To Desire a Wicked Duke (Courtship Wars)

“Actually I can, love.”

As their glances clashed, Tess bit back a hot retort. She would not permit him to turn her into a shrew. She was always agreeable and even-tempered; indeed, she never raised her voice to anyone but Rotham. Letting him provoke her was not the way to win this argument. No, she intended to remain on the offensive.

Taking a calming breath, she forced herself to say sweetly, “So you mean to act the tyrant and refuse me?”

Rotham hesitated before a faint scowl crossed his features. “I am not acting the tyrant.”

“No? Then what do you call this high-handed, autocratic manner of yours? Do you honestly believe you can browbeat me into following your commands?”

Rotham opened his mouth to respond, then closed it again. Mutely, he leveled a look at her, his eyes containing a gleam of mockery, even exasperation.

Evidently he understood her strategy, since he took a different tack. “How will it look if you bolt from Bellacourt after only one day of marriage? Who will believe that we made a love match?”

Tess arched an eyebrow. “So that is what worries you. The ton will think you have driven me away and you will look the villain.”

“Oh, yes, I live in fear of looking the villain,” he said, very dryly. In a softer tone, he added, “I admit I would rather not have the entire world think I have sent my new bride fleeing from me, but my concern for your safety is the more pressing reason for my objection.”

She smiled brittlely at him. “We have had this argument before, Rotham. Your concern is unwarranted.”

“I disagree. I promised Richard I would look after you.”

Her smile fading, Tess gave him a puzzled look. Then her gaze narrowed. “Is that what your recent interference in my affairs has been all about? Because you made Richard a promise to keep watch over me?”

Rotham’s eyelids lowered to shade his striking eyes. “In part. I was the one who bought Richard his set of colors. I owed it to him to see that you remained unharmed.”

“So you felt guilty for sending him off to war?”

Rotham didn’t reply, but Tess knew she had struck a nerve in him—and herself as well.

She had never consciously acknowledged her feelings about the part the duke had played in his cousin’s military service, but truthfully, she had always resented Rotham a little for purchasing Richard’s commission, even though she knew such resentment was irrational. Yet how could she feel otherwise when her fate had been impacted so cruelly by the decision? Richard had planned to sell out his commission after they were wed, but then he’d been called back to war and had lost his life in battle.

With effort, Tess swallowed the sudden ache in her throat and managed to keep her voice light. “You never fail to astonish me, Rotham. To think that you actually have a heart.”

Her taunt made him wince. But at least she achieved her initial goal. Rotham exhaled a heavy sigh of annoyance. “Very well, I won’t object if you go to Cornwall.”

Before she could celebrate, however, he added in a stern tone, “However, I intend to accompany you.”

Tess shook her head. How was she to fight her attraction for him if he went with her? “That will never do,” she said hurriedly.

“Why not?”

“For one thing, you promised Jamie you would teach him to build a fort of leaves today, remember? You cannot disappoint him now. And for another, there is Basil’s pride. We discussed this last night, Rotham. For Basil to be able to wed Fanny, he must earn a significantly greater salary than he does now, but the offer of better employment must come from you so he will not think it charity on my part. Therefore, you need to remain here in order to hire Basil away from his curren

t employer. You will, of course, send him to Cornwall as soon as the deal is struck—and you can even accompany him if you must—but I am traveling ahead with Fanny immediately. This afternoon, if I can arrange it.”

He was not pleased about her scheme, clearly. Yet something in her tone must have warned him that after the emotional upheaval of being forced to wed him, and the shock of seeing his young ward, Tess had reached the end of her tether.

“As you wish,” Rotham said finally. “I will write a letter of introduction to Falwell and have it sent by courier at once.”

Tess eyed him warily, surprised that he had capitulated to her terms without further battle. But she wouldn’t give Rotham time to change his mind.

“Thank you,” she said swiftly, graciously, and sincerely. “Now if you will excuse me, I must send a message to Fanny and tell her of my plan.”

She turned and escaped the breakfast room, feeling Rotham’s gaze following her all the while. When she reached the corridor, Tess breathed a sigh of relief and vexation.

Relief because she would soon be on her way to Cornwall, far away from her dangerous new husband.

Vexation because of her contrary, tumultuous, maddening feelings toward him.