Page 58 of A Virgin for the Duke of Ash

“Your Grace.” He bowed with unexpected poise. “Last time, our conversation was unfortunately cut short. If you will, I would like to be able to talk with you at greater length. It is so rare that I find a kindred soul who shares an interest in these little hobbies of mine.”

Evie laughed. “Mr. Turner, if these are just little hobbies of yours, then I must prepare to be awed by the things you consider with greater seriousness!”

“Such a glib tongue you have, Your Grace.” Mr. Turner joined in her laughter, wagging his finger at her. “Why, I am convinced that perhaps you might have a way with words, as well as with paints!”

“My good sir, you have yet to see my feeble attempts. You cannot possibly say that I have a way with paints.”

She could not linger with Mr. Turner, as she still had other guests she must attend to, but by the time their conversation ended, she had managed to get an invitation from him to paint together.

She had to fight back the urge to gasp in wonder as she walked away.

Painting withtheMr. Bernard Turner?

Evie could scarcely believe her good fortune!

And she knew very well who she must thank for that.

“You invited her favorite painter to your wedding breakfast?” Ethan shook his head with a look of surprise. “Careful, Ash. One might think that you care a great deal for your new bride.”

“But, of course,” Daniel drawled. “Is not a groom supposed to care for his wife?”

“I have to applaud your restraint, though,” Hudson muttered. “After all, he is still a man, and even if you do not see her that way, your Duchess can be quite charming.”

Daniel shot his reclusive friend a pointed look, but Hudson did not seem to notice it. Or care.

Good. It had better stay that way.

His grip on his glass tightened as his eyebrows drew together just the slightest bit, the dark frown noticeable only to those who knew him best. He did not know where this reaction came from—all he knew was that he did not like anyone looking at Evie that way.

Even if it was one of his oldest friends, a man he would trust with his life.

When it came to Evie, nothing really made sense anymore. She had thrown his entire world upside-down and inside-out from the moment she crashed into it.

Nothing was the same ever since, and he was still grappling with the ramifications of that.

However, he did not have very long to dwell on his thoughts because his new bride rushed over to him, her eyes wide and sparkling with some undecipherable light. Her cheeks were flushed most delectably, and her breasts were heaving from her excitement.

If they had not been surrounded by a roomful of guests, he would have snatched her into his arms and had his way with her.

Out in the gardens. In broad daylight.

A slight cough from Ethan jolted him out of his lurid fantasies and back to reality, where the object of those said fantasies was looking at him as if she just discovered that he hung the moon and the stars in the sky.

Damn it, what the hell is wrong with me?

“Mr. Turner is here,” she breathed in wonder. “It was your doing.”

Daniel did not even bother to deny it. Her enthusiasm was just so that he could not even suppress the slight smile that tugged at his lips.

“My wedding gift to you,” he told her softly.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Hudson shoot Ethan a glance, and both of his friends quietly excused themselves.

Daniel snorted at that. At least they knew to do that.

“I cannot believe it!” She beamed at him. “Thank you so much!”

She threw her arms around him with such force that if Daniel had not instinctively braced himself, they might have toppled over. They were slightly out of the line of sight of most of the guests, but if they did fall over, it would have attracted some attention.

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