His Duchess for a Day by Christi Caldwell

Author:Christi Caldwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Regency
Publisher: Christi Caldwell
Published: 2019-07-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The following morning, Crispin sat at a corner table in the increasingly crowded taproom. He rolled his shoulders. His entire body ached from several days of uninterrupted riding. And of course there had been a sleepless night spent on the hard floor after he’d returned to his and Elizabeth’s shared rooms.

Though, in fairness, there’d been little indication that she had found rest last evening either.

And how could they have?

With a cup of coffee cradled between his fingers, Crispin stared across the establishment to the fire blazing in the hearth.

Around him, laughter echoed off the cracked plaster ceilings while patrons raised their voices over one another, competing to be heard in the noisy din. The cheerful ease of this place stood in contradiction to the tumult Elizabeth had unleashed last evening.

All time had ceased to matter, blurring under the weight of realization.

She’d heard the words he’d uttered long ago to the thunderous Duke of Huntington.

The carefully crafted words—meant to assuage a displeased father so Crispin could maintain his fellowship and set himself and Elizabeth on a smoother path as husband and wife—had been heard… by her.

He tossed back a long swallow, his throat muscles working quickly, the warm, bitter brew stinging his throat, a welcome discomfort.

They’d been words uttered in cowardice when he should have told his parents to go to hell if they weren’t content with his decision. But he’d always sought to minimize conflict and maintain peace. And that one instance shattered the special bond he and Elizabeth had shared and sent her into flight.

All these years, he’d been filled with resentment and questions. Always questions and more questions. All unanswered, with everything going back to Elizabeth’s senseless betrayal.

Crispin swirled the remaining contents of his cup in a slow circle, studying the cyclonic twist.

Now, everything made sense. Too much. A once murky situation was now vividly bright in its clarity, and Crispin was the one truly guilty of treachery.

Frustration roiling in his chest, he set his drink down hard.

Surely she’d known he’d not truly regretted taking her as his bride. They’d been each other’s perfect counterpart, balancing each other and bringing out their best, while knowing laughter and happiness.

He’d not properly appreciated that joy until she’d gone, and taken every reason to smile along with her.

How would they go on now? Together… or each of them alone?

She wants nothing to do with you, in any way. Her disdain was so strong that she preferred living at Mrs. Belden’s, imparting lessons on topics she’d always despised.

And why should she? She’d married a damned coward.

Shame pitted low in his gut.

It didn’t matter that he’d only just turned one and twenty when they married. He hadn’t been a boy, but rather, a man who could have fought his parents on the union they sought between him and Lady Dorinda. Ultimately, however, that mutually beneficial agreement he’d presented to a then-seven-and-ten-year-old Elizabeth had come from an actual yearning to have her as his wife.

He’d wanted to spend forever with her, because there’d never been anyone whose company he’d craved more.

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