“You, Gilbert Huxley, make my skin crawl,” she continued, “and if I did not believe it would go unpunished, I would shoot you myself.” Inside, Eva might be a quivering mess but she would never show him that. Never again would she be that frightened young girl in his presence.
“Hear me well, Gilbert Huxley, for I mean every word I speak,” Eva said slowly. “You will leave my property and never return, and if you disobey these orders, I will have you shot.”
He laughed in her face. “You could not get away with killing a nobleman, Berengaria, and it is my belief that you are too timid to do so.”
“I am a duchess, my Lord. I am sure my misdeeds would be overlooked, should my husband wish it to be so.” Eva braced her shaking knees together as he glared at her. She shivered at the murderous rage in his eyes.
“This will not end here, Berengaria, and you will be sorry you ever crossed me.”
“Have him removed from Stratton, Luton, and see he leaves the area completely,” Eva ordered holding his eyes. Taking the shotgun from Betsy, she then left the room.
…
Daniel had hoped returning to London would prove to be a diversion. His anger would abate and he would forget what he had left behind at Stratton. Eight weeks he had been back and instead of easing, his anger and frustrations were growing. He was heartily sick of everyone asking after his wife. Instead of waning, the interest in his nuptials appeared to be gaining momentum. He had attended balls, routs and card evenings. When questioned as to the whereabouts of his wife, he gave a polite but curt reply, saying she had chosen to remain in the country. Some had given up asking, especially as his explanation was always followed with a dark scowl, but the more determined had kept probing.
“So soon, Duke. We wondered at the rush to wed…”
“Is her condition too delicate for travel, perchance?”
“Miss Winchcomb, Duke. Most unexpected. We had thought you would set your sights higher...”
He had ground his teeth so many times at each innuendo and question, he was sure they would shatter. And then there were the eligible young ladies, the ones who’d all thought to catch him in their snares. They now sent him teary, reproachful glances. Their mothers and some of the more promiscuous widows, however, were sending him covetous glances, and he was besieged by invitations to share beds. It seemed now he was to be hunted by another sort of female - the bored, attached kind whose husbands turned a blind eye to their wives’ little affairs. Of course he was usually more than happy to oblige, but somehow it all seemed a bit tawdry that due to his marital status, he was now fair game - which just showed what a hypocrite he was, as he had spent many long pleasant interludes in the beds of wives, widows and any number of society ladies.
Last night at the Simpkin ball, Lady Louisa Hall suggested she and Daniel have an encounter at the Trengally house party that was to take place in a month’s time in Essex. Daniel had smiled politely and said he was honored but would have to decline. Rather than be put off by his refusal, Lady Louisa had merely fallen on his chest – accidentally, of course – before blowing in his ear.
Shuddering, Daniel remembered her thick, cloying scent. He had left the ball to visit his mistress, but Amelia had pouted and cried over his long absence from her bed and then asked after his wife, indicating her displeasure that he had not informed her of his nuptials. He had simply pulled his breeches back up his legs and stalked from her room, aroused, frustrated and bloody furious with the world.#p#分页标题#e#
At present, he was drowning his sorrows at his club - or he had been until his friend Simon, Lord Kelkirk arrived. Having just returned to London, he’d heard of Daniel’s marriage and demanded to know why he had not been invited to the celebrations.
“I told you I was leaving London to get married,” Daniel said.
“Yes, but I did not believe you!” Lord Kelkirk scowled at his friend. “Good Lord, man, you are always saying one thing and doing another. How was I to know this time you were telling the truth?”
Daniel didn’t respond, just stared into the depths of his glass.
“And that, Stratton, is the fourth sigh in as many minutes.” Lord Kelkirk added.
Daniel had left his estate with the intention of pushing all thoughts of his wife from his head. However since his arrival in London, she seemed to have taken up permanent residency there. He remembered that night in her room, when the darkness had allowed them to speak honestly. Daniel had been surprised how good it had felt to share some of his feelings with her. He could still feel her soft weight in his arms, the swell of her breasts against his chest, the feel of her tears on his skin. She had smelt of roses and every cloying scented woman since had seemed distasteful to his senses.