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Twisting back around, she quickened her pace, apparently eager to get as far away from Anthony as she could, as fast as possible. A sure sign of guilt if ever he had seen one.

Anthony drummed his fingertips against the dining table, glaring at the clock on the mantelpiece.

She knows what time dinner is served, he fumed in silence, as the clock ticked ever onward, making Marina later by the second. He had been waiting for forty-five minutes already, everything prepared for a quiet meal for just the two of them.

Harriet had encouraged it, not realizing that it was not to be a romantic dinner, but a mild interrogation. And William had happily eaten his dinner in his bedchamber.

“Shall we serve, Your Grace?” the butler asked, eyeing the cloches on the side-table with increasing anxiety.

Anthony flashed a look at the older man. “Nothing can be served until my wife is here.” He clawed a hand through his hair. “If she will not appear of her own accord, then I have no choice. Give me ten minutes and then bring the dinner to my wife’s library.”

He scraped back his chair and got to his feet, striding out of the dining room with a dark cloud hanging over his head. Everything had been going so well; he should have known that it would blow up in his face eventually.

He just had not expected it to happen so soon.

The walk to Marina’s personal library felt like the longest of his life. Reaching the door, he hesitated to knock, his mind awash with anger and confusion.

What if I have it all wrong? What if she is just shy about the things she bought? What if she was inspired to buy a new wardrobe after the ball? What if I do ruin this, as my grandmother warned?

Still, at the very least, he deserved an explanation for why she had left him waiting for forty-five minutes.

With a breath, he knocked… and when she did not answer, he marched right in.

Marina was up on the mezzanine, surrounded by towers of books. Her wild eyes widened at the sight of him, her hair in disarray, her demeanor that of someone who had been caught doing something they should not.

“Anthony? What are you doing here?” she asked, standing sharply, slamming shut the book she had been reading.

He stared at her intently. “I waited for you. As you did not appear, I have asked that dinner be brought here. We are going to have a meal together, and we are going to talk.”

“What?” Her brow creased, then her eyes widened afresh. “Is it so late already? Goodness, I am sorry; I had no idea. If you allow me half an hour, I shall wash and dress and join you.”

He shook his head. “You are fine as you are. Now, come down; we shall eat at the table here.”

Anxiety flickered across her face, and he could see that she was fighting the urge to protest.

“Very well,” she relented, moving to the ladder.

Despite his frustration and his doubts, the moment she put a shaky foot on the first rung, he felt compelled to be closer to her. To help her if she needed him. To make certain that no harm came to her.

He walked quickly to the ladder, extending a hand so he might catch her if she fell.

But she did not require him, stepping down without taking his hand.

Have I truly done something to upset her? He let his hand fall, embarrassed by the disappointment that prickled within him. When had he allowed her to get under his skin like this?

Together, they wandered back to the large table that was currently scattered with all of the boxes from earlier. Marina hurried ahead of him, quickly removing the boxes and setting them down on the floor. He might not have been one for fashion himself, but he knew they were all lighter than when the footmen had brought them in from the carriage.

Yet, he saw no sign of new clothes anywhere.

“Should I be expecting an eye-watering invoice?” he asked, as casually as he could, sitting down in the nearest of the two chairs.

Marina cocked her head. “Pardon?”

“For the garments,” he replied, nodding to the boxes.

Her face flushed a patchy red. “Oh… no, not at all. I used some money that my uncle gave to me.”

“Would that not seem strange, that your uncle should be paying for your things instead of your husband?” he said, as she took the seat opposite.