Page 83 of Duke of Chaos

Lydia’s smile dropped a little as she took in the unconcealed loneliness in Morgan’s eyes. He was the golden-hearted fool of the four orphaned dukes. Handsome, charming, carefree, hardlyever unable to make a joke; ladies of all ranks had to be swarming to him. So, if he was miserable, why had he not picked one?

“I believe I shall pay my salutations and well wishes to the bride and groom, and then I am going to go,” Morgan stated, setting his glass down on a nearby table.

“Morgan, mate…” Ambrose said, also sensing their friend’s sad demeanor.

“I am fine,” Morgan replied, cutting him off.

He kissed Barbara and Lydia each on the cheek and then took turns shaking Ambrose’s and Ezra’s hands.

“Get in the ring with me tomorrow,” Ezra said as he shook Morgan’s hand.

It was not so much a request as an instruction, and Morgan nodded as though he understood. They did not just box when there was anger. It was useful for many emotions.

“All right, mate,” he agreed, then clapped him on the shoulder before heading toward Juliet and Edmund.

“Where is he going?” Duncan asked, joining the group along with Alice.

“Off to drown his sorrows, I suspect,” Ambrose sighed, all of them watching Morgan closely as he warmly greeted the bride and groom.

“We know where he is going. I shall check in on him later and make sure he makes it home tonight,” Ezra stated.

Lydia nodded as she slipped her hand beneath her husband’s jacket and placed it on his warm chest directly above his beating heart. In the three days that she had held Ezra captive in his rooms when they were not sleeping, eating, or making love, he had told her what they had learned about their fathers.

Ezra himself seemed to be taking it all in his stride, but he had mentioned his concern for Ambrose and Morgan; for unlike he and Duncan, they had actually been loved by their fathers. Ambrose had Barbara now, and in the talks they’d had many times since their coup, Lydia knew her friend was helping her husband through his struggles.

Duncan had Alice, and Ezra had her, she thought as she glanced up to look at Ezra’s handsome face. But Morgan had no one.

“What is it?” Ezra asked, his grip on her suddenly becoming tighter as he looked down at her. “Something is wrong.”

Lydia felt a burst of warmth at her husband’s concern. He noticed everything when it came to her, it seemed, even when her thoughts began to change.

“I am just worried for Morgan,” she replied calmly.

Understanding shone in his eyes, and he gave a subtle nod, but said nothing.

“Come,” Alice said, taking Lydia’s hand, “We came over to tell you all that Juliet and Edmund are asking for all of us.”

Lydia tucked away her worrisome thoughts of Morgan as they all went to see Juliet and Edmund and showered the two once more in hugs, kisses, and congratulations.

“It truly is the most beautiful wedding I haveeverseen,” Lydia gushed for the twentieth time.

And, for the twentieth time, Juliet beamed as brightly as the sun. She had putsomuch effort into creating the romantic ceremony and reception, and it had paid her back in full. Still, nothing in the room shone quite as brightly as Edmund, who never took his eyes off Juliet for more than three seconds.

There was true lifelong dedication and love in every look he gave her, and Lydia felt her heart swell as she thought of how differently they all would have ended up if she had not switched places with Juliet almost a year ago.

“Thank you,” Juliet whispered into her ear as she pulled Lydia tight, and she knew her sister was having the same thought.

“Thankyou,”Lydia whispered back, holding her close. “For being brave enough to say something.”

“Do you regret it?”

Lydia stirred against his chest, and he felt remorse slice through him as he realized he’d woken her up. With his palm, he scooped up some warm water and poured it over her exposed shoulders in apology as she sighed and settled into him again.

After the wedding they returned home filled with a strange sort of intensity. Their lovemaking, usually filled with wicked words and teases, had been silent and wild; even their usual moans cut down to desperate gasps and grunts. Afterward, they’d been exhausted, and barely had the energy to pour themselves into the tub.

Regret what?” she asked softly.

“Marrying me. Taking your sister’s place as my wife. Our wedding certainly did not look like that…” he paused, then added, “And you and I certainly did not look at one another like those two did today. We barely looked at one another at all.”

---