The Duke’s Wrong Bride

Chapter One

“Anastasia is gone.”

“Gone? What do you mean your sister is gone, Evangeline?”

Of all the times her mother was overdramatic, this was perhaps the worst. Evangeline Dawson knew there was a chance that this was all going to go terribly sideways, but she had hoped that she would at least have been able to speak her piece before her mother jumped to conclusions.

“I mean, she is not in her room, and no servants have seen her since yesterday.” Evangeline quickly tucked the letter in her hand behind her back as her mother swooned and sank into the nearest chaise to fan herself.

“Oh, mercy! I knew that there was something wrong with her! I knew it in the way she was breathing at dinner last night. Did I not say something to you, Serenity? I think I did!”

Morticia Dawson, matron of the family, allowed her life to revolve around her daughters and their social standing, and as such, was overly aware of their every move. Evangeline was painfully aware that the viscountess did everything in her power to distract herself from her own husband’s indifference and… shameless infidelity. But she had to admit, even she found her sister’s disappearance shocking.

“How could she do this to me?” Morticia wailed, nearly collapsing on the floor with melodramatic flair.

Serenity, the youngest of the sisters, turned to Evangeline, the eldest, clearly seeking help or a way out of the situation. Evangeline moved to sit in front of her mother and placed her smelling salts under the viscountess’ nose until she came to and began to wail all over again.

“That is enough!” Father’s voice boomed as he entered the drawing room, cutting off the viscountess’ tantrum as best as he could. His lack of patience with his wife’s antics was well known, and he often treated her harshly, even when he was at fault.

“Papa, you do not have to yell! Anastasia is—”

“What do you have behind your back?”

Evangeline produced the letter, dodging artfully as her mother attempted to snatch it out of her hands.

“Anastasia left a letter. She writes that she apologizes, but she cannot marry the duke…” Evangeline attempted to explain, but her mother finally managed to snatch the letter from her hands, ripping the paper open so hastily that it almost tore the thing in half. Morticia poured over the contents greedily at least twice over, judging by the movement of her eyes, before dissolving into hysterics once again.

Father snatched the letter from the viscountess’ hands without sparing her a second glance. He positioned his monocle over his left eye and began to read in silence as all the ladies held their breath. Her mother’s sobs were all Evangeline could hear as she wondered what would happen next. And most importantly, was Anastasia safe? Where had she gone?

Serenity moved to sit beside Evangeline while their father was reading, scooting in close under the protective arm of her sister while awaiting his reaction.

“Ruined!” Morticia sobbed, her hand covering the lower half of her face. “My beloved daughter has run away to escape marriage… And left us in ruin in her wake! How could she punish us so? Now Serenity will never marry, and she has not even had her debut yet! And Evangeline… well, she had no prospects, but still…”

As if I would wish to be controlled by a man. To be humiliated and cheated on while I put on a fake smile. Evangeline scoffed slightly at the outrageous thought. Ever since she had caught her father with a mistress—and her mother had assured her that this was normal and acceptable practice of all gentlemen—she had dismissed the idea of matrimony altogether.

Serenity slipped her hand into Evangeline’s, bringing her out of her reverie. She was waiting for her older sister to take charge, to handle things, but her father snapped before she could have the chance.

“How dare she humiliate me like this!” Father said, only the barest hints of emotion coloring his normally drab tone in irritation before he hurled the offensive letter into the roaring fireplace. The Viscount of Wilkins was not a man to deal with emotions well. He far preferred his ledgers and mistresses. It was a constant source of stress to him that he had only had three daughters and not a single son.

“It is all because you were going to force her to marry that terrible duke! You have driven my beloved girl away from me!” Morticia continued, picking herself up from where she had slumped, but her eyes never left the letter burning in the hearth. “That awful, cold-hearted man! Everyone knows of his reputation, and yet you insisted! Anastasia would never wish to disappoint you. You never allow any of us to have opinions that you disagree with! What choice did she have?”

“Mother…” Evangeline started, but she was at a loss for words. She had never heard her mother utter a single word of disagreement to her husband before. Let alone raise her voice to him.

“Do you even hear yourself? The duke would have been a fine match for Anastasia! You said so yourself when you heard of his income. Did you girls think otherwise?” Leonard asked his daughters, but all the women in the room saw his words for the trap that they were, and said nothing.

Serenity spoke softly from behind the safety of her eldest sister. “What… what sort of man is the duke rumored to be?”

“A man with a heart of ice! Just as I have said!” Morticia snapped. “Everyone knows the rumors about him. His former betrothed mysteriously died a few days before the wedding! Perhaps you do not care for the future happiness of your daughter, but I shall not have my Anastasia disappear on the eve of her wedding under the same mysterious circumstances! Unlike some, my ambition knows when to have limits!”

“Silence! If you are a woman with a foolish enough heart to believe every silly rumor that she hears, then there is no point in attempting to have a civil conversation with you in the first place!” Leonard continued.

Evangeline had heard the same rumors that her mother was speaking about, and she wondered how much Anastasia knew about all that. And now Evangeline had to ensure that Serenity would not have to endure their parents’ argument any longer.

In any case, Anastasia spared herself a horrible fate by escaping such a man.

“It is all your fault! Our daughter was suffering in silence all those weeks, and now she did the unthinkable. Our family is ruined, and you are the one to blame!” Morticia continued as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

“Mama, are you not more concerned about where she is? How is she supporting herself?” Evangeline got between her parents. Her father avoided Evangeline’s gaze, seeming to realize that Anastasia was likely in need of funds, wherever she was, presuming that she had not already squirreled away some pocket money from his coffers beforehand. It was written across his face, plain as day, and it made Evangeline more cross with him with every passing second.

“They say that the duke sold his soul to the devil! I was against this union from the start!” Morticia exclaimed loudly, finally getting back up to her feet. It was the closest to standing up to Leonard that Evangeline had ever seen her do.

“That is utter nonsense. I will hear no more hogwash about the Duke of Harrowden selling his soul or whatever other ridiculous rumors you are about to bring up, and you had better remember your place!” Leonard said with a firm step forward. He finished off the brandy in the small cup that he was holding and leveled her with a firm gaze that brokered no argument. “Anastasia has disgraced this family, and she will be punished accordingly once she is brought back.”

The viscountess stood in front of Leonard, seeming to debate whether she was going to push the issue.

Serenity tugged softly at Evangeline’s bodice. “Do you think that she was afraid for her soul? Is that why she did what she did?”

Evangeline shook her head instantly. What her mother was referring to was nothing but a silly rumor perpetuated by the insipid gossiping minds of the tabloid writers. Anastasia was far too smart to believe those things said about the duke.

No matter how frightening some of them were.

“Do not fret. Anastasia is all right. She is intelligent and shall be back with us soon,” Evangeline said softly to her sister, patting her on the back of her hand and hoping that the soft gesture would provide the comfort that it was meant to. But Serenity still seemed stressed.

Evangeline pulled herself from her sister’s clutches and stood in her father’s direct line of view. “Mother does have a point, Father, whether you like it or not. What Anastasia did was not proper, but would you have ever listened to her if she told you she did not want him?”

Leonard’s lip started to curl. “Now is not the time for your insolence.”

“It never seems to be the right time, but you ought not to marry any of us off to the highest bidder for the sake of money! What about our feelings?” Evangeline continued.

“You should have been so lucky as to have been proposed to by a duke! You have no room to speak whatsoever when you sabotage every prospect that I have placed in front of you. I know not many a man who would agree to wed a woman with your unusual eyes. And do not even get me started on your insolent tongue!”

“But Father—”

“But, father, nothing! Anastasia ought to have done her duty and been grateful for it! Marriage to a duke promises a very comfortable life! I am the head of this family, and I know what is best for you. Do you know who has built the very world you live in? Men. Why is it that still women think they know better? That they can defy the will of their father so easily? Honestly! Back in my day, you would have been punished for allowing your tongue to run away with you,” Leonard continued.

At her side, Evangeline’s fingers curled into tight, angry fists as she attempted to keep herself from vibrating with rage. She knew this speech—it was given to her every time her father felt that she was stepping out of line. Which was very, very often.

“So are women not to have an opinion about their own lives?”

“Women are to do their duty. Get married to a good man, have children, and be submissive and obedient to your father and husband! It is such a simple task, and yet you are failing at it!” Leonard hissed, his voice growing louder to ensure that he felt personally in control of the situation.

“Women are not breeding mares to be traded for status and endure all sorts of humiliations by their husbands!” Evangeline hissed, and even her mother recoiled at speaking back to her father.

“Evangeline…” Her mother touched her arm lightly. Evangeline flushed in embarrassment as she realized how what she said must have made her mother feel. It was the same look she had given her when Evangeline had told her that she had seen her father with a mistress. Something akin to shame, but also resignation.

“I apologize, Mama. But I do not think Anastasia has done anything wrong. For one thing, I know I would rather eat a toad than tie myself to the Duke of Harrowden.”

Morticia and Serenity held their breath. The room was nearly so silent that a pin drop could be heard.

It was only when the butler cleared his throat uncomfortably that the family realized that they were no longer alone.

The butler had not wished to interrupt the shouting, it would seem—because in tow with him was a very finely dressed man with a sword on his hip that could only be one person.

“My Lord, His Grace, the Duke of Harrowden, to see you.”

Chapter Two

“My Lord, His Grace, the Duke of Harrowden, to see you.”

Silence stretched as Leonard attempted to think of an excuse—any excuse—to explain his daughter’s behavior and out-of-line words. Evangeline could practically see the gears and wheels inside the man’s head spinning and whirring as he desperately scrambled to retake control of the situation.

“Ah… Your Grace, we were not expecting company today!” Leonard explained with an awkward and hasty half-bow. He was practically fumbling over himself to put the duke at ease as he moved forward. Gone was the ferocious man who yelled at them a few moments ago. But the Duke of Harrowden did not seem the slightest bit interested in anything that the viscount had to say. His eyes were on Evangeline. She glued hers on the floor, her face burning with shame.

I guess it is a small mercy that he chose not to comment on it.

“I have come to call upon my future bride,” the duke spoke in his naturally deep timber, and it was not posed as a question but rather a statement. It implied that whether such a thing was permissible at this hour or not, he expected to be hosted properly.

“Well, of course!” Leonard quickly said, snapping at the butler. “Please, have tea brought up at once for His Grace and take his coat.”

“That will not be necessary; I simply came to meet my bride and speak with her about a few rather pressing topics. Is she here?”

Evangeline could not tell from his tone of voice if he cared about getting to know Anastasia before the wedding. He did not even know his bride’s name or face, so why the sudden visit? He seemed wholly and utterly bored to even have to subject himself to speaking to them in the first place.

She would admit, however, that it was rather difficult to reconcile the man that her mother had been speaking about just a moment ago, hinting that the man was a veritable devil on two legs, and the man that was standing before her right now. She ventured a few peeks at him, but her face was still aflame with embarrassment as she stood there mutely, attempting to catch her breath and slow down her rapid heartbeat.

The duke stood in front of her, well-dressed and groomed even better. More than that, he was painfully handsome. Deep brown eyes that were set under a prominent brow bone, but the rest of his features were equally defined, so that one thing did not seem to overpower any of the other parts of his face. His jawline seemed as if it would cut glass should he will it. He had the broad shoulders and well-muscled frame of a soldier, and from the way that he had already seemed to examine just about every corner of the room, she bet that she was not far off.

A devil with the face of an angel.

If Evangeline were being even more honest with herself? He looked as if he could have stepped right out of the pages of one of the books that she was not supposed to be reading. It was unnerving, and she did not like it.

“Have you lost your voice, Wilkins? Where is my bride?”

“Your bride—” Evangeline opened her mouth to tell the duke that there was no bride here for him, that his reputation had managed to scare her away, but her mother pinched her the moment that she attempted to open her mouth. “Ow!” Wincing in discomfort, she started to rub at the spot on her side where her mother had injured her, but Serenity quickly stepped to her side and took her arm.

“Sister, why does the duke carry a sword? Surely, he does not mean us harm?” She whispered in a shaky voice.

“Shh, now,” Evangeline hissed. The last thing that any of them needed was for the duke to become offended and draw said sword.

They were hardly the only ones in the room intimidated by the duke. Father seemed to almost tremble when the man looked at him directly. The viscount would often boast of his hunting prowess, but the women in his family knew the truth. Were the duke to feel the need to draw his sword, there would be little to no competition to greet him.

“You see, Your Grace. Anastasia is not here because… Well—”

Evangeline could see the moment that her father realized that if he had said that his daughter was feeling under the weather or any other excuse, he might have been able to buy them a little more time.

“There is a small… situation with my daughter,” Leonard said quickly, as if that would make it better.

Evangeline’s eyes were glued to the muscle in the duke’s jaw and the way that it tensed at the news. He was clearly annoyed by their evasiveness.

The silence in the room stretched, and the duke waited expectantly for Leonard to speak, and when the older man did not do so, the look that crossed the duke’s face could only be described as utter fury.

“Well, then, what reason do you have in keeping her from me and wasting my time?”

He no longer bothered to look at the viscount as he spoke.

“Well, you see, Your Grace, the reason that she cannot come to speak with you… is, well…” Leonard laughed humorlessly, rubbing the back of his neck as he stammered.

With every half answer, it felt as if their family was losing at a test that the duke had placed in front of them.

Evangeline did not like to lose at anything at all.

“It is because she is not here, Your Grace,” Evangeline blurted.

Her father gave her a stare that could have curdled milk, but she forced herself to keep her spine straight and her head held high.

Slowly, the duke’s brown eyes slid from her father to her, and the sheer intensity there nearly stole her breath right out of her chest. His head tilted slightly to the side as he gave her his full and undiluted attention. It was direct enough that Evangeline almost regretted speaking. Her mouth went dry, but her whole body seemed to warm up for reasons she did not quite understand.

“She has left home, Your Grace. My sister will not be marrying you,” Evangeline said with every last shred of firmness that she possessed.

Evangeline was utterly paralyzed under the duke’s striking gaze. She felt laid bare in front of him in a way that was deeply uncomfortable but also… curious. What was it that he was looking for in her expression? Was he simply staring at her strange eyes, one brown, one blue? Did he find them disturbing, like everybody else? It ought not to matter at all what his opinion of her was, but he currently held more power over this situation than she did.

And yet, instead of an explanation, all he said was, “Interesting.”

That was it.

That was the only word the duke said to her, and she had no idea how to take it. He glanced around the room once more at all the people frozen and waiting for his reaction before they moved forward. He moved without a care in the world as he trailed his fingers over the back of the settee before sinking himself into it slowly, as if he owned it. He let his long arms drape over either side of it and shrugged softly.

“Well, I was promised a bride, so I shall not be leaving this house without one,” the duke said, and Evangeline could not help but think that he was looking at her a little too hard now.

Serenity squeaked and grabbed hold of Evangeline’s arm tightly as she half hid behind her eldest sister. She could hardly blame her; the duke was intimidating. Their father opened his mouth to speak, but the duke’s slicing gaze silenced him.

“To put things plainly, the banns have been read, and we will not pretend that any of you are ignorant of the fact that my reputation is already in tatters. Even with the title of duke, there is only so much leniency that the ton is willing to grant,” the duke explained, nodding toward them as he spoke. “I shall not have yet another rumor abounding about me come tomorrow’s gossip sheet that my bride jilted me, died, or ran away from marrying me. No matter the reason.”

“Well, as soon as she is located and brought home—” Leonard started to explain, but the duke lifted a single hand to silence the older man.

“I do not have the luxury of time for you to locate your wayward daughter. If she is not here, then I shall have one of your other daughters.”

The viscountess gasped and seemed to go weak in the knees as their father started to stammer and tumble over himself. “One of my other… well… perhaps.” Father cleared his throat and composed himself, standing a touch taller as he reached for Serenity, all but forcing her out from behind her sister’s back and into the spotlight. “Yes, of course, Your Grace. This is Serenity.”

Evangeline wanted to grab Serenity back to her. She hated that her sister was starting to cry. Could their father truly not see that she was trembling? Could he be so ignorant of their feelings that he could not see how frightened of the duke she was? She was the worst possible bride for a man like that. All Serenity wanted was love, happiness, softness… and the duke was going to be none of those things. Evangeline could tell.

Right there at that moment, she decided that she did not like him, even if she knew what she was going to have to do.

I cannot let him ruin Serenity’s life.

Evangeline clasped her hands together and stepped in front of Serenity. She wore no smile, and she certainly did not bat her lashes at the man nor try any of the other silly courtship nonsense that her mother was always attempting to force her to do. “I shall do it. You need a bride. I volunteer to marry you in my sister’s stead.”

Nothing could have prepared her for the lupine smile that flickered over the duke’s features. Had she not been watching the duke so intently, she would have missed it entirely.

Just a blink, and it was gone.

The duke rose from his seat and adjusted the fit of his waistcoat with a nod. “That will suit me just fine. I cannot stand tears and weepy ladies.”

Evangeline’s jaw set, and her gaze hardened the moment that he insulted her sister. She was more than ready to speak up and defend Serenity. There was absolutely nothing wrong with being sensitive. But, as she opened up her mouth to do so, her mother elbowed her firmly in the spine to remind her that a lady was supposed to keep quiet.

The duke came to stand in front of her, towering over her. Evangeline was certain that it was meant to be some sort of intimidation tactic, but she would not allow herself to shrink in front of him. She knew that a woman was supposed to obey her husband, but if they were going to be married, she was going to start things off in a way that she could look back and be proud of. Shrinking or cowering in front of this man would not have been that.

“I wish to speak with you privately.”

Evangeline visibly balked. “Do you not think that most impertinent?”

One thing that Evangeline knew for certain was that she should not allow herself to be anywhere alone with that man. Whether the rumors about him were true or not, or if it was all nonsense, there was a look in his eyes that she was far too intrigued by to trust herself.

“We are engaged. Is it not my right to speak to my future bride when I please?” The duke answered evenly, as if it should have been obvious.

“It would be rather inappropriate, Your Grace. Speaking in private without a chaperone…” Father attempted to interject, but the duke cut his gaze to him sharply, and he silenced himself immediately.

“I do not think that you have the right to deny me anything, considering the fiasco of brides that you are causing me. It would please me greatly to speak with…” He cut his gaze back to her.

“…Evangeline.”

The duke almost smirked again, and her heart threatened to flutter traitorously in her chest. That sort of reaction ought not to be allowed. He had no reason to be speaking to her in such a markedly different tone than he was addressing her father—it was a night and day difference, and she did not know how she felt about it.

Oddly powerful… if she was being honest.

 “Well, perhaps we can leave you for just a moment,” Father said and turned to face Evangeline. “If that is acceptable to you, of course?”

As if there was truly a choice? The duke did not leave them any room for arguing.

Serenity was the last one to leave the room, shuffling out slowly after the others with a lingering glance back and over her shoulder to see if Evangeline needed her to stay. As much as she would like to have the company so that she was not alone with the duke, she would not allow Serenity to become even more upset than she already was.

Evangeline forced herself to stand upright, her spine straight as she willed herself to look far more confident than she felt.

The moment they were alone, she rounded on the man, still eyeing her like he was not quite sure what to make of her. “So, what now?”

At first, he did not answer. He then walked a half-circle in front of her, which reminded her very much of a predator toying with its prey.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what sort of gentleman selects a wife in this manner?” Evangeline would make herself dizzy if she kept trying to watch him move around her, and chose to keep herself focused on a fixed point above the fireplace. Even looking directly at him made her feel uneasy, as if there was something unmistakably wicked coiled beneath his proper exterior.

“That is a simple answer,” the duke started, and finally stopped pacing in front of her. “A man who does not care about getting to know his wife.”

“You certainly know how to make a lady feel special.” She did not know what she expected from him, but that was not at all the answer that she wanted to hear.

“That is rich coming from someone who said that would rather eat a toad than marry me. How is that working for you now?”

Evangeline bristled. “So, the rumors about you are true, then, Your Grace?”

He took a step closer, to the point where Evangeline felt the need to take a step back and away from him, but there was not enough room for her to avoid the fireplace. But no matter what, she could not keep her gaze on his. It was too much. Intimidating in a way that she did not know how to face. It made her feel terribly self-conscious.

The duke reached forward, curled a finger under her chin, and lifted her face to make her look at him, capturing her in place.

“I would prefer a wife who would not flinch or cry when she looks at me,” the duke spoke softly, and she realized that it was a test. He was waiting for her to wrench her face away or to try to pull away from his grip, but she forced herself to stand tall despite the urge she felt to run.

“Then you should perhaps try to act more like a gentleman…” She regretted her words as her voice came out far breathier than she expected.

“You ought to be grateful that anyone would be willing to marry you at all.” He let his gaze rake down over her face, linger on her lips, and then lift back up once more as his head tilted slowly to the side. “No other man would have you with those eyes.”

As if she had not heard that before. Even her own father had said much the same thing over the years as he complained about how difficult it was to find suitors for her. How unsettling gentlemen found her, how strange.

It was not as if she had chosen those eyes. She had been born with them.

“Your Grace…” When she spoke, it was with a rage that she rarely allowed herself to feel. “Go to hell.”

The duke smirked then, a real one that lingered this time. “Already been there. See you at the altar.”

Chapter Three

“You are mistaken! I understand the confusion you must be feeling, but His Grace cannot help that he fell madly in love with my Evangeline. And now they are happily married at long last!”

It was her own wedding breakfast, but Evangeline felt that she was more confused than half of the guests, at the very least. She had slowly been making her rounds around the large banquet hall for the better part of an hour because, since she was the bride, it was her responsibility to play the hostess and avoid her new husband. It was at least the fourth lie that she had heard her mother say to the guests. She was not certain which lie was more outlandish than the last. But that the duke was wildly in love with her? That was perhaps the most insane of them all.

The viscountess was trying her very best to dispel the rumors, and for that, Evangeline had to give her credit. Besides, the older woman had only cried four times as of yet this morning.

“—but I was still expecting to see Miss Anastasia.”

“—where do you think she is? Could she be with child?”

“—Edge of ruin, the whole union reeks of desperation.”

The two women gossiping half behind their fans barely had the decency to stop whispering to one another as Evangeline walked past them. They paused only long enough to curtsy out of formality alone while watching Evangeline’s every move out of the corner of their eyes. She knew perfectly well that the moment she was out of earshot, they were going to resume their gossiping.

“My darling Anastasia was called to attend to her aunt in Scotland for the rest of the Season. It truly was rather selfless of her to put her Season behind to take care of her family. If that does not prove what a loving, selfless, family-oriented woman she truly is, then I do not know what would,” Morticia gushed to anyone who would listen as she hastily guzzled down yet another glass of wine.

It was Evangeline’s fourth turn about the room, and she was doing her best to smile and nod to all those that she passed, but this time, the duke himself intercepted her with a surprisingly soft hand to her elbow.

“It is time that we take our leave, wife. Say whatever goodbyes that you need to.”

He spoke so matter-of-factly all the time. No doubt, he was very accustomed to simply speaking, and then his will was done. Evangeline wondered just how long it had been since anyone had spoken back to him or pushed him on anything at all, for that matter.

She would have to choose her moment carefully if she was going to press her luck on that subject. She knew that much. But some small part of her relished the notion of seeing the look on his annoyingly handsome face when somebody did speak back to him.

What would he do if he heard the word no?

“We have not even yet shared a dance, husband. What would people think if we were to leave now? It would be most improper,” Evangeline said practically as she eyed him strangely. “Is it not bad enough that my mother is standing over there weaving one outlandish tale to the next in an attempt to explain away the hastiness of our union in the first place?”

The duke merely shrugged. “I do not see how that is any concern of mine.”

“Do you truly have no regard for the reputation of my mother? She is now your own family as well. Need I remind you of that? We are married now,” Evangeline reasoned.

She could practically see the wheels in his head turning as he registered her words, weighed them, and made a choice.

Yet, when he spoke, all he said was, “I do not dance.”

“Of everything that I said, that is the only response that you will deign to give me?” Evangeline’s brow lifted quizzically as she spoke.

That time, he did not bother to answer her at all. Instead, he merely took her by the arm and started to pedal them out of the room.

“Wait! You said that I could say my goodbyes!” Evangeline said as she attempted to pull her hand back and keep away from him.

“Yes, and then you argued with me,” the duke answered with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“I beg your pardon?” Evangeline protested. She did not care much for his tone.

“You can beg for it if you like, but my pardon is not easy to come by. But, by all means,” the duke answered and stopped dead in his tracks. He gazed at her expectantly, waiting for a response from her.

Suddenly, her mouth was dry. It was like she had forgotten all the words that she had ever learned in her very well-read life. Her mind was a stunned blank. It was so much worse than being put on the spot. Did he truly think that she was going to beg him for anything? Right here in front of the hungry eyes of the whole ton? She thought not.

“It—it is an expression,” she explained lamely.

If she was not mistaken, the duke looked… disappointed?

“Very well. You may have five minutes,” he answered.

Evangeline would have questioned him on that as well, but it was abundantly obvious from his expression that he was not jesting in the slightest.

She did not have a pocket watch, but Evangeline would have bet on anything at all that it was exactly five minutes on the dot that the duke returned to her side and forcibly linked her arm with his own. He nodded politely to those she was speaking with and then started to lead them out of the room.

“But I have not finished yet!” Evangeline protested with a hiss. She had not even made it over to where her mother was still speaking.

“I was perfectly clear in my instructions. You do not seem to be a woman of a simple mind. I am more than confident that you can understand a plainly put command when it is given to you,” the duke explained as he brought them out to the carriage.

The duke had the carriage door open, and her shoved inside before she fully understood what was happening. She wanted to protest, but she could not seem to summon the proper courage in order to do so. All she could do was sit there and stew in her own unhappiness.

“Do you plan on making it a habit of ripping me away from my family and friends at your leisure, or can I hope that this was an isolated incident?” Evangeline said finally as she crossed her arms and focused on staring out of the open carriage window.

The duke waited so long to answer that she was almost afraid that she would have needed to repeat herself.

“You will find that this marriage will be a good deal more comfortable for you, should you learn to obey me properly without asking quite so many questions.”

The fact that he spoke without malice than matter-of-fact frankness somehow irritated her more than had he barked the words at her.

Evangeline scoffed. “I am not sure where you got the impression that I am obedient, and I certainly shall not obey the words of a tyrant.”

“Is that what you think that I am?”

The way that the man’s head tilted when he spoke made her feel like he was seeing right through her, like he could read her very thoughts and was silently judging them.

She certainly hoped not. She would never be able to live with herself if she were to humiliate herself on that level. “What else am I supposed to think of you, Your Grace, when you have hardly bothered to say any words to me other than ‘I do’?”

“Is conversation what you are seeking?”

“Would it truly be such an unthinkable desire to have a proper conversation with one’s husband?” Evangeline retorted.

Someday, the fact that her mouth moved more quickly than her mind was going to get her in trouble.

“And what purpose would a conversation have when this is a marriage that you rushed into from obligation?”

It seemed that he was rather incapable of answering things directly.

“Are you always this pompous and insufferable?”

“I sit here wondering why it is that you would so eagerly volunteer to marry me if that is what you truly thought about me?” The duke answered, a hint of—dare she say—amusement starting to creep into his inflection once more.

“You should know the answer to that question.”

The duke shrugged. “Perhaps, but I should much prefer to hear it from your own lips.”

Heat blossomed in her face as his eyes fell on her lips, but she refused to look at him for a second longer than she had to. Embarrassment and something else swirled in equal measure inside of her. “Are you incapable of answering a single question directly?”

The duke laughed, a short and clipped sound. One that made her heart pitter-patter in her chest uncomfortably and forced her attention from the scenery outside to the man across from her with wide eyes. She would not have even presumed that he was capable of such a sound.

“You have yet to ask me a question worthy of answering, but please do keep trying. I am learning quite a lot about my new bride,” the duke answered.

Pride or consternation? Condemnation of her inquisitiveness? She could not read him, not even a single tiny bit, and as such, she was forced to presume he was mocking her.

“At least tell me why you insist on carrying around that sword at all times. Even at your own wedding. It is… intimidating!”

Whatever ghost of a smile had been growing on his face moments before faded away the moment she spoke. His hand drifted to the pommel of his sword and hesitated there for a long moment.

“Perhaps you ought to refrain from asking personal questions.”

“Obey you, ask no personal questions. Are there any other rules that you feel I ought to be keeping mindful of? Because it seems that you intend to place a lot of demands upon me and we have not even yet arrived at your home,” Evangeline said, her irritation growing once more. “Why do you even want a wife if you do not want a woman to speak to you?”

Evangeline knew perfectly well that it could be nothing more than a simple obligation on his part. He was a titled gentleman, but she wanted it to be more than that. What sort of life was she going to have if she were married to a man who did not even wish to have the simplest of conversations? Should she merely accept that she married a man as harsh and demanding as her father? Would he be unfaithful to her as well?

I should not care at all about that. It should not come as a surprise if he were.

She eased herself back into her seat and folded her arms across her chest as she waited for an answer that she was almost certain was not going to come.

“Why do you wish to know?”

“Do you always answer your questions with more questions?” She answered instinctively. Only, he seemed to either be more patient or more stubborn than her, as she did not receive an answer. “I just mean to say that this is not a battlefield, and you do not need to arm yourself while in a carriage with your wife. Or your wedding.”

Evangeline did not care for the fact that she almost felt as if she were pouting. That was highly unlike her.

“Perhaps you would be less disappointed if you were to listen to my requests the first time that I make them,” the duke answered. “You are my wife, and you have agreed to be such. We took vows. You will be expected to maintain a certain level of decorum and certain behaviors.”

Evangeline glared at him. “Such as to be seen and not heard?”

“I shall also request that you refrain from putting words in my mouth.”

Evangeline sighed. She had never met a more insufferable person in her entire life. How was this to be her destiny? A taciturn man who had very few obvious redeeming qualities. The fact that he was handsome would only provide him with so much grace.

Anastasia was right to run away from this as quickly as she could. It seemed that the more Evangeline came to learn about the duke, the more she wanted to do exactly the same thing.

“Let me tell you something, Your Grace. I can see that neither of us is satisfied with this union already. But do not fret, I shall have the marriage annulled the moment that my sister is found. That will spare us both the misery of one another’s company, for I am not the woman you are looking for.”

The duke smirked; that same unnervingly alluring expression that made it impossible to look at anything other than him. She could not tear her eyes away from him, from the way that his striking gaze held her completely captive, demanding her attention.

“Well then, my darling wife, perhaps you ought to make haste in locating your absent sister.”

The words were ominous and laced with the threat that she understood them to be.

“Oh? And why is that?” She asked, knowing that whatever the answer was about to be, it was not going to be one that she wanted to hear.

“Because you only have one week before I come to you to consummate our marriage.”