Page 48 of His Godsent Duchess
Christina's breath caught in her throat as she gazed at him, her heart fluttering at the sight of him so unguarded.
"I do," he admitted, his smile lingering. "But it seems the children know a side of you that I do not. A side I should very much like to become acquainted with."
His words struck her unexpectedly, and her heart swelled with an emotion she could not quite name. The children adored her, that much she knew. But to hear Victor acknowledge it, to see the weight of that realization in his gaze, was something entirely new.
For a moment, she said nothing, lost in the warmth of his admission. Then, with a playful light in her eye, she met his gaze. "Very well, Victor," she said, her tone light though her heart raced. "I shall accept your invitation, on one condition."
He raised a brow again, intrigued. "And what is that, pray tell?"
Her smile deepened. "That you allow me to know you as well."
For a moment, there was silence between them, the air thick with unspoken tension. Victor's dark eyes remained fixed on hers, and she could see the weight of her words sinking into him. It felt as though they stood on the precipice of something significant, something neither of them had quite expected.
At length, he nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "Very well," he said softly, his voice steady but holding something deeper, something raw. "I shall allow it."
Twenty-One
Christina gently stroked Angelique's mane, speaking softly to the mare as she ran her hands over the smooth coat. She was doing much better, but as pleased as Christina was with that, her thoughts were already straying to the man waiting just beyond. She stepped back from the stall, leaving Angelique with a gentle pat, and turned toward Victor.
He stood just outside the stable doors, two horses at his side—his ever-imposing stallion, Toro, and a striking bay mare that Christina did not recognize. The light of the morning cast his strong features in a softer glow, and the sight of him, calm and steady with the horses, sent an unexpected flutter through her chest. His gaze met hers, and a subtle warmth passed between them, though neither spoke.
Christina stepped toward him, her curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar horse. "Who is this lovely new companion?" she asked, gesturing toward the mare as she approached.
Victor's lips twitched into the faintest semblance of a smile. "This is Sarina," he said, his voice low and steady. "Toro's sister."
Christina's eyes widened in surprise as she reached out to stroke Sarina's sleek coat. "She is magnificent," she murmured, her fingers brushing gently against the mare's neck. The bay mare responded with a soft whicker, and Christina smiled, charmed by the animal's quiet demeanor.
Her attention shifted back to Victor, and she was suddenly acutely aware of how close he had moved. His nearness stirred something within her—a warmth that spread through her, unexpected and unsettling. His presence had a way of filling the space around him, drawing her in without effort.
Victor stepped closer still, his hand brushing hers briefly as he reached for the reins. His touch sent a jolt of awareness through her, and before she could react, he had placed his hands at her waist, preparing to help her mount the mare. His hands lingered, firm and steady, and the brief moment of contact made her breath catch.
"You needn't be so thorough, Your Grace," she said, her voice coming out softer than she intended, trying to mask the effect his closeness had on her.
Victor's lips curved into a slight smirk. "I aim to be thorough in all matters," he replied, lifting her effortlessly into the saddle with a grace that left her momentarily breathless.
Once she was settled atop Sarina, Victor mounted Toro with practiced ease, and they rode out of the stables side by side. The quiet of the countryside enveloped them as they made their way toward the woods, the morning air cool and refreshing.
They rode in silence for a time, the rhythmic sound of the horses' hooves on the soft earth the only noise. Christina found herself stealing glances at Victor, noting the way the morning light caught the sharp lines of his profile, his expression as composed as ever.
"Where are we going?" she asked at last, curiosity getting the better of her.
Victor turned his head slightly. "It is a surprise."
Christina's brow arched in genuine astonishment. "A surprise?" She could hardly keep the disbelief from her tone. The notion of Victor planning a surprise for her seemed as foreign as anything she could imagine.
He glanced at her again, his smile widening ever so slightly. "Do you doubt me capable of such a thing?"
Her lips curved into a teasing smile. "I confess, it is not something I expected from you, Victor. You do not strike me as a man given to... surprises."
"Perhaps you have yet to know me well enough," he replied, his voice soft but steady, the words holding a subtle challenge.
Her heart gave a slight flutter at the remark, but she quickly masked it with a playful retort. "Or perhaps I have already discovered your penchant for keeping others at a distance."
His gaze flicked toward her, sharp but not unkind. "Perhaps."
They continued riding, the woods opening up before them, the dense trees slowly giving way to a clearing. When they reached it, Christina's breath caught at the sight before her.
There, laid out beneath the shade of a grand oak, was a picnic. A blanket spread across the soft grass, upon which rested an assortment of delicacies—scones, cakes, berries, and biscuits, all arranged with care. It was a sight so unexpected, so utterly charming, that for a moment she could only stare in disbelief.
