George nodded, then leaned forward to place a kiss on Caroline’s cheek. Damien saw the way she lit up as he did so, and shequickly returned the small affection.
“There should be a biscuit waiting for you in your room,” Damien called as George headed toward the door, his small way of trying to apologize.
George briefly turned to look at him, looking a little less afraid than before, and offered a small smile before he left the room.
“Well,” Caroline sighed, rising to her full height as she clasped her hands and turned to Damien with a cocked head and a raised brow. “Was that completely necessary?”
Damien bristled as a sneer itched to stretch across his lips.
“You let him join you?” he asked, instead of answering her question. “After putting him to bed for the evening? What sort of precedent does that set?”
Caroline’s dark brown eyes glittered with defiance as she pressed her lips together.
“The kind that allows laughter and fun,” she snapped, putting her hands on her hips. “The kind that pulls him out of his somberness and makes him feel comfortable around other people!”
Damien chortled as he rolled his eyes.
“Yes, I saw you were both becomingverycomfortable with other people,” he retorted.
“What isthatsupposed to mean?” Caroline icily replied, narrowing her eyes at him.
“You just seemed to be enjoying yourself quite a bit for someone who supposedly was reluctant to return to social engagements,” he stated.
“Was that not the point?” Caroline asked, looking at him as if he had gone mad. “To partake in the evening so that I may grow comfortable around thetonagain?Jeremy’s friends were kind and a bit silly, and yes, I am not ashamed to say that they made me feel at ease!”
“At ease,” Damien laughed bitterly. “Yes, it was quite clear that you were ‘at ease’ when Lord Brooks was holding your hand!”
Caroline’s plump lips parted into anOas her eyes filled with shock.
“He most certainly was not!”
“Isawhim, Caroline,” Damien growled.
She gave him a look as if he were insane.
“What? You had been watching us in secret?”
“That is not the point. The point is that I saw him touching you.”
“Are you jealous?” she asked.
Damien’s heart gave a nervous tremble, as if he had been caught.
“No,” he lied, silently recalling the rage he had felt just moments ago from seeing the two touching.
Caroline arched a brow, suddenly looking quite tired despite appearing jubilant and energized only moments ago.
“Might I remind you of our contract?” she asked. “We are married by title only.”
Pain laced through his chest, but he was determined not to let it show.
“You are correct,wife,but that is not the point I am trying to make.”
“And what is your point?” she threw back.
“That I seem to be the only man who is not allowed to touch you! You accept embraces from Jeremy. You hold hands with Lord Brooks!”
“I did not even know he was touching my hand!” she exclaimed, raising her hands as she curled her fingers in frustration. “That is how little I cared for his touch! I did not even feel it!”
