“Not being much of a reader or listener, I suppose you excel at other things—like wandering off on midnight strolls?”
Ah.
Willow swore her chest cracked open, her heart beat so wildly. She rose to a seated position.
“I never took midnight strolling for a skill,” she murmured. Might as well go down in blazing sarcasm.
“Where the hell did you go last night?”
“To bed?”
The edges of his lips tightened. “Do not mock me. Last night after I left, you snuck out to seeher.”
Willow squared her shoulders. The way he spat the word had her hackles rising. “Thisheryou refer to—”
“Where is she?” he pressed.
“I cannot possibly know to whom you are referring. Theherand thesheyou mention, it’s rather vague.”
“My betrothed,” he snapped.
“I was not aware a married man could have one of those.”
“You know very well I mean your sister,” he growled.
“And I rightly do not know where you have scared her off to.”
His eyes blazed with righteous indignation. “I did no such thing.”
“Of course you did. Let there be no illusions between us. My sister ran away at the prospect of eating only one slice of toast in the morning.” She ignored his arched brows. “Amongst other things.”
“And these other things, they are all about love and happily ever after, yes?” he mocked.
She shrugged. “We Middletonsloveour breakfast.”
“And you don’t share your sister’s view? That is why you married me?”
“I’m much more practical when it comes to matters of toast. But less so when it comes to starvation.”
He scoffed. “Those rules are in place to ensure blooming health.”
Blooming health?Who on earth was this man?
“It’sunhealthyto change my diet from hearty breakfast to a meager slice of toast,” Willow countered.
He sighed. A deep heavy exhale of breath. The hardness of his eyes, however, did not soften. “I will not argue the merits of my rules with you. However, it seems to me you are in need of a lesson as you have wittingly put your life in danger by slipping out last night. Do you have any idea how dangerous London is at night?”
In need of a lesson? From the stuffy Duke of St. Ives? Her temper exploded.I think not.
“I was perfectly safe last night and no, dear husband, it’s not I in need of a lesson but you.”
“And what lesson would that be?” he drawled.
“Respecting your wife’s privacy,” she declared. “From henceforth, you shall not set foot in my bedchambers without an invitation!”
Black eyes flashed.
Willow shut her mouth before she could take the words back. In hindsight, that might not have been the wisest declaration since her goal was to become with child. But then, she had no intention of accomplishing her goal onhisterms—at least not as they were declared last night—and she refused to settle for less. Even if it meant putting her plan on hold for the time being.
