Page 37 of My Ruthless Duke

But, even with the greenhouse she claimed she coveted above all else, something was missing. He could not explain how he knew. But for some reason, she was not happy.

So, what was it?

Watching her through the window was not nearly informative enough. He was working to keep some distance but some things were wholly unavoidable at this point.

With Matilde’s help, he had ordered a special dinner just for the two of them and ensured that Mary and Georgie would be otherwise occupied for the evening. All her favorite dishes were prepared, even if it was a surplus and more than the two of them could eat. Roasted mutton, turbot with hollandaise sauce, peas pudding, with all of the sides to accompany it, and he had ensured that Blancmange be available for dessert so that she could be as happy as she possibly could be.

When she arrived in a stunning plum-purple gown, Dorian nearly forgot the entire reason that he had wanted to be alonewith her in the first place. It was so hard to keep his wits about him when faced with her beauty. The short, tantalizing moans that she made when he was deep inside her—no.

Dorian cleared his throat roughly and gestured politely for her to join him. Candles decorated the table instead of the normal overhead chandeliers’ light, and their place settings were moved closer together.

“Is it just the pair of us tonight?” Cordelia asked with a smile as she moved toward her chair almost hesitantly. “I feel so very underdressed for whatever occasion this is.”

“You look perfect. It is nothing like that, I just thought it might be a nice change,” Dorian said as they both took their seats.

“Oh, is that right? No ulterior motives at all?”

“Very honest motives,” Dorian answered honestly.

Cordelia laughed, a rich sound that almost echoed around the room. He was taken aback by how freely the sound left her lips considering he did not think it was because of him that she had cause to laugh. He had merely been honest with her—not trying to be funny in the slightest.

She looked at the confusion on his face and laughed anew. “Apologies, I… it is just, this is so nice… and you…” She pulled her napkin onto her lap and angled herself toward him. “So, what business are we discussing?”

Dorian gestured to the servants who started to serve the prepared dishes to them both. He only spoke again when they were finished. “You, if that is all right?”

“Oh! Then I suppose that I should tell you again how grateful I am that you reconsidered the greenhouse for me. Truly. I asked Matilde to order new iron stems for the hanging planters. Was that not all right? Is that what this is about?”

“Are you happy, Cordelia?”

Whatever she had been expecting him to say, it was not that. She snapped her mouth shut so swiftly that her teeth clicked together. “I beg your pardon?”

“I thought that access to the greenhouse would make you happy?”

“Of course, it does,” Cordelia answered easily. She could not figure out where he was going with the line of questioning for the life of her. “Have I… missed some fight that we have had? I am not sure what cause you have to think that I am unhappy?”

Dorian leaned forward, his hand lifting to cup the side of her face, delighted in no small part when she leaned her face into his hand. He let the pad of his thumb brush softly over the bags under her eyes that never seemed to leave no matter how much she slept.

“You look… worried.”

“Oh, that. I…” Cordelia started as Dorian pulled his hand away, noting the way her features seemed to be even more sunken under the dim lighting. “I worry about my mother, you know that.”

“I do. The care that she has now has been wholly replaced. She has around-the-clock company that serves as companionship as well as monitors for the amount of wine that she consumes. I can start having their reports delivered to you, if you like?”

She nodded. “That would be fine.” Cordelia’s fork plunged into her fish, but there it stayed. She did not take a single bite. “Do you want the truth? I miss my father. All the reports about my mother will not change the fact that she lost the love of her life and I my father. And here I am, renovating a greenhouse while she is in pain.”

“If there is anything I can…”

“Can you tell me why a seemingly happy man would take his own life?”

Cordelia almost looked like she was about to cry.

Dorian did not know what to do with tears. His hands tightened until his knuckles were white.

“I know you said that you were not his friend, that you did not actually know him but… but I cannot help but to think there is still more that you are not telling me. Dorian. You have shared somuch with me, and I know it was not easy for you… so why can you share that but keep whatever knowledge that you have about my father from me?” Cordelia said flatly. A single tear rolled down her cheek that she wiped away just as quickly.

Because I killed him.

Awkwardly, he pushed his napkin in her direction, but she shook her head.