The Duke and the Accidental Bride (Duchesses of Convenience #5)

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

I sabella was left speechless.

She stood in the doorway to her bedroom, staring at her bed, unable to comprehend what she was looking at or how she should react. What she should feel .

“Do you like it?” Duncan asked from behind her.

“I... you did not have to --”

“I told you that I would.”

“Still...” She stepped into the room, nervously, as if she was worried to make any sudden movements. “There was no need.”

“I wanted to,” he said as he followed her in.

She shook her head and turned back to face him. Unsurprisingly, he looked rather pleased with himself, aware that he had done a good thing and that it was very appreciated. It was but one of many ‘right things’ that he had done this week, even if this felt more significant than the others.

Isabella had been certain that all the gift giving and compliment paying was false. That Duncan was only doing it to force her into compliance so that she wouldn’t annoy and anger him. The appearance of a happy marriage without any of the excitement.

This time, it felt different.

His delight appeared real. And for the first time this week, Isabella was forced to question if there was more to what was going on here than she had thought.

“It’s for tonight,” he said. “The Mayfield Ball. Our first night out together and I thought it best if you looked your best. A high ceiling to reach, I know,” he added with a chuckle. “But I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“Either do I,” She returned the smile, and this time it felt genuine.

Duncan had bought her a dress for the ball. An elegant gown of emerald and forest green, darker over the body, with a lighter chemise that flowed into a gorgeous skirt. The hemming and stitching were golden, the intricate lace pattern was flowery, and the design was modest with its higher neckline and sleeves, but still tight fitting to show off her curves.

And it wasn’t just the dress that had Isabella gasping. There was jewelry to match. A pair of ruby-encrusted earrings. A silver tiara that looked to have been inlaid with gold. And a necklace that Isabella looked at but did not want to touch because it was such a delicate piece of craftsmanship that she worried she might break it.

“Duncan...” She was back to looking at the ensemble, unable to put into words how she was feeling.

“You like it, then?”

“I love it.”

Tonight was going to be the night that Isabella turned Duncan back against her. With an audience to watch, Isabella had planned on doing just enough to force a confrontation that was sure to set Duncan on fire. And myself, for that matter.

Easier to do when she had convinced herself that she was doing them a favor. That Duncan wanted her to. That he was being purposefully false because he didn’t really mean anything that he said.

The appearance of this dress, and Duncan’s delight at seeing her reaction, brought into question all these so-called truths that Isabella had known as fact until thirty seconds ago. Now, she wasn’t sure what she thought, what she knew, or what she was going to do!

Was it possible that Duncan’s affection was genuine? And that he didn’t want her to force him into the monster whom she was so desperate to finally meet? That he wanted her to behave.

And if that was the case, did that mean he was trying to make something of this marriage? Where all Isabella could think to do was destroy it?

Needless to say, Isabella was more than a little confused. And as she slipped into the dress and put on the jewelry, gasping at how utterly stunning she looked, while blushing to imagine the Duke’s expression when he saw her for the first time in it, she questioned if she should go ahead with her plan tonight. Or if she even still wanted to.

“Have I told you yet how beautiful you look?” Duncan spoke out the side of his mouth as the two walked through the foyer. Beyond, Duncan could hear the ever growing sounds of the Mayfield Ball, so he figured it was best to slip in one final compliment before they became swept up in the festivities.

“You have,” Isabella said, pressing her lips together to keep herself from smiling. “But I suppose once more will not hurt.”

“That is the last time, I swear it,” he said. “I fear that any more and it might go to your head.”

“Oh, Duncan, who is to say that it hasn’t already.”

“Well deserved though, I think. If anyone here should feel that way, it is you.”

To this, Duncan caught Isabella rolling her eyes at the saccharine nature of his comments. But he also saw her working to suppress her smile, which told him that his excessive compliments had hit the mark perfectly.

It really is that easy. Tell a woman how beautiful she is and watch her melt in your palm like butter on a warm day.

Duncan beamed as he and Isabella made their way into the Mayfield Ball, arm in arm, the very picture of what a perfect marriage should be. No fighting. No bickering. No sense that they were anything but content.

Duncan’s plan had worked perfectly.

Needing a way to diffuse the tension between himself and Isabella, he had taken to being excessively complimentary and damn charming to great effect. The moment he sensed that Isabella was trying to upset him, he pushed down the anger that threatened to consume him and forced himself to say something nice to her instead.

And Isabella fell for it. Every single time.

They seemed to confuse her, setting her off guard, and then leaving her in a state of unsureness such that her efforts to annoy him fizzled and faded as if they had never been. And then, almost always, she would thank him!

What is more, my urge to bed her is nowhere near as aggressive as it had been. Whether or not that is a good thing, however...

“Duncan!” Duncan heard his name called and turned just in time to see his mother coming for him. “There you are!”

“Mother.” Duncan smiled as he pulled his arm free from Isabella and swept toward his mother, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Lovely to see you.”

“When you told me that you were coming, I confess, I thought that you were lying to your poor mother.”

He chuckled. “Isabella convinced me.” He made sure to bring Isabella in to greet his mother. “Does she not look wonderful in this dress.”

“Good evening,” Isabella said politely. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Your Grace.”

“As it is you,” Duncan’s mother greeted her, sounding a little suspicious at the greeting. “And looking so...” She pressed her lips together and studied Isabella for a moment. “Buoyant. Compared to how you looked on your wedding day, the change is remarkable.”

“A week makes all the difference,” Duncan said quickly. “And what a week it has been. Is that not right, Isabella?”

Isabella frowned and for a moment, Duncan was certain she was going to say something rude. For no other reason than his mother was the very reason that they were in this mess in the first place, so why not let the woman know it?

His heart beat quickly, almost wanting it.

“I was simply tired,” Isabella said politely. “But your son is right. It has been a... a lovely week to begin our marriage. Better than I might have hoped.”

“Only to improve from here on out,” Duncan was sure to say, even as his stomach sunk “And with a wife that looks as good as this...” He made sure to indicate her dress. “This marriage is turning out to be a blessing. Who would have thought?”

Isabella eyed him suspiciously. “Yes, who would have thought.”

There was one problem inherent in Duncan’s plan. One that, when first marrying Isabella, he wouldn’t have dreamed to be possible. This marriage, for how easy it has seemingly been this past week, was missing something.

Not that Duncan needed to guess what that something was. Oh, he was only too aware of that. But that was also dangerous and the exact opposite of what he had told himself he needed in this marriage.

But what was the point of a marriage if it was missing that fire? He had thought that this was what he desired, as the alternative was not only dangerous in how out of control it might risk becoming, but would also reignite memories that Duncan had worked well to suppress – the very reason he had promised never to become that man again.

He told himself he wanted simple and manageable. But the way that he hungered for Isabella to ignore his compliments and snap at him just once, just enough to set him off... it suggested the complete opposite.

“Isabella!” a voice called through the crowd. It was Louisa, waving excitedly for her sister. “Over here!”

Isabella smiled and waved at her sister. Then, she started to go to her, only to stop and turned back to Duncan. “May I be excused?” she asked.

Duncan didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry out in frustration. A week ago, the very thought that she would ask permission, rather than just doing what she wished, was an athame to everything he thought he knew about the woman. Now, she was as meek as a house cat.

“Of course,” Duncan said. “And thank you for asking.”

She smiled and bowed her head and then turned and hurried to greet her sister.

“My oh my, she is so well behaved and what manners,” his mother commented.

You have no idea , he thought bitterly.

“The two of you look rather happy,” Louisa noted of Isabella and Duncan. “Do I detect a budding romance?”

Isabella rolled her eyes. “Hardly. The fact that we are not fighting, while agreeable, is not cause to get too excited.”

“But still...” Louisa looked smug. “I was watching the two of you when you arrived, and you seemed...” She shrugged. “Rather good together. Better than good, in fact.”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“How so?”

“We are behaving, Louisa, but only because the man has given me no other choice! It is hard not to be cantankerous when all the man does is compliment me and give me gifts.”

“The nerve of him! What’s next? He’s going to take you away somewhere nice for a holiday? Paris or what-have-you? Shame on that man. Shame on him!”

Something had to give, and tonight was proving to be the final straw.

The ball was typically gallant and grandiose in all the ways that these events often were. Brightly and ostentatiously dressed women. Smartly dressed men. Dancing and drinking and plenty of chatter as the throngs of excited guests moved to and fro across the open ballroom.

It was a social event, a chance to relax and have a little bit of fun. But Isabella was so tense with nerves that fun was the very last thing on her mind.

Duncan was just working so hard to keep her from doing or saying anything that might cause alarm. He was desperate for her to behave. And where to the casual observer it looked like a happy little marriage the two had carved out for one another, it was anything but.

Only... Isabella didn’t know what she was going to do. Or how she was going to do it. She had been set on upsetting the apple cart tonight, finally doing something! But with how congenial and pleasant Duncan was being – how genuine he seemed. It was hard to find the enthusiasm.

The irony that her husband being nice to her might threaten to destroy their marriage before it even had a chance to begin, was not lost on Isabella.

“Who is that?” Louisa said suddenly.

“Hmm? Who?”

“That?” Louisa grabbed Isabella by the arm and directed her attention across the ball room. “Who His Grace is speaking with.”

Isabella found her husband and saw immediately to whom her sister was referring. She was a tall and elegant looking woman, a tad older than Duncan, with dark features and shining white skin that stood out against the darker gown she was wearing. Very pretty, Isabella thought. And clearly very interested in her husband.

The woman was flirting with Duncan. Slapping at his chest. Laughing at everything that he said. And even though Duncan appeared to not be encouraging her, she persisted nonetheless!

As to how Isabella felt about it? She wasn’t entirely sure.

Logically she should not have cared. After all, she had long since convinced herself that she did not like her husband and that this marriage was never going to be a love match. So what did she care who he flirted with?

Yet as she watched the two speak, she could not ignore the knots twisting in her stomach. Knots of jealousy which didn’t make any sense! Even if they should have.

“That looks entirely too friendly,” Louisa said in a huff. “Don’t you think?”

“I am sure it is fine...”

“Fine?” Louisa scoffed. “It is not fine. If that was my husband, I would let him know it too. Honestly, the nerve of the man.”

“Louisa...” Isabella's brow tightened as Duncan nudged the older woman with his elbow and whispered something that had the woman laughing. “They are just speaking.”

“Even if they are, it is highly inappropriate. To behave that way at an event like this one – with friends and family about? His Grace should know better.”

Isabella opened her mouth to again tell her sister that it was perfectly fine. But then an idea struck her, like lightning, such was the power of this idea and the reaction that it sent through her.

Louisa made a good point. Even if her husband was doing nothing wrong technically, he should still have known better than to allow that woman to behave that way toward him. And with his wife in the same room! Even the most docile of wives would have every right to speak to their husband about doing such a thing.

A smile spread over Isabella’s face and her eyes flashed excitement.

This was it. This was exactly what she had been looking for. A reason to antagonize her husband in a way that he could not wiggle out of or compliment his way through. A reasonable means by which she could anger him.

She felt a tingle ripple up the inside of her thighs. She felt her heart begin to beat just that little bit faster. Her husband angry. The two of them alone. Her wicked tongue refusing to behave itself because in this instance her husband deserved it.

Isabella continued to watch Duncan and the strange woman across the room, flirting outrageously in ways that delighted her. Was she jealous? She told herself that she was not, and that had nothing to do with why she was now so eager to act. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t take some pleasure in knowing that the woman, whoever she was, would be going home alone tonight while her husband would be going home with her.

And if I have my way, that is not all he will be doing…