Page 26 of My Ruthless Duke

Something in the room next to them shattered—something large smashed across the wall that connected to the parlor that they stood in. Loudly and abruptly enough that Cordelia flinched andscooted away from the offending wall as if it would somehow open up and lash out at her.

“Was that… did the duke do that?” Matthew asked, all earlier brightness gone from his expression.

“I am not sure…”

If it was the duke, it was something new. Was she supposed to have gone after him? She had never thought of him as the sort of man to throw things when he was angry or anything of the sort. He seemed far more like the sort of man to isolate himself until he had calmed down.

Well, apart from their brief moment in the library.

“Cordelia, please do not take offense when I ask you this, for I only ever want the best things in life for you.”

“Of course, I know that you do.”

“Has the duke… has he harmed you? Is he terrorizing you or even making you sad?” Matthew asked as he closed the distance between them. “I have heard what people say about him. If he has been violent, then–”

“No, Matthew. That is not… His Grace is not a violent man.”

Her reflexes told her that she ought to step back from him, to create space, but the question caught her off guard. It would beso niceto have somebody that she could confide in fully. Somebody that she knew would be on her side and would only truly want the best for her in all things. Surely, Matthew could be that person for her, but to tell him anything somehow also felt like a betrayal of her husband’s trust.

Matthew placed a hand on her upper arm and bent down to make himself more level with her eye as he captured her gaze. “You can tell me anything, you know? I am here for you, Cordelia.”

It felt too intimate. Bells of warning chimed in her head. The way that he was looking at her felt… far too much. It was heavy and she did not know how to process it. At the same time, she wanted to cry.

“You look unwell, my dear cousin, if anyone is harming you—I do not know what I would do,” he confessed.

“N-no. Nothing like that. His Grace has been nothing but kind to me,” Cordelia said quickly to reassure him.

“I know what sort of man that he is rumored to be, Cordelia. I should hate for a beast like that to–”

“My husband would never harm me, Matthew, I am certain of that. I am merely having some difficulties adjusting to life here away from the city. All of my friends are back in London, and you are the first to have made the trip to come and visit me.”

It almost seemed like Matthew was going to call her out on what was likely an obvious story, but he did not. “Perhaps you ought to throw a party then. Something that will give you the social outlet that you crave and allow everybody to properly celebrate your new marriage.”

“Oh! What a lovely idea!”

“I am rather known for those sorts of ideas,” Matthew said with a hint of playful arrogance to relieve the tension. “You are quite welcome.”

Her smile faltered for a moment, the words touching a deeper nerve than he perhaps realized. She quickly masked it with a brighter expression. “You are right. I think I could arrange something grand. Something fitting for a duchess.”

He leaned back in his chair, nodding approvingly. “Exactly. And I will gladly attend, of course. You shall need someone to keep the conversation lively, after all.”

He softened at her admission, reaching out to take her hand gently. “Cordelia, you are more than capable of handling this. You always have been. And… if you ever feel lost, I will always be just a letter away.”

Her heart warmed at his words, and for the first time in days, she felt a sense of comfort settle over her. “Thank you,” she said, squeezing his hand. “I truly do not know what I would do without you.”

Matthew smirked, the mood lifting again. “Well, it is a good thing you will not ever have to find out.”

Chapter 13

“This is what you said that you wanted, Dorian. Was it not?”

Mary asked with a smug smile as she stood on the sidelines of the grand ballroom. The place was positively transformed. A small stage with a string quartet played in the far corner, and decadent food was arranged for those who wished to graze throughout the evening. While it was only to be a small affair, allegedly, it was decorated as if it were a ball. He had been forced to listen to Mary and Cordelia’s planning and them putting their final touches on the event all afternoon. They had planned the guest list, the games, the schedule, and where everyone would sleep should they choose to stay over for the morning. An equally elaborate breakfast was supposed to be planned for tomorrow.

Mary had insisted on that part, as it was the only portion of the events Georgie would be allowed to attend. He had not gone to bed with his nanny easily. They did not host functions like this here, and he was over the moon with excitement. To be deprivedof it had started the biggest pouting fit he thought he had ever seen from the boy, which was saying something.

Alas, Georgie does not realize how lucky he is…

Mary pressed a glass of wine into Dorian’s hand as she hummed happily to the music. “You wanted her to smile, and now she is. What could you possibly have to be so surly about?”