“You’re both as weak as your mother was. Should never have married that woman. My first wife was much stronger. Shame she died of that rotted tooth.”
Eva didn’t speak, just stared into his hated face. Why had she believed she would ever be free of him?
“And don’t think about asking your husband, either. I can have him hurt just as easy as your brother.”
“You can’t touch the Duke of Stratton, Father. He is both stronger and smarter than you.” Eva felt better just saying the words. Daniel would help her if she went to him, help rid her of her family once and for all.
“If you don’t pay up, girl, then Lord Huxley will challenge the duke to a duel and we both know the outcome now, don’t we.”
Eva felt a physical pain at the thought of anyone hurting Daniel.
“Lord Huxley has never been defeated, Eva, and he loves to fight. He told me to tell you he hates the duke enough to want to see him dead if you don’t do as I say.”
Eva knew she was trapped. She could not allow Daniel to fight Lord Huxley, but knew if the man challenged him, he would not back down. She would have to pay her father or see her husband dead or maimed.
“I want the first payment tomorrow. One of your brothers will be in this park at two. Be here or I will be on my way to Scotland before your brother has settled into his new life.”
He was gone before she could say anything further and numb Eva began to walk home. She had no money of her own – well, not enough to appease her father, anyway. She would have to give him the ring her husband had given her when first they married. It was big and ugly and surely Daniel would not miss it or ask for it back. So much had changed between them lately and she had even begun to believe that they could share a life together. Have children and a family. Eva struggled to hold back the tears as she approached the townhouse. Damn her father for forcing her into the one thing she had always vowed she would never do to her husband, no matter the provocation. She was about to betray him and now everything between them was about to change.
“Will you play for me, Eva?” Daniel looked across the table to his wife. She had been quiet this evening, her face pale and drawn. He’d asked her what was wrong and she had used missing Reggie as an excuse. She was lying. He knew it by the way her eyes dropped when she answered and he wondered what had taken place between him spending a few hours in his office and now.
“I have not had a lot of practice on the new piano, Daniel. Indeed, I will sound almost rusty when compared with some.”
“Then I shall listen and point out your mistakes.”
His taunt did not even produce a smile.
“Eva, has something upset you?”
“No, I am well, your Grace, just missing my brother.”
He was suddenly ‘your Grace’ again.
“I would like to thank you again for my beautiful piano, Daniel. Will you play it also?”
“I’m not sure I remember how,” Daniel said. Memories of his mother always surfaced when he played so he had just stopped. “Eva, we are to attend the Stratton Ball tomorrow.”
Any color she had in her face had just leeched away.
“Must we?”
“Yes, we must. I am a duke and you, my duchess. Therefore, there are expectations upon us.”
She looked ready to faint. Where the hell had the woman he had kissed this morning gone? He would speak with Wernham and see if she had had any visitors. Something had unsettled her and he wanted to know what.
“I have no gown.” She was digging deep for any excuse.
“Eva, it is decided and tomorrow night you will go with me to the Sutton ball. Claire and Simon will both be there, as will my grandmother. For all the good she will be.”
“Excuse me. I…I will go and choose some music.”
He watched her bolt, then picked up his wine. He had no doubt it would take only a short time for her to win over society and he predicted the ton would have a new darling by the end of the season.
Daniel slipped into the music room and seated himself in the big chair he had placed before the fire. It was angled perfectly so he could see Eva’s face as she played. Her hands flew over the keys and her eyes were fierce as she followed the sheets of music. He could almost feel her passion as she poured everything into her playing. She made love with the same intensity and she was his - every delectable inch.
He let her play for some time, then rose and went to stand beside the piano.
“Will you play with me?”
