“Did you misplace them?” Sebastian responded quickly, chuckling silently to himself at what he clearly deemed a clever joke. As he did, he took a bite of the lamb.
She looked at him flatly. “You know well what I meant. This manor…” Margot gazed around the dining room, which itself was bigger and richer than any room in the townhouse in which she had been raised. “It is larger than I was expecting. I fear I might get lost in it if I do not pay attention.”
“Would you like for me to instruct the staff to give you a proper tour?”
“No…” She eyed him with suspicion, the generosity of the gesture marred by the fact that he wasn’t offering to show her about himself.He is keeping his distance, for which I feel I should be grateful. Even if it irks me a little, although I cannot say why.“I will be quite fine. Another day or two and I am sure that my feet will be well found.”
“Perhaps you left them in your shoes,” he joked without looking, although he shook his head and smiled to himself at the jest. “That is the first place I would check.”
“Very funny,” she said dryly. “How lucky I am to have a lifetime of such jests to look forward to.”
He shrugged as he went back to cutting into the meat on his plate. “I am not just a handsome face, you know.”
“And you are hardly that.”
Halfway through cutting into his meat, his hands froze, and Margot braced herself for what she was certain would be a sharp response.Why do I bait him? I should be glad that he is treating me with such civility.“It is just lucky for you that I am so funny then, isn’t it. Looks may fade, but my humor…” He glanced up from the plate, winked playfully, and then went back to cutting through his meat. “That is forever.”
Margot narrowed her eyes at her husband as if in warning, although it was brought more from sheer confusion than anything else. This was their first time sitting down together asman and wife since arriving here the previous evening, and so far, it was not going at all how she had anticipated.
Sebastian was sitting at the head of the table, Margot to his immediate right, the table set for just the two of them but with enough food on offer to feed a family of ten. It was a supper that Margot hadn’t been sure what to expect from, or how to feel about. Nervous? Wary? Resolved to what she assumed would be more bantering and bickering and double entendres purposefully designed to make her uncomfortable? In her mind, nothing was off the table.
She’d had all day to consider, seeing as Sebastian had not joined her for breakfast. Nor had he been anywhere in sight as she’d wandered her new home and explored its many hallways and chambers for no other reason than she had nothing to do.Is he avoiding me on purpose? Or am I reading too much into his promised antipathy?
Margot knew she should have been glad – more so as this evening progressed and Sebastian remained civil and even kind toward her. She did not want him flirting with her. She certainly did not want him testing the limits of her own self-control. And yet… a part of her did.
He promised that this marriage would be one of convenience and nothing more. So far, he is keeping that promise. But this is the Duke of Eastmoor; his reputation speaks for itself, and surely all this is part of some elaborate trap, game, or trick.
Margot needed to be on her guard for the inevitable turn.
“Plans for tomorrow?” Sebastian asked casually.
She watched him as he cut into his meat, paying her little attention. “I’m not sure. Any suggestions?”
He shrugged. “Nothing comes to mind. I admit, I know little of how women pass the time.”
She snorted. “When you are not the one helping them pass it, you mean.”
He glanced up at her, grinning in that arrogant way, and again she readied for the inevitable comment. “Perhaps a ride about the estate,” he said instead. “I assume you know how?”
“I… yes, of course I do.”
He shrugged and went back to his plate. “I will inform the stablemaster that you might wish to borrow one of the horses. I am sure he can find an adequate mount for you.”
Sebastian was doing as he had promised. But still…it feels dishonest, even forced. But why should that matter?It should not have, and she tried her best to remind herself of this.
They ate in silence for the remainder of the meal, and it was only once they were both done that, again, a strange moment presented itself.
“Well… that is me done.” Sebastian pushed back his plate and yawned. “How was everything?”
“It was lovely, thank you.”
“I take it you will turn in for the night?”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Why? Do you have something else in mind?” She cursed inwardly at herself, knowing that she was baiting him. And yet she wanted him to take the bait! If for no other reason than it would give her a chance to turn him down.
“As I said, what do I know of how women pass the time…” He looked at her finally, his arrogant smirk back, a glimmer in his eyes because she sensed his mind was right where it ought to be. “And I would not presume to guess.”
“And yourself?” she pushed. “What… what will you do?”
