Page 59 of Raising the Duke’s Unexpected Twins

Cordelia wasn’t sure if she wanted to hit him or kiss him. The man was infuriating!

“You are going above and beyond the duties of an arranged husband, Nicholas. Not only did you find this watch, but you have paid the debts of my father so that my family can now live in ease and comfort with no stress for the future.”

She smiled at him, hoping that it would somehow crack that terribly hardened shell of his. Why did being complimented in such a way anger him to such a degree? She couldn’t fathom it.

“Stop it, Cordelia. You do not have to thank me for any of this. As I said, it is my role. David would have wanted this from me when they made the plans for the will.” She saw his fists forming at his sides as he stood in such obvious tension.

She shook her head. “I cannot accept that, Nicholas. What is wrong with seeing the good in oneself? Especially when it is others who are telling you? I wish to show my gratitude, and yet you scoff.”

She was hurt by his behavior, and it angered her. He, however, continued to look just as angry.

“Listen, Cordelia, and I hope you take this in. Everything I have done was to serve a purpose. Taking you and the children in keeps them safe, and it keeps their money with them. At the same time, since you are my wife, it is my duty to keep you and your family safe. I have built a business and am a duke and thus need a certain public image. Leaving your family to starve would not help me in that way. Everything I do is for the sake of what I have built. That’s all that matters to me.”

Cordelia felt a lump in her throat but at the same time she wanted to stamp her foot.

Before she could stop herself, she asked, “And last night? Was that all to serve a purpose as well?”

Nicholas narrowed his eyes, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “Do not ask such things of me, Cordelia. I am not the romantic hero you seem to think, and you will find yourself only disappointed if you continue to think that.” He turned to the door. “I’m off to my club.”

“Fine. Then I will take the children today to visit my family.” She brushed past him as he opened the door for her, furious and unable to think clearly.

All she knew was that she needed to get out of that house or she might commit a murder.

* * *

Nicholas was so irritated, he went straight to his study to gather a few things before leaving. He had had no plans to go that day, hopeful that he could spend a day with Cordelia and the children, wanting to linger a little bit longer in her presence after the miracle that was last evening. He flopped down in the chair behind his desk for a moment and stared off into the fire at the far end of the room.

Last night had been nothing short of incredible. At the ball, he’d been so proud to have her on his arm, even if he’d had to wrestle her out of the grasp of Lord Dempshaw. He’d been able to prove to the world of the London ton that they were married and at least showed an interest in one another, even if they had not been a love match.

An interest. Coward.

Perhaps he was a coward, but that was far better than being a disappointment. He would never be the cause of the bright light of hope going out of Cordelia’s eyes when his darker nature came to the surface. No, it was best to disappoint her from the beginning, keeping her from thinking anything better of him, from expecting anything more from him than nights of pleasure. And he’d done a good job of it too by restating his cold purpose of being none other than a provider. The hope in her eyes had been too much, had touched something far too deep inside him, and he had to look away or keep to the surface.

The surface was an easier place to remain. For he had to admit that that taste of her and the sounds of her cries of ecstasy had driven him mad. And that feel of her taking him in hand and in her mouth, bringing him over the edge with bold, innocent skill, had sent him straight to the heavens above, and he lost all thought or ability to be reasonable.

We have an attraction. That is all. Common enough.

He rose to his feet, gathering a few pieces of paper together to bring with him that day, ignoring the little tug at his conscience, that what had happened between them was not common at all, and if he was ever able to fully bed her, it would shatter every notion he’d ever had of what could happen between a man and a woman.

He looked up when he heard the squeak of the door, and both Tim and Olivia looked in, Tim’s little hand holding onto the door. His brows lifted in surprise to see them there. They had spent mealtimes together, but he’d been as good as his word, keeping out of most of the tasks, even though the desire to check in on them had come upon him occasionally.

“And what are you two doing here? Snuck out from under the maid, have you?” he asked, coming around the side of the desk.

“To see you.” Tim pointed, and Olivia nodded, rushing toward him, arms outstretched, and she laughed as she reached his knees.

Nicholas swallowed, annoyed at the tug that made on his heart, and he reached down and picked her up, for she would never be pleased otherwise.

“Me too.” Tim reached for him, and sighing, Nicholas picked him up as well.

“No wonder your godmother is exhausted. The weight of you two is enormous!” He was surprised at their sudden laughter, and he bobbed them up and down in his arms. “Now, I think we find where you’re supposed to me. I heard you’re going to the viscountess’s home today.”

“Is there cake?” Olivia asked, and this time it was Nicholas who chuckled, carrying them out the door to his study, only to nearly bump into a frazzled Cordelia.

“Oh!” she said, looking up at him, a stray strand of hair having fallen from her coiffure. “They slipped away from the maid, and we’ve just been trying to find them. I heard something here, so I thought I –”

Nicholas could tell she was surprised yet pleased at the sight of them in his arms, so he quickly let the smile drop from his lips.

“Oh, yes, well, they came in to find me here.” He deposited Tim into her arms and let Olivia down on the floor. “I’ll let you get on with things.”