Free The Unclaimed Duchess by Jenna Petersen Page B

arrangement we have back at your— our home in London, but we won’t be here forever. We can share a bed for the time being.”
    Actually she very much looked forward to sharing that bed. It wasn’t overly wide and they would have to lie close together.
    Rhys pushed to his feet. “I realize we’re married, Anne…”
    Anne blinked. Rhys was actually uncomfortable with this discussion. She had never seen him squirm and fidget so, like a boy who had done something wrong and knew he was about to be caught for it.
    â€œBut?”
    He cleared his throat. “But you see, what I said earlier about not being married…I meant it. Legally, of course, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to end the union, unless you would be willing to lie and make a case for annulment.”
    Anne stared at him, eyes wide and mouth open. There were only a few reasons the court would allow for such a thing and none of them was a circumstance she was willing to swear to, or even consider. When she was silent, he shook his head.
    â€œI thought not,” he continued. “But even if a legal termination is out of the question, our marriage can be ended in every other way.”
    Anne staggered back three steps. She would have gone farther but she hit the door behind her and was forced to a stop. She had thought his earlier words were mere fancy, a way to lash out at her in his frustration. When he said she could stay here, she had believed that to have passed. But now it was clear he had thought this through with a cool and logical head.
    â€œYou mean to permanently separate from me?” she whispered. Suddenly the food she had so enjoyed churned unpleasantly in her belly.
    He nodded once, and Anne squeezed her eyes shut with a low groan. There were some in their circles who lived separate lives as he suggested, but those who did often suffered the social consequences. The rumor and censure Rhys abhorred would be visited upon them for years to come. And for what? She still had no inkling as to what would drive him to such extremes.
    â€œI don’t understand,” she whispered.
    He dipped his chin. “Anne, I know this is difficult for you, but there are forces at work that may demand we end this union. And for your own protection, it would be best.”
    â€œBest?” she repeated. Her voice sounded far away to her own ears, as if she was listening to this conversation from an echoing chamber.
    He nodded. “And that is why I wanted you to go. If we’re going to part, I want to be certain I won’t be leaving you with—with child.”
    Anne flinched. Although she wanted some time alone with her husband before they had children, time to make him see that they could share a love match, she did long to be a mother. Now Rhys was saying he would deny her that pleasure, as well as the beauty of knowing he cared for her.
    Desperation clawed at her at that horrible thought.
    â€œYou’ve told me on numerous occasions that you must produce an heir,” she choked, hating herself for sounding so plaintive. “You owe your bloodline, do you not?”
    Rhys turned away so she couldn’t see his reaction to her charge, but his voice was thick when he replied, “I do indeed, which is why I cannot bring a child, any child, into this world. I’m sorry, Anne, but this is how it must be.”
    Anne had heard that tone from her husband before. It was one that said he wouldn’t bend. And she was too stunned, too heartbroken to argue. Instead she whispered, “We have only lain together a few times.”
    â€œOnce is enough,” Rhys said, and finally looked at her again. “We can only pray the damage hasn’t already been done. But making love isn’t something we can do again. Do you understand? That is why I have concerns over the sleeping arrangements.”
    Anne let out a snort of angry laughter. “Because you can scarce control yourself with