Page 3 of Discovering the Duke

“I’m well aware.”

He nodded. Most likely the servants had provided his new wife with details of Maribel. They knew what her sudden illness meant to him. The horse was very dear to him, being one of the few reminders left of his father. He had been grateful to the veterinarian who had made his way to the country to see to her. His prognosis, however, was dire. And while William had missed his wife fiercely, he could not bring himself to leave Maribel’s side. Not until she’d recovered.

Julia took a full inhale and drew herself fully upright, which might well bring the top of her head to the center of his chest were he standing close enough to measure. “This marriage will not work.”

William’s brows lifted. Surely, he had not heard correctly. “I beg your pardon?”

“Once I am in a delicate way, I wish to retire to the country.” She lifted her chin and her cheeks stained with a flush. “You may live your life without the censure of a wife who will not stand by and allow you to do as you please.”

What the deuce?

“I am not my mother,” Julia said with finality. “I will not allow you to make a fool of me.”

God, but this was uncomfortable. He was glad to not have made it in dressing yet to his cravat, lest the bloody thing feel as though it were strangling him. “Julia, the wedding night was less than ideal.”

She huffed.

“You see, you are quite petite, and I am nearly twice your weight, maybe three times.” He shook his head. “You were innocent, of course. I didn’t——I was unsure how best to approach you.” This was going so terribly awful. He ran a hand through his hair and then quickly smoothed it down. “It had been quite a while since I had,” he paused under the weight of the discomfort of his admission. “You know.”

“I’m afraid I do not.” Julia’s eyes sparked with an emotion he had never seen before. Anger?

Bloody hell.

“I do, however, know you are lying to me.” She folded her arms over her chest. “It hasn’t been a length of time since you’ve…” she went a deep red and shimmied her shoulders in a show of angry discomfort “…done that with a woman.”

The offense of her words flashed through him. “What the devil are you on about, woman?”

“I know about the mistress at your country estate,” she exploded. “I know about Maribel.”

Chapter 2

There, it had been said.

Julia watched the expression on William’s handsome face go from furrowed with irritation to wide and blank. Clearly, he was well aware he had been caught.

And then his mouth flinched at the corners. Was he smiling?

Julia simmered with rage. No, he wasn’t just smiling. He was laughing.

He threw his head back and bellowed revealing every one of his perfectly white, straight teeth.

He crossed the room in two great strides of his long legs and opened his arms to her. Not that she would step into them, even if he had finally donned a shirt.

“You don’t understand, my darling.” His mirth faded into something gentle, and he gazed at her with the affection that had once made her heart do flips. “Maribel is my horse.”

“Your…horse?” Julia asked in a small voice.

“Excuse my laughter.” He stroked a hand down her cheek and a ripple of pleasure followed in its wake. “You must see the humor in your words.”

She certainly felt like an absolute fool, but she gave a light chuckle nonetheless. “Forgive me. I saw a note from your steward bidding you to come to the estate for Maribel, and then Lady Venerton told me that everyone knew you had a mistress in the country.”

“Lady Venerton?” He scowled. “Please tell me that odious woman is not in attendance.”

A genuine laugh rose up in Julia. “I’m afraid she is.”

“Had I known that, I might have found an excuse to stay longer in the country.” He peered around Julia to regard the door, as if expecting the topic of their conversation to sweep in at any moment. “I’ll wager she told you I flirted shamelessly with her as well, probably begged on my knees for her to be my lover. Perhaps even set up a tent below her window just to be near her?”

“I believe it was the townhouse next to hers, not a tent.” Julia grinned up at her husband.