Chapter 32

CHAPTER 32

C hristian climbed into his carriage, holding the binder carefully in front of him. He waited until they were moving and the sound of the carriage wheels would muffle any noise before he slammed his fist repeatedly into the opposite bench.

When he was finished, his knuckles were aching damnably, but the overwhelming frustration had abated.

“Goddammit,” he snapped, slumping back in his seat and throwing the binder angrily across the carriage.

No wonder Louise believes I married her for revenge. Why would she not? I have given her no indication of anything else.

The look of desperation in her eyes had left him disquieted and uncomfortable.

What does she expect from me? We have a mutually beneficial arrangement. We shall exist alongside one another peacefully without love complicating matters.

He rubbed a hand over his face, staring into the blackness of the night, his chest tight.

Love was a weakness; his father had shown him that. Love was the reason Christian had endured the humiliation his whole life, the pitying glares of those who believed themselves superior to him. If his father had done his duty and not allowed his heart to complicate matters, he would never have been born.

I will not repeat his mistakes.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat, disliking the feeling in his gut. Louise’s blue eyes haunted his thoughts, imploring and uncertain as he walked away from her.

Her father has planted doubts in her mind to rattle me. He must be my focus now. This ridiculous powerplay ends tonight.

He raked a hand through his hair as they rode toward The Devils. It had been a long time since he had been in the vicinity of the club and even longer since he had set foot inside it.

Once Orions was fully established and Christian’s wealth had grown beyond his wildest imaginings, there was no reason to. Christian and Marcus, and even Gabriel, had frequented the club on a few occasions to observe the competition, but that was all.

Ten minutes later, he peered out the window as the carriage wound down the familiar street. He was shocked by the appearance of the club itself.

Although the exterior was still opulent, it seemed in need of maintenance. The lettering above the door was still handsome enough, but there were dark stains around the edges and a crack running along one side.

Christian alighted from the carriage and looked up at the glowing windows above him as he fastened his coat. The simmering rage returned as he ascended the shallow steps. He walked into the reception hall, where a very well-to-do gentleman came to greet him.

“May I assist you, Sir?” the gentleman asked pleasantly, bowing to him.

“I am the Duke of Egerton,” Christian said, affecting his most arrogant tone. “I am here to see the Earl of Northbridge, although I do not have an appointment. I am sure he will see me.”

“Very good, Your Grace. The Earl is in the salon, I shall have the footman show you up.”

“You have my thanks,” Christian returned dismissively, and the man scurried away.

Christian followed the footman through two large double doors that led to a rather beautiful room. The chairs were upholstered in a sky-blue fabric, and the deep navy curtains complemented them.

It was occupied by a small number of men. A few of them were grouped together, speaking quietly to one another. Several were drinking whiskey or smoking cigars. It was a quiet and peaceful environment which Christian very much expected he was about to irrevocably disturb.

The footman held out his arm, indicating a tall figure beside the fireplace. The Earl. He was speaking to someone whose face was turned toward Christian. The other man looked deeply uncomfortable, frowning as the Earl made quick, jerky motions with his hands.

Another man he owes money to, no doubt . I wonder who he lost Louise’s dowry to. Knowing the way he gambles, I wager it was on a single bet.

Christian slowly navigated the chairs, maintaining a steady pace as he approached them. The other man spotted him and hastily took his leave. The Earl watched him go, bewildered, until he turned to find Christian standing before him, intense fury contorting his features.

The Earl clicked his fingers at a footman. “This man is not welcome here,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “Escort him out immediately.”

Christian did not move, meeting the Earl’s gaze without flinching. The footman, who had stepped up to him, glanced between them, evidently uncertain how to proceed.

“Are you sure you wish to throw me out, My Lord? I believe you wished to speak to me about the deed to your townhouse,” Christian stated loudly. “Or perhaps it was about the money you asked me to lend you?”

A man to their right let out a scandalized gasp and lowered his paper to look at them.

Christian raised his eyebrows at the Earl, but he had not anticipated the outburst that would follow.

The Earl surprised him by raising his fist and swinging it at his left eye. Christian ducked sideways, his own hand rising to block the blow. His fingers tightened around the Earl’s fist, and he twisted his arm up against his back.

The Earl growled in outrage as Christian shoved him unceremoniously against the wall.

There were sharp gasps from the men a few chairs to Christian’s right, and they hastily rose from their seats, making noises of outrage before walking out of the room.

But they did not try to help him . The Earl is running out of allies.

“I would be very careful how you choose to act next, My Lord,” Christian growled in the Earl’s ear. “I do not wish to break your arm, but I will if necessary. You will leave my wife out of our business, is that understood?”

The Earl cried out sharply as Christian twisted the offending limb even further, briefly letting his anger take control. The Earl whimpered, and Christian relaxed a little as the fight seemed to drain out of the man.

He stepped back and glared at the footman, who was still hovering nearby. He was a young fellow and seemed to be in two minds as to what he needed to do. He quickly retreated to the far wall and kept his eyes trained on the floor.

“This is a disgrace,” the Earl hissed, turning around and rubbing his wrist. “I would expect nothing less from the son of a nobody.”

Christian let the barb wash over him, a sense of deep satisfaction blooming in his chest as he realized that the Earl had nothing left to threaten him with.

“What is a disgrace , Sir, is you coming to my house, demanding a word with my wife, and then telling her to steal something from me that is no longer yours.”

“It is my house!” the Earl gritted out.

“No, it is mine. It has been mine since you foolishly lost it, and it will remain mine for the foreseeable future—unless you can prove to me that you have changed. If you involve Louise again, you will suffer the consequences.”

The Earl scoffed. “Thick as thieves the two of you, aren’t you? Managed to worm your way into her good graces quickly enough—but then you always did have a reputation. Where is Lady Carruthers, by the way? I am sure Louise would be thrilled to meet her.”

Christian glowered at him, even as fear shot through him. The thought of Louise learning of his old arrangement with Lady Carruthers filled him with acute shame—shame that he had neither expected nor welcomed.

Guilt flooded him, and he tried to push it away as swiftly as he could.

“I would caution you against bringing up my past behavior. I believe Louise would be just as interested in your history and how you almost brought your family to its knees because of your greed.”

The Earl’s eyes were darting around the room now as he began to sweat. Christian could feel the remaining men watching them with interest. It would not be long before the whole ton knew about the Earl’s situation.

I thought I would feel gleeful when I won the toss against this man. But now I can only think about how Louise will take the news.

Christian cleared his throat, taking another step back. “As I said before, Sir, you will not return to my house again,” he declared, a hint of smugness in his voice. “If I wish for you to enter, I shall send you an invitation . It seems fitting. Were those not your original terms?”

With a condescending glance at the rest of the room, he walked out, happy in the knowledge that the Earl of Northbridge would no longer be a problem.

Louise was sitting with Jack on her lap when she heard Christian’s voice outside. Placing the kitten in the little bed she had made for him in the library, she swiftly walked out to find her husband.

He was in the entrance hall, removing his hat and gloves and murmuring quietly to Fenwick. He glanced at her when she approached, but his expression gave nothing away.

Several scenarios were running through her mind, from Christian killing her father to her father ruining him with a single word.

Fenwick took his leave, and Christian crossed the entrance hall toward her, raising his eyebrows as though he were confused by her presence. Her anger flared at his casual demeanor.

“Why are you looking at me as though nothing happened? Do you not know how worried I have been?”

Christian closed his eyes, his jaw flexing as he folded his hands behind his back. “I told you that I would deal with it, and I have,” he said, sounding exasperated, and then walked toward his study.

“Stop walking away from me!” she thundered, following him into the room and slamming the door shut behind her. “Tell me what happened between you and my father. I have been worried sick for hours. I have no idea what you were doing, what you said, or how you chose to act. You will tell me this instant!”

She was panting by the end of her tirade, but when his eyes locked onto hers, she felt the familiar pulse of desire at the heat in them, and her anger melted away.

“What would you like to know?” Christian asked, taking a step toward her.

“What did you say to my father?”

“I told him that he would keep you out of our business, and he has agreed. That is all.”

Louise opened her mouth, staring at him in disbelief, and then scoffed. “That is all, is it? He simply agreed ?”

“He did. Were you expecting something more interesting? I believe you specifically told me that you did not wish for us to come to blows. We would have if it had been left up to your father, believe me.”

Lousie looked him over, fearful that he might be hiding some injury.

Christian let out a hollow laugh. “Ah, now you are concerned about my welfare. How touching. Considering I have married you to exact revenge on your father and nothing else, I am astonished you care at all.”

“You did not deny it!”

Christian’s eyes widened comically before they narrowed as he took another step toward her.

“I believe, Duchess, that my exact words were that your insinuation offended me deeply. Or do you only listen to your father’s opinion on the matter?”

“How am I supposed to listen to yours?” she retorted. “You give nothing away. Even when we spend time together, you barely speak to me, and if I ask you what it is I can expect from you, all you tell me is that we have an arrangement . How am I supposed to understand what you want from this marriage when you do not choose to play a part in it!”

Her chest was heaving now, the fears in her heart coming out in a raw and vulnerable way that she had not intended.

Christian snarled as he took a final step forward and gripped her upper arms tightly, roughly pulling her to him.

“Do you understand this?” he shot back, before lowering his head and claiming her mouth.

It was a harsh and brutal kiss, and Louise melted against him, powerless to prevent it as his heat enveloped her and his tongue plunged into her mouth.

She moaned as he walked her back to the door, grunting as her back hit it and his hands tangled in her hair. All she could feel was his tongue and his fingers gripping her flesh, not allowing her to move an inch as he devoured her body and soul.

After what felt like an age, he finally pulled back and drew in a gasping breath, resting one hand beside her head against the door and staring at her with blazing eyes.

Louise shivered as he slowly slid his hand down the door, before pushing away from her and straightening his clothes. His movements seemed hurried and uncertain.

“I did not marry you for revenge.” His voice was flat but sincere. Guilt welled up inside her at the hurt in his eyes. “After everything we have shared, did you truly believe that to be the case?”

Louise hesitated, studying his face for any signs of deceit.

Does he truly care for me? It is in times like this that I can almost believe he feels the same for me as I do for him.

Christian smoothed down his waistcoat and fiddled with his cuffs. There was something awkward in his manner that reassured her. He was rarely awkward, always knowing what step he needed to take next. Now, he looked ruffled, and all she wanted to do was reassure him.

His cravat had come undone in the frenzy of their kiss. She stepped forward, slowly raising her hands to his neck, and he watched her with a frown.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“You look untidy,” she replied, pulling at the ends of his cravat, which were already a little loose. She untied a section of it and then retied it so that it was straight.

Christian allowed it, lifting his chin as though she were his valet, and she smiled softly as he did so. She tied the ends and stepped back as he looked at himself in the mirror. His frown deepened as he touched his cravat reverently.

“How did you do that? I can never get the damned thing to sit right.”

“At least you look presentable now,” she said softly.

He turned back to her, the hurt look lingering on his face.

“Come,” she urged. “I want to show you something.”

Louise gently took his hand and led him out of the study, toward the library. There was something fragile and new between them now that she could not name, but she was desperate to hold on to it for a little bit longer.

As soon as they entered the library, Jack started mewing at them and trotted toward them. To Louise’s surprise, Christian bent down to pick him up and cradled him in his arms, and the kitten instantly settled.

Louise smiled at them both as she indicated the little writing desk where she had finally finished her drawings.

“I wanted to show you my encyclopedia,” she said, suddenly feeling embarrassed and wondering if Christian would have any interest in it.

He raised his eyebrows, moving to the pile of parchment. After eyeing it for a few seconds, he extended a hand and began to leaf through the pages while holding Jack in the other.

“Did you paint these?” he asked, leafing through the drawings with gentle care.

“I did.”

Christian dropped the paper, his fingers flexing before he stepped away, his jaw tight. “I am sure my brother has already given his opinion—you do not need mine.”

Louise sighed. “I have not shown them to Marcus yet.”

Christian looked over at her in amazement. “But you told him he would be the first person to see your encyclopedia.”

Louise held his gaze, trying to nurture the connection she could feel between them.

“When I promised him that, I did not believe you would be interested,” she murmured, picking up the book and walking over to the chairs before the fireplace. “Would you like to be the first to see it? I am almost finished with this category.”

Christian stood staring at the book, motionless, his head tilted to the side, before he joined her.

“It would be my honor,” he said wistfully as he rang the bell for a servant.

A footman walked into the room, and Christian handed Jack to him, asking that the kitten be tucked in his bed in the kitchens for the night.

After the footman had left, Christian settled beside his wife, his movements slow and measured as she smiled and opened the book, turning to the first page.

Over the next hour or so, she outlined everything she intended to do with the book. She spoke of the categories she had chosen and the specifics of the flowers that she wanted to illustrate. Christian made some pertinent points and asked many questions. He was interested in everything.

As they reached the final drawing of the Gallic rose, Louise passed it to him, and Christian admired it just as he had all the others.

“Beautiful. I think this might be my favorite. But where is its subject?” he asked curiously, glancing around the room.

“I am afraid it has withered now. They do not survive long once they are cut.”

Christian placed the drawing back in the book with delicate care.

“You know,” he said thoughtfully, “my estate in Derbyshire is rather large. We could build a greenhouse, and you could grow them all year round if you would like.”

Louise’s heart swelled at the twinkle in his eyes.

“I would like that very much,” she said.

But as the words left her lips, Christian’s smile dropped, and he spun around in his seat.

“Louise,” he said sharply, all the softness in his manner evaporating in seconds. “Do you smell smoke?”