His Contract Bride by Rose Gordon Page B

about.”
    Perhaps not, but now she found herself vastly curious about his mother and father and how their marriage had made him decide he wanted to marry someone who'd fade into the shadows. She tucked a fallen tendril of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. “And what did you wish to say?”
    He shifted in his seat. “It's about Edward.”
    “ Oh?”
    “ He doesn't do it on purpose.”
    “ What's that?”
    “ Send you into a state of tedium,” John said as casual as you like.
    Regina sputtered with laughter. Edward occasionally made remarks that made her laugh, but not like his brother was doing. Perhaps it was because John didn't know he was doing it. “He doesn't.”
    John's eyes widened. “Please, do not tell me you have fallen into his trap and enjoy his endless science prattle.”
    “ It's not so bad,” she said in her defense.
    “ Not so bad?” he repeated in a low tone. When he spoke again, his voice was devoid of the light humor he'd spoken with earlier. “You should know that Edward doesn't care what others think of him. Other than his unmatched ability to bore a soul senseless, he has the thickest skin of anyone I've ever met. If he does something, and you don't like it, he just shrugs and continues on.” He grinned again. “That's why I like to tease him so much. But it's also why I respect him so much. Edward has taken a lot of criticism for his unusual pursuits and strange fascination with science. But never once did he care about someone else's opinions enough to give up what he loved.”
    He cocked his head to the side. “I guess that's another thing about him that I admire. He has never been one to easily let go of something he loves.”
    Regina's heart cracked. What was he holding onto that kept him from loving her ? She shoved away the traitorous thought that had no business taking root in her mind. She might have loved him since the moment they'd met, but hoping he'd feel the same for her was yet another of her foolish dreams that'd have to go unrealized.
    She turned her attention back to the parchment in front of her, praying John would get the hint.
    But because he was only fourteen and not yet learned in the ways of ladies, he didn't.
    “ What is it you're writing? My philosophy paper, I hope.”
    She offered him a watery smile. “No. I'm writing plans for a breakfast I'm hosting.”
    “ Gads. Does my brother know?”
    “ No, not yet.”
    A slow smile spread his lips. “I think he will soon.”
    Regina did, too, and judging by the look on John's face, she knew exactly who meant to inform him.
     
     

 
     
    ~Chapter Twelve~
     
     
    Edward was perplexed. He'd been staring at the same equation for the past hour and was still no closer to solving it than he had been a week ago.
    Something wasn't right where Regina was concerned. But he'd be damned if he knew what it was. She'd assured him everything was fine multiple times since finding their betrothal contract last week. She hadn't evaporated into vapors when she found it, or in the days that followed, like Mother would have done. She even allowed him entry into her bedchamber three nights in a row. But each time it always ended the same: feelings of guilt that he was forcing her to perform her marital duties overcame him to the point he felt like a brute in her presence. Unable to tolerate another night of her rigid responses and begging his forgiveness, he'd stopped seeking entry. He wanted a willing bed partner, not one who shared her bed out of fear or duty.
    “ Have you finally found a problem you can't solve?”
    Edward snapped his head up to meet the cool blue eyes of his friend Joseph “No.”
    Joseph gestured to the unfinished equation in front of him. “I just thought...”
    “ Right.” Edward cleared his throat. He was talking about that. “I'm just pondering it a bit. I don't want to have to restart if I make a mistake.” He lifted his pen and shook it to emphasize his meaning.
    Joseph nodded slowly.