Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

M arina sat in her garden. Her emerald green eyes were glassy and unfocused despite her vibrant surroundings. That this should occur just as she was made to doubt that she and Phillip were growing closer in their friendship to one another did not escape her. It was as if some unseen force were sending her a collection of warnings about her marriage though it was irritating that they had not come sooner. After all, the two of them were already married.

Her mind raced, attempting to pull meaning from Emmanuel Hayward's every look and word. He had come to speak with her—that much was clear. But what of? What was he about to tell her when Phillip came barging in? She had never subscribed to the idea that mysterious men were also enticing, and she recalled warning her sister to stay away from the very man she was now wed to. That morning, Marina had woken thinking that she had been wrong about Phillip entirely. Now, it was not yet time for lunch, and she found herself thinking again that she must have been right in the first place—once a rake, always a rake.

That had to be it, wasn't it? Emmanuel Hayward was known to brag about his nephew's ridiculous affairs as though they were grand adventures. He had never struck her, by reputation or observation, as a man who was inclined to be dishonest.

Had he come to reveal his nephew's secrets to her? There was nothing to do about it but to pay closer attention to her husband's comings and goings—his habits, his language, the timing and manner of his switches from hot to cold and back again.

"Marina."

Marina turned and saw Phillip standing behind her, a hat clutched between his hands. She had not noticed before in her haste to leave, but he had dressed to go out although he had not notified her of his plans before. She felt her heart cry out as if it had been struck, and she instinctively lifted her hand to her chest as though she could shield herself from further damage that way.

"Your Grace," she answered in a near-whisper, turning her head away from his gaze. They still had yet to discuss their earlier interaction, and Marina was not yet willing to do so, afraid that she might become too open with him in her wounded state.

"It does occur to me that I do not necessarily know how your household was managed, so I will say this to you and my expectation is that it will not happen again once I have. It is unseemly for a woman to so much as greet another man in her home while her husband is not in attendance. Especially when that man has not been formally introduced to you." His tone shocked Marina. She had expected to be admonished, but the frigid distance carried his words to her in a uniform, tactless manner. He continued, "As you do not seem familiar with this custom, I have asked that the staff to let no one in unless their visit was scheduled and approved by me in advance."

Marina's head shot up, her expression one of disgust. "And are you to paddle me as well when I have not finished my lessons to your liking?"

Phillip's cheeks grew pink with anger, and his eyes furrowed. "What manner of insolence?—"

"If I am to be regarded as a child, then will you cater to me as if I am one as well? Shall I have you cut my meat when I dine? Perhaps I should move my things into the nursery so that you might keep a closer eye on me when I sleep." Her eyes were aflame with rage—Phillip knew that he was seething, but he was unwilling to back down. After all, he was doing this for her sake, too—to protect them and their marriage.

"Should you continue to act like a girl half your age, then I shall," he remarked flatly. "When you asked that I make myself more present, I did not think you also believed that you could act without your station. You are my wife, Marina. You are not my mother. I will no longer be so lenient with you—your behavior lately is inclined to cause me embarrassment."

Marina laughed—a shrill, bitter sound. "You? Embarrassed?" She rose from her seat and closed the gap between them, looking up to meet his unwavering gaze. "I know of men like you, Duke Hayward. You believe that your title and fortune mean that you are beyond reproach by society, but what could you know of it? You have spent the last ten years entertaining your every imprudent whim nowhere near the good people you now hope to win over, yet you stand here now and chastise me for poor behavior!"

"I have had enough of this, Duchess Hayward. It was my swift action that saved you from spending your youth wiping drool from an old man's chin. I have given you full control over the house, a generous allowance, and everything you have asked for, have I not?"

"Is our relationship purely transactional then, Phillip? If that is the case, then allow me to ask one last favor of you—do return to spending all of your time locked in your study. Next time I impede upon the rules you have set but not communicated, merely send Mathilde to tell me. I do not wish to look upon your face again."

A silence fell upon them, and Phillip felt regret for his words immediately. He knew that he would have to mend this broken fence which he had destroyed out of his own anger, but he had another matter to attend to before then. There was no time to apologize now, nor did he think that it would get him very far.

"Very well. I will take my meals in my study. Should you need anything, ask the steward."