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“’Tis not proper to walk around in your night robe, Joana,” he scolded, although his words held no bite.

Perhaps she had been in too much of a hurry to get him dinner to remember her state of undress.

Joana shot him a lopsided smile that confused him as she walked around to perch on the edge of his desk, the slit of her gown sliding back to reveal the pale skin of her thigh.

“What are you doing?” he asked, leaning back in his seat with a frown.

She was being too improper, and he wondered if perhaps she had over-imbibed on wine during dinner.

“I had an interesting discussion this evening, and I’m positively excited to share it with you.” She smiled, visibly excited.

“With whom, if I may ask?”

“Arabella, of course,” she chirped. “She is positively divine.”

Edward tried to school his expression to hide the way his stomach twisted with curiosity.

What could they possibly have discussed?

“Indeed?” he asked, surprised by how even his voice was.

“Indeed.” She smiled. “I finally understand why you surprised us all with your marriage, but, dear Edward, you shouldn’t sacrifice your happiness to preserve someone’s honor.”

Edward couldn’t hide the frown on his face. “What do you mean, Joana?”

“Arabella told me all about how you heroically saved her from certain ruin by marrying her.”

“She did, didn’t she?” he asked darkly. “You two seem very close.”

“Indeed, we are.” She pouted. “She tells me everything, and I’m sorry, but the next thing I have to tell you will not be pleasant.”

Edward didn’t ask but arched an eyebrow at her. The sweet wine accompanying his dinner did nothing to quell the emotions coursing through him. His body craved a much stronger drink, but it was by sheer will that he refrained from entertaining his craving.

Since he had married Arabella, he had entertained the unhealthy habit too often.

“She told me she was happy that you two had finally talked and she was happy that your charade is finally coming to an end.”

A hollow pit settled in his stomach at her words. Joana could have meant Arabella was happy they’d finally agreed to stay married, couldn’t she?

“Indeed?” He swallowed past the lump in his throat.

He pushed the tray of food aside and moved to his side table, pouring himself a much-needed drink. To think his day had been going so well.

“Indeed,” Joana affirmed. “She told me how she has been looking forward to finally ridding herself of the burden when all she’d wanted was to experience passion.”

Edward frowned, wondering if he’d perhaps misread everything that had happened between them that afternoon. Arabella was the one who had confessed her feelings, and she’d come willingly into his arms.

Had that been all for show? And why had she discussed something so intimate with Joana?

He looked at Joana sitting on his desk still, now with a concerned look on her face. She’d been his ward since the accident that had claimed the lives of her parents and his father, and he couldn’t deny that he’d noticed she’d harbored affections for him, but he’d been quick to dismiss the notion before it became something dangerous.

Especially considering he’d never hidden his escapades from her. He wondered if perhaps this was just another attempt at getting what she wanted, but he’d never known her to possess such a dark side.

Perhaps Arabella had been telling the truth.

He shook his head.

There was no way she could have said those things. She was the most expressive woman he’d ever met, and if she really meant the words she’d told Joana, then she was indeed a good actress.