Heartless by Jaimey Grant

observation and wondered if perhaps she ought to tell him of her odd relationship with her husband. But did Martin have any right to know? If the duke had not seen fit to inform him, why should she?
    She was strangely ashamed of herself for leaping at the chance to be married to a duke anyway. She had, of course, actually agreed before she had learned he was a duke, but it had only enhanced the appeal to be rescued by such an attractive man possessed of both title and consequence. Leandra had always known what a plain young woman she was and had never imagined that a handsome man would fall in love with her and insist that she marry him. Derringer had not professed love but how could he when he had only just met her?
    She’d not had any romantic notions in regard to the duke because of their unique circumstances, but she was not about to cavil at fate for her marriage. She had taken the leap and she would deal with the consequences even if they were not particularly palatable at the moment. Perhaps things would change and her husband would fall in love with her.
    But could she fall in love with him ? 
    “Do I not?” she asked her handsome companion, returning to their conversation. She gave a little shrug. “I am sorry I seem so, but I truly do have a great regard for your cousin,” she told him truthfully. “I am annoyed that he insists on spending so much time away when we are so newly married, but…” She shrugged.
    Martin seemed to take this with a grain of salt but he said nothing to that effect. “How soon did he leave after you were married?” He swiped at an overgrown rosebush with his walking stick and turned to gaze at her steadily.
    “The day after we married,” she replied. She was definitely not going to tell him that the marriage had yet to be consummated.
    “I have to admit I was shocked when Hart told me. I would never have thought he would marry. He had always said he never would.”
    “Oh, and he may not have, had circumstances been different,” Leandra said without thought.
    Martin seized upon her statement. “Circumstances?” he inquired idly.
    “Oh, you know, meeting me and falling in love,” she answered blithely. She cringed inside at her slip and consequent fib. She hoped her husband never heard what she had said.
    “Yes, Martin, so I am sure you won’t mind me stealing my bride for a moment,” said a smooth voice behind them.
    “Oh, Lord,” the duchess muttered before she turned with a bright smile on her lips and a pleading expression in her eyes.
    That was when Derringer realized he could never deny her when she had that particular look in her eyes. He would slay dragons for her just to see that look disappear. He wanted her to truly smile again. Damn, but that was not a feeling with which he was comfortable.
    “Hello, Hart,” said Martin, offering his hand.
    The duke shook it warmly. “How do you do, Martin? It’s been a while, has it not?”
    “Indeed it has,” Martin smiled. “And now I will leave you with your bride. We can catch up later.”
    The secretary walked away and Leandra watched him go with something akin to regret. She really did not want to be alone with her husband.
    “Leandra.” The duke held out his arm and waited for her to take it.
    He was being everything that was polite—a circumstance that made his wife very uneasy. Leandra placed her hand gingerly on his arm and smiled up at him. “How was your morning?” she asked brightly.
    They walked for a bit before the duke responded to her question and then in a way she had not expected.
    “Doing it a bit too brown, my love,” he murmured with a sharp look at her face.
    Her heart skipped a beat at the mocking endearment. He was not being polite then but merely toying with her like a cat toys with a mouse before killing it. She glanced behind her back, saw they were not being observed by Martin or any of the outdoor staff, and dropped her hand from his arm. The duke said nothing and linked his