Page 13 of Two Nights with the Duke (Cherish and the Duke #3)
J ocelyn walked on a cloud for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.
She met her cousins for tea and ignored all their snide innuendos to the point their game lost its fascination for them. Those shameless she-cats made excuses to end the intimate family gathering and left her to enjoy her tea and cakes alone.
She was ebullient at supper and showed her parents the heart locket Camborne had purchased. “It is lovely, Jocelyn,” her mother remarked with a muted gush of approval. Her father muttered something complimentary, too.
They were not particularly impressed.
This surprised Jocelyn until she realized they were measuring Camborne’s devotion by expense. She wasn’t showing them a diamond necklace or rare sapphire ring. But she thought they would understand what a priceless gift this was because it represented Camborne’s love.
Well, he hadn’t actually come out and said he loved her. But was there a doubt she was on her way to winning Camborne’s heart? The heart of a Silver Duke.
Was this not extraordinary?
She spared her husband a glance. He smiled and winked at her. Her bones melted.
As their supper progressed, the four of them spoke on many topics. However, Jocelyn began to notice that Camborne was casually changing the subject whenever any of them mentioned Ballantry.
She also realized Ballantry was nowhere to be seen around the inn since his meeting with her husband. He would not have departed yet because he had a settlement agreement to sign and funds to collect.
Was it not odd that Camborne had yet to disclose the details of this agreement to her? Nor did he appear willing to disclose it to her father.
Perhaps she ought to press him on the matter before it was finalized. Had he given in to Ballantry’s ridiculous demand of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds and was ashamed to admit it?
No, he couldn’t have.
Could he?
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Burling seated at a nearby table. He was drinking heavily. “He’s staring at us,” she said, nudging her husband. “He does not look happy. Do you think he has had a falling out with Ballantry?”
“Does he make ye uncomfortable, lass?” He frowned and began to draw back his chair. “I’ll have a word with him.”
“No.” Jocelyn placed a hand on his arm. “It isn’t important. I merely made the remark in passing.”
She did not want a repeat of what had happened the last time her dear husband offered to have “a word” with Burling. Punches were thrown and everyone found out she was a runaway bride who was possibly not married to Camborne, even though she was sharing his guest bedchamber. “Truly, let’s just ignore him.”
“All right,” he grumbled, but Jocelyn knew he was not pleased.
“My mother’s condition is still delicate,” she whispered in his ear. “You know excitement is not good for her constitution. And how is starting a fight in the inn’s dining room going to solve anything?”
“I’m not promising to behave, lass. If he comes toward us, I’ll do whatever is necessary to protect ye.”
She sighed. “I do not need you turning ape to protect me at every turn.”
Although she probably did, because she was a bit of a disaster on her own. Even she recognized her failings. But she was not about to admit it to Camborne while his protective instincts were already on alert.
She switched the conversation to their plans after Aberdeen. It warmed her to know she and Camborne would remain together. The worry that they might not had weighed so heavily on her heart. “Do you still wish for us to go to your lodge?”
“I dinna know yet, lass.” His gaze remained on Burling, who was glowering back at him.
“Camborne, stop looking at him. You are provoking him.”
“Me? No, lass. I dinna like the way he’s looking at ye.”
“Then do not encourage him,” she chided. “He’ll stop looking your way once you stop looking his way.”
“I’m not going to avert my eyes until he averts his.”
What was it about men and their need to confront each other?
“Ballantry must have told him there would be no reward for him,” Camborne muttered.
Jocelyn leaped at the opening to discuss the settlement. “Did you drive that tough a bargain?”
“Aye, lass. I did.”
“Were ye ruthless?” her father asked.
Camborne nodded. “Aye.”
Her father arched an eyebrow. “Then ye offered him a pittance? And he accepted?”
“Aye to both yer questions. It was still more than he deserved, but it came with the requirement that he leave the country.”
Jocelyn gasped. “And he agreed? But he is a born and bred Scot. Where will he go? And did he accept?”
Camborne nodded. “He’ll settle somewhere on the Continent. As to where, I dinna care so long as he is nowhere near us. Aye, he accepted.”
Her father shook his head as he raised his wine glass in a toast. “Ye got him to accept an insignificant payoff and leave? Ye’re a magician, Camborne. I dinna know how ye did it, but ye brought that bounder to heel. Hopefully, by tomorrow this unpleasant affair will be over, and the two of ye can embark on yer married life without further distraction.”
Jocelyn studied her husband, noticing the glint of steel in his eyes. “Did you threaten to kill him? Is this why he agreed to what sounds like ridiculously poor terms?”
He smiled wryly. “No, lass. He wasn’t compelled by threats of death. But I did assure him I would kill him if he ever returned and attempted to bother ye again.”
Jocelyn took a healthy gulp of her wine.
She did not want anyone’s death on her hands, not even the wretched Ballantry’s. He was a womanizing hound, a gambler, and utterly worthless in so many ways, but that did not give Camborne the right to do him in.
Apparently, she was the only one who held this opinion. Her parents were smiling at her husband and toasting him again.
Silver Dukes were not considered sweet, soft men by nature. That hint of danger enhanced their appeal. Jocelyn could not deny this immediate attraction she had felt for her husband. She was as taken by his Silver Duke allure as any other of his conquests.
Still, she refused to believe he had it in him to be quite as ruthless as his reputation. The locket he had given her today had to be a sign of his true nature and meant everything to her. He had pledged his heart to her.
His heart.
When supper was over, they returned to their suite and Jocelyn began to question him again. “Camborne, tell me the truth. What really happened in that negotiation? How much money did you offer him?”
“Let me help ye to undress, lass.”
She held him off. “Why won’t you tell me what you offered?”
He sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“It is just a number and not complicated at all. How much? Fifty? One hundred? Two hundred thousand pounds?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Ye think I would ever give that wretch anything close to those sums?”
“How much, Camborne? Was it less than my dowry?”
“Aye, lass.”
“Much less? I’m just trying to understand what you consider a pittance. Why are you being so secretive about it?”
“Because the entire reason this issue is resolved is that he needed it to resolve quickly. If people start poking around, this settlement will fall apart.”
“People?” She clasped her hands to stem her irritation. “I am not people . I am your wife. Do you not trust me to keep a confidence?”
“Aye, I do. But it is not mine to reveal.”
“Then it is Ballantry’s secret?”
“Och, lass. Dinna ask more questions. I’m begging ye to leave it alone. Any other wife would. What do ye care about the terms when they do not harm ye? In fact, they are immensely helpful to ye because…”
“Finish the thought, Camborne. Go ahead and say it.”
“Will ye no’ leave it alone?”
“What you mean is that the terms are immensely helpful to me because I was the idiot who got into this mess in the first place and handled it incompetently every step of the way.”
He reached out for her again, this time refusing to allow her to skitter away. “Those are yer words, not mine. I’ve never blamed ye for the broken betrothal. I’ve never blamed ye when I found ye in my bed. Ye’re the only one blaming yerself.”
“Because I was in the wrong. I know that agreeing to marry Ballantry was a terrible mistake.”
“Then it’s time ye forgave yerself for it.”
Who was he to offer counsel when he’d spent a lifetime torturing himself over the death of his family that was not his fault? She ached so much for him because he had so unfairly burdened himself and suffered for so long.
She would never mention it, especially now that he was beginning the delicate process of healing. Never.
But he must have seen something in her expression, for his gaze suddenly turned icy. “Ye’re going to toss this back in my face?”
She gasped. “I would sooner die than ever hurt you.”
He turned her around and wordlessly assisted her in undoing her laces. She felt the iciness in his silence.
“Camborne, I’m sorry. Obviously, I am having as much difficulty dealing with my demons as you are with your own. The difference is that you were a child and completely innocent. I am a grown woman and completely guilty.”
“Ye were not to blame,” he muttered, finishing with the laces.
She turned to face him, probably looking a ridiculous mess as her lower lip wobbled and her gown slipped off her shoulders. “Why do you insist I am not at fault?” she asked, struggling not to cry. “No one coerced me into entering the betrothal. I did it out of sheer spite to prove to one and all that I did not have to be a spinster if I did not want to be. My actions were stubborn, prideful, and foolish.”
He groaned and walked away from her.
“Camborne?” Her heart began to beat faster as he strode toward the door. Did he intend to leave? “Wait! I’ll come with you.”
But he had loosened her ties and she could not possibly follow him in her state of undress. She clutched her gown at the bosom to keep the thing from sliding down her body. “Wait for me.”
He looked back at her in exasperation. “Jocelyn, I do not need ye underfoot. Leave me be. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Without sparing her another glance, he strode out.
She let out a defeated breath as the door shut forcefully behind him.
She ached, wanting to cry. Could she have handled this more stupidly? Why had she pressed him about that settlement?
Was it not obvious he held something damaging over Ballantry that had the oaf cowering in his boots? It could be something criminal. A hanging offense? What else might put the fear of the devil in him so that he would accept leaving Scotland?
Of course, if the secret came out, then Camborne would lose all the leverage he had over Ballantry. And still, she had prodded him for answers he dared not give.
Fool. Fool. Fool.
She truly was a harpy. Doomed to wreak misery on her loved ones.
As the minutes stretched into hours, Jocelyn retired tearfully to bed.
Would Camborne ever return?
Would he ever hold her in his arms again?