The Duke's Obsession With His Wife — Chapter 23

HMPH...

I CAN'T BELIEVE A DUKE WOULD BEHAVE IN SUCH AN UNCIVILIZED MANNER.

I COULD SAY THE SAME FOR YOU, EARL.

A NOBLEMAN SHOULDN'T BE SNEAKING AROUND LIKE A THIEF.

WELL, YOU DID WHAT YOU CAME HERE TO DO, SO GOODBYE.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO COLD?

PETTY BASTARD!

IT'S REVOLTING HOW HE TREATS HIS WIFE...

LIKE SHE'S A NEW PUPPY HE JUST BOUGHT.

WELL, I'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN, DUKE BRISTON!

I SHOULDN'T INTERRUPT HER WHILE SHE'S SPEAKING TO HER FATHER...

ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS HER LAST DAY AS A "WENTWORTH."

I NEVER WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.

ONE WEDDING IS ENOUGH FOR A LIFETIME.

DID YOU CALL FOR ME, MY LORD?

I'VE GOT A JOB FOR YOU.

LOOK INTO THIS MAN FOR ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHERE HE'S FROM, WHAT HE DOES FOR A LIVING...

AND WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE HE ASSOCIATES HIMSELF WITH.

EARL EVANS BRAWRENE

"BRAWRENE"?

YES, SIR.

THE NAME "BRAWRENE" IS AN ANAGRAM OF "BRANEWER."

IT'S OBVIOUS THAT SHE PUT NO EFFORT INTO THIS DISGUISE.

DOES SHE NOT CARE ABOUT KEEPING HER TRUE IDENTITY A SECRET?

IN THAT CASE... IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO WITH THIS NAME.

OH, SIR.

LADY CHESTER HAS DRAWN YOUR BATH, SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO START GETTING READY.

VERY WELL.

FIRST NIGHT JITTERS (1)

...TON. DUCHESS BRISTON.

DUCHESS BRISTON?

IT'S TIME TO GET UP.

OH...

YOUR BATH IS READY, DUCHESS BRISTON.

OH... THANK YOU.

IT FEELS RATHER AWKWARD TO BE ADDRESSED AS A DUCHESS.

MY LADY.

YOUR EYES ARE LOOKING A BIT PUFFY.

I'LL FETCH YOU A COLD COMPRESS.

IT MUST BE BECAUSE YOU'RE TIRED.

THANK YOU, ANAIS.

IT'D BE TOO EMBARRASSING TO ADMIT I WAS CRYING OVER MY MOTHER.

HANG IN THERE, MY LADY.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET TO THE GOOD PART!

HOW EMBARRASSING!!

AH... ANAIS, PLEASE!

ARE YOU HUNGRY, MY LADY? SHOULD I BRING YOU SOMETHING TO EAT?

N-NO, THAT'S ALRIGHT! I HAD PLENTY EARLIER!

WELL, JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

NO EATING!

WHAT IF YOU GET SOMETHING STUCK IN YOUR TEETH, OR YOUR BELLY STICKS OUT?

WON'T IT BE MORE EMBARRASSING TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO HER TUMMY RUMBLE ALL NIGHT?

WHAT IF SHE GETS STINKY BREATH? IT WOULD MEAN SHE GOT ALL DOLLED UP FOR NOTHING!

WHY WOULD IT EVEN MATTER?!

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING ANYTHING ANYWAY!

WHAT, ARE YOU EXPECTING A KISS FROM EDWIN, OR SOMETHING?

DUCHESS BRISTON!!

I'M SO HUNGRY!!!

WHAT'S TAKING EDWIN SO LONG?

I CAN AFFORD TO HAVE ONE LITTLE PASTRY, CAN'T I?

I SHOULD'VE JUST EATEN EARLIER!

NO.

I CAN'T LET HIM WALK IN ON ME STUFFING MY FACE.

BESIDES, THERE'S ROUGE ON MY LIPS.

THIS ROOM'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN SET UP FOR A ROMANTIC EVENING...

IT'S MAKING ME SO UNCOMFORTABLE. I CAN'T SHARE A BED WITH HIM IN A ROOM LIKE THIS!

APPARENTLY, EDWIN'S PRIVATE QUARTERS ARE JUST NEXT DOOR.

SHOULD I GO SEE HIM?

NO ONE SHOULD BE COMING TO THIS FLOOR TONIGHT ANYWAY...

SO MAYBE I'LL SUGGEST WE SLEEP IN SEPARATE ROOMS.

EXCUSE ME, MY LORD!

DUKE BRISTON...?

HUH? IS NO ONE HERE?

MAYBE HE'S STILL WASHING UP.

THE·BATHROOM LIGHTS ARE ON...

DUKE BRISTON, ARE YOU THERE...?

BUT WHY IS IT SO QUIET?

MAYBE HE GOT TIRED AND FELL ASLEEP?

FOR REAL...? BUT IT'S DANGEROUS TO FALL ASLEEP IN THE TUB!!

DUKE BRISTON!!

ARE YOU AL—

!!!

HAS SHE GONE CRAZY?!

KYAAA!!!

COME ON OUT, ANRI. I KNOW YOU'RE HERE.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

I GOT SO PANICKED, THAT I —

I CAN HEAR YOU, YOU KNOW...

I CAN HEAR EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE...

...LOUD AND CLEAR.