The Reluctant Wife: Chapter 47

‘Congratulations.’ Arthur squeezes my shoulder. ‘You’ve made me proud, boy.’ Dressed in a suit, with his silver hair coiffed back from his face, he looks handsome. The tiredness I saw the last time has faded. He takes my wife’s hand and bends to kiss it. ‘Congratulations, Duchess.’

‘Thank you.’ My wife smiles back.

‘It was a beautiful ceremony.’ Imelda who’s dressed in a suit which is a twin to Arthur’s, right down to the bow tie, lowers her chin. ‘And mercifully short, if I might say so.’

My wife laughs. ‘One of the things my father acquiesced to.’

‘There were others which he refused to budge on, I assume?’ Imelda says shrewdly.

‘He’s a stubborn man, and a king.’ My wife’s eyes shadow. ‘He has responsibilities.’

‘None more important than the one toward you.’ Imelda pats my wife’s hand. ‘You’re a dutiful daughter.’

‘And my wife.’ I put my arm around Aura’s shoulders. I’m never going to miss a single opportunity to say that aloud.

She leans into me, and I can tell she’s pleased. ‘A very happy wife today.’ She chuckles. ‘I hope the two of you will be staying on and taking in the sights of my beautiful country?’

‘Alas, we have only one more day, which we plan to spend at the Fishermen’s Islands.’

She’s referring to the mini archipelago of seven islands near Verenza, a favorite among tourists.

‘Just a day?’ my wife cries.

‘You’d think this old man would enjoy his retired life and spend more time taking in the sights, but he insists he needs to be back for an important meeting.’ Imelda shrugs.

I turn to Arthur. ‘Is it because Nathan and Quentin are both staying here to oversee the security arrangements at Verenza and can’t fill in for you?’ I frown.

‘Yes, it is—’ Arthur begins to say but Imelda nudges him.

‘What he means to say is that he’d have gone anyway. And it’s right that they are here until we neutralize this risk to the Duchess’ life.’ She turns to him. ‘Isn’t that what you were going to say, dear?’

Arthur looks taken aback, then nods. ‘Yes, she’s right. I’d much rather the men be here and support you.’

‘I am very grateful to all the Davenports for their help,’ my wife murmurs.

‘You are one of us now,’ Arthur points out.

‘I am,’ she agrees.

Arthur turns to me. ‘While you’re here, you should take a look into the investment plan for the money being invested into Verenza.’

I jerk my chin. ‘I’ve already touched base with the leader of the planning team.’

My wife whips her head in my direction. ‘When were you planning to tell me?’

I scowl. ‘I wasn’t aware I had to keep you posted about my movements?’

She firms her lips. ‘You were discussing how to invest the money being spent in my country over the next few years. Money which came into the country because I agreed to marry you. Money which will impact the future of my country.’

Goddam, she has a point. I screwed up.

While I try to formulate a response, she squares her shoulders. ‘My father and Fred chose not to involve me in financial matters related to my country. I didn’t expect my husband would follow in their footsteps.” The skin stretches tightly over her cheekbones; disappointment turns her lips down.

“Excuse me.’ She pivots and walks away, back straight, anger shimmering off of her in waves. She’s magnificent, this woman. My wife.

I definitely did mess up. ‘Fuck,’ I swear under my breath.

Imelda turns on Arthur. ‘Couldn’t you keep your mouth shut?’

‘What did I do?’ Arthur looks genuinely puzzled.

Without another word, I head in the direction she’s taken. And when she slips out onto the balcony, I follow her, then shut the door behind us.

She hears me but doesn’t turn. Instead, she walks over to the far corner, which is in shadows, and sinks down on a bench. When I reach her, I sink down next to her. She turns her head away.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come across as⁠—’

‘Arrogant and condescending?’

I wince. ‘You’re right, and I was both. But old habits die hard.’

She finally turns to me. The moonlight turns her blue eyes into a color as dark as the sapphire on the ring I had planned on giving her today. So, why didn’t I? What stopped me? What keeps me from being fully invested in this relationship, when I know I’m falling for her?

‘That’s very candid of you.’

‘It’s the effect you have on me.’ I hold her gaze, wanting to touch her but knowing it’s not the time yet. ‘I’m not ashamed to say I have a big ego, and I have reason for that.’

She scoffs. ‘If that’s an apology⁠—’

‘That wasn’t, but this is…’ Once more, I go down on my knee in front of her. ‘I’ve never bowed to anyone, not man or woman, but I do to you.’ I bend my neck. ‘Only to you, my wife. And know that I’m sorry for what I said earlier.’

Some of the tension goes out of her body. ‘You are?’

I nod. ‘We’re husband and wife. A team. A partnership. And like any partnership, we need to keep the channels of communication open at all times. And that includes my telling you about my plans to be an advisor to the planning team for investing the Davenports’ money in Verenza.’

Her forehead smooths out. ‘I’m so sorry I got upset. I don’t know what came over me. It’s your money⁠—’

‘Our money.’

‘Our money.’ She nods. ‘You should definitely be involved in deciding how it needs to be channeled.’

I rise up and sit next to her. ‘And you need to be on that planning team.”