Page 20 of My Beastly Duke

“Is that…?” Cordelia’s eyes widened with surprise.

Marina’s heart skipped a beat as she let out a shaky breath. “It certainly sounds like my husband, yes.” A moment of confusion ensued as she tried to determine where the voice had come from. It did not take her very long to discern that the duke and another man were playing a game just beyond the garden.

“Just what on earth is going on?” She shook her head in frustration more than anything else before placing the spoiled cup of tea back on the table and pushing herself up.

Cordelia followed suit and hurried behind Marina as they set off with the shuttle cock in the direction of the noise.

It did not take them long to come across a puzzling scene of Aaron and his brother battling furiously with two rackets over a net that had been fastened to two poles.

Their clothes clung to their bodies from the effort they were putting in as they ran back and forth from one end of the net to the other. Both brothers seemed equally skilled at the sport, each grimacing with a loud grunt of exertion when they volley the shuttle cock back to the other player.

Marina’s heart skipped a beat when her eyes settled on the strong muscles of her husband’s back. Yet the strange fluttering was quickly replaced by anger as she realized that he had come home without letting her know.

How long had he been there? And when was he going to let her know that he had returned?

Crossing her arms over her chest, she pursed her lips in disapproval, seething with anger as she watched them play.

“Do you suppose they will beat each with the rackets?” Cordelia whispered to her despite the fact that the men were quite a distance away from them.

Marina clenched her jaw until her teeth began to ache. “Oh, at least one of them should be bludgeoned with a racket. Or both.” She felt her anger growing the more she watched her husband play.

Jumping into the air with a great display of strength and agility, Adam volleyed the ball in his brother’s direction. A broad smile spread across his lips when it seemed as if Aaron would not reach the other end of the net in time.

Aaron, however, was too fast for the trick and quickly volleyed the shuttle cock back before Adam could regain his footing. The shuttle cock made contact with the tip of Aaron’s racket, sending it flying back with great speed.

Everyone seemed to be watching in slow motion as Adam dived, landing on his stomach in front of the net. The shuttle cock landed on the grass, barely nicking the tip of his racket with a feather.

“I win. Happy now?” The duke gripped his racket with both hands and lifted it above his head in a display of victory.

“Do you suppose they will bludgeon each other now?” Cordelia shot Adam a cautious glance as it seemed as if he were about to burst with anger.

“I demand a rematch!” Adam jumped to his feet, gripping the handle of his racket until his knuckles turned white.

The smirk on the duke’s face only broadened. “We can have a rematch until the breath leaves your lungs, it will not make you any better.”

Adam narrowed his eyes, clenching his jaw until it seemed as if a vein in his head would pop. “I do not accept this!” he raised his voice as anger seeped from his very being.

The duke simply shrugged, pulling the corner of his mouth to the side. “You can refuse to accept it for as long as you like, the outcome will remain the same. I told you; I am tired of playing these games with you. Now leave me alone.”

His words seemed to hit a nerve with Adam as a racket went flying past his head.

Moving to the side, Aaron stepped out of the racket’s way just as it zoomed past his face.

Cursing under his breath, Adam turned from the net and stomped off in the direction of the house.

“Well, that was very mature, I think you may have dodged a bullet when he jilted you at the altar. I had better take my leave before any more sporting equipment goes flying through the air.” Cordelia teased her gently before bumping her arm and heading back toward their abandoned tea.

Marina felt conflicted as she stood looking at the man who had left her on the morning after their wedding.

He seemed utterly unaware of her presence until she came forward and picked up the racket that Adam had abandoned.

“I am glad to see that you have returned home safely, Your Grace. And that you seem to have regained your mirth. Care to venture an explanation as to where you went?” She came up straight and tapped the edge of the racket against her palm.

Turning around, Aaron looked at her with a veiled expression. “We had an agreement, my business is my own, no questions asked. I do not need to clarify my absence during the day when all I need are your nights.”

The hungry look in his eyes as they swept over her body, sent a wave of confusion coursing through her veins.

What is he thinking? Does he find me attractive or not?