Chapter 11

"Charles, please…" Edward tried to beg off the conversation he was having with his brother.

He thought the matter had been settled days ago, when they'd discussed it after breakfast, but it seemed his brother was hell-bent on irritating him.

"You know why I do what I do, Edward," Charles went on. "Your marriage has caused an uproar among the ton."

"Of course it would!" Edward yelled, beside himself with anger. "When they have nothing more to do than gossip and drink tea. I beg you to leave my wife out of?—"

"I cannot, Edward. Can't you see you've made a big mistake by marrying beneath your rank?" Charles argued. "You should have?—"

"Well, I'm married to her now, aren't I? Would you have me divorce her so early in our marriage? Is that what you want? Would that not worsen the uproar you are so scared of?"

"Brother, you need to?—"

"No. I've had enough of you nitpicking on everything I do." Edward glared at him. "You want me to say that I've made mistake. I don't know what you stand to gain from it, but I don't see my wife that way. You're my brother, and if the ton have nothing positive to say, you should have my back and tell them exactly where they should shove their opinions."

"I do have your back. Don't accuse me of not caring about my family."

"You do care, but your actions are misplaced." Edward rose from his seat, already tired. He was sick and tired of letting his brother and people who had nothing better to do with their time pick on every decision he'd made. "You do nothing but harp on me, when you should be working with me. Yes, her family may be ranked beneath us, but I have nothing but respect for the Earl of Thorne."

"You can't marry just because you respect her family."

"Yes. But a man capable of building up his family's fortune in such little time shows an ambition that could be beneficial."

"He had help from Ridlington."

Edward shook his head. His younger brother was hell-bent on seeing only the disadvantages of the marriage, just as he had chosen to do with everything else Edward had done. Edward was fed up with trying to prove himself worthy.

"He made something of himself from nothing, and not just sitting around, twiddling his thumbs and thinking of the next best bit of gossip to spread. That's more than I can say for half the ton. Perhaps they should take a page from his book."

Charles frowned, just like he did at the end of every argument they'd had—and they'd had many. It hadn't been so during their childhood, but since their time at Oxford, Charles had taken it upon himself to judge every decision Edward made and declare him unworthy.

He'd developed an unhealthy fear of the ruination of the family name and had since been a thorn in Edward's side.

"I do hope she is worth it," Charles spat out, his balled fists shaking.

Edward didn't answer but stormed out of his study. He didn't want to admit he didn't know the answer to that question.

He thought back to their easy conversation the day she'd met his family and how for that brief moment in time, it had felt like they were really married. Like they could actually come to love each other if they tried.

He slowed down and breathed deeply, his eyes finally taking in the familiar corridor. He was walking the familiar route to the secret gardens, a place he usually sought solace in after arguing with Charles.

A part of him wanted to seek out Arabella and to just bask in her easy warmth. She'd been so much braver than him and had always gone after what she wanted, but he…

He remembered she'd skipped breakfast today and decided to go see if she had recovered. He quickened his steps, remembering there was a secret passage around there leading down to the kitchens. He'd stop by and get her something light to snack on or perhaps dessert. He had noted that she had a sweet tooth—she'd admitted as much to his mother.

As if summoning her by his thoughts, he heard her familiar laugh ahead of him. He shook the thought that she'd somehow been able to find her way to the gardens alone, but as he neared, he heard her voice clearly.

He rounded the corner and stepped back in shock at the sight in front of him.

Arabella was standing with her head close to a footman's, speaking about something that had her laughing.

As she put a hand on the footman's arm, red danced in Edward's eyes so much that he didn't think before he emerged from his hiding place.

They whipped around, startled to see him, but then Arabella gave him a bright smile that almost made him stumble.

Edward shook his head and walked on, undeterred. She wouldn't use her smile to get out of the compromising situation he had found her in.

Was this a habit of hers? Luring men into trysts and then playing innocent when caught?

"Yo—Edward."

"Duchess."

His eyes darted from her to the footman, anger filling him the longer he looked. The footman was dashingly handsome, even if he hated to admit it.

"What brings you down here at this time?" Arabella asked, still smiling at him.

She wasn't showing an ounce of shame at the impropriety of her behavior, and it was grating on his nerves. The footman, on the other hand, had the decency to tremble where he stood.

"Providence," Edward answered.

"Oh."

"Indeed," he said calmly.

"Well, I was going for a stroll through the secret gardens." She smiled excitedly. "I heard it's most magical this time of day."

"Indeed?" Edward asked. "And where did you obtain such information?"

"Oh, I mentioned it to Peter, and he offered to show me the way."

"Did he?" he asked slowly, glaring harder at the footman. "That's very kind of him."

"It seems you were on your way there, too. Would you?—"

"May I have a word with you, wife?" Edward bit out, not caring that her smile turned into a dark frown. "Alone."

"Peter, leave us," Arabella told the footman, who looked hesitant to leave.

Edward's anger flared even harder when she nodded, as if reassuring the footman that she was fine.

Edward wasn't sure how, but he was surprised by how much he was able to refrain from strangling him, even more by how he waited till he was out of earshot to finally speak his mind.

"Do you know the level of impropriety you just attained by walking unchaperoned with a man towards a secluded part of the castle?" he growled. "If it had been anyone else, do you know what they would have said? Arabella, you should have known better."

"I don't understand you, Edward." She frowned. "He was just showing me to the gardens. I'm still unfamiliar with?—"

"That's not what it looked like from where I was standing. To anyone else, it almost looked like you two were heading for a tryst in the?—"

"Don't insult me, Edward." Arabella's eyes flashed.

"I'm not."

"You are, by suggesting that I would… This isn't… I would never," she protested. "Just because I made that mistake with you doesn't mean I'm used to doing it. Is that what you think of me?"

"Arabella—"

"No. It makes sense you would." Her lips quivered, and tears welled up in her eyes, making his heart clench. She let out a mocking laugh. "Of course, you would. I behaved like a?—"

"Don't say it," he warned, sighing. "I won't deny that I was worried, but… why were you standing so close to him? He's a footman. Even if you weren't doing anything inappropriate, he could have hurt you."

He knew from observing her in her family home that she bonded with servants, but he couldn't help but warn her of how dangerous it could be.

Her eyes widened, and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes, telling him she was trying to hide something.

"He… he was just telling me the story of the garden." Her eyes were still downcast, and she wrung her hands. "We should get going now," she whispered. "I want to see the roses."

He wrapped a hand around her arm when she turned to leave. "Arabella." His tone brooked no argument. "What are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding anything?" she answered, even though it sounded more like a question. "Why would you think I'm hiding something?"

He sighed, pulling her close to him. "Ara mine, you're not a very good liar."

She scrunched up her nose and folded her hands. "I know it's not a skill to brag about, but what makes you say so?"

"Your eyes didn't meet mine, you were sweating and flushed, you were wringing your hands, and you're asking me this question."

Arabella looked like she wanted to argue but thought it over, uncrossing and crossing her arms.

"Arabella, help me to trust you," he coaxed. It was obvious she was having trouble keeping up her lie, as he could basically see the wheels turning in her head. "It's strange when I see my wife standing so close to another man, and now she's refusing to tell me what they were discussing."

She turned away, groaning, then straightened, as if bracing for a fight.

"Do you promise that no word of this conversation will cross this…" She looked around them, as if expecting someone to be spying on them. "Wait."

She tugged at his hand, surprising him with her strength, and tried to lead him somewhere.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to get us somewhere private so we could talk."

Edward didn't like the way lust shot through him at the word private, which turned from a furnace to a raging fire when she led him into a small room and shut them in the dimly lit space.

As she closed the door behind them, her lavender scent became more prominent and teased his senses. If she touched him again, he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep himself from taking her against the wall.

"Edward?" Her voice was small, as if she finally realized what she'd done.

"I'm here, love."

"I…" she stammered out.

"Yes?"

"I… Do you promise not to repeat a word of what I tell you?"

He smiled at how she tried to defuse the tension that was building between them.

"I promise."

"I'll hold you to that." She giggled. "I found him in a compromising position, and he wanted me to keep it a secret."

Oh?

"What compromising position?" Edward asked, wanting clarity.

He knew several of his servants had relations with one another and had come upon some of them in compromising positions when he wandered the halls too late at night. He certainly hoped she hadn't seen something similar.

"I saw him…" She blushed. "Kissing someone."

He didn't know he'd been holding his breath until he heard her answer.

"Oh."

"Indeed." She shuddered.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"I didn't mind so much…" She paused, as if realizing what she said. "I mean?—"

"It's all right. There's no need to explain." Edward laughed. "Do you still want to see the gardens?"

She nodded excitedly.

"After you."

She opened the door and bounced on her heels excitedly. "I heard there are marigolds and peonies, too."

He nodded, but before he could respond, Beatrice and Noah ran up to them.

"Uncle Eddie! Auntie Ara!" they cried.

"Good afternoon, little ones," Arabella greeted, crouching down to ruffle their hair. "How are you today?"

"Auntie Ara, you said you'd teach us a new game today," Beatrice chirped. "Mother and Grandmother said they're too busy to play today."

Edward noticed Arabella visibly pale, and her eyes darted to him, as if begging for help.

"I did, didn't I?" She laughed nervously.

"Yes, and we brought out the cards too. So we have a whole day to play."

Arabella paled even further.

Edward shot her a mischievous smile. "Auntie Ara is very good at games, isn't she?"

The children nodded.

"Edward," she whispered pleadingly.

"It's too sad, though."

"What is?" Beatrice asked, pouting.

"Auntie Ara won't be able to play with you today."

"Why not?"

"Because Auntie Ara and I have plans to visit the village."

"Oooh. Can we come with you?" Noah asked excitedly. "I promise I'll be very good."

"No. This time it's just the two of us," Edward announced.

Arabella's smile was a little too bright in the face of the children's disappointment, but he felt ecstatic that he was able to make her happy.

"Why, Uncle Eddie?"

"Because I want to spend time with my wife." He smiled, pulling her to his side and enjoying how she gasped.

"Are you going to kiss?" Beatrice asked, frowning.

"Don't kiss her, Uncle Eddie," Noah protested. "Auntie Ara is mine."

"But she is my wife."

"I… I want to marry her." The five-year-old pouted.

"You can't marry her because she's already married," Edward explained. "When you're my age, you'll find a?—"

Noah ran off, crying, before Edward could finish. His sister went after him.

"Well…"

A melodic laugh escaped Arabella's lips, making his chest swell with pride that he'd been able to amuse her. He was even more stunned when she threw herself at him.

"I thought I would probably go to bed with a headache again," she cried against his chest. "I love them, but I only have so much energy."

"I know," he answered, not knowing what else to say with her still wrapped around him like that.

The feeling of her lush breasts pressed against his chest had his heart racing as blood pumped to his nether regions. He felt himself swell with desire and prayed she didn't feel it against her belly. He could tell her embrace had been purely innocent, but he was only a man. He was terribly attracted to her and couldn't control himself around her.

"Ara mine…" he whispered.

She gasped and stepped back from him, putting some distance between them.

"I… I apologize. I don't know what came over me." She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. "I was just so happy and relieved and needed a hug."

He laughed softly. "It is all right." He smiled. "Feel free to use me any time."

Her eyes widened, and a hot blush bloomed in her cheeks. It was only then Edward realized the double meaning in his words.

He coughed into his hands awkwardly and held out his arm to her.

"I was serious about taking you to see the village," he told her when she took his arm. He could feel her tense up at first, but when she relaxed, he smiled. "I heard you didn't come down for breakfast, and I was coming to see if you were all right."

He didn't know why he admitted his concern for her health, but she'd already broken the ice between them, and it had warmed to a considerably tepid state that scared and excited him in equal measure.

Arabella looked as shocked as he'd expected, but her smile widened, and he couldn't help but think she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

"I am well now," she answered. "I had a slight headache when I woke up, but I feel better now. Your concern is much appreciated."

He nodded, not knowing how to respond.

"I do hope you're wearing comfortable shoes?" he asked. "We'll be walking to the village."

She shot him a mischievous half-smile that had him imagining her sending him that same look as she proceeded to wreak havoc on his senses with her lush mouth. He shook the vision out of his head.

"I'm always prepared, husband."