Her hands tightened their hold on her breasts. “Since I’m in no position to flee your presence at the moment, you may ask whatever you want, but you cannot demand I answer.”
He stared at her.
She did the same. Just because he had leverage in the form of his clothes, didn’t mean she would let him get what he wanted without a fight. “Why are you even here?” she demanded when he hadn’t begun his interrogation of her yet.
“I was told my wife was in the kitchen getting things ready for a bath.”
“Oh, so you were expecting to take a peek.” She would have been thrilled at that information a few minutes ago. Now she just plain didn’t care. Actually, no. Now, the knowledge was insulting.
“No, I wasn’t looking for a peek. I thought you were helping boil the water or some such nonsense, not naked as a newborn soaking in the tub.” An unusual smile took his lips. “Besides, even I’m that much of an imbecile when it comes to you, if I’d wanted a peek I wouldn’t have stormed in here like that. I would have opened the door as slowly as possible so it didn’t creak then stood in the doorway and looked my fill.”
“You’re perverse.”
“No. I’m honest. But that’s not what we’re talking about. I want to know why you’re bathing in such an open place where anyone could see you.”
She implored him with her eyes. “It seems to me, you’re the only one in here seeing me who shouldn’t be.”
He scowled. “That’s only because I’m standing in front of the door, making sure everyone else keeps his eyes to himself.”
“I have no idea what your complaint is. I’m just taking a bath.”
He took a step closer to her and she tightened her legs. “Is that what you think?”
She blinked. “Did you hit your head on the ceiling in the carriage when Cruxley drove over a tree trunk last night?” He was making no sense, and acting like an imbecile, at that.
“No.” He folded his arms, standing next to her tub. “I don’t like the idea of your bathing for all the world to see.”
“I am not.”
“Yes, you are,” he countered, his expression impossible for her to read. He cocked his head to the side, then suddenly his eyes widened and he blinked. “I’m sorry, Juliet. I understand now.”
“Understand what?” she asked, more out of frustration than curiosity.
He flushed and tore his gaze away. “You―” he gestured to her as if she didn’t know who he was talking about― “are used to people watching you bathe. All those younger siblings and all.” He shuddered. “I imagine you didn’t have much in the way of privacy. So you’ve no qualm with others seeing what some might consider to be...er...private.”
His boyishly red face, complete with him blinking his eyes and biting his lip did nothing to settle the rage building in Juliet’s chest. “You are a very arrogant man! Just because my family doesn’t have the wealth or connections you come from, does not give you leave to demean me. I’ll admit, I may not have grown up having baths as frequently as you. And I will also admit my family members walked in on me from time to time, thus leading me not to be as modest as most. But, you go too far when you imply that I have no modesty or shame.”
Drake crossed his arms. “Then why are you bathing in such a public place as the kitchen?”
She stared at him, dumbfounded. “And where else would I bathe?”
“Your room.”
“And which room would that be, my lord?”
His mouth worked, but no words came out.
She smiled. “That’s what I thought.”
“What’s what you thought?” he snapped.
“You don’t know where I fit in your life.” Her words weren’t meant as anything other than just a statement of the truth, but for some reason he winced.
“Is that what you really think?” He sat down on the stool next to her tub not bothering to pick up her towel before sitting on it.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I think. Though you married me in hopes of having me work as a governess to your daughters, you realized that wouldn’t work because I’m your wife. Well, for appearance sake, anyway.” She gave up the fight to keep herself covered and stood. Modesty was a small sacrifice to be able to leave the room.
“What’s that to mean?”
She shrugged, then a blush crept over her when she realized the movement made her breasts bounce before his gaze. “It means for the sake of appearances I am your wife. Nothing more. The only time you’ve ever been kind to me was when we were in public and you had to in order to keep up the facade. But when it’s just us, the real you comes out.”