Page 26 of The Beast’s Duchess (Duchesses of Inconvenience #1)

He gave a wry smile. “Then its a good thing we will both be going together, isn’t it? Do you have any idea what you will want your dress to look like?”

She hesitated at the change in subject. Still, if he didn’t want to talk about it any more, she could hardly make him.

So after a moment, she relented. “I don’t know. I supposed I should go with something in a more mature color now that we’re married.”

“You should wear what makes you happy.”

“I need to think about what will give them a good impression of us and me as a duchess.”

“Whatever you wear, you will look lovely.”

She smiled. “That’s kind of you to say, but you are my husband.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, as my husband of course you will think I look nice, but that doesn’t mean I do.”

“And as my wife, I thought you were supposed to trust my judgment.”

“On matters of many things, I would, but never in matters of fashion.”

He chuckled. “I suppose I think that would be fair. Perhaps you could ask your sisters—or Daisy if you don’t think the letters would get to them and back in time.”

“I will definitely write to them, but I think it will take far too long. Given how soon the ball is, I need to see a dress maker by the end of the week. I’m sure Daisy will be more than enough help.”

“Are you sute? It might not hurt to make a trip[ to london. I’m sure you would hve access to better dressmakers there and you could see your sisters.”

“I’m sure. I’d like to use a local dress maker from the town here. Besides, I’m sure I will have plenty of time to see them when we get to the ball.”

“Are you sure? I know they had to cut their vist short before.”

“I said I am. You don’t need to ask me again. I want to stay here and spend time with you before our first ball as a married couple.”

He smiled. “Very well, if you are sure, I won’t push it.”

Veronica lit up. “Perhaps you could join me when I go to the dress makers? We could go into town together? Do a few things?”

He hesitated then took a deep breath. “If you’d like, then I’m willing to try.”

“Thank you,” then it was her turn to hesitate.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I just wanted to say, it means a lot to see all the effort you’re putting in, and- and I hace thought about it, and I think it could be nice for us to move into the same room.”

Christopher’s eyes lit up, but he still seemed unsure. “Are you positive? I understand if you need more time. I wasn’t expecting an answer any time soon.”

She nodded. “I know, but I have thought a lot about it, and I know I want this.”

He lit up. “If you are sure, then I would like that.”

“Perfect,” before she could over think it, Veronica acted on a flash of boldness, leaning forward and pressing a small kiss to his lips. “I will talk to Daisy about moving my things in.”

He was too stunned to reply, not that she gave him that much of a chance.

No sooner had the words left her lips then she all but raced into the hall, off in search of her lady’s maid.

Veronica found Daisy in one of the side halls, approaching her her with a hesitant smile.

“I was wondering if you could help me with something,” she said, biting her lip.

“Of course, its what I’m here for, your grace. What can I do for you?”

“I was wondering if you could help me move in to the master bedroom. Christopher and I have already talked about this.”

Daisy grinned. “Of course. I can get to work right away.”

“Thank you,” Veronica hesitated then asked, “How long do you rhino something like that would take?”

“I can have the bulk of it done by the time you are ready for bed tonight if you like.”

“So fast?” she gasped.

Daisy chuckled. “Yes, at least for a basic move in. i’m sure it will take a bit longer than that to get everything perfect, but there’s no reason you can’t stay in there through those finishing touches.”

“Right,” she blinked, stunned. “Then I suppose I will let you get to work.”

“Of course, ma’am,” she curtsied. “Please let me know if you need anything else.”

“I will. She turned to go then paused. “We will also need to plan a trip into town later this week.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

With that, she headed off to her room to write a few letters to her sisters.

It ended up taking her the better part of the afternoon until it was time to get ready for dinner.

Before she made it to her room, Daisy approached her in the hall.

“Your grace,” she curtsied. “I wanted to check and see if you would prefer to get dressed in the master bedroom or if you would prefer to get dressed in your old room. If you did, I could have it turned into a dressing room.”

She thought for a moment. On the one hand, it would be a nice chance to see the master bedroom, but on the other, there was every chance that Christopher would come in. she shook her head. “I think it would be best to stick with the old room for now.”

“Very good, ma’am,” she nodded. “Is that where I should wait for you after dinner?”

“Yes,” Veronica nodded. “I think it would be best to stick to that until further notice.”

“Of course, your grace. Just tell me if it needs to change at any point.”

“Thank you. I will.”

Veronica took extra care dressing for dinner that night. Between what Christopher had agreed to and what she had agreed to, it was hard not to see the night as a special occasion.

It must have been obvious what was going on in her mind, because as they were finishing up, Daisy frowned and asked, “You seem nervous this evening, your grace. Is something on your mind?”

“It had just been a rather eventful day.”

“I should think! You have moved into the master bedroom.”

“I did, and that wasn’t the only thing that happened.”

“Oh? What else happened?”

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you yet, but Christopher and I will be attending a ball next month.”

Daisy ljt up. “Oh that sounds just lovely! But it’s such short notice. There is so much to get ready.”

Veronica chuckled. “It isn’t as much as it sounds like. We are only attending a ball. Not hosting one.”

“Not yet, but it sounds like it is only a matter of time.”

“I wouldn’t get your hopes up just yet. There is every chance we never do something like this again. I would advise you to think of it as a special occasion.”

“But why? Do you not like balls, your grace?”

“If I am honest, I was never the biggest fan of them, no, but jt doesn’t come down to just if I like them.”

“But I doubt Duke Ashton would mind if you wanted to attend alone.”

“Perhaps I do not wish to attend alone.”

Daisy flushed and looked away. “Of course. I am so sorry. I should have thought about it, your grace.”

“Its all right. I know you didn’t mean any harm in it, and who knows, perhaps some day I might want to, but for now, I am content to spend my days here in Ashton Castle with you all.

Besides, there are still far too many renovations that need done to spend too much time away from the estate any time soon. ”

Daisy frowned. “Sill, you must miss them.”

“Hardly,” she chuckled. “They aren’t as fun as you imagen, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

Veronica sighed, “When I was younger, I always thought they were these grand, glittering parties where everyone wears beautiful gowns and falls in love on the dance floor.”

“Does that never happen?”

“Maybe for some people it does,” Veronica sighed. “But for most of us, it is a sea of pushy parents trying to ‘guide’ their children into making the right choices.”

“Right choices?”

“To bind yourself to the right status. The right fortune. I believe my parents would have been perfectly happy to see me married to a—a wallet as long as it gave them the money they needed.” She shook her head.

“The Duke seems to be a good man, but it could have gone wrong in so many ways.” And I want it to go right , to be chosen for myself and not for the children I can bear or the dowry I can bring.

She had escaped any number of dire fates. But was it too much to hope for a happy ending?

Veronica took a deep breath before pushing into the dinning room where Christopher was waiting.

He turned to look at her and paused before taking a second, longer look.

She shifted nervously. Had she worn something wrong? Was she over dressed? It was the night they dressed for dinner. He had dressed as well so it couldn’t be that. So why-

“You look really nice this evening.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “Thank you.”

His gaze lingered, holding hers.

Veronica’s felt a flush creeping up her neck. Without even thinking about it, she found herself taking a step closer to him. Then another.

He took one too, then they were close enough that Veronica could feel the heat radiating from his chest.

Part of her wanted to lean in again.

Her eyes flickered to his lips then back up to his.

His black eyes burned into her with an intensity that sucked the very air from her lungs.

“You- you look rather nice this evening too,” she said, voice barley even a whisper.

But they were so close it would be impossible not to hear her. They were so close, Veronica wouldn’t have been surprised if he could feel her breath on his neck.

The door swqung open, a servant stepping in.

“Dinner is served.”

Veronica stepped back, heart pounding in her chest, a hot flush burning her face.

“Thank you,” Christopher said, voice far too even in Veronica’s opinion. Was his heart not racing, too?

The pair took their seats and started eating their meal. It was quiet in a way it hadn’t been in some time.

A nervous energy settled in Veronica’s chest. She could hardly bring herself to speak or eat, all too aware of where she was gfoing to end that night.

“Are you all right? Christopher asked, startling her from her thoughts. “You’ve hardly siad a word and you’re barley picking at your food.”

She shook her head. “Its nothing. I’m fine.”

He lowered his voice. “Is this about sharing a room tonight, because we don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

Veronica flushed. “It is, but it isn’t that I don’t want to. I’m just not sure what it will mean.”

“It doesn’t need to mean anything if you don’t want it to. I’m more than all right with taking things as slow as you want.”

Veronica smiled, relife creeping in. “i know, but thank you for saying it again.”

The pair returned to their meal, but Veronica couldn’t taste it. Silence had grown familiar to her, but this silence was different. Charged. Unresolved.

She choked down lamb and peas—or perhaps squab and carrots; everything felt tasteless and unimportant. When theyb were finished, they both got to their feet.

“Did you want to head into the parlor for a bit?” Christopher asked her.

She shook her head. “Ii’m rather tired tonight. I think I shall retire.”

“Of course. I will be heading up shortly myself.”

She nodded. “Very well. I will see you in a moment.” In our room, she thought ot herself.

He nodded.

She hesitated a moment longer then made her way up the stairs into the room where Daisy was waiting.

“You’re back early, your grace,” the maid said in suprise.

They spoke less than they usually did as Daisy helped her out of her dinner dress and into her nightclothes..

After a while the maid stepped back with a smile. “Will there be anything else you need this evening, your grace?”

“I should be all right, thank you.”

The maid gave a last curtsy then left her alone.

Veronica took a deep breath then amde her way through the door that led to her new room.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she pushed the door open.

Of course the room was still empty when she entered, Christopher had told her he would be giving ehr a minute before he joined her.

She took a moment to look around the room. It was bigger than her old one had been, but the only thing she could look at was the large bed in the center. Swallowing, she walked over to it. She knew a Duchess’ duty, and yet…

One of her hands came to run over the blankets. They felt almost the same as the ones he had on her bed. It was comforting to have something so recignizable.

She turned down the covers and slid underneath.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the seconds ticked by,

Perhaps she should have told Christopehr not to wait so long. It seemed like he would never arrive.

Then, after what felt like hours, the door swung open. He lingered at the threshold, eyes flickering over the bedroom as if it were some new and possibly dangerous territory.

After the better part of a minute, Veronica said, “are you going to come in?”

“Yes, of course.”

Then another moment passed. He still hadn’t moved.

“Could you please shut the door,” she said again. “The light from the hall-”

“Yes, of course!”

Then he finally stepped the rest of the way inside, all but slamming the door.

Veronica smiled to herself. He was just as nervous as she was, maybe even more so.

She didn’t say anything else until he joined her in the bed. Only then did she reach out, inot the covers between them and take his hand.

Neither of them moved, both afraid of frightening the other off and running the fragile moment.

Hesitantly, his fingers tightened around hers.

Veronica turned int he darkness and caught his eyes. She froze, caught in his gaze.

Christopher opened his mouth to say something, then smiled and turned away.

“Good night, Veronica. Sleep well.”

“Yes, you too.”

She had expected it would be hard to sleep after that, that she would be far too aware of their proximity to even consider sleeping, but it wasn’t anything like that.

In fact, it seemed as if it only took her mere moments before she slipped into the most peaceful sleep of her life.