Page 45 of His Godsent Duchess
Agnes' face lit up with joy, and she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Father!" she exclaimed before pulling back and dashing toward the door, calling out to the others. "He's coming!"
Victor straightened, watching her bound out of the room. His heart felt unexpectedly light, though his mind still clung to doubts. He was not a man for frivolities, and yet... there was something about the way the girls—and Christina—made him feel that unnerved him.
He sighed, adjusting his cravat before heading toward the door.
Victor stepped into the garden, the sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees casting dappled shadows across the ground. His eyes immediately found Ashing and Christina seated at a wrought iron table, their faces illuminated by the warm light of the late afternoon. The girls ran about the garden, their laughter carrying on the gentle breeze.
He paused, lingering in the shadow of the archway, his gaze fixed on Christina. She laughed at something Ashing said, her head tilting back as the sound of her amusement filled the air, clear and melodious. There was a brightness to her that caught Victor off guard, a lightness he had not realized he missed. His frown deepened. He could not recall ever making her laugh like that. A strange, unfamiliar discomfort settled within him, as if something precious had slipped from his grasp without him knowing.
At that moment, her eyes found his, and her expression softened. There was no surprise in her gaze, only warmth. She smiled, and Victor's breath caught in his throat, the sudden surge of emotion entirely unwelcome. Before he could gather his thoughts, Christina stood, her movements graceful as she glided toward him.
"Ah, now that you are here, we can begin the treasure hunt," she declared brightly, the girls pausing in their play to look his way with eager anticipation.
Victor blinked, caught off guard. "Treasure hunt?" he echoed, his voice betraying the slight confusion he felt.
Christina's smile widened as she reached for a small piece of paper resting on the table. With a mischievous gleam in her eyes, she handed it to him. "Your first clue," she said, her voice low and teasing.
Ashing, grinning like a schoolboy, removed his coat and folded his sleeves, clearly ready to participate. "This shall be good fun!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together in anticipation.
Cassidy and Amelia, their faces flushed with excitement, bounded over to declare their inevitable victory. "We'll win, Father! You and Uncle Ashing don't stand a chance!" Amelia teased, her eyes gleaming with challenge.
Victor unfolded the paper in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly as he read the clue aloud."In fields where children play,
I stand with gold, then turn gray."
He glanced up from the riddle, his sharp mind already working through the puzzle. "A dandelion," he deduced, his tone more confident than questioning.
Christina's eyes sparkled with approval, but she did not give away the answer. Instead, she leaned in just a touch closer, her voice playful as she said, "Find the dandelion, and you'll be one step closer to the treasure."
Victor's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than he intended, the teasing lilt of her voice sending a ripple of something unsettling through him. She was different today, or perhaps it was he who had changed. He couldn't quite decide which.
"What, pray tell, is the treasure?" he asked, his voice lower than before.
Christina raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Ah, that, Your Grace, you shall discover when you find it."
Ashing clapped Victor on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. "Come, man! Don't let the ladies outwit us!" he boomed with laughter, already striding toward the nearest patch of wildflowers.
Victor stood a little apart, watching them with a fondness he scarcely recognized within himself. Ashing, ever the charming rogue, had crouched down beside Cassidy, whispering something in her ear that made her giggle. "Now, Cassidy, are you certain you haven't missed a clue near that fountain?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement as she darted off toward the stone fountain with renewed determination.
Christina, seated beneath the rose-covered arch, smiled softly as she observed the scene. Her gaze, however, kept straying to Victor, whose countenance was less severe than usual, softened by the sight of his daughters enjoying themselves. It was a rare thing to see him so unguarded, and she found herself drawn to it.
"Papa!" Agnes's excited voice rang out as she knelt by the oak tree, her small hands rifling through the ivy at its base. "I've found it!"
Victor crossed the garden in measured strides, bending down to take the small envelope Agnes held aloft. He glanced at her, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Well done, Agnes. Shall we see what this says?"
He opened the envelope and pulled out the slip of parchment within. His voice was deep and steady as he read aloud:
"A place where roses bloom and scent the air, A clue you'll find hidden somewhere fair. Beneath the blossoms where sweet things grow, Look there next, and you'll soon know."
Agnes's eyes gleamed with excitement. "The rose garden! It must be!"
Christina laughed softly, her voice warm. "I do believe you are right, Agnes. Come along now, let's see where this takes us."
The girls dashed ahead, their light steps carrying them through the garden paths, with Victor, Ashing, and Christina trailing behind. Victor found himself watching Christina more than the children, noting the way the sunlight played on her fiery hair, the soft curve of her smile as she watched their daughters. She had orchestrated this little diversion beautifully, drawing him out of his study with such cunning he could scarcely believe it.
He approached her, standing close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed. "Sending Agnes to fetch me was very clever of you, Christina," he murmured, his voice low. "Wickedly clever, in fact."
Christina turned her head, her lips curving into a playful smile. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist her charm, Victor. No man with a heart could."
