Page 31

For that reason, before supper was set to commence, he asked one of the housekeepers to fetch Charlotte and bring her to his study. It was time the two of them had a conversation, a real conversation, one that saw them set boundaries and find a rhythm this marriage might settle into. No fighting was the goal.

Charlotte appeared in the doorway a few minutes after he sent for her. Dressed already for supper, she looked nervous and unsure, hovering by the door as if worried to enter. Just the sight of her, the way her dress clung to her curves and accentuated her bust… Henry felt himself harden as his breathing quickened. He forced himself to calm down and smiled as she met his eyes.

“Please…” He indicated the seat across from him.

She was careful as she walked into the room, refusing to look at him for too long, her cheeks flushing each time she did. And as she sat, a small smile spread across her lips, cheeky and flirtatious, and he had no doubt her mind was exactly where his had been all afternoon.

“I was hoping to speak with you before supper,” Henry began evenly.

“You couldn’t wait?” she said with a smirk.

Henry stiffened, feeling a sense of arousal already. He cleared his throat. “I wanted to let you know that what I said earlier, I was serious.”

Her eyes flashed. “About?”

“Your sister,” he hurried to explain when he realized how that must have sounded. “When I told you I was going to help you find her. I meant it. I will help in any way that I can.”

“Oh.” She blinked and looked surprised. “T-thank you. That’s very kind.”

“Of course. You’re my wife now, Charlotte, and anything I can do to set your mind at ease, you need only to ask.” His smile was soft, but hers was mischievous. “On that note.” He cleared his throat. “I think the best place to start is with a list. I know how much you like making those.”

She chuckled. “I’ve become quite adept at it.”

“Write down all the places that you think she might have frequented, that she’s ever mentioned to you. Leave nothing out.”

“But I’ve looked already.” She sighed, her mind finally focusing, no longer wandering to places he was trying to keep it from. “And no one has heard a thing.”

“After only one day of searching, I’m not surprised. And to be honest with you, how you were dressed earlier, I sense it wasn’t doing you any favors.”

“How do you mean?” she frowned.

“You don’t make a very convincing man,” he said flatly but with a smirk. “I dare say some of the keepers weren’t entirely convinced that you were who you said you were and might have lied to you.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “I didn’t think of that.”

“Which is why I’ll have my friend, Oliver, look into it. He’s a known frequenter of half the taverns and bars in London, so if there has been any sign of her, he’ll hear of it.” He looked right at her and waited until she met his eyes. “I promise you.”

“Thank you,” she said with a sincere smile, no sense of flirtation behind it. “That is really… It is very appreciated.”

“Think nothing of it.” He breathed a sigh of relief, realizing at the moment that this might have been their first real conversation. How very strange.

Even stranger was that a small part of him almost wished to turn this into another fight. To anger her because he was beginning to realize that he liked her angry. Just the thought of her disobeying him again had his thighs burning and his manhood stiffening as thoughts of leaping across the table and taking her took hold.

But no. This had to be congenial. Heneededit to be.

“Oliver is the man I saw you with?” she followed up.

“That’s the one,” he said, noting her surprise. “You sound shocked.”

“I don’t mean anything by it, but… he isn’t the sort that I would expect a duke to be spending his time with.” She grimaced, and he waited for her to explain. “He seems rather common, is all.”

Henry chuckled. “That’s one way of describing him, although he might not like it.” Another chortle, which brought confusion to Charlotte’s stare. “I’ve known him since I was a boy. His family worked on the lands adjacent to my father’s. That was how we met.”

“And you’re still friends?”

“Of course.” He shrugged. “I know it’s a little… a little odd. But I’m sure that by now, you’ve heard how I became a duke?” He raised an eyebrow at her, and she nodded. “It’s new to me, and not something I aspire to. Plus…” He sighed and slumped in his chair. “I’ve found that since taking this title, everyone I know treats me like…”

“Like you’re a different person,” she finished for him.