A Thin Line (30 page)

“How many sponges have we gone through?” She asked on a husky laugh.

“Don’t worry, we have plenty.
 
What did you mean earlier when you said ‘my wolf’?”

“You cannot say a word if I tell you.”
 

“I promise,” he said reluctantly.

“When Tessa first came back to us, she didn’t know your name.
 
She thought with that scar and your piercing eyes you seemed like a wolf.
 
In fact, I believe she even said you acted as if you would rather rip her throat out than keep her around.”

“Oh,” he said.

Mikala thought she heard something enter his voice that did not sound like Gabe at all.
 
He almost sounded hurt.
 
“Gabe, she didn’t mean anything by it.
 
She did not even know you at the time.”

“No, and she still doesn’t like me very much does she?
 
And what reason have I given her to?
 
My word, I…” he broke off and sat on the side of the bed, fingering his scar for a moment.
 
He sensed his wife’s hand reaching out, grazing his arm until he felt her caressing his back.
 
Gabe relished her touch, but knew in many ways he did not deserve it.
 
He stiffened and pulled away from her before standing and crossing the room.

Mikala cursed herself for not holding her tongue earlier.
 
“I’m sorry for bringing it up in the first place.
 
I truly never thought much about it, just that it could be an apt description of you at times.”

“What is that supposed to be mean?”

“Nothing,” she mumbled, falling back onto the bed, pulling the sheet up to cover herself.
 
“This isn’t going to work is it, Gabriel?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Us.
 
We can’t even be intimate without fighting.”
 
She knew she sounded defeated, but she couldn’t quite help it.
 
She felt the distance growing between them by the second.

“I don’t know what you’re getting at.”

“This never should have happened.”

“You’re right.”

Anger suffused her and as she tried to climb off the bed she found herself tangled in the sheets and would have fallen off the bed if he hadn’t grabbed her.
 
Once she stood upright, she ripped her arm out of his grip and crossed the room, stubbing her toe on the dresser.

“I thought you had memorized the layout of the room,” he taunted.

“Go to Hell,” Mikala growled, storming past him.

“Are you angry because I agreed with you?”
 
Her sightless, hazel eyes sparkled green as she turned her head in his general direction.

“Yes!
 
And I’m mad because I know I’m right, too!
 
And I’m mad at not being able to see because we would not be in this situation otherwise.
 
I’m
furious
at the person that caused the explosion.
 
But most of all I regret that you can no longer be with Clarissa, and I cannot be in my dream cottage far from you!”

“I have told you that I made no promises to Clarissa.”

“It’s not Clarissa, it’s the idea of her.
 
The perfect hostess.
 
The perfect duchess to your spotless reputation as a duke.
 
I know you married beneath you when we exchanged vows.
 
We both know that, at some point, I will be an embarrassment to you.
 
I know you will come to resent me, and our physical attraction will not even be enough to hold you.
 
I suggest that we go our separate ways after all this is over,” she sounded much more confident than she felt.

“You are being ridiculous.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You are.
 
There is one important thing you have overlooked.
 
I am going to need an heir.
 
If we are living separate lives, how do you suggest I get one?
 
Should I conjure a child out of thin air?”

“You’re right.”

Gabe relaxed somewhat, until he heard her next words.
 

“An annulment would have been better, but a divorce will have to do.
 
You have enough connections that it should not be too hard to obtain.
 
Place the full blame on me, barrenness, mental instability, or anything else.
 
Then you can marry someone more fitting.
 
Perhaps Clarissa will still be available.”

“Let’s get one thing straight. There will be no bloody divorce,” he growled.
 
“We are married and will stay married.
 
I will hear no more arguments to the contrary.”

“My, you really do sound like a wolf.
 
I can only imagine that your teeth are gritted and your lips are practically snarling at me.”

“Yes, and would you like to make a comment about the scar as well?”

“No,” she didn’t know why, but for some reason he did not like to talk about how he had acquired the scar.
 
Mikala had always been curious, but that same day his brother had died in a horse-riding accident and there never seemed to be time.
 

“And all this talk about Clarissa stops here and now.
 
She is not what I desire in a wife.”

“Then you will find somebody suitable.
 
In the meantime, I will stay out of your way as much as possible.”

“Kala, I didn’t mean to say what I did yesterday.
 
I was tired and it had been an extremely bad day.”
 
He saw her flinch at his words.
 
“Not the wedding,” he quickly explained, “the other.”

“I’m truly sorry about that, Gabriel.
 
I just think that perhaps we should rethink our situation.”

“Rethink our situation?
 
Dammit, Kala, we’re married in every way imaginable.
 
There will be no undoing that, do you understand?
 
I don’t know exactly what it is you feel you have to rethink, but I am going to be gone a few days and by the time I get back you better bloody well have it figured it out.”

“Where are you going?”

“When you decide you want to be my wife in
every
way, not just the bedroom, then you can question me.
 
Until then, I need to bathe and get dressed, so if you would leave me in peace, I would appreciate it.”

“I hope you break your bloody neck!”

“It is so nice to have one’s wife wish them well on their travels.
 
I will keep your felicitation close to my heart,” Gabe replied sarcastically.
 
He watched her pass through the connecting door, slamming it shut behind her.
 
Part of the sheet caught between the door and frame, and remained there.
 
He walked towards the door and his hand paused on the handle when he heard her muffled crying.
 
His gut clenched and he briefly touched the door before turning away.
 
Gabe couldn’t remember ever having witnessed her cry before.
 
She would never forgive him if he walked through that door now.
 
It seemed they were at an impasse.

***

“Hello, beautiful,” the maid pulled up at hearing the voice.
 
She looked around, but saw no one else around her at the moment.
 
Then she saw him.
 
She had seen him several times the last few days as she went to the market.
 
Tracy thought him to be one of the most handsome men she had ever seen.
 
He didn’t wear servant’s clothes and seemed to be a business man of some type.
 
They always seemed to run into each other when she had to go to market for Cook.
 

“Hello,” she replied shyly.
 
Her heart raced in excitement.
 
He had never spoken to her before.

“What are you doing about all alone?”

“Going to the market.
 
And you?”

“Why, accompanying you.
 
My name’s Mike,” the man had the most beautiful face and eyes.
 
She found herself upset that his hat brim covered much of it.
 
“I’ve seen you from afar and you have just about stolen what good sense I have left.”

“Really?
 
And you have nothin’ better to do than to follow me around?” the maid teased.

“I did until I saw you the other day, and you just about took my breath away.
 
What’s your name?”

“Tracy,” she replied, not quite meeting his eyes.

“Tracy, that’s just lovely.
 
Well, Tracy, what time will you be running your errands tomorrow?”

“I won’t be.
 
Tomorrow is me day off.”

“Ahhh, well how ‘bout you let me squire you ‘round?”

“I don’t know.
 
I just met you.”

“Oh, now that hurts.
 
Here it has taken me this long to build up the courage to even talk to you.
 
And you are willing to turn me down without even giving me a chance?”

“Well,” she drew out considering what he said.

“I’ll take you for an ice and a stroll around the park.
 
We’ll get to know each other better.”

“That sounds nice,” she replied softly, finding herself enchanted.
 
“Will you be able to get away?”

“Of course, I am my own boss.”
 

“Truly?”
 

“Truly.
 
But I will never own a fine a house as what you find yourself in now.”
 

“It is beautiful, but not that happy right now,” she chatted as they continued walking towards the market vendors.
 
“The master and mistress have been having horrible rows ever since their wedding.
 
In fact, His Grace just left.
 
And so many guards.
 
He must be worried over her for some reason.”

“Really?”

“Aye.
 
And the mistress is so pretty.
 
You know she can’t see.”

“No, I didn’t,” he glibly lied.
 
“But on to better things, like you and me.
 
What time would you like me to come round tomorrow?”
 
They made their plans and he watched her sashay off back towards Grosvenor Square.
 
So the duke had left his wife of a few days.
 
Interesting.
 
And he had added security about the house.
 
Hmm.
 
He would wait and see what events unfolded, then he would be ready to act.

Chapter 22

Mikala only allowed herself to give into her misery and cry for a few minutes before cleaning herself up and dressing.
 
She scurried down the stairs and quickly found the parlor, thanks to the footmen.
 
She set about memorizing the layout of the parlor.
 
On her third turn about the parlor she tripped over what felt like an ottoman.
 
Kala landed in an ungainly heap on the floor, rubbing her hip.
 
She felt certain it had been next to one of the chairs.
 
She lay near the piano, her head having come perilously close to the edge.

“Is this a new way of memorizing the layout of a room?” A deep, heavily sarcastic voice asked from the door.

“Why, yes, it is.
 
I call it snake style memorization.”

“Let me know how it goes,” he retorted before moving down the hall.
 
It sounded like he had entered his study.

“Jackass,” she muttered as she rolled to her stomach and pushed herself up.
 
Mikala very carefully moved about the room, holding her hands in front of her.
 

“Your Grace, Lord Southerby is here to see you,” Hamlin announced.
 

Grateful for any diversion, she said, “Please show him in.”

“Of course, Your Grace.
 
Lord Southerby, Her Grace will see you now.”

“Justin,” Kala said excitedly.

“Kala, you are looking well.”

“Thank you.
 
What brings you by?”

“I’ve been asked to help a friend.
 
In fact, I am only in town because of a previous engagement.
 
I just wanted to come by and wish the newlywed happy before I left.
 
It appears I will be out of pocket for a while.”

“You are too kind,” Kala couldn’t hide the disappointment that entered her voice.

“Kala, you don’t exactly sound ecstatically overjoyed as a new bride should.”

“Perhaps because I’m not,” she snapped and instantly regretted it.
 
“Forgive me, Justin.
 
Things just aren’t turning out as I had hoped.”