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Duncan knew he’d need to make it up to her. She deserved to have a night to remember. First, he needed to build their relationship. There was no way he was letting her go. He’d taken one of the most precious things a woman had to offer. For the rest of his and her life he’d make it up to her.
Last night would be forever seared in his mind. His lack of finesse wasn’t surprising as he’d never taken a virgin to his bed.
He needed to make it up to her for now. Everything else would fall into place. At the moment he needed to repair the damage of his words. He knelt at her feet waiting for her to turn and acknowledge his closeness. She kept her body averted from him. Even when she’d gone to beg for his help with her father she’d been more open than now. In the end he cupped her cheek and turned her face to look at him.
Tears fell from her eyes cutting him to the core.
“I’m sorry I hurt you last night. I never expected to be given such a gift. I should never have reacted like that. I feel the world I live in has made me cynical about the opposite sex.”
“That’s not fair, Duncan. I have nothing to do with your life. I’m not some woman who wants this lifestyle. I only agreed to this to save my father.” He watched as she tried to pull away from him. Her tears falling thicker and faster as his words hurt her.
“I know you’re not like anyone else. We’ll get through this. Please, forgive me.” He’d never begged a woman for anything in his life. Not even his own mother. She stared at him then nodded her head. He watched as she took a deep breath closing her eyes for a second.
“All right, I’m fine.”
“So can we start over?” he asked.
****
Tess nodded her head. What else could she do? He was giving her a peace offering. If she didn’t agree, she risked living a life filled with unhappiness, or she walked away causing problems for her father. This marriage had been her decision. She wasn’t prepared to live her marriage hating every second of it.
She’d been right to keep her virginity. Next time she wouldn’t let passion get in the way. No man was going near her again.
“I can start over.”
“Great.” He went to touch her knee, and she pulled away. The less he touched her, the better she’d be. She lifted her leg under the robe. He remained by her side kneeling. “Will you join us downstairs?” he asked. “Grace is having a fit at your lack of presence.”
“Who’s Grace?”
“The housekeeper. I guess last night was rushed, and she missed the introductions.”
“I guess.”
“Well, Grace is my housekeeper, and Gerald is the older guy who handles everything else.”
Tess nodded her head. “I’ll get dressed and follow you down.”
He cupped her cheek. “I really am sorry.”
She waited unsure what to say to ease his mind.
Once Duncan had left Tess allowed herself to have a long, leisurely shower. She needed to scrub the pain from the night before away. Her heart ached in ways she’d never expected.
The hot water cascaded over her. It was wonderful. The water sprayed over the top of her giving her time to ease her mental pain. While she listened to the water fall she washed her body.
Once the tension eased out of her and she began to relax Tess got out of the shower washing down the walls before she left the bathroom. She went in search of some clothes. Grace had told her Duncan had purchased plenty of clothes for her to use when Grace had shown her to her room. She went to the wardrobe to find her stuff. His clothes hung at one end of the closet while hers hung on the opposite side. Tess dressed in casual jeans and a plain T-shirt.
They fit snugly. She didn’t want to think of him knowing her size.
It was around one when she finally made it downstairs to the kitchen to see Grace standing with a bowl at the kitchen counter. She was peeling some vegetables.
Tess watched her for several moments before making her presence known. She’d not seen another woman working a kitchen.
“You’re finally awake,” Grace said before Tess made a move.
“How did you know I was standing there?” she asked moving into the kitchen.
“I know a lot of things, Tess. Come in, sit.”
Tess suppressed her wince. Grace obviously thought her lack of presence at breakfast had something to do with her being a recently married couple. She didn’t have the heart to tell the other woman she’d in fact been up all night dealing with the bitter rejection of her husband after he had found out he’d married a virgin and not an experienced woman.
“Sorry I missed breakfast—” Grace cut her off with a wave of her hand. The older woman gestured to the seat in front of her.
“Nonsense, love. I didn’t expect you down immediately this morning anyway. Duncan said that you’d probably skip breakfast and have a late lunch instead.” The rest of Grace’s words were drowned out by the pounding in Tess’s head. There were so many lies in place Tess didn’t know how she’d be able to keep on top of all of them. Why had Duncan come for her if he’d already told his housekeeper that she wouldn’t be down? None of it made any sense.
So why did he come to seek me out?
“You and Duncan are not fooling anyone,” Grace said.
Tess looked up. The older woman picked up a carrot and offered it to her along with a peeler. She took them. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t look so scared.” Graced turned her back to grab another peeler. “I’ve known Duncan all my life. He’s never been good at keeping secrets. Gerald and I know this isn’t a love match.”
She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “How do you know?”
“When a woman is married and on her wedding night spends most of the night and early part of the day crying into her pillow, it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. I’m happy to play along though.”
Tess swiped the peeler down the carrot. She didn’t say a word.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything, sweetie. Just by looking at you I feel you’ve not had a decent break.” Tess kept her eyes down. If she gave in to more tears she’d break. “I’m not going to pry. Even if I want to know what’s going on inside that mind of yours.”
“You’re the first person to not want to know.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to know. I merely said I’d wait until you were ready to talk. There is a difference.” Grace took the carrot from her then handed her another one. “I feel we’re a lot like carrots. Sometimes, with certain people, we need to peel off the bad parts to get to the good.”
Tess listened to Grace talk.
“Duncan isn’t a bad man. I know he has his faults. Who doesn’t? There is something between you two. I don’t think you should leave him alone, yet.”
“I don’t know what you want me to do?” Tess handed over the carrot.
“Be yourself, and don’t change who you are. Duncan may not know it yet, but you’re different. How long have you known him?”
“Two weeks.”
“In the last two weeks he’s been different. Think about that. Now, would you like some pancakes to put you on ‘til dinner?”
Tess nodded.
Could Duncan really care about her? The way Grace spoke it seemed he did. Was she getting mixed messages?
Tess mentally shook herself. This had nothing to do with caring and everything to do with the fact that she’d been a virgin and he didn’t like it. Regardless of what he said, she’d seen the truth that night.
She recalled how humiliated she felt last night at his horrible words and actions. She cut off her thoughts trying to concentrate on what Grace was saying and doing.
Any misguided thoughts about her husband caring about her welfare needed to be crushed. Otherwise that is exactly how she’d end up if she was to start caring for her husband, crushed.
Chapter Thirteen
Later that day, Duncan was looking out of his study window to see Tess walking round the grounds with his head man, Gerald. The couple were laughing and pointing to certain plants or flowers around his garden. She looked happier than the last time he’d seen her. Gerald bent down and picked up a flower. He handed it to Tess. She smiled at the older man, ad then they carried on walking.
He knew Gerald was smitten with Tess. The older man was easily charmed. If she knew anything about flowers or gardening she’d be his new best friend. Grace and Gerald had really taken to her, and it had only been a day.
Last night kept running through his mind. Even as he was finishing up a few bits of work she kept invading his mind.
How did she do it? What was it about her that captured him?
She seemed to be this little angel whom everyone adored. He couldn’t find a fault with her. Everything about her was hard to believe. He’d really spent too much time being cynical. The only reason she’d agreed to be his wife was to protect her father.
