herself calling him Your Grace.
“The title is Pemberth,” he responded but then ran one hand through his hair. “And you?
Lila took a deep breath. He was talking to her. After being married for nearly twelve hours, he was finally talking to her.
“Will you call me Lila? When we are alone, anyhow. I could hardly abide by you calling me Your Grace when we…” And then her gaze unwittingly drifted to the bed. “When no one else is present.” And then she added, “My sister calls me Lila. Do you have any sisters? Or brothers perhaps? Won’t you sit? Please?”
At last, an opportunity to learn something about him.
“No.” But he sat down.
“Oh.” She was rather disappointed at that. She’d hope for some friendly company. “Your estate, Glenn Abby? Do any other relatives live there with you? An aunt? A grandmother?” Or was it to be just the two of them?
“No.”
He was doing it again. That not talking thing. She needed to ask him something that would require more than just a yes or no answer.
“Why did you marry me?” The question escaped before she could think it over properly. She wasn’t usually one to babble but he… made her nervous.
He hadn’t given her his full attention, in truth, up until that moment. He’d stared at the floor. Out the window.
Finally, his ice-cold blue eyes focused on her. “Why didyoumarryme?” His rejoining question surprised her. “Were you so determined that you should gain the title of ‘duchess?’”
The question ought to have offended her, but she waved one hand through the air. “That is all my father. And I only married you because he insisted.” Not a flattering answer, but… She raised her shoulders in a shrug. “Do I look as though I’m enamored with your title?”
He shrugged, but then dragged his gaze over her. “Oddly enough, no. Do you always do what your father tells you?” He finally seemed truly interested in something she might have to say.
Again, she shrugged. “I learned at a young age that to do anything other than his will resulted in… unpleasantness.”
He continued staring at her. “You fear him?”
It was her turn to look elsewhere. Yes, she feared him. Her father had made a great deal of money from investments and… other business dealings. He was also born an earl. He had power. Not only over her but the people he’d surrounded them with.
She shrugged for a third time, this time without answering.
“Do you fearme?” His question was straightforward.
Lila hugged her knees even more tightly against her chest. “I’ve no reason to, have I?” Except that as his wife, she was his possession. “I am…” She licked her lips, her mouth suddenly quite dry. “I am hopeful that I will have no need to.”
And then she lifted her chin, awaiting his next move.
