Page 27 of Wedded to the Cruel Duke

“Charles, then,” she nodded with a soft smile. “I am Phoebe.”

He frowned. “I already know that.”

She laughed a little. Of all the conversations she had partaken in ever since she made her bow, this had to be the mostunusual.

“I meant,” she said a little more gently. “That you may refer to me simply as Phoebe, since I shall be calling you Charles henceforth.”

“Very well…Phoebe.”

“There now. That was not so hard, was it?” she smiled teasingly at him. “Are you headed down for breakfast, Charles?”

His only reply was a wooden nod.

Phoebe sighed inwardly and decided to do the most audacious thing she had ever done—she looped her arm around his and grinned up at the surprise etched clearly on his features.

Now, that is much better than the dull expression he always wears, she mused with a fond smile.

“That is just as wonderful since I am headed to breakfast myself. We can go together, then.”

He seemed a little stiff at first, but he did not disentangle himself from her, nor did he express anger or irritation. He even allowed her to all but drag him down to the dining room.

And she enjoyed every single moment that her hand curled lightly against his muscled arm.

“Phoebe,” he said a little sternly. “You might want to slow down.”

“What? Oh.” She felt crimson heat creep up to her cheeks and she let out a little nervous laugh. “I apologize for behaving quite childishly.”

“It is no matter. Just,” he paused and cleared his throat. Phoebe detected a slight tinge of red rising from his collar. “The dining room is not going to move, you know.”

“Well, I suppose you are right,” she giggled. “Ladies must conduct themselves in a more dignified manner, after all…”

Inwardly, she began to chastise herself. Just because Charles was a bit eccentric did not mean that she could conduct herself so shamelessly. She was his wife now, and she must not do anything to embarrass him in front of the servants…

“That is not what I meant,” he told her simply. “You may do whatever you wish as the Marchioness of Wentworth and the lady of this house. It is just that such boisterous activity right before a meal might upset your stomach.”

“Oh…”

Phoebe looked down, suddenly feeling a little shy. She had thought that a man like Charles, who was so handsome and fastidious in all things… certainly, he would not want someone as clumsy and unruly as her for his wife. She had thought that he would find her behavior embarrassing.

Instead, it would seem that he was more concerned for her well-being.

“In that case, thank you so much,” she smiled up at him. “For warning me about it, I mean.”

“You are welcome.”

She saw the corners of his mouth tick up in what appeared to be a subtle smile and felt something unfurl in her belly.

A warmth. A strange fluttering.

She slipped her arm a little until her hand rested in the crook of his arm. When his hand automatically covered hers, she could not help but look up at him, before looking away, feeling suddenly reticent.

She did not know why but that one action of his made her feel safe. Protected.

How could they ever think him a murderer?Phoebe wondered as they walked into the dining room together.I have not even been here for two days and already, he is so gentle towards me…

Miss Adeline Thomas was, quite simply put, an extremely bad judge of character.

But then, she remembered the room under the trapdoor, and she wondered if perhaps the man beside her was simply putting on an act for her benefit.