“Please forgive the cold and darkness,” the butler said, smiling apologetically. “His Grace only informed us the house was to be opened yesterday, and we were not able to get it as warm and comfortable for you as we would have liked.”
“I’m sure you did an excellent job, Jeffires,” a voice said from behind Leah, and she turned to see the Duke--her husband!--coming in through the front door of the house. He must have also just arrived in his separate carriage. He looked tired, and he didn’t so much as glance at Leah. “Would you ask Mrs. Wilson toshow the Duchess to her room? And to send up a tray as well, in case Her Grace is hungry.”
“Thank you,” Leah said, trying to catch her husband’s eye, but he still wouldn’t look at her. “But I’m not hungry.” She seemed to have lost her appetite entirely. Even the long, cold journey had not brought it back.
“You will eat,” the Duke said, finally looking at her. “I will not have your brother saying I starved you.”
He then turned back to the butler. “Is my study ready?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The Duke nodded, then began to walk away across the hall, leaving Leah staring after him in disbelief.Is that it?
She couldn’t believe how rude and careless he was being. This was her first time in her new home, and he was not easing that transition at all. But she supposed she would see him in a few hours, in order for them to make the marriage official. The thought made her stomach drop, and she tried to push away the thought.
A few moments later, Mrs. Wilson, the housekeeper, appeared, and she brought Leah up through the house to her bedroom. The house was indeed very cold and dark, but Leah could see, even in the dimness, that it was very grand. Perhaps a little old-fashioned, but certainly grand. Her room, too, was so huge thatwhen she first entered, she nearly gasped. The furnishings were very beautiful, in the style of Louis XVI, everything gilded with gold and rich red velvet.
“And that is the door that connects you to His Grace’s room,” Mrs. Wilson said, nodding at a door on the far side of the room.
Leah swallowed. “Right…”
“Would you care to bathe, Your Grace? And have a tray sent up?”
Leah nodded, and soon, a hot bath had been drawn for her and a tray of food brought up. The bath did much to ease her aches and pains from the journey, but she was still too nervous to eat anything. However, she managed to choke down some bread and cheese, because she knew it would please her husband. Then her maid helped her change into one of her most beautiful silk nightrails. Because of the haste of the wedding, she hadn’t been able to put together as large of a wedding trousseau as she would have liked, but this night rail was particularly flattering. It was pink silk and made her skin look as white and glowing as the moon.
Her maid left, and Leah sat on the edge of her bed, waiting.
Another half an hour passed, and still, she waited. She grew cold and got under the covers, where she continued to wait. At last, she heard the door to the bedroom next door open and someone come inside. Her husband.My husband.The words sent a shiver down her spine. At any moment now, he would open the door between their chambers and come into her room.
But he didn't. Another quarter of an hour passed without anything happening. Leah was now starting to grow impatient. As nervous as she was, she didn’t want to prolong this.
So at last, she got up out of bed and walked to the door. Pressing her ear against it, she listened closely. Someone was definitely moving around on the other side. Hesitantly, she raised a hand, and knocked.
At once, the movement stopped. She waited, but nothing happened. Her impatience growing, she raised her hand and knocked again, this time more insistently.
The sound of footsteps approached, and then the door was flung open, and Leah found herself face-to-face with the Duke of Nottington.
To her surprise, he was still wearing the clothes he’d worn to his wedding, and there was a strong smell of liquor coming off of him.Has he been drinking?The thought made her feel even worse than she already did, if that was possible.
“Yes?” He asked, when she continued to stare at him, no words coming out.
“I--I thought we should talk,” she said. “We have barely spoken to one another, and we are married now. I thought--”
“There is nothing to talk about,” he interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “We are married, and you are safe from Lord Dubois.From now on, we shall lead our separate lives, as dukes and duchesses often do.”
With that, he turned away and walked back into his bedchamber. Leah stared after him, her indignation growing.
“What do you mean?” she demanded, stepping into his bedchamber. He stopped at once, turning around slowly to face her. She put her hands on her hips. “What do you mean that we shall be living our separate lives? We are husband and wife!”
The Duke drew himself up. “You told me that you would rather be a spinster than married to Lord Dubois. Do you recall that?”
“Yes…” Leah said slowly.What does that have to do with now? I am married, not a spinster!
“Well, I asked you that because marriage to me will be as if you are a spinster. We will not live as husband and wife. You will, however, be free to pursue your own life and interests. And you will have all the comfort and privilege of being a married woman and a duchess. But other than that, you shall be as you are now: a maiden. We will live separately.”
“But…” Leah could barely wrap her mind around what he was saying. It couldn’t be true. “What about children?” she asked in a very small voice. “How will we have children, and your heir, if we do not live as man and wife?”
The Duke’s look was so cold that she felt it like an icicle to her chest. “We will not be having any children.”
