“This isn’t fair. We agreed on a marriage that benefitted us both, and now you are upset and punishing me.”
“Of course not. Why would I do that?” He gave her a sarcastic smile, tilting his head to the side. She almost wished he would don his masknow. Frustrating man. But she would not back down.
“Because I refused your kiss, which is rather juvenile, if you ask me.”
He clenched his jaw. “If you do not wish to kiss me, then that is that. But I would certainly not punish you for it.”
“Very well. Then what did Lord Griffith hand you this evening?”
With that, he blanched. Clearly, he did not realize she had seen the exchange. “Nothing.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I saw it, Robert. And I think you won’t tell me because you are upset with me.”
His brow pinched, and his mouth fell open. “And you think I would keep things from you based solely on you refusing my advances? The letter is nothing of consequence to you, and it is not only me it would affect if I told you.”
She shrugged. “I would keep it a secret.”
He jerked his head. “No.”
No? Her stomach roiled and anger bubbled up. “So, you are just going to harbor secrets from me, then?”
He barked out a mirthless laugh, turning his body halfway to the door before spinning back to her. “Me? You are—” He put his fingers to his head, eyes narrowing before throwing his hands up in the air. “You are maddening! You expect me to open up to you and tell you all my secrets when most of the time I don’t know what’s going through that frustrating head of yours? If you refuse to tell me your secrets, then I will not tell you mine.”
“What is on that paper?” She jabbed her finger toward his pocket.
He took three large strides toward her. “Why did you not allow me to kiss you earlier? And do not say it is because you are not attracted to me, because I know that to be a lie.”
She scoffed. “So it is about the kiss.”
“No, it is more than that.” His deep blue eyes stared down at her. “It isyourmask that keeps a wall between us. You could tell me why you refused me, but instead you remain silent on the matter and turn the blame upon me. And why should I risk the confidence of others to a woman who asks and takes but gives nothing in return?”
“I had not thought you to be so petty as to hold a refusal of affection over someone’s head.”
A log popped in the fire, stopping their words and bringing on that hateful, tangible quiet. “Very well,” he said, his mask slipping across his face as he took a step back. “If you think that is what this is about, then here. I’m finished with this argument.” He tossed the note, and it floated to the floor between them. “Good night.” He turned and strode toward the door, his feet clicking off his departure until he swung the door shut behind him.
She stood frozen, unable to tear her eyes away from the door. She clutched her throat, her swallows burning as she tried to hold herself together. Finally, once she collected herself, she reached for the paper, her hands trembling as she unfolded it.
All it contained was an address and a time.
What on earth? She was tempted to crumple it and throw it into the fire just to watch something burn. What had all of that even been about? Their argument was a haze as she tried to recollect the words they had spewed at one another. But after she replayed it in her mind, over and over, one thing was clear.
She kept asking things of Robert without offering the same in return. And now she was actively warding him off. Glancing down at the paper in her hands, she knew what she needed to do.
He at least deserved an explanation.
Chapter nineteen
Robert stormed into hisroom, throwing the door shut behind him. It gave a satisfyingcrack. He couldn’t think straight, so he paced across his room, replaying the argument in his head over and over again.
That had gotten out of hand. But her relentless talk of his so-calledmaskirked him to no end when she refused to let her own budge a tiny sliver. It was not about her refusal to kiss him, rather he did not understand what she wanted. And when approached about her own hesitancy, instead of explaining herself, she buckled down and asked him about more of his own personal matters.
A knock sounded on his door.
“Not now, Norman,” he barked. He needed another ten minutes, at least, before he was ready to have anyone near him.
“It is me.” Louisa’s small, tentative voice barely made it through his door.
He drew a deep breath, scratching his neck as he leaned his head to the side. “What do you want, Louisa?” If she just wanted to argue some more, he was not in the mood.
