Page 25 of Married to the Icy Duke (Duke Wars #3)

“At any rate,” she continued evenly, “this talk of duels and whatnot is ridiculous. You are embarrassing me, brother. If you must know, the duke here did defend me quite ably. Lord Bentley was …” she paused, groping for the right word.

“He was strange at first, if you understand what I mean. I suppose I simply thought he was an old friend and put my own discomfort down to my own misunderstanding. I shan’t do that again. His anger was not aimed at me.”

She did not say who his anger was aimed at, which Isaac was irrationally relieved about. Of course, anybody could guess.

“Now,” Charlotte said at last, lifting her chin. “Enough of this nonsense, and enough talk of duels . You ought to go and see your wife, brother.”

Gabriel wavered for a moment, pursing his lips. Then he heaved a sigh and shook his head. Just like that, the anger and tension drained out of the room. To his surprise, Isaac found that he was relieved.

“Don’t think that I have given up watching you,” he muttered warningly, shooting a dark stare up at Isaac as he passed by. “Where might I find Thalia, Charlotte?”

“In the parlor.”

He grunted and passed by, trudging along the hall and out of earshot.

Isaac pursed his lips. “Please, Stonewell, make yourself at home in my house,” he muttered. “Stamp away down the hall. Slam doors as if you own them.”

Charlotte rounded on him, arms folded. “You should not provoke him.”

“ Provoke ? You have no idea which of us did the provoking . It was not I.”

“Oh, come off it, Your Grace . I was listening at the door, remember?”

Isaac bit back a smile. “Oh, yes, I forgot. That is not a very ladylike thing to do. I’m sure your sister-in-law, being a very proper woman, would be shocked at such behavior.”

“Ha! You don’t know the first thing about Thalia, let me tell you. It’s just as well that I was eavesdropping, because it seemed like you and my brother were about to arrange a duel.”

Isaac sniffed, striding over to the window. Early afternoon sunshine was shining through the windows, dappling over the floor. Charlotte came to stand beside him, and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise at her presence. Her proximity felt warmer than the sunshine.

“There was not going to be a duel,” he said at last. “It was all hot air.”

“Yes, that’s what all men say, until there’s a whisper of honor involved, then they lose their heads. The next thing you know, it’s pistols at dawn.”

He chuckled. “Well, you needn’t worry about that. You rather neatly saved your brother.”

Charlotte turned to face him, eyes narrowed. “Or perhaps I saved you . You would not have won, you know.”

He grinned. “You think not? Perhaps we should agree to disagree.”

She rolled her eyes and turned away, but not before he saw her bite back a smile.

“You’re insufferable.”

Isaac’s smile faded. How often had such a comment been leveled at him?

More times than he could count. He’d heard it from friends such as Tristan, with an affectionate twist. He’d heard it from furious lady-friends who were angry that their relationship was not likely to end in matrimony.

He’d heard it from Society-writers and read it in scandal-sheets.

He’d heard it from his brother, quite frequently, and spoken in a heartfelt manner.

Hearing it from Charlotte felt different. Stranger. More unpleasant. He could not tell if she meant it. He wished that he cared less, but it seemed that his heart, thumping treacherously in his chest, did not agree.

“Insufferable, you say?” he said lightly. “It is a good thing, then, that I do not need others to like me.”

“If you say so.”

Now, what was that supposed to mean? Isaac glanced at her, meeting her eyes squarely. She was watching him, a frown between her brows.

I should speak to her about the kiss. Of both kisses, of … of everything that surrounded them.

He swallowed hard, steeling himself. The matter had to be discussed. They had not only overstepped the bounds of her no-touching, but they had leaped over them with great strides.

It wasn’t just me. She did not resist. She … She wanted me, I am sure of it.

That could not be right. If she wanted him, why insist that he was not to touch her? Why keep herself so far away, so wary? And wary was the right word.

Perhaps she is wrestling with her heart and head, Isaac thought, only to hastily reject the thought. There was no question of hearts in this matter.

As if she read his mind, Charlotte abruptly turned away, clearing her throat.

“I had better go back to the parlor,” she said, her voice soft. “Sybella said I should not worry about the viscount. She said that I should concentrate on the wedding, and I suppose that I shall.”

“Yes, Matthew would do no harm, I’m sure of it,” Isaac said firmly.

She glanced up at him, and he was sure she meant to say something.

At that moment, however, running feet echoed in the hallway, and Tommy appeared, his face bright.

He clutched the ratty toy piglet in his arms and came scampering towards them.

Judging by his state of undress and his untidy curls, he had been in the middle of being prepared for a nap when he had made his escape.

He came running towards Isaac, which filled him with more joy than Isaac could have possibly said. Grinning, he snatched the baby up in his arms, tossing him into the air.

“Are you terrorizing Mary again, you unholy terror?” Isaac laughed, pressing a kiss against Tommy’s cheek.

The toddler laughed and squirmed, then held out his toy towards Charlotte.

“Piglet!” he declared.

There was another short silence. Isaac glanced at Charlotte, eyes wide, and found that she was smiling.

“Yes, darling, Piglet,” she said, nodding. She glanced at Isaac and lifted her eyebrows.

“He’s doing well, don’t you think?”

A lump had formed in Isaac’s throat, much to his horror. “Yes,” he admitted. “Yes, he is.”

Running footsteps echoed in the hall again, and a red-faced Mary appeared.

“Oh, Your Grace,” she gasped. “I am sorry. He gave me the slip again.”

“He is a notoriously slippery little creature,” Isaac acknowledged, kissing him on the top of the head.

He placed Tommy on the ground and urged him towards his nurse.

Tommy went happily enough, waving his toy in the air.

Isaac watched them go, hand in hand, and silence descended after he’d left. Slowly, he turned to face Charlotte.

“I think perhaps we should discuss …” he began, but Charlotte shook her head, hastily turning away.

“I had better get back to the parlor,” she said quietly, not meeting his eye. “My brother will wonder where I am.”

She left at once, leaving Isaac to soak in the silence alone.