Marrying the Icy Scarred Duke: A Clean Historical Regency Romance Book (Regency Marriages of Convenience 1) by Amanda Stones

Author:Amanda Stones [Stones, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“I hear that congratulations are in order,” the Duke of Darlington declared as he clapped James on the shoulder. “You have a new bride. That is very thrilling to know.”

James forced a smile on his lips. He knew that doing business in town was likely to draw out this sort of comment, it was the first time he had shown his face since his wedding ceremony had occurred. But it was challenging for him to be the center of attention. That was not a comfortable place for him to be at all. He much preferred being a wallflower.

But he hoped that once he could get through all of this, he could get down to actual business. That was what he was here for after all. He did not come here for gossip.

“Yes, I am married now. I have made Miss Charlotte Ainsworth my wife.”

“Oh! I see. She is a very beautiful young lady. You are a lucky man.”

Was the Duke looking at his scar and wondering why anyone would want to marry him? James felt that running through his veins. Would he be thinking the same thing if he was on the other side of the conversation? Perhaps. He would prefer to think of himself as a better person, but growing up with a judgmental father would have surely rubbed off on him as well. The scar had made him see things differently. It had made him a more compassionate person.

He darted his eyes downwards, fixing them on the floor for a moment, hoping that no one else was going to approach him. This was harder for James than he thought it would be. He was already feeling a little breathless and this was just one, fairly pleasant, conversation.

“So, I was hoping that I could talk to you about the finances for…”

But the Duke of Darlington was not about to let him finish that sentence. It seemed like he had not finished pursuing this, to find out everything that there was to know.

“I did not even hear that you were courting Miss Ainsworth, it must have all happened so fast. I thought the Earl of Westwood had shown an interest in her beforehand…”

James’s fists curled up discreetly by his side. The Earl was not his problem. He might have shown his interest, but Charlotte had married him. She had chosen to marry him because she wanted to, because he was the better prospect. He did not wish to even think about poor Charlotte with Richard. That man would never have treated her right.

“I know nothing about that,” he replied stiffly. “But she is my wife. So can we please…”

But James’s tone must have been a little louder than he intended, because others had started to join them. The conversation had brought other people in to talk to James like he was the center of the town. Like all the gossip currently surrounded him, and he was in the middle.

Luckily, everyone was so busy talking among themselves that they did not even seem to feel the need to include him in the conversation.

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