She scoffed, grinning in disbelief as she studied his profile in the dark interior. “And when did you become so cheeky, Your Grace?”
“I’m trying to be . . .” He took a slow breath, turning his face toward her. So much was said without him uttering a word—the lines about his eyes as he studied her, the tenseness of his shoulders, the puckered fabric of his breeches where his fingers pressed into his leg. “I’m trying to let my mask fall. At least with you. Is that all right, Duchess?” His mouth formed a warm smile.
All sensible thoughts fled. Her stomach swirled and her skin flushed as his usually stern face softened in a way that made her blood sing.
“And now,” he said, still grinning, “I have rendered you speechless.”
“Ah!” She swatted his chest with the back of her hand as she laughed. He chuckled, quickly catching her hand in his grasp and bringing it just in front of his mouth. He paused, hesitating for a brief moment before he pressed a tender kiss to her knuckles. She was mesmerized as his lips slowly dragged across her hand, and she unabashedly leaned closer. And then . . . he did not let it go, keeping her hand in his as he brought them down to his lap.
He closed his eyes, leaning his head back. “Do you know what I liked most about you?”
Her mind was in a fog. His hand felt too warm and strong as it held hers. This was not how she expected their convenient marriage to be. Yes, she knew a manner of physical affection would exist, but her assumption had been that it would be contained to the bedroom. But casual displays of affection? It felt much too intimate.
She cleared her throat. “When?” The breathlessness of her voice made her want to slap herself.
“Before we married.”
“Ha,” she said, her tone flat. “You did not like anything about me before we married. We hardly knew one another.”
“And why, then, did I askyou?”
She sat up, leaning forward to look at him. “Because I am outspoken and strong in nature. Someone you thought able to withstand the role of duchess. Those were your own words.”
“Yes. I did say that, and I meant it. But I was also intrigued by you. I just couldn’t admit it at the time.” His thumb caressed her hand, and she fought a chill that ran down her spine.
“No, you were not.” Her voice was flat, begging for it to be a lie. He could not have married her for reasons other than convenience. That was what they had agreed upon.
“I was. You always seemed comfortable in your own skin. And as someone who couldn’t understand such a feeling, it intrigued me.” He shrugged, his eyes slowly opening.
“I would say you feel quite comfortable now,” she argued.
“Yes. You seem to have that effect on me.”
But his words burned into her mind. He hadlikedher? Suddenly, her hand in his made her heart race faster. And then he brought her hand up to his lips again and pressed them to her fingers. They were warm and soft, and it made her stupidly wonder what they might feel like placed upon her lips instead.
Robert’s hand tightened over hers and he pulled away from his seat, leaning toward her. Everything seemed to slow as her mind rebelled against what was happening. His eyes dropped to her lips and his free hand reached up toward her cheek.
She scrunched her eyes shut, rearing back.
“Ah.” His hand froze. After a few tense seconds, he leaned back, gently letting go of her hand and gazing out his window. Just like that, their playful banter was gone, and in its absence was the tangible quiet that she so hated. The sort that filled one’s ears and swamped them in misery.
He was changing the rules, and she didn’t wish to play the game. For in love, one had to lay their heart on the line. And that was the one thing she would not do. She wanted to be like Jessica, unbothered and heart whole if the inconceivablehappened. Why did he have to go and ruin the perfectly lovely evening they had been having?
“Do you know who else will be in attendance tonight?” Robert’s soft voice gripped her heart. She preferred when he was the confident man who laughed and teased.
“No. I am not aware of all who are attending.”
“I see.” He continued to stare out the window.
She scrambled to break the tension between them. Something.Anything. But the rest of the ride was spent in a horrid silence.
Arriving at the Hughes’ residence was a most welcome respite. Louisa spent the evening talking with the lady of the house, but her usual playful nature eluded her. She kept stealing glances at Robert, but he had his dukely mask firmly in place, talking with the other gentleman. Lord Hughes searched for a book on the shelf beside them and opened its pages to show something to Robert. He removed his spectacles from his pocket, slipping the temples over his ears as he studied the page held out before him.
Those spectacles would be her undoing. All she could think about now was adjusting them so they sat correctly across his nose, and perhaps her fingers would brush the soft hair above his ear as she did so, causing him to sigh at her touch . . .
Keep it together, Louisa.
“Marriage seems to be agreeing with you,” Lady Hughes said, drawing her from her thoughts.
