She had nearly reached her bedchamber to gather her reticule and gather the last of her dignity when her arm was grasped from behind. She turned to face the baron. “It’s not polite to leave your new husband standing by himself.”
Catherine wasn’t sure how to interpret his tone, whether she should be wary or… intrigued by it. “Forgive me. I was just eager to depart.”
He released her and she put some distance between them. Thankfully, he remained by the doorway. Crossing his arms over his chest, he flicked a glance about the room. “This isn’t what I was expecting.”
“Oh?” She looked around the room she had barely considered for most of her youth. “Were you expecting pink bows and flowers?”
He gave a snort. “Something like that, I guess.” His gaze narrowed and she had to glance away from the intensity of it.
Although she was already with child and didn’t have to worry about maidenly nerves when it came to the wedding night, neither was she eager to lie with a man she’d just met. Even if therewassomething about him that appealed to her base nature.
“I get the impression you aren’t close with the duke and duchess.”
She wanted to laugh. “You might say that. It is the reason you are here today, after all. Their insistence I marry for the sake of the family reputation did not strengthen our familial bond.” She waited for the censure that was sure to fill his tone as she gathered up the last of her things and shoved them into her reticule.
“I despised my father, so I understand the sensation of animosity all too well.”
Catherine paused and looked at the baron. “I’m sorry to hear it.”
“I’m not.” He gave a one-sided shrug. “I was glad the old codger finally met his end. It may sound harsh to say so, but he was a cruel and evil bastard. I always believed that I would turn out to be just like him and I nearly did, except that tragedy made me stop and consider my actions for the future.” He paused. “I am hoping to gain a second chance at life and give it some sort of meaning.”
She tilted her head to the side. “And you thought marrying a complete stranger would give you that personal redemption?”
“No. I was hoping the funds your father provided might help me to repair a dilapidated estate that I have finally decided to oversee, and the child you will bear will remind me that sacrifice is not always a bad thing. I will raise him or her as my own because it’s the right thing to do.”
Setting her hands on her hips, Catherine shook her head. “My. What a martyr you are. So selfless to offer your hand to someone who had considered throwing herself out of the window just to find another solution to the one I now find myself in.” She forcibly shoved the last of the items in her reticule and tied the strings with a decided jerk. “But since the deed is already done, I might as well see this hovel that we shall soon be sharing.”
Benjamin wouldn’t necessarilycall his wife disagreeable, but she was rather cynical and filled with such a mocking derision that he considered how he might soften her character. He also wondered if he had ever been that nasty and then recalled his sour treatment of his stepsister and he knew that he had, indeed, been a despicable cad.
It was unfortunate that she had yet to wear a smile. She was quite comely with her dark hair and blue eyes and smooth complexion, and he would have been remiss if he hadn’t noticed the shapely curves of her body concealed beneath her gown, including the slight rounding of her midsection. There was something about Daria he’d found rather fascinating when she’d been with child. Although her melancholy spirits had always been at war with her beauty.
When he’d first beheld Catherine, he had been temporarily struck mute, a novel experience for him toward any woman. Sadly, he hadn’t loved Daria, but he had not wanted to see her perish in such an unfortunate manner. He wasn’t sure he could withstand another torment like those final hours with his first wife. However, something told him his current bride was of a stronger constitution and should she relent her pinched expression for a time, she would be quite radiant.
“How long until we reach your estate?”
He lifted a brow at her almost demanding tone. Then again, she was a duke’s daughter and likely used to having her word obeyed at the slightest command. “A couple hours at most. It is not that far from the city.”
She gave a light sigh and settled herself a bit further into the cushions of the duke’s coach. Without a carriage of his own, her father had lent them the use of his vehicle to transport them home. Following that, Benjamin would have to provide alternate means, which translated to the purchase of at least a small curricle.
“I suppose that gives me time for a brief rest before I’m up all night listening to the wind howling through the timbers in my chamber.”
“What gives you the impression that we won’t be sharing a room?”
Her eyes had just shut, but now they popped back open. Benjamin forced himself not to laugh at the dagger-filled look she shot in his direction. Instead, he kept his face a careful mask of composure, enjoying the opportunity to goad her by reminding the lady that this wasn’t some holiday she was embarking upon with one of the servants. She was his wife and his word was law, according to England. However, within the confines of his estate, he knew that would be a completely different scenario. If she had been so careless as to find herself with child outside of wedlock, and had bedded a commoner at that, she either had loose scruples, which he did not believe for a moment, or she was willing to go to desperate lengths to prove a point.
He did not delude himself into thinking that anything would change now that they were wed. If anything, she would bemoreconvinced to find her voice. And use it.
“You wish to lie with me?”
He was curious why she seemed so surprised. “It’s not unheard of,” he returned dryly.
“But, I thought, in my condition…”
She put a hand to her abdomen, as if he didn’t know to what she might be referring. “I realize that some men might be disgruntled by of the idea of their wives carrying other men’s children, but I can assure you I do not care in the slightest. If we do not consummate our marriage, it won’t be legally binding.”
“No one has to know that but the two of us. The ‘heir’ will be sure to make his arrival in a few months’ time.”
His focus never wavered. “Nevertheless, I feel it’s important to exercise my conjugal rights.”
