Page 7 of His Godsent Duchess
"I am Cassidy," she replied, and the other girl with chestnut hair said, "And I am Amelia." She grinned, and added, "I love how bright your hair is."
Christina laughed. "I spend a lot of time in the sun, that is why."
Cassidy's eyes widened. "How do you not have freckles?"
"It is a secret." Christina winked. "I hope you have abandoned your plan to climb the tree, it would be a shame to ruin such pretty dresses."
Amelia nodded. "We will not climb for now. If our father sees us, he will be furious. He hates it when we do not behave like proper ladies."
Christina's heart tightened. "He sounds quite like my father," she said with a rueful smile. Then they laughed together.
"It is his wedding day, you see, and we will try not to make him angry," Cassidy said, pushing her curls from her eyes.
Lord, help me!Christina's stomach knotted.The Duke is their father!Her mind reeled with the sudden realization, her escape plan faltering. She did not even know he had children because she had never cared to know anything about him. All she had been concerned about was how to prevent her wedding. Just then, she heard a voice behind her.
"I hope you are not planning to climb that tree."
Christina turned, thinking she was being addressed, and her breath caught when she saw the Duke. His presence was commanding, and his aura exuded authority. In daylight, he was ridiculously handsome with dark hair and inscrutable hazel eyes. The sunlight played off his sharp features, making him appear almost statuesque. Everything about him was cold and distant, yet she found herself taking a step toward him.
Cassidy's voice halted her. "We were considering climbing the tree, but this kind lady told us it is too dangerous."
The Duke's mouth curved ever so slightly, but Christina was unsure whether that was a smile. His expression remained enigmatic, stern, yet subtly amusing. He looked at her, and their gazes held. Christina tried to breathe. "I trust you will continue to discourage them from such endeavors. After all, it is what a good mother does."
Amelia gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Is she to be our new mother?"
The Duke nodded without taking his eyes off Christina. The weight of his acknowledgment settled heavily on her shoulders. The girls squealed and ran toward the manor, Amelia saying, "We must tell Kitty and Agnes."
"Order!" the Duke shouted, and the girls immediately slowed to a walk. His voice was sharp, cutting through their excitement like a blade.
Christina frowned. What manner of man spoke to his children with such a tone? Her heart ached for the girls, subjected to such rigidity. "Who are Kitty and Agnes?" she asked.
"My daughters. I have four."
"Do you run your home like a military base with all four daughters?"
"Every man is the commander of his realm," he replied coolly. "My children are under my command. After today, you will also assume a position of authority and discipline them." His tone was matter-of-fact, as if this was the most natural expectation.
Christina's fury simmered. "A commander, indeed. Shall I also march in formation and salute?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, her anger barely contained.
The Duke's eyes glinted. "Only if you wish to impress," he retorted. "Though I doubt you need such theatrics to command attention." His gaze was unwavering, challenging her resolve.
Christina raised her chin defiantly. "I have no wish to impress anyone, Your Grace." She stood tall, refusing to be intimidated.
The Duke regarded her from the top of her head to the hem of her dress, tilting his head slightly. His scrutiny was intense, and she felt exposed under his piercing gaze. She tried not to squirm under his scrutiny. "What are you doing out here?" he asked, his voice measured.
"Someone must look after your daughters when you are not around," she replied immediately. Her tone was firm, her words carrying an unspoken challenge.
Something sparked in his eyes, but she could not decipher it. Was it admiration, or something else entirely? He held his arm out to her. "Come then, we mustn't keep the parson waiting."
Christina's heart sank as she realized that she could no longer prevent this marriage. The finality of the situation crashed over her like a wave. She took his arm, her mind racing.I cannot allow those sweet little girls to remain under his tyranny.Her resolve hardened with each step they took. She thought of herself and Annie, how they were never accepted as they were. Their parents constantly tried to mold them into society's ideal.
No, Amelia and Cassidy needed her. She would keep the Duke from stealing their good spirit, just as she wished someone had done for her and Annie. Determination surged within her, and she silently vowed to protect the girls' innocence and joy.
Four
Christina turned to look at her groom as the vicar read the sermon, and her stomach formed several knots. The words of the sermon barely registered in her mind as she tried to steady her breath. Kilton stood straight and imposing, his sharp features defined, his jaw set in a manner that made him look like a marble statue.
His dark hair framed a face that was undeniably handsome, yet so cold and distant that it sent a chill through her. She wondered if he was always this stone cold, and how she was supposed to live with him. Her eyes traced the lines of his face, searching for any sign of warmth or softness.
