Page 166 of The Dueling Duchess

Because you have been behaving childishly, we have locked you in a room to think about your actions and—

Guy hooted but Cecile ignored him and kept on reading.

—and consider the error of your ways. You both love each other and yet you are behaving like spoiled, willful children. There is food and wine and even some blankets if you get cold. With nowhere to go, you can sit and discuss your problems like adults.

Sincerely,

Cat and George

Guy laughed. “Well, how do you like that?” he demanded, more than a little admiration in his voice.

Cecile glared at him. “Did you put her up to this?”

He scowled. “What? Of course I didn’t! How do I know that you didn’t put her up to it?”

“Why would I scheme to keep you here?”

“Oh, darling—don’t try to pretend you don’t want me.”

“You are delusional!” she retorted. “If you weren’t already running off like a coward, I’d kick you down the steps.”

“A coward?” He gave an intensely annoying chuckle. “I’m leaving for your own good, sweetheart.”

“My good?”

“That’s right; you’d never be able to resist me and do the proper thing if I stayed.”

“What proper thing?”

“You’re a duchess now. The same way you had responsibilities as the owner of the Fayre, you now have responsibilities to the people who rely on you. If I stayed, you’d never do what you’re doing.”

“And just what do you think I’m doing?”

“It’s obvious.”

“Indulge me.”

He sighed. “You’re going to France to assume your responsibilities.”

“I still don’t know what you mean.”

His mocking smirk faded away. “Don’t make me say it, Cecile.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “I think I’m going to make you say it, Guy.”

“You’re going to France to marry the duke.”

She laughed.

He glared. “Just what is so amusing?”

“That you would assume I would behave as stupidly as you did last year.”

“Stupidly?” he repeated, his loud voice filling the small room. “I was doing the honorable thing.”

“Just as you are doing the honorable thing by going to Massachusetts?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.”