Though as he watched her—the way her breath quickened when he was near, the way her pupils dilated when he spoke in that low voice, the way she swayed toward him even as she tried to maintain distance—he felt something shift inside him.
A yearning. A wanting. Not just for her body, though God knew he wanted that. But for her trust. Her laughter.
For a moment, he wondered if he was the one in danger of losing their wager. If he might be the one who ended up begging, not just for her body, but for her heart.
The thought should have terrified him.
Instead, it only made him more determined to win. Though what winning actually meant was becoming increasingly unclear.
He pushed the unsettling thoughts aside and focused on the ceremony.
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together in the sight of God,” the priest began, his voice droning on as he began the ceremony, ignoring their whispering and bringing the church to a more solemn note.
“Last chance for you to run,” Andrew whispered. He dragged his thumb over her hand once more, eliciting a shiver from her.
Thirteen
Isobel leaned back in the carriage, staring at the ring on her finger, her stomach still turning. She had done it. She had married the Duke of Foxdrey.
Letting out a deep breath, she looked out the window as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the Duke of Foxdrey’s London house. Her new house in theton.
This is not real.
The house towered behind the gates that led to the street. The stone was a stunning white, tall columns stretching up to hold the lattice above the front steps. Large windows offered views of stunning gardens.
The door to the carriage opened and the Duke of Foxdrey stood there with his hand out. There were people gathered around the carriage, lining a path to the house. They smiled and laughed, whispering to each other as Isobel slipped her hand in his.
Cheers went up as she stepped out of the carriage and onto her new property for the first time. Her heart slammed into her ribs as she was led to the house, the Duke not saying a word.
Why is he so silent? It’s unlike him. Is this another ploy to drive me wild and have me begging for even a small sliver of his attention?
The Duke finally looked down at her as they climbed the stairs to the front door, staff lining either side of the porch with trays of refreshments.
Isobel’s stomach growled, but at the same time she didn’t think she was going to be able to stomach much food. She was the Duchess of Foxdrey.
Do Duchesses faint in the gardens at their wedding breakfast?
Lifting her head high, she made eye contact with each member of the staff, smiling and nodding. She wanted them to like her. There was nothing worse than having a horrible person looming over the rest of the house and only interacting with them to berate them. She had learned as much while living with Father, watching the way he treated those who worked for him.
“This way,” the Duke of Foxdrey said, leading the way down a hall and into a massive dining room.
Tall windows stretched from floor to ceiling on one side, and through another set of huge doors, she could see a ballroom thatwas almost entirely lined with windows. It looked like a home out of her wildest dreams.
“Our table is over here. Your family and my cousins and their families will be sitting with us.” The Duke’s tone took on a stiffness that didn’t seem to be present during their other encounters.
Isobel bit the inside of her cheek. “Might we have a moment alone?”
A little life came into his eyes as he looked down at her with a smug smile. “Are you ready to beg me?”
“Actually, I think I will be fine without that conversation,” Isobel snapped, though she was more annoyed at herself for conjuring images of their last kiss.
She bristled, though she tried to hide it, her irritation mingling with disappointment. She had only asked for a few minutes alone with her husband—was that too much to expect? Instead, she followed him, the heat in her chest making it harder to act composed.
If there was a moment the two of them had alone, there might be a repeat of the kiss. She didn’t want to think about what would happen when they kissed, but she knew that with her nerves running as high as they were, she might not have the self-control she had before.
It both terrified and excited her.
The Duke led her to the table and pulled out her chair. “Come, sit.”
