Page 31 of Bad Duke

“Oh, of course. Olivia wouldn’t have it any other way.” I put Sylvia Malory’s mind at rest and earn myself a scowl from Olivia.

“Delightful.” She picks an hors d’ouvres off the tray that passes her.

“Alex,” Elizabeth interrupts us. “I don’t know if you know, but Henry and I have a daughter close to your age, she wasn’t at the funeral due to her charity commitments. I’ll introduce you…Hetty!” She calls over to a girl on the other side of the garden who's standing with two other high-class snobs. I recognize one of them from a party I had at my apartment a few weeks ago. I’m sure she fucked Trent on my balcony.

Hetty makes her way over, her eyes fixed on me and trying far too hard to look seductive.

“Hetty, darling, this is Alexander Stanley, he’s the new Duke of Hatherly.”

“And this is my fiancée.” I take Olivia’s waist and tuck her in tight when Elizabeth makes it clear she doesn’t see her worthy of an introduction.

“Oh, hello.” The girl’s attention falls to Olivia and her smile suddenly becomes forced.

“They have a date set for September,” her mother informs her, doing something weird with her eyes which I assume is some form of code.

“Excellent. Do you have your dress yet?” Hetty asks Olivia, with the same downward look as her mother.

“No, I’m very unorganised.” Olivia digs her nails into my side as she responds with an equally fake smile.

“Oh well, you must speak with Pandora immediately.”

“I don’t know if I’ll go down the designer route.” Olivia laughs nervously and I watch the horror spread between Hetty, her mother, and Sylvia.

“Oh…I um. Well...”

“Alex, here, is an entrepreneur.” Elizabeth intervenes, changing the subject rapidly. “Or so I’ve heard.” She looks at me and waits for me to elaborate.

“I’m sure you’ve heard many things about me, Elizabeth, I can assure you that all of them are true.” I wink. “Now, if you’d excuse me, there are some people I’m yet to show my fiancée off to. I’m sure we’ll all catch up later.” I guide Olivia away from them and head towards the huge weeping willow tree that’s near the lake in the hope of some privacy.

“Alex, what the fuck were thinking giving them a date?” She whisper-yells at me once we’re out of earshot.

“What, is September not good for you? I thought you might want some time to pl?—”

“This isn’t a joke, these people will be expecting an actual wedding.”

“So, we’ll give them one, preferably before the baby comes, these people can be very judgy.” I keep my voice low, looking around to check no one’s nearby

“You're serious!” She looks all out of words as she stares back at me.

“When it comes to you. Yes. I’m very fucking serious,” I tell her straight, it’s about time she started realizing that.

“So, this arrangement, it’s extending to a marriage now? Don’t you think you're taking it a little too far? You said you just needed to hold them off till something big happens. You’re making us become all the big things.” She rasps frantically under her breath for the last part.

“You know, as hot as you are when you’re mad, I much prefer it when you’re not,” I admit, taking a sip of my champagne and looking around us to see who else has shown up.

“I’m still mad,” she assures me, forgetting my rules and knocking back her own drink. She realises her error, immediately, holding it in her mouth before she swallows, and when I move in for a kiss she does the right thing and transfers the champagne from her mouth into mine.

“Good girl.” I wink after, I know how much she likes it when I call her that.

“Don’t you think you're being a little over the top? It’s been three days, I know you think you're some kind of fertility god but—” I kiss her lips and give her my tongue to stop her from saying something that might get her punished.

“Champagne tastes good on you.” I smile as I pull away, and the dazed, little look she’s got in her eye is enough to tell me she won’t stay mad at me for long.

“Now, we better get back to this party, I figure I’ve got a few more hearts to break before we leave.” I snigger as I take her hand in mine.

“You’re so fucking arrogant,” she whispers, and I chuckle to myself as I drag her back up the hill, towards Lord Sherington and his son.

OLIVIA

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