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The Duke And I 44.
"Don't be so nervous," Theresa said with a decisive nod. She flicked a glance around the quiet, secluded courtyard of the staple inn, where they sat after a brisk morning shopping. "I knew you would be fretting like this. That's why I came and dragged you along with me. Aren't you glad?"Cassy managed a fretful smile. "I think so. I'm not sure. I'm not sure of anything. Theresa, are you absolutely certain we're doing the right thing? I mean, Henry has been so grim lately, and will hardly talk to me at all.""He'll get over it sooner or later," Theresa predicted. "And he won't be mean to you in public, because he won't want anyone to know there are any problems in his domestic life. It was like that after his mother..." She stopped and cast a quick glance at Cassy."Oh, I already know about his parents and Zack and his first love," Cassy said. "Someone finally told me.""You'd better not allow him to find out you know. He's quite savage on those subjects. Of course, now that he's marrie
The Duke And I 45.
"Cassy!" Theresa hissed, and came to her quickly, giving her a brutal pinch on her arm."Ow!" Cassy muttered and tried to stand up straighter, propping her shoulders against the wall and half leaning on Theresa. She hiccoughed again and dissolved into laughter, barely hearing her friend's soft groan of dismay.Almost whimpering at the fierce scowl on the duke's face, Theresa offered a weak, "We, uh, had a glass of claret, your grace."Cassy looked up, her smile quickly fading as it hit her that Henry was there and he was furious. His tall frame blotted out the light from behind, and it seemed suddenly too dark and shadowy in the alleyway."So, Zack," she heard Henry said lightly, "I see that you are once more with my wife. Getting to be a damnably dangerous habit for you, I'd say.""Henry," Zack began but stopped when the duke approached with a lazily graceful stride that looked more intimidating than it did casual. He stiffened and slid a glance toward Cassy as he stepped away from he
The Duke And I 46.
"Hold your head up and smile woman," Henry growled when Cassy hung back at the top of the steps leading to Theresa's imposing home. His hand gripped her wrist so tightly she almost gasped, and she felt like jerking away and fleeing back down the steps to the waiting carriage. There was a long line of carriages in the street outside her home; it was obvious the ton had gathered to see how Henry's duchess would juggle both her lover and her furious husband.Gaslights burned brightly, adding to the sooty air that hung over the city, casting hazy shadows in the gloom. The lights on the elegant coaches and carriages shimmered like earthbound fireflies, and the streets were alive with the glitter of jewels and the shimmer of fine garments.If not for the cold dread in the pit of her stomach, Cassy might have enjoyed the sight of London finery. As it was, she felt only a shivering apprehension at Henry's cold rage and implacable face. They'd ridden from the townhouse on Park lane to Theresa's
The Duke And I 47.
"Did you ever stop to think that perhaps I might want to talk to someone who at least pretends to like me?" Cassy countered, her eyes clashing with Henry's. "Zack has never said or done anything out of the way, and when I talk to him, I don't have to watch every word I say!""That's because he doesn't care who is in your bed. I do," Henry grated furiously, glaring back at her over the rim of his brandy snifter.The ride back from Theresa's ball had been just as quiet as the ride there and Henry had given Cassy no opportunity to evade him as he'd propelled her up the stairs and into his bed-chamber. Now, he stood watching her like a hungry predator, his eyes as green and narrowed and watchful as a panther's.Shifting uneasily, Cassy edged toward the door connecting their bedchambers, well aware that he was watching her with a coolly lifted brow. "I don't suppose," she said when he remained across the room, "that it would do me any good to care whose bed you slept in?" She refused to all
The Duke And I 48.
This time, when he made love to her, Henry lingered over her for hours, holding himself back while he guided Cassy to peak after peak of trembling ecstasy, and then joining her there.Dawn was already streaking the purple sky with wide pink slices when Henry made love to her for the last time and finally fell into a deep slumber. Cautiously lifting his imprisoning arm from around her waist, Cassy inched forward and slid out from beneath the sheets. Her body, unused to such vigorous lovemaking, felt weak, limp, and deliciously weary as she walked silently around to his side of the bed and picked up her satin dressing gown. Sliding her arms into the sleeves, she wrapped the gown around her, then hesitated, looking down at her husband. His hair was inky against the gleaming whiteness of the pillow, and sleep softened the rugged contours of his tanned face, making him look almost boyish.The sheet had slid down to his hips, exposing to her view the full expanse of his broad, muscled chest
The Duke And I 49.
"Have you heard from him at all?" Theresa asked Cassy as they ambled along the Steyne. A bracing sea breeze drifted over them, lifting tendrils of their hair and thin skirts in a pretty fashion."No," Cassy said, shrugging so Theresa wouldn't see the pain in her eyes. "Just that short note from Sheldon informing me that his grace owns a house on marine parade in case I wish to use it.""How affectionate," Theresa said wryly. "He really is angry with you, isn't he?"She shuddered lightly. "It would seem so. That last night..." She paused, remembering with a sharp ache how loving he'd been. How he'd hurt her the very next morning. And now he didn't care that she had left him.Noting her friend's slight flinch, Theresa tried to distract her. "Look. There's the pavilion the regent has almost finished decorating."Glad to be distracted, Cassy looked where Theresa was pointing and saw the unusual structure that sat in the midst of ten acres of lawn, minarets, pinnacles, and cupolas, all desi
The Duke And I 50.
Cassy had no idea what it cost Henry to remain cool. He fought against the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, the relief to see her again, the fear that she would hate him for his harshness to her. He struggled briefly, and finally returned into cool deliberation. He wanted to hug her so tight in his arms, then toss her to her bed and make love to her until the sun rose the next morning. Since he could do neither without looking like a brute or a fool, he chose to cut her with words."Perhaps I should be flattered that you chose to come back to the country instead of going on to London for the small season, but I can't say that I am. I find your presence here a bit inconvenient.""Do you?" she said coldly without turning to look at him. She couldn't look at him, couldn't let him see how easily he could hurt her. "That's unfortunate. I hardly see that could matter to you.""Then you should have researched more carefully. I am giving a little dinner party tomorrow night,
The Duke And I 51
Two days later, Cassy decided to go visit Adeline and share the news with her. But to her utmost surprise, Henry had told everyone not to allow her to leave the house. As if she were his prisoner!Burning with rage, she stepped into his study and found him bent on work."How dare you?!" she seethed angrily.Henry looked up slowly, his eyes hooded and his lips perched in a bored line. "I’ve dared to do a lot of things in my life, Cassandra," he said. "Could you please be more specific?"Cassy placed her palms on the desk, trying and failing to reel her anger in. How dare he sit there nonchalantly after trying to keep her locked up in the house like an animal!"You think you can keep me locked here as you wish?" she asked furiously. "You think I’ll sit back and do as you ask because I live under your roof?""Actually, yes," he said, returning his gaze to the parchment before him and continuing his silent scribbling. His apathetic attitude infuriated Cassy beyond any sense of reasoning, a
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