Page 7 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride (Duchesses of Convenience #7)

Chapter Seven

“W elcome to your new home,” the duke said as he opened the front door for Diana and stepped back, allowing her to walk ahead so she might see the inside of the manor for the first time.

It was a strange feeling that pulsed through her body as she prepared herself. Stepping into a new world was how it seemed, while still not entirely certain that she had left the old one behind.

The wedding ceremony had been brisk and functional. A slight disappointment, seeing as after the talk she and the duke had before it began, she had expected it to be a little more romantic. A sense that despite the ‘convenient’ nature of the marriage, he was going to at least try and put on airs that this marriage was real. Or had she completely misunderstood what he had been trying to say to her?

There was no after ceremony celebration either. Often, it took the form of a breakfast hosted between family and friends. But the duke had insisted that they return home immediately, as his nieces would be waiting, and he did not want to leave them alone any longer than what was needed.

Little conversation had on the ride from the church too. A tension hovered between them, neither seeming sure what to say. His Grace did seem nervous, but not regarding her or them. Most likely, he was thinking about this moment right here, Diana and the two girls she was expected to raise.

It was thus that Diana did her best to appear calm as she smiled at her husband and stepped through the large doors and into the manor, bracing for... truthfully, she had no idea what!

“Uncle!” she heard a cry the moment she was inside.

“Uncle!” came another from behind.

It took her eyes a moment to adjust to the setting, all she could make out was the grandeur of the manor. Typical, for she had been in many a home like this before. A gigantic foyer. A winding staircase. Marble flooring. Rich tapestries on the walls. A decorative chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Everything expected from the home of a duke.

Through the haze of her adjusting sight, two figures rushed toward her. She gasped, expecting them to come upon her like wild animals on a freshly lain carcass. But they skirted her, she stumbled back in shock and nearly fell, and then she heard her new husband let out a grunt as they smacked into him.

“Careful now,” the duke said with cheer. “What did I tell the two of you?”

“You tell us a lot of things,” one of them said; Diana couldn’t tell which as she was still catching her balance.

“To be on our best behavior,” the other said. “But you did not tell us what that means.”

“Adeline...” the duke groaned. “You know very well.”

“It is not our fault, Uncle.” Steady now, Diana was able to see the two girls more clearly. They were eight and ten, she had been told, almost twins to look at, with the only noticeable difference being their size. “We are bored – you promised you would not be gone for so long.” That was the eldest speaking... complaining, more like.

“Excuse me?” the duke said, his tone firm and warning.

“You promised you would be home before midday,” the youngest of the two agreed. “You lied.”

“I did not such thing.”

“You did! You did!” the eldest cried. “You lied!”

Despite herself, Diana could not keep from laughing. The two little girls hung from their uncle’s legs, clutching at him as if to let go would see them fall. But they were rowdy and brave, happy to chastise him in a way that skirted the lines of playfulness and geared toward abrasive.

In a strange way, they reminded Diana of herself.

The duke looked up when he heard her laughter. His brow creased as if to warn her off amusement. “And this is how you behave when we have guests, is it?” he asked the two girls.

“Is that what I am?” Diana said. The youngest of the girls looked at her and she winked back. “A guest?”

The duke peeled himself free from his nieces and stepped about them, making his way to Diana. Her breath caught as he approached, and for a second she thought he was going to put his arm around her. Maybe take her by the hand. Indeed, the thought alone had her body tingling...

But no. He simply stepped in beside her, careful it seemed not to get too close. There was certainly no touching.

“Josephine. Adeline. This is...” He caught himself and smiled. “This is my wife, Her Grace, Lady Albury.”

“You may call me Diana,” Diana corrected with a big smile for the two girls. She had little experience with children, but she sensed that she might like these two. Again, it was the rebellious nature she could see in them both, one she felt a kinship with. “Her Grace is a little formal, don’t you think?”

“Hmm...” the duke cleared his throat. “Perhaps that is a tad too familiar? They should not be calling you by your first name. At least not so soon.”

“Oh, it is fine,” she waved him down.

He stiffened. “As I said, for now, I do not think it proper.”

Diana frowned and leaned back, utterly surprised by his reaction. Had she gone too far? “Oh... well... I simply thought, seeing as we are a family, why not begin to act like one.”

“Diana,” the eldest, Josephine said, nodding her head. “May I call you that? Truly?”

“Yes,” she said, to which she felt the duke stiffen again. “But only if I may call you Josephine.”

“And me?” Adeline asked.

“I would expect nothing else,” Diana said. “We are to be friends. Let us begin to act like it.”

The two girls brightened, and she sensed that they wished to rush her. Balls of energy, standing in the one place for two long was clearly a struggle for them both. Before they got the chance, however...

“Girls, if you do not mind, I would like to speak with Her Grace for a moment. Where is Miss Brooks?” He looked about.

“Here I am, Your Grace!” an elderly maid hurried into the foyer. “I am so sorry. They got away from me – girls.” The maid widened her eyes at the two. “I told you not to run off like that.”

“Perhaps you should be faster,” Josephine shot back.

Again, Diana laughed. And again, the duke eyed her in reprimand.

The two girls were quickly led away by Miss Brooks, told to take them outside until called for. It was a stiff demand, given with an even stiffer upper lip. And when he gave it, he looked between the two girls to make sure they understood it was not to be broken.

Miss Brooks dragged the two girls away, that was until Josephine broke free and charged ahead, which had Miss Brooks calling after her. It was all quite amusing, a mood which vanished the moment Diana and the duke were alone because he turned on her in a state of annoyance that radiated from him like heat from a fire.

“I hope that you understand what you did wrong just now.”

She frowned and leaned back. “What I did wrong?”

“Regarding my nieces,” he said sharply. “I appreciate that you wish to make a good first impression but that is not what I expect of you.”

“What you expect of me...?”

He sighed. “You are not their friend. You are not their equal. You are, for all intents and purposes, their mother. And I would expect you to act like it.”

Diana looked at the duke with confusion, almost as if she expected him to break into laughter. Surely, this was a joke? “And what was I to do? Reprimand them for being excited?”

“It is not about punishment or penalizing. It is about creating proper boundaries to which they will adhere. I have brought you into this house to educate them, to ensure that they are raised in a manner that is expected of their class. But the first thing you do is...” He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “I would appreciate it if in the future you did not contradict me in front of them.”

Diana had no idea what to say.

Where she understood well enough what the duke meant, the manner that he was explaining it was completely uncalled for. As if she should just be expected to know how to treat two children she had never met? As if she should have spoken down to them for no other reason than to assert her authority? She knew little about children, but she guessed that doing so would have been a terrible well to start things off.

The duke was scowling at her expectantly. No doubt, he assumed she would apologize and agree to be more wary in the future. And she very nearly did too. No need to antagonize the man twice in one day. Only then she remembered her conversation with the dowager duchess...

“I think you’re wrong,” she said frankly.

The duke blanched. “Excuse me?”

“I understand the point you are making, but I believe it to be the wrong one.” She straightened herself up, matching the duke’s scowl with her own raised eyebrow. “If I am to help rear these two girls, it will not do for them to be frightened of me. Or to hate me.”

“I was saying no such thing,” he argued carefully, although she could sense the anger brewing. The first time, she realized, that she had seen it. “I simply believe that if you are to be their mother, they must respect you.”

“There are other ways to earn respect than through fear.”

“Nobody said anything about scaring them!” he snapped. “But rules are what they need. Rules and boundaries.”

“Which I will establish,” she continued, despite the anger now flowing from him. “Once I have their trust. If they like me, they are more likely to do as I ask.”

“This is not a debate.”

“Oh, I agree,” she said. “It is not.”

Until this point, the duke had been more playful than hot tempered. He had mocked her. He had pressed her buttons. There had been a childish nature to him that Diana had found intriguing, for it mixed esoterically with his rugged physicality. So much so that when Evelyn had told her what she had heard of his nature, she had been dismissive because she simply had not been able to imagine it.

All that changed in an instant.

The duke swept toward her. Short strides, quick and powerful, so sudden that he was on her before she had a chance to blink. Once she realized that he was coming, she did take a step back, and then another, soon finding herself pressed against the closed doorway. The duke, however, followed her, trapping her between the door and his hulking frame.

It was a strange sort of anger. Not visceral in nature. Not even fiery. More stern and demanding. A man who was used to getting his way and not used to having to fight for it.

“Perhaps it is time we had another chat,” he said. His tone was calm, but she could hear the rumble of thunder in his throat. “About expectations.”

“I... I am perfectly aware of what is expected.” She felt herself begin to flush, reminded only too quickly of the thoughts she’d had of him of late… and Evelyn’s words concerning his… no, no, do not let your mind go there!

“Is that so?”

“You have made it perfectly clear.” Her heart was racing, and her body was on fire. His body was a mere inch from her own, and she could not believe how calm his breathing was compared to hers. “Per -- perhaps you are the one who is unsure?”

His jaw clenched and he closed his eyes as if to calm himself.

Diana could not say exactly what she felt in that moment. She knew that she should have been careful, even afraid. Evelyn’s warning sounded out in her head and all good sense told her to head it. And yet...

Excitement flooded her. A thrill that made her limbs tingle. She forced herself to meet the duke’s dark green eyes, to hold them, to show him that she was not scared. No idea what would happen next, she again thought to their conversation earlier. That phrase. The pleasure of one another’s company... what sort of pleasure did he mean?

“You have a nasty habit of speaking without thinking, don’t you?” he growled as he leered over her, matching her stare with one that cried out in warning.

“Oh, I think well enough,” she shot back, unblinking, her entire body trembling under the weight of his presence. “Remember, you are the one who chose me. And I thought that was for good reason.”

“I am beginning to forget why that was.”

“Then you are the one at fault, not me.”

He sucked through his teeth. “I wished for a strong-willed wife who would help me raise my nieces. Not an insubordinate one.”

“Is that all you wished for?” she asked daringly, her heart racing so fast now that it hurt. She could feel her tongue salivating, a sensation she did not understand but could figure out the meaning well enough.

He frowned. “I... I told you. This is a marriage of convenience. Nothing more.”

“And what you said earlier?” she pressed.

“Earlier?”

“About...” She could not believe she was about to say it! That she would dare! But her body was on fire. Her mind too, with wicked thoughts. This was not a regular marriage, but did that mean it had to be stale? “Enjoying the pleasure of one another’s company...”

The duke frowned. Then his eyes widened in realization. She held those eyes, daring him to look away. By her waist, her hands dangled, but suddenly she felt his fingertips graze her own. Light. Sparks shooting up them. She caught her breath as he stepped in closer...

“My meaning was...” He groaned as he bore over her. “That our relationship should not be antagonistic.”

“And yet so far you are doing everything to ensure that it is.”

His eyes flashed anger. “I am doing no such thing. You are the one who... who... who takes pleasure in testing me. If you would simply behave, then there would be no cause for antagonization.”

“So, that is all?” she dropped her breath into a whisper, not even knowing why she was doing so – the effect it would had. It simply felt right. “A marriage of convenience... nothing more?”

“What else is there?”

She caught her breath, unable to say the obvious. Evelyn’s comment swept her mind. The duke’s body on hers, how she shuddered, washed over her. Her chest hurt. Her loins burned. All thoughts pointed toward the obvious and all she could do was stare and wonder if he was feeling as she did or if this was all in her head.

“I... I... I...” she stammered.

“Speak clearly or don’t speak at all.”

“You are not my master,” she said without thinking for the words felt right. “You are barely my husband.”

“This is my home...” He stepped in closer. “And you will do well to remember that.”

“Or what?” She raised both eyebrows. His hand wrapped around her own. Closer again, their bodies now touching. Diana had never been in this position before, but instinct was a strange thing, and it took over as if she was borne to it.

The duke kissed her there and then.

Like a lion mauling a gazelle, he was on her. His right hand pulled her in close while his left took her by the face. His lips clashed with hers. His tongue pried them apart and swept into her mouth. It was messy. It was wild and untamed. It was filled with passion that set Diana alight, and she felt alive in ways she never had before. That she never knew was possible.

Almost on instinct she leaned back but he held her there. His tongue explored her. His lips devoured her. His hand around her face gripped her as if for dear life. The kiss was for her lips, but she felt it across her entire body, such that she nearly collapsed as it ran down her spine and touched between her thighs so that her knees gave out.

Both hands about her waist now. His body pressing against her as if he was trying to mount her – as if he was trying to tear her apart so he might feast! She squirmed as if on instinct, but she did not wish for him to let her go. In fact, he hands soon found their way to his waist also, and she held him tight, hoping he would never stop --

“No!” the duke roared suddenly, letting her go and stumbling back. “That was...” He looked away as if ashamed. “That was... I should not have done that.”

Diana was frozen, leaning forward as if to follow him, her feet stuck to the ground. “I... wh – what?”

Her shook his head. “I am sorry, I should not have...” He took another step back. “That was wrong of me.”

“It was?”

He grimaced as he spoke. “When I came to you earlier, my true intention was to let you know that nothing... that I expected nothing from you. Yes, we are man and wife, but it is in name only and I did not want you to think that you...” He clicked his tongue, fidgeting nervously in a way she did not think was possible for the duke. “My nieces are what matter. And for them, we must present a united front – as they would expect. But regarding everything else, what I wished to tell you was that I do not expect you to... to...” He laughed bitterly, more at himself, it seemed. “I will never force myself upon you.”

“Oh...” Diana blinked, truly taken aback. “Thank you?”

“I wish for you to feel safe, Diana,” he said. “I do not wish for you to fear me or worry what I might do. Or what I might try and do. What happened just now...” He shook his head. “I am sorry. I should not have... that was my mistake, and it will not happen again.”

“I...” Diana had no idea what to say. “Alright.”

He nodded, seemingly happy that he had said what he felt he needed to. As for Diana? She was as confused as she was aroused as she was unsure of what the heck was going on.

Does he think that he took advantage of me? Does he truly not know how much I wanted it? And should I tell him...

“I will send the staff to help you settle,” he said, still not looking at her. “They will bring your things to your room and help you to unpack. If that is acceptable.”

“It is...”

“Good.” He forced himself to look at her, forced a smile, then nodded once and turned away. “If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask.” And with that, he swept quickly from the foyer, leaving her standing there like a dolt.

If I need anything? How about to finish what we just started!

To say that Diana was confused would be an understatement. She knew now that she wanted the duke. That this marriage of convenience was very inconvenient for how determined the duke was to keep things platonic. Unless he was simply waiting for her to tell him otherwise? Or did he not want that, and this right here was simply an er that was a onetime thing?

Diana had no idea. Nore did she know what to do about it or what she could even do. Unsure of this marriage from the day it was announced, the confusion she felt then paled to how she felt now.

She did know one thing, however. One thing she was certain of above all else. Nothing about this marriage was going to be convenient.