Page 20 of The Duke’s Spinster Bride (A Duke’s Game #2)

Chapter Twenty

“Y ou always do this.” Andrea’s voice drifted across the crowds as she narrowed her eyes.

Frederick straightened, feeling the eyes of everyone around them turn towards him. They were standing on the veranda of the Danterbury estate, having left the ballroom moments before. A cool breeze tugged at his coat, rustling through the strands of Andrea’s hair.

Moonlight framed her face, and Frederick thought his heart would burst as he looked at her. She is beautiful. He found himself almost reaching towards her, and clenched his fist. Focus. You are supposed to be ending things.

It was what they both wanted. Frederick knew that. They had agreed it. Yet his mind kept turning to the moments in the castle, to the way she had held his face.

He took a steadying breath. I must be strong, for her. He looked at her again, taking in every part of her and trying to commit it to memory. Her dress was beautifully cut blue velvet, that showed off the pale skin of her collarbone. Her gold necklace drew his gaze to the elegant curve of her neck.

Her hair was done in an elegant bun, with strands that fell about her face, drawing attention to the striking lines of her jaw and cheeks. Her expression radiated calm determination, every movement was the picture of grace and sophistication.

As soon as he had seen her, his heart had stopped and all rational thought had left his brain. But then, she had pressed a small piece of paper into his hand, a reminder of the plan they were supposed to be enacting.

This is what she wants. Frederick ignored the tug in his chest as he moved away from Andrea, not raising his voice, not yet. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“You know exactly what it means.” Andrea pointed a finger at him, shaking her head.

Frederick swallowed, forcing himself to narrow his own eyes at Andrea. “Clearly I do not, or I would not be asking.”

Had his tone sounded angry enough? The eyes of the crowd felt like physical touches on his skin. They were all watching, waiting to see what would happen next.

She scoffed, and looked away from him. “I am tired of the way you act like everything is perfectly fine, when it is not. You expect me to sit and dance with you, smiling and acting like the fool, putting on a show for everyone to see. I will not do it.”

“Well perhaps I would not need you to pretend if you were not so intent on keeping me at arm’s length. I might as well be married to a block of stone for all the warmth and affection you show me.” Frederick only just managed to keep from wincing as he said the words. “Why marry me at all if this was how you were going to treat me?”

Andrea had been the one who had written them, and although he had asked her to change them, she insisted he say what was written.

He clenched his fist and forced himself to continue. “It feels more like being in a war than being in a marriage.”

He looked away from her. He did not trust himself to go through with this, not if he kept looking at her. How could she want me to say this to her? Of course, there had been a kernel of truth to the words. The early days of their marriage had been full of fighting, but that had changed.

If she wanted to be with you, she would have said something by now. He had to honour her wishes. It would be better this way. To love is to lose. His father’s words echoed in his mind, and he clung wrapped them around himself like a cape.

He took a step away from her, still refusing to look at her, lest his control crumble. He gestured behind him, glaring up at the sky. I have to do this. “You are constantly at my throat. Nothing I do is ever enough for you.”

He glanced towards the paper in his hand. He remembered the lines they had crossed out, the ones that had mentioned her father. The man is dying, and that is what forced her hand.

The thought made him sick. Not that he was dying, but that he had used the fact to make Andrea do what he wanted. Well, almost. She married, but not the man he chose.

The least Frederick could do was ensure her freedom was still won.

“And you refuse to be honest with me. At the merest hint of a hard emotion, you flee.” Andrea shot back and Frederick thought he heard an edge to her voice.

It is just my imagination. He took a deep breath, glancing at the piece of paper he had hidden in his hand. “If by fleeing, you mean escaping your wrath, then yes, I suppose you are right.”

“You knew what I was like when you proposed. Do not pretend you went into this with anything other than your eyes open.” Andrea’s voice broke, the sound snapping his resolve like a twig.

He turned to face her, his eyes widening as he saw the wetness of her eyes in the moonlight. Her arms were wrapped around her so tightly, it was as though she were trying to pull herself together. “This is who I am, and I cannot change it. If you cannot accept it, then you should…”

She drew a shaky breath, her voice breaking. “You should just… leave.”

A tear rolled down her cheek, and he took a step towards her. “Is that what you want?”

He knew what she was supposed to say, what they had rehearsed. The unspoken words lingered in the air between them. Andrea opened her mouth, closing it and then opening it before shaking her head.

“I am sorry.” She murmured only loud enough so he could hear.

His heart thundered in his chest as he closed the distance between them. “What are you saying?”

“I cannot do this.” Andrea swallowed, her eyes wide. “Perhaps… Perhaps we should… We should… We should take a step back.”

Frederick stiffened. He knew that was what she was supposed to say and yet… It sounded as though each word had been forced from her lips.

“You do not want this.” Frederick breathed as understanding dawned on him.

Her eyes widened and she took a step back from him. “I…”

“I do not want to live in separate houses. I do not want to end whatever this is. I do not want a ‘step back’. And I do not think you want it either.” His eyes searched her face.

Seconds ticked by, the space between them filled with all the moments they had shared. His heart pounded hard against his ribs and he waited. He canted his head, barely daring to breathe.

Slowly, in a movement so tiny, he almost missed it, she shook her head. Something broke inside his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him.

“You are my wife. And I will be damned if I let you leave.” He kissed her.

Fire flowed through his blood. Every hair stood on end. The cold breeze was a contrast to the warmth of her against him. He heard gasps from around them and pulled away from her.

Her eyes were wide, faint spots of colour on her cheeks. They were both breathless, but he could see the smile on her face. Even as she glanced around at the watching crowd.

“Everyone is watching us.” She muttered.

“Let them watch. I have waited for this for far too long.” He kissed her again, and this time, the roaring of blood in his ears drowned the world out around them.

The beat of their hearts filled the air around him. The feel of her lips against his drove all thought but Andrea from his mind. He held her to him, as though frightened she would float away if he let go.

He felt her arms twine themselves around his neck. He could have kissed her all night, but she gently pressed a hand against his chest.

He looked down at her, breathless, his arms still around her. “I want a real marriage, Andrea.”

“So do I.” She smiled at him. “But I think if you kiss me like that again, we will be arrested for public indecency.”

Laughing, they broke apart, and he jerked his head towards the dance floor. “Then I shall just have to settle for a dance.”