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“What, then?!” he cried in exasperation. Confused was how Henry felt. Truly and utterly confused. “What do you want?”

“I wanted a marriage!” she cried back suddenly. “Stupid me, I wanted a marriage. To love my husband and be loved in return! A crazy notion, I realize. An idiotic ideal because that was never a part of the bargain. And maybe that’s on me. Maybe I should not have yearned for something that was never on offer in the first place, but…” She calmed suddenly, slinking back, emotion fading until she resembled little more than an empty shell. “But a girl can always dream.”

Henry had no idea what to say. How to react. How to feel! Until this moment, he had thought that everything was going well. Damn perfectly, he had imagined it. What had started as a marriage of convenience was slowly turning into something more real, a relationship of companionability and maybe even love…

But it was a slow process. One to be worked on. One that he had indeed worked on. Could she not see how hard he had tried? Did she not realize how much effort he had put into something he didn’t want in the first place?

He did not wish to feel angry, but he couldn’t help himself. This felt to him like emotional blackmail, as if she was putting her cards on the table and telling him he had no choice but to go all in or lose her right now. He liked Charlotte. More than he thought possible. But that stubborn side of him, that temperamental, anger-driven side… it would not be cowed so easily.

“Is that how you feel?” he asked stiffly.

“It is,” she responded with just as little emotion.

“I’m sorry you feel that way. Especially considering that I thought everything was going rather well. Yes, we have our differences. And yes, we don’t always agree. But, Charlotte…” He scoffed. “Do you not think that maybe you’re being a little emotional about all of this?”

Her eyes flashed with anger, and he could see her working to stay calm. “You’re right,” she said. “I am being emotional. Far too emotional for something as mundane and irrelevant as this marriage. You say that you’ve solved all your business problems, yes?”

“I have…”

“Perfect.” She smiled and batted her eyelashes. “Then this marriage has become redundant—wasn’t that the entire point in the first place? You married me to convince your tenants of your reputable nature?”

“It was…”

“Well then, allow me to make the hard decision that much easier for you.” She turned around and walked away, heading for the stairs.

“Where are you going?” He half went to chase her.

She reached the first platform and turned about. “I think it’s best if I move out.”

“You what?” He gawked.

“This was only ever a marriage of convenience. That convenience has now reached its end. Logically, there’s no reason for me to remain.” She raised a daring eyebrow at him. “Right?”

Henry had no idea how to feel. On the one hand, no, he didn’t want this marriage to end. Despite all that was said just now, he wasn’t even close to letting it go. These past few weeks with Charlotte had been wonderful, a revelation, and he was nowhere near ready to see it end. What was more, he was certain she was of the same mind and that this was a test.

It would have been so easy to lose the test and admit he didn’t want her to leave. And maybe he would have? Maybe, if his emotions weren’t high and he wasn’t such a stubborn idiot, he may have done just that. But that was never his way.

Besides, before he had a chance to speak, Miss Barrow appeared at the top of the steps as if by fate. “Your Grace,” she spoke over the two, “Lord Talbot is here. Shall I tell him you’re busy?”

Henry looked from Miss Barrow to Charlotte, who was now glaring at him, daring him to do it. And he matched that glare, heated and filled with petty spite.

“No, Miss Barrow. Do not send him away. Tell Lord Talbot I will meet with him shortly. As soon as possible, in fact.”

Miss Barrow hesitated. “All right, Your Grace…” She hurried down the stairs, avoiding looking at either of them.

“I thought so,” Charlotte hissed at Henry as she turned on her heel and stormed up the steps.

And Henry watched her go. Knowing that if he went after her, he might be able to convince her to stay. Knowing that he didn’t have it in him to do that because he was committed to his arrogance and needed to win a fight he didn’t even wish to win.

Behind him, Henry felt the doors to the foyer fly open as the howling wind and cold rain blew from outside. A storm to match his mood. A storm brought just for him. A storm that would end before the night was through, leaving in its wake sunshine and warmer days. A shame the same could not be said for him. Not anymore.

ChapterTwenty-Six

“This weather,” Graham grumbled as he was led into Henry’s study. “You couldn’t have picked a worse time to send for me. I almost didn’t bother.” He then chuckled as he gave his body a shake as if to shake the water off his clothes.

“Is that right?” Henry said as he walked past Graham and took his seat at the desk.

“But you caught me in a good mood.” Graham chortled as he moved toward the hearth, rubbing his hands together and then holding them before the flames. “And what’s a little water?”