Page 24 of The Beast’s Duchess (Duchesses of Inconvenience #1)

“I can understand that, and it isn’t about changing everything all at once. It’s just about finding something that makesa you happy.”

He looked away, “Perhaps it is time I try something new. What do you say you teach me to do some of the embroidery you do?”

“What?” Veronica laughed. “Why would you want to do something like that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You did say I should try new things.”

She laughed. “I didn’t mean you should try women’s work! But… i suppose it might be a good idea. Give me just a moment to gather my things.”

She returned a moment later with a reticule she was working on. “I was doing some roses along the edge.”

“Why don’t you show me how you do one first, then I can give it a try?”

A few moments later, she took a seat beside him, she went slowly, making sure to explain each step as she went. When she was done she handed it over to him to see it.

Christopher ran his fingers along the small, neat stitches. He hesitated. “If mine doens’t turn out well, will it ruin the piece?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Even if it doesn’t turn out well, there’s nothing you can do that I won’t be able to fix.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about it.”

“If I can teach Milly, I can teach you.”

He chuckled. “Very well, if you are sure.” He hesitated a moment more before pulling off his glove.

Veronica’s eyes darted away. Her breath caught in her throat. She didn’t know why she was so surprised. Of course he would have to take his gloves off to use the needle. It was far too delicate to work with through the thick leather.

She didn’t want to seem like she was staring, but she needed to look to help him try his hand at embroidery. So, she took a deep breath and turned her focus to the work in his hands.

She helped guide him through the steps with the gentle patience someone only learned from having to teach a younger sibling.

When he had finished his frist rose, Christopher handed it to her to look over.

Veronica ran her fingers over the stitches with an approving smile. “I must admit, you did better than I thought you would.”

He rolled his eyes, a smile on his face. “Somehow I doubt that’s saying much. Besides, it still looks so sloppy nextt to your work.”

“Only because it’s your frist one. You could become rather good at it if you had some more practice.”

“I can’t help but feel like you are being too kind.”

“I’m not. You just need more practice. Would you like to do another one? You don’t have to of course, but if you enjoyed doing the first one you are welcome to.”

“No, if you don’t mind, I would like to try again.”

She handed the piece back over. “Then, please, continue.”

He took it from her hands and got back to work.

“Did it bother you that your parents wouldn’t let you explore what you love past what a proper lady ought to know?”

She sighed. “That in particular, I can understand, especially after the ton turned their backs on us. I can understand most of their choices in isolation, and if they hadn’t made so many of them, I might feel different, but when you put them all together…” she trailed off, shaking her head.

He looked over at her, questions rising in his throat.

She continued before he could give voice to any of them. “My mother and father always said they did what they did because they thought it was best for us, and if that were true, I could understand that, but it never felt like that was why they did it.”

“Then why?”

“It always felt like they wanted control, because it wassn’t just major things like who to marry or what to learn that they told us what to do, but even small things like what we wore around the house and how long we could go on walks in the garden.”

“That must have been difficult.”

“It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it wasn’t easy. I never had a choice in anything. It was like I was trapped in a story book, helpless to do anything but what the narrator said.”

“You don’t feel like that here, do you? Trapped like that?”

She shook her head. “Not any more. For the first time in my life, I feel free.”

He smiled. “That’s good. I want nothing more than for you to feel that way. You deserve it.”

Veronica hesitated. “On that note, I have a question.”

“Anything you would like to know, please ask it.”

“When you invested in my father’s endevors, did you give him any stipulations?”

A smile tugged at his lips. “I might have. It is business, after all. It is important to ensure I was getting what I needed from the arrangement.”

“And did any of those have anything to do with my sisters?”

He looked away. “It’s possible.”

Veronica’s grin grew. “Their marriage prospects perhaps?”

When he didn’t reply, she continued.

“I won’t make you admit it if you would rather not, but thank you. It means a lot to know you would do something like that for them.”

Christopher kept his eyes locked on the work in front of him. “It was nothing. As you have said, they are family now.”

Veronica smiled. “Still, it means a lot to know you are so willing to help my sisters.”

“We are married now. Your family is my family.”

“It means a lot to hear you say that.”

Christopher avoided her eyes. “It has been some time since I was close to anyone. I shut myself out from the rest of the world for so long after Alexander,” he cut himself off with a shaky breath.

“But I don’t want to live that way forever.

I am trying to to let you in. to build a life with you. To-”

His words were cut off by a when Teddy jumped up, pushing his body between them.

Veronica laughed, until she looked over and saw the needle struck in the tip of Chrostopher’s finger.

She gasped. “Christopher, your finger.”

“What?” he looked down then cursed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even notice. Give me just a moment.”

She looked away as he pulled the needle from his finger, only turning when he let out an annoyed huff.

She whirled to look at him, eyes locking on the small bead of red growing on her finger. “Christopher, you are bleeding!”

“I know, please take the embroidery before I get blood on it.”

“That isn’t my concern.” Still she took it and set it off to the side before coming to sit in front of him.

“You don’t need to worry so much. I’m fine, really.”

“Just let me see it,” she demanded, grabbing his hand before he could pull away.

Her eyes studied the small pin prick with unexpected scrutiny. “It doesn’t look like it was that deep,” she said, dabbing at the blood with her handkerchief.

He wanted to tell her that he already knew that. That there was no reason for her to worry, but his breath caught in his throat.

He could hardly believe she was touching his hand.

That hand.

The one that left Alexander to die.

Veronica got to her feet, a smile on her face, completely unaware of Christopher’s inner turmoil, his hand was still held in hers.

“There,” she said. “It should stop bleeding any moment now. Once it does you should be just fine. Luckly it wasn’t that deep.”

“It- it was just a pin prick. I don’t know what you were so worried about.” Christopher forced himself to say. It just felt so wrong seeing her treat that hand so gently. He wanted to pull it from her grip but felt paralized by her gentle touch.

“Sorry. I suppose I might have gotten a bit carried away. I just saw the blood then reacted, besudes, you can never be too careful with these things. I heard a story once of a woman who had a piece of the needle snap off in her finger tip. Terrible thing. Can you imagine?”

“I imagine you would just remove it the same way you would a splinter.”

She huffed. “You make it sound so simple. Still, I’m glad you are all right.”

As if she didn’t even realize she was doing it, Veronica’s hand tightened around Christopher’s. His breath caught in his throat, eyes moving to meet hers.

Suddenly her own eyes widened, pulling away so fast it was hard to push down the pang of disappointment blooming in his chest.

“I should have asked you before I took your hand. Especially…” she trailed off. “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“You are all right, Veronica. I- I didn’t mind,” he said so quiet he thought she might have missed it.

But then he saw the way her eyes snapped to him, a hesitant smile crossing her face. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.”

“Next time?” she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Yes, and speaking of which,” he hesitated.

“What is it?”

“I have something I wanted to ask you. I understand this might be too fast, but I wanted to know—would you be willing to share my rooms rather than keeping to your own?”

“What?” she gasped, face flushing bright red.

“You don’t need to give me an answer now, and can forget I said anything if you would prefer. Though, I hope you will at least think about it.”

“When do you want an answer?”

“The only reason I need an answer is if you decide it’s something you would be interested in considering or would like to talk about. Otherwise, I will put this conversation from my mind and we can return to the way things were.”

She chewed her lip.

Before she could say anything else, he got to his feet. “I don’t know how you are feeling, but I’m rather tired. I think I am going to go try to get some rest.”

“Yes, of course. We have both had a long past few days.”

Christopher smiled, taking a step toward her. He hesitated for a moment, before brushing his lips against her forehead. “Good night, Veronica. Sleep well.”

She flushed. “Good night, Christopher.”