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His expression hardened on finding Phineas with her, birthing the most absurd idea to ever occur to her. Nicholas had kept his marriage from her and refused to consummatetheirmarriage. She had to know if he even cared about her in a romantic way. “Phineas,” she said, still watching Nicholas waded through the guests to reach them.
“Yes?”
“Flirt with me.”
"I beg your pardon?" Phineas was taken aback at first but then he followed the line of her gaze and understood. “Are you certain you want to do this?”
She nodded, but he still hesitated. “He could duel me for this, Jenny.”
“I won’t let him.” She turned pleading eyes at Phineas. “I need to know something and I need your help. I want to know if he loves me.”
After she explained her reasons, a wide grin split across his face. "It is not every day that one gets to flirt with a beautiful duchess, especially one with brazen hair. And I suppose His Grace could do with a lesson or two.” He leaned close to her ear and began to recite one of his poetic verses. Jenny giggled.
Nicholas’s face hardened more than before. “It appears to be working,” she said.
“Jenny, I have no heir to bequeath my charm and fortune to if your husband kills me tonight. Just look at the murderous intent in his eyes.”
Jenny actually laughed at that. “Worry not, good sir, I shall ensure you are protected from the dragon’s fiery breath.”
Nicholas towered over them, intimidating in his stance. "I will takemy wifenow," he ground out, taking Jenny’s arm. Phineas let her go, still grinning.
"My evening surely owes its brightness to you, Phineas. Thank you." She said that to further provoke her husband and to show her friend her appreciation. The last thing Jenny saw before being dragged out of the ballroom was Phineas bowing gallantly.
"What in the world were you thinking flirting with him openly like that?" he demanded once they were out of the ballroom. Jenny half-ran to keep up with his strides.
"Perhapsyouwould like to explain your own attitude first,” she responded as he opened a random door that revealed a rather heated tryst in a dimly lit chamber. Cursing under his breath, he yanked open the opposite door on the left. This room was empty and he pulled her in with him, shutting the door behind them.
“I am not playing games, Jenny. Tell me why you were openly flirting with Sir Phineas.”
"What I want from you is simple, Nicholas." Jenny freed her arm and put some distance between them. "Answers. I want answers and I think that I deserve honesty from you."
“I don’t know what you are on about and I am not going to indulge you. What you did in the ballroom was reckless. People woul—”
“What?” she burst out. “Call you a cuckold? Our marriage is not even real for you to be considered that because of my actions.”
Jenny believed he cared more about his reputation than their marriage and her feelings. “Do not misconstrue my words.”
They would go in circles if she pushed this topic, thus, Jenny confronted him about his lies. “You have been keeping things from me and I demand to know what those secrets are.”
Raking his fingers through his hair, his breath rushed out in a hiss. Impatient, she told him about her encounter with Vanessa and watched as his face progressively blanched with every word that left her lips. Her fears were being realized.
"Tell me it’s not true. Please, tell me," she cried when he said nothing.
On seeing the uncertainty lining his features and the shadow in his eyes, Jenny was suddenly overcome by the urge to do something,anything, to make her stand known, to remind him of their relationship. And without giving it further thought lest she cowered and changed her mind, she went to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing his head down for a kiss.
His response was both hungry and hesitant but he clutched her to him, his body hardening with need as hers was softening. Could he not see that they were made for each other?
“Jenny,” he groaned, his mouth moving over hers, his hands bunching her skirts.
She pressed herself against him but just as quickly as the kiss had begun, it ended and he pulled away. "I will not have this conversation with you here," he said, breathing hard and enfolding her hand in his.
"Where are we going?" she asked when he began to walk toward the door, pulling her with him.
Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked rapidly.Now is not the time for tears, Jenny, she told herself. She must get the answers she wanted from him tonight and see this matter to a conclusion.
"Home,” he replied tersely and opened the door just as the opposite door of the occupied chamber was opened by none other than their hostess, looking slightly disheveled.
"Seaton!" The Duchess of Seagrave said with surprise. “I did not expect to see youhere.”A sheepish smile spread across her features as a handsome and younger-looking man appeared behind her.
