Page 14 of The Duchess and the Beast
“May I… may I ask what happened?”
The Duke’s head swung around suddenly and she gasped, for there was a scowl on his lips now. Paired with the mask, paired with the anger behind his eyes, gone was the timid, shy man whom she had shared the carriage with just moments ago. This, she now saw, was closer to the monster the rumors had whispered of.
“You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?” he growled.
“I—” Virtue faltered, her initial boldness seizing up in her throat. “I just thought... well, seeing as we are married, I didn’t think there would be any harm in asking.”
“Did you ever consider that there are topics I might prefer not to discuss?” His tone was sharp this time.
She pressed her lips firmly together, a spark of defiance lighting her eyes as she met his gaze in challenge. “To be quite honest, Your Grace, it appears to me that there aren’t really any topics you prefer to discuss. How am I to discern between that and the subjects you deem suitable for conversation? For all intents and purposes, one might think I had married a mute.”
To her surprise, this drew a chuckle from the Duke. Except, it was cold and disparaging, almost mocking. “So, it’s true then?”
“What is?”
“What they say about you. I was cautioned that you might be a handful, and it seems the rumors were not unfounded.”
That set a fire burning inside of Virtue, so hot that she didn’t stop to think before she responded. “I could say precisely the same about you. Everything I've heard, all the whispers... it appears they were not merely idle talk. It is somewhat ironic to find that general gossip can sometimes manage to hit the mark so soundly.”
Behind the mask, she saw a shadow pass over his face. “And what is it they say?”
Virtue suddenly felt a tightening in her chest, a real sense of fear that came with someone of his size and presence bearing down on her. She knew that now was the time to apologize and try to start again, but she was still smarting over his previous comment and if this was the only way to get a reaction from him, so be it.
“Oh, all sorts of things,” she retorted coldly. “I could list them off, but I doubt you have the time.”
“Try me,” he challenged, his gaze narrowing slightly.
“That you’re a monster,” she blurted, the words sharper than she intended. “That you live alone in your castle, drawing unsuspecting villagers into your clutches, only to devour them like some feral beast. That you’re cold, cruel, the very embodiment of evil. That the only reason you agreed to this marriage was because... because...” Her voice faltered as she saw the impact of her words dim his expression, and suddenly, she found herself unable to continue, realizing perhaps she had gone too far.
“Because I had no other option?” he finished for her, his tone biting. “Which, I suppose, speaks to both our characters.”
Her eyes narrowed at that. “At least that solves one mystery.”
“And what mystery is that?” He adjusted his position, the entire carriage seeming to shift under the weight of his movement.
She hesitated, knowing she was about to cross the line, but also driven by a tumultuous mix of frustration and curiosity. “Why you are no longer friends with Lord Wellington’s brother. I suspect he simply got sick of being around you. One hour into this carriage ride and I find myself sympathizing with him.”
Her words hung heavy in the air. As expected, she had gone too far.
The Duke lurched suddenly, as if he meant to pounce on her -- a wolf taking down a stray sheep that had dared wander into its den. She cried out and fell back, scurrying into the corner to avoid the wrath he was sure to unleash upon her. Which he didn’t do, but only because she sensed he was restraining himself with every ounce of strength he had. Instead, he simply bore down on her, half standing, half crouching, leaning forward, his masked face hovering mere inches away from where she cowered. He seethed behind the mask, face turned red, body shaking, anger piqued the likes of which she could never have imagined.
“I understand that you may be upset,” he growled and she could feel his hot breath on her neck. “I understand that this marriage may not be what you envisioned. But let us be perfectly clear about one thing.” He gnashed his teeth, and she nodded her understanding, letting forth a tiny whimper. “You are not to mention Lord Wellington’s brother to me ever again. Nor my past, for that matter. As my wife, my home is now yours, and you are free to make of it what you will. But we shall be nothing more than ink signed on ancient papers. Nor should you expect me to treat you as anything more. So do not slight me. Don’t even think to try provoke me.” He growled again and she shivered from the sensation.
“I – I am sorry,” she said in a whimper.
“Do not push me.”
“I won’t,” she managed. “I promise.”
He glared daggers at her, his formidable body still hovering over her own. She had never felt so small. So powerless. He truly was a monster! One whose thrall she now found herself in.
As swiftly as the storm had risen, it abated. The Duke's fury dissipated immediately, and he retreated to his seat with a suddenness that left the air cold. And then, pretending that she did not exist and that nothing had happened, he turned back and went to staring out the window. And this time, Virtue chose to let him.
Her heart thumped inside her chest and her body ran hot like she had never known. In the moment, she had been terrified of what the Duke might do to her, all those rumors flooding her as she imagined the prison she was being led to. But now that the moment was over, now that he had calmed, even seeming embarrassed by what had happened, her mind strayed to a place she could never have predicted. His huge body over hers. Those large hands wrapped around her. His hips pinning her down. It should have terrified her, she knew, and yet... why this thrill of curious anticipation?
The remainder of the journey passed in unbroken silence. No more attempts at conversation. No more efforts to break through his outer shell. Virtue had pushed him to his limits once today already, and she decided that once would be enough. They were, after all, bound together as husband and wife, destined for countless days and nights in each other's company. She wouldhave more than enough time to attempt so again. Hopefully, the next time, she might show a little more tact.
Otherwise, who knew how the Duke might react?