“It is not meant to become…” Duncan stopped, jaw tight, then started again with more control. “I will not make it harder than it already is by forgetting that.”
Malcolm’s expression changed. “Right, so that’s the matter.”
“You know nothing about the matter,” Duncan turned toward him with a hard look.
“I know what ye just told me,” Malcolm said, and his voice stayed steady. “Ye’re remindin' yourself what the marriage is for, which means some part of you is pullin' in another direction, and ye daenae trust that part.”
Duncan’s silence was sharp enough to count as a warning.
“I’m nae askin' for details. I’m sayin' I understand now why ye’re keeping yer distance,” Malcolm lifted a hand slightly.
Duncan looked back toward the fire. “Good. Then leave it alone.”
Malcolm was quiet for a second, then said, “I’ll leave yer pride alone, if that helps, but I’ll say this much: if ye avoid her entirely, she’ll think ye’re punishin' her for last night, and if she thinks that, ye're only goin' to argue.”
Duncan said nothing.
“And if what ye’re tryin' to do is keep this marriage practical,” Malcolm went on, “then ye’ll need to speak to her like a man with sense, nae vanish and hope the thing sorts itself out.”
“I know.”
“Do ye?”
Duncan gave him a hard look.
Malcolm nodded once, accepting the look for what it was, and moved to the door. “I’ll send the steward after noon, and I’ll also tell the staff ye’re busy, not brooding, though I cannae promise they’ll believe me.”
“Get out,” Duncan said, but there was less bite in it now. Malcolm left, and the room went quiet again.
Duncan stayed where he was, lost in his thoughts again.
It was a marriage of convenience.
It was not meant to make him want things he had no business wanting, especially not in the middle of an argument with the woman he was supposed to marry for practical reasons.
He swore under his breath, frustrated all over again, and reached for the papers on his desk even though he already knew he would not read a single line.
Whatwas she doing to him?
CHAPTER 15
“Miss Charity, is everything alright?”
Charity was intercepted pacing in the hallway by the housekeeper. She realized how silly she must have looked, for she had been pacing up and down for the last half hour.
“I…” Charity started, already feeling at a loss of words. “Well, I was wondering… I was…”
“Are you looking for His Grace?” the housekeeper asked, sparing Charity the embarrassment.
She nodded.
“Yes, do you happen to know where he is?” Charity asked, assuming innocence. She already knew where he was, though.
She had been keeping track of his movements all morning, but was feeling unsure about how to approach him.
The pair had not spoken to each other in the last few days, since their little argument. Naturally, she felt fairly hesitant to approach him.
What if he doesn’t want to see me?She mulled over for what felt like the tenth time.
