Page 86 of Claiming his Cursed Duchess

“That is not an answer. My uncle told me that he blackmailed you into it, is that true?”

Adam stilled, glancing at her briefly before his eyes flicked away. Rosaline’s fury grew as she saw the awkward, guilty expression on his face—so unlike the hard man she had come to know.

He walked to the decanter and poured himself a measure of brandy as Rosaline’s fingers plucked agitatedly at the folds of her dress.

“Well?”

He took a healthy swallow of liquor. “I do not have to explain myself to you.”

Rosaline scoffed, insulted by those words.

“I am yourwife,” she spat. “I would say I am the only person on this earth who you will answer to. I deserve to know my place in this marriage.”

“You are my duchess.”

“That is a title only and means nothing without being treated as such. What does my uncle possess that could persuade you to marry a woman you had never met?” she snarled. “Even on the eve of our wedding, I wondered why you would have agreed to it. What threat does he pose to you that you would do such a thing?”

“It is better that you do not know.”

“Do not knowwhat?”

Adam slammed down the glass.

“He is a fool and has treated you shamefully throughout your life. You would honestly take his word over mine?”

“What word? You have refused to tell me why we are together from the beginning?—”

“You are a convenience!” he thundered, taking a step toward her, his chest heaving. “This marriage was designed to further us both, to save your reputation, and to elevate your status. Is that not enough for you?”

Rosaline stared at him, stumbling back at his fearsome expression, a pain unlike anything she had ever felt unfurling within her.

His finger pointed at her accusingly even as the fire faded from his eyes, and he seemed shocked at his own fury.

“I see,” she whispered, taking another step back before she skirted around Adam’s frozen form and walked to the door.

“Rosaline—”

“I think it would be best if we are apart for a time,” she said, her fingers finding the door handle and pulling it open as she struggled to draw in a full breath.

The crushing weight of disappointment was almost too much to bear.

What did I expect? That he would love me after all of this? That he would truly wish us to be happy together?

She looked back at Adam, who for a splintered second, looked distraught, but his eyes slowly hardened as she watched.

“Very well,” he muttered. “Do as you please.”

Rosaline fled from the room, making her way to her bed chamber mechanically, hardly noticing the servants that scurried from her path as she went.

As she walked through the door, she slammed it shut, listening to the reverberating thud that echoed down the corridor.

Her breath came more quickly as she began to pace, her mind a whirl of confusion as she attempted to sort through each thought as it bloomed in her head.

I have been a fool. I was wrong to believe he would ever care for me.

Walking to the bed she threw herself to her knees, pulling out a small bag.

With angry, jerky movements she began to tug her clothing from the wardrobe and threw it into the bag without a care.