Page 37 of The Duke’s Bride (The Duke’s Alliance #6)

Beau knew he should tell her he was a duke and she was now his duchess, that he should do it before he made love to her.

The only thing preventing him from doing the honourable thing was the thought that once she knew she would withdraw her love and leave him bereft.

It wasn’t just the deception but the fact that in the next few months he must take them back with him to Silchester.

She was under the erroneous impression they would be living at Elveden initially and then when Thomas was older would return to Fenchurch Manor.

With any other woman, in any other circumstances, he would not hesitate.

After all, it was the husband’s prerogative to take care of his wife and family in whatever way he thought was best. If Viola had not been married to an abusive bastard, things would be different.

He had promised her he would respect her wishes, would not impose his will, so by telling her he ran the risk that she would refuse to come.

He would be left in the invidious position of abandoning his duties and his siblings, or abandoning his new wife and her family. Neither option was acceptable to him.

‘What time are we to dine tonight, Edward? Obviously not early, as it is already past five o’clock. Are we still to make this a celebration dinner and put on our finery?’

‘I thought we would leave it until tomorrow night. Your mother needs to recuperate after the stress of moving and she might well prefer to dine in her apartment.’

‘I have no wish to eat on a tray. I want to sit in our dining room with you, evening dress or not.’

‘If you wish me to change then I am happy to do so. I am yours to command, my darling.’

Her delightful laughter filled the hall. ‘And I, my love, am the Queen of Sheba. Shall we remain as we are? I must admit that I have not changed for dinner since Rupert died and think it a ridiculous habit when there are only family present.’

‘Then that is the first thing as a married couple that we are in complete agreement on. Let us hope there are hundreds more occasions in the future.’

‘If you will excuse me for a while, I am going to see Mama, just to be sure she is comfortable. Do you have a gong that is banged when we are to go to the dining room?’

‘I do not. Shall we say in half an hour? I have some correspondence to attend to whilst you are with your mother.’

He watched her walk gracefully away, loving every inch of her. She was petite, but perfect. His mouth curved when he compared her to her new sisters – all the women in the Sheldon family were tall and slender, whereas she was small and rounded. She was also the only one with abundant golden curls.

There were still small items of furniture, trunks and boxes waiting to come in, but he had told the men to put the carts in the carriage house until tomorrow. As he approached the music room door he went in instead of retreating to his study.

He opened the piano, ran his fingers along the keys and began to play.

Music soothed his ragged nerves, made him more optimistic about the future.

If two people loved each other as much as they did then they could overcome the greatest obstacles.

He came to the end of the piece he was playing and was aware she had joined him.

‘That was quite beautiful. I had no idea you could play so well. Small wonder our son wishes to learn from you. Your butler has been pacing anxiously, trying to attract your attention to tell you that dinner is served.’

He joined her at the door. ‘After we have dined I should like to hear you play. The harp needs tuning, but that will not take me long.’

‘I can do that for myself, my love. I did not recognise what you were playing. Is it something of your own composition?’

‘It is something I am working on – not the finished article as yet. Over dinner we shall decide what we are going to perform for the children and we can rehearse that as well.’

Dinner was no doubt delicious but he ate little of it. He noticed she barely touched hers either. He was too absorbed in his beautiful wife and what she had to say. They talked of politics, the king, the prince regent and the problems that the enclosures were causing for rural communities.

He managed to keep the conversation away from anything personal as he had no intention of telling her another lie. If she asked a question direct he would tell her the truth.

‘I am far too full and have taken more wine than is good for me, my love, and think that my harp playing must wait until the morning.’ She stood up to leave the table and he did the same. He was hardly going to remain drinking port on his own.

‘I have asked for coffee to be served in the drawing room in half an hour.’

She pouted, put her finger on her lips in a parody of a young lady who has been thwarted. ‘Am I not to have the tea tray, sir? I am most put out by your assumption.’

He snatched her off her feet. ‘You are a baggage, and I love you to distraction.’

She nestled into his shoulder and he drew her closer, loving her softness against his chest. Then what she said next changed everything.

‘I know I said I wished to wait but I find I am eager to become your true wife. I shall expect you to come to me later.’

If he did not go to her that would be the biggest hurt of all, but he could not until she knew the truth. Was he to be allowed only a few short hours of happiness before it was all in ruins about his feet?

‘There are things you need to know before that happens. I have been putting off talking to you and that was reprehensible of me.’

He escorted her to the drawing room. She was looking at him anxiously, and well she might. He was possibly about to ruin her life as well as his, but he had no option. He waited until she was seated and then took his place opposite.

‘I have a long story to tell you and I beg you do not interrupt until you have heard the whole.’

* * *

Viola listened with growing incredulity to what he had to say. She had married plain Mr Sheldon and now she found she was actually married to the Duke of Silchester. It beggared belief that he could have deceived her so roundly.

‘Why did you not tell me this when you discovered you had feelings for me? I am not sure our marriage is even legal as you have not used your true name.’

‘I did use my name; it is not necessary to mention a title in a marriage ceremony. I did not come here for any other reason than to take a few months’ respite from my heavy responsibilities. My family fully supported me in this endeavour and it was only intended to last for a few months.’

‘You married me under false pretences. I have been calling you Edward these past weeks and your name is Beau. I would not have married you if I had known who you were. I have no wish to be a duchess. I believe it might be possible to have this marriage dissolved or annulled…’

‘No, sweetheart, it is not. The only grounds for this would be if you were underage, I had used a false name or was committing bigamy. None of those apply. If I had not married you, you would have been in a far worse situation.’

‘This is all very well for you to say so, but I should have been given the option. You might not have lied directly but you certainly lied by omission. I thought you were an honourable man and you have proved to be the reverse.’

‘I think it would be better if we continue this conversation tomorrow morning, before we both say something we will regret.’

She was on her feet immediately. ‘At least this explains why you have such a high opinion of yourself. I should have guessed you were a toplofty aristocrat from the way you behaved.’

With her head held high she stalked out and managed to maintain her composure until she was safely in her bedchamber.

How could she have been so stupid as to fall in love with a man she knew nothing about?

Her heart was breaking, not just for her, but for her children and for Edward – no she must call him Beau in future.

He was a duke and he had given up the possibility of having a direct heir to his title and estates for her.

She would contact her lawyers and see if there was some possibility the marriage could be set aside.

He had a duty to his name and he had reneged on this for her.

She loved him too much to allow him to ruin his life.

She could not settle and wanted to speak to her mother in order to get her sage advice but had no wish to burden her with an insoluble problem.

She curled up in a chair in front of the fire and let the tears flow.

She must have drifted off to sleep because when she awoke the room was in darkness and the fire almost out.

It was strange Hughes had not come in to help her disrobe or put fuel on the fire.

Her legs were stiff and she shivered as she stood up. There were no sounds from next door so she must assume her husband had retired. With logs and coal placed in the embers the fire soon picked up. She checked the overmantel clock and saw the time to be a little after midnight.

Where was the tray that should have come up with her supper?

Normally she would not have bothered but as she had eaten little at dinner she was now hungry.

This was all very strange. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she was glad she was still dressed and could go downstairs without becoming even colder.

She frowned. She was not entirely sure where the kitchens were.

Even if she did find them they would be unfamiliar to her, unlike those in her own house.

Certain things had become clear to her and one of them was that Beau was the very opposite of Rupert.

He could have kept this information to himself until he had shared her bed but had chosen to speak and risk losing her.

If she was able to give him children she would go to him now and they could be the happiest couple in the kingdom.