Read Online The Duke's Shotgun Wedding (Entangled Scandalous) by Stacy Reid - Free Book Online Page B

waist and bared the rounded slopes of her breasts. Rose had done up her hair in an intricate Grecian knot, saying it highlighted the graceful arch of Her Grace’s neck.
    Jocelyn was gratified to see the glitter in Sebastian’s eyes as they sat down to dine. Pigeon soup, roasted duck in butter almond sauce, and wild rice with leeks was the first course.
    They ate in silence for a few minutes before she spoke. “I visited my father today.”
    “Mrs. Otterbsy informed me of your journey.” He arched a brow in question, and Jocelyn plowed ahead.
    “He told me of the settlements you bestowed, and I wanted to thank you.”
    Sebastian waved it off. “It is my duty to see to my family’s welfare.”
    She stared at him uneasily, and cut into the pigeon. She chewed slowly, watching him as he watched her. A tingle unfurled inside her. From the intensity of his stare, she knew exactly what he was thinking about. A blush heated her cheeks, and she reached for her glass of wine.
    “Why did you not discuss with me your decisions?” she asked.
    He lowered his fork and regarded her. “It did not concern you.”
    “Of course it did. It was about me and my family.”
    “I will make a note of that for future reference,” he said coolly.
    His tone rang of finality, and she glared at him, stabbing the pigeon with her fork.
    “I have sent in an announcement to the papers that we are wed. You can expect droves of callers, and even more invitations. Accept or reject them as you will. Oh, and a modiste from London will be visiting to outfit you with the latest fashions.”
    Her back went ramrod straight. “Indeed? I would appreciate that you at least include me in decisions that involve me directly, Sebastian.”
    “Do you object to the modiste’s visit, or the announcement of our marriage?”
    “No, of course not.” she all but growled at him.
    “Then I fail to understand your pique.” He seemed genuinely puzzled.
    The man was maddening! “It’s what a married couple does,” she said frostily. “They communicate, and learn to share, and make decisions together.”
    “I see.” He lowered his fork completely. “You have been married before, to come by your knowledge?”
    She took a sip of her wine, holding his gaze steadily. “No, I have not been married before. Nor have you. But I feel that to be happy and form a genuine attachment with mutual respect for one another, we must learn to speak openly. It is in the same spirit as your belief that we should have no closed doors between our bedchambers.”
    The smile that formed on his lips could have been one of admiration, but she was not completely sure.
    “I concede, then. I will strive to be more open with you.”
    She cleared her throat. “And I also believe that we should endeavor to be in each other’s company for at least one hour every day.”
    He leaned back in the elegantly carved dining chair. “I am confident you will expound on that with little prodding from me.”
    She inhaled deeply. “Our first night together was incredible.” Heat suffused her face, but she refused to break eye contact. “It’s something I will always remember. But then today, you shut yourself away from me without a word, even pushing me out when I came to say good morning. I found your behavior baffling and hurtful.”
    His jaw worked. “I see.”
    She feared if she stopped now she would never get it all out, and her marriage would be doomed, so she plunged on. “It will not do for us to ignore each other during the day, each busy with some task or other, then fall into pleasure at night. Our marriage would not be based on anything of real substance, don’t you agree? I think an hour is not too much to ask of you.”
    His gaze was completely shuttered by the time she finished. The seconds stretched out so long in such total silence that she worried she had made a dreadful mistake.
    Her breath eased out in relief when he lifted his wineglass to her with a smile on his lips. “Come