Page 53 of Denying the Duke (Lords and Ladies in Love 3)

“Ah, Your Grace. That is my secret, is it not? All I can say is you might be a bit more circumspect when you hire your help.” He moved farther into the office and waved the pistol. “Put the glass down. We don’t want any weapons in your hands now, do we?

“I must tell you how impressed I am with your change in importance. To think I was captured and dragged back from my new life by a duke. One would think that gives me an entirely new status, yes?”

“Why are you here, Loverly? I want you out of my house and out of my life.” He looked around the room, trying to see what he could use to surprise the man and possibly relieve him of his weapon.

“Ah yes. What is it I want from the new Duke of Bedford?” He pointed with his pistol to the two chairs in front of the dark fireplace. “Perhaps we should sit and have a conversation, Your Grace.”

Chapter Seventeen

Patience entered the breakfast room, still anxious from her calls the day before with her mother-in-law, and dreading the ones for the afternoon. Yesterday’s visit had gone well, but she’d suffered through the examination by Lady Cummings-Blackmore, a notorious woman, who had reduced many young ladies of the ton to quivering jelly. Patience had only met her once or twice and had not looked forward to having the termagant pass judgment on her.

She had breathed a sigh of relief when she and the dowager duchess had left Lady Cummings-Blackmore’s residence. Patience had managed to not embarrass herself or the dowager.

This morning they were headed to the modiste once again to be measured, pulled, pushed, and stuck with pins. As much as she enjoyed having new gowns made, she hated the procedure to get them.

Alex stood and pulled her chair back. “What are your plans for today,” he said, his tone sharp as he settled back into his seat.

Taken aback, she answered, “Your mother and I are visiting the modiste this morning, and making calls this afternoon.”

He nodded. “Is there any way you can postpone your plans?”

“Why?”

His attitude confused her. He looked almost angry. “I think you have enough gowns.”

Had he not looked sincere, she would have laughed. But apparently whatever was disturbing her husband, he did not find it humorous. She tried a lighthearted response to ease the tension. “No woman has enough gowns.”

“I would prefer if you stayed at home occasionally. You are forever wandering around London.” His lips were tight, and she became annoyed. What was this all about? She was an adult, to come and go as she pleased. He was not her father, and she had no intention of letting him control her the way her father had.

“We have only been in London for two days, so I hardly think I am ‘wandering around’ as you so succinctly put it.” She scooped butter onto her knife and spread it over a piece of toast. “Your mother made these plans. I am following her wishes.” She placed the knife down with a bit of enthusiasm. “I might say, at this point, that I would like nothing more than to return to the country.”

“My mother does not run our lives.”

“Perhaps someone should tell her that.” She blew out a breath and attempted to calm down. Already stressed in anticipating the day’s trials, Alex’s manner was pushing her over the brink. Just when she thought her old Alex had returned, he’d become pompous and arrogant, very much the duke he swore he would never be.

They both stared at each other, tension radiating between them. Not the good type of tension, Patience thought. Certainly not the tension she’d felt yesterday morning when he’d locked the library door and they’d made improper use of his desk. She had barely composed herself before it had been time to dress for her afternoon calls with his mother.

She’d been forced to wear a gown a bit higher in the neckline to hide the small marks Alex had left on the top of her breast.

Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. “I am sorry. I did not mean to have this turn into a quarrel.” He smiled at her, no real warmth in the gesture. “Please forgive me.”

“Yes.” Of course she would forgive him, but something was off. He had assumed his new duties with aplomb, surprising her, but from the time they had stopped at their first inn on the way to London, he’d seemed tense, distracted, and almost angry. “Is something wrong, Alex?”

Again, the smile did not quite reach his eyes. “No.” He patted her hand, as one would pat an adorable kitten or puppy. “Do not concern yourself.”

The rest of the meal passed in silence, until Alex stood. “I will see you at dinner.” He got as far as the doorway, then turned. “Do not let my mother bully you. She has a tendency.”

Right now, she felt as though both he and his mother were bullying her. She felt pulled and pushed in every direction.

Perhaps there was something lacking in her that made those close to her feel as though she could be browbeaten. No, she would not allow that. She should slip away from the house and enjoy some freedom. Something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Patience retired to her sitting room after breakfast where she spent the time answering correspondence and writing in her journal. No sooner had she closed the cover of her book when the dowager appeared at her doorway. “Aren’t you ready? Our appointment is in one half hour.”

“I just have to retrieve my shawl, bonnet, and gloves.” She hurried past her mother-in-law’s direction.

“Of course you will fix your hair.”

Patience gritted her teeth and continued, mumbling to herself. After grabbing her belongings—she refused to even look at her hair, she descended the steps to meet the dowager duchess at the entrance hall. They left the house followed by two footmen. Patience turned to them. “We probably won’t need your help today. We aren’t expecting to have packages to carry.”