“Pray, tell what was the alternative then? Should I have waited foryouinstead?” She stepped closer, furious now. “You left me,again. What was I supposed to do? Stand there like a fool, waiting for my husband to acknowledge me?”
“It does not matter what you do while you wait. No other man is allowed to touch you.”
She gulped loudly, feeling a tinge of excitement sprout inside of her once again.
“You should consider yourself lucky, if anything. Tonight, I restrained myself,” he went on. “But what I really wished to do was bash his head in.”
“You would not have done such a thing,” she said, almost as though she was challenging him.
“No man is allowed to touch you,” he repeated. “No one but me. If you break that rule again, then I shall punish you.”
Her breath caught.
“Punish me?” she repeated, though her voice was no more than a whisper now.
“Yes. You deserve it after your antics tonight.” His gaze darkened again, and his eyes flitted over to her lips. “Consider this a warning. Next time, I will not take so kindly to another man touching you like that.”
“You say that,” she carried on, ignoring the shiver that his words had sent down her spine, “but then you refuse to touch me yourself. Why is it that you get so angry about something that even you do not wish to do?”
Perhaps her words were too direct. The way that Simon’s eyes widened certainly seemed to suggest so. But it was the truth.
“So, forgive me,” she went on, taking advantage of his stunned silence, “but I do not quite understand your anger.”
“You do not know what you are talking about,” Simon said in a low voice.
“How convenient,” she said. “To claim that I simply do not understand. Well, if that is really the case, then why don’t you simply make me understand? Surely, you think that I possess enough faculties to comprehend your explanation?”
“I do not wish to have this conversation with you at this moment.”
“Oh, no. I shall not let you walk away from this again,” Rachel blurted out. “Make me understand. I am tired of basking in confusion at your actions.”
Simon remained silent.
Rachel’s chest tightened.Of course, he would rather brood in his anger thanexplainanything.
Typical of him.
“Are you done, Duchess?” he challenged. “Because you could use the rest. Clearly, you’re far too agitated.”
God damn.She hated that even in this moment, she felt attracted to him.
“I have followed all your rules, Simon. I have never asked you where you go, never questioned your absences,” her voice wavered as she said the words, “even though….”
She stopped herself then, but Simon kept looking at her, challenging her almost.
“Go on,” he said, locking his jaw. “Even thoughwhat?”
“Even though Isuspectyou have a mistress.” The words rushed out of her before she could stop them.
Never had she imagined that this was the way that she was going to convey her concerns to him. But in the heat of the moment, the truth was hard to conceal.
Simon’s expression shifted immediately into one of bewilderment.
“You do not want me, but I have never accused you of betrayal. I have given youspace,” she said. “But if it is true that you are going behind my back, then I do not think that you have a right to tell me what to do.”
“Rachel…” Simon said. She could not place the emotion in his voice. Was it guilt for having been caught, or was it remorse? Both options were equally devastating.
She decided that she did not wish to hear from him anymore.
