Page 74 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise
Emily and Ava spoke in unison, though Emily was quicker than her twin and scrambled from her chair to her father's side. She peered over Lord Fairfax's shoulder to read the paper and let out a squeak of surprise.
"Gemini," she whistled, giving Ava a secretive smile, "I didn't think Kilbride had it in him."
"Had what in him?" Ava questioned, completely confused by it all.
"A romantic declaration," Emily replied, mock swooning behind her father's back.
What on earth? Ava sprung forth from her seat to Lord Fairfax's side, snatching the paper from under him. There, in the society section, was the headline "Duke to Marry Orphan".
"The Duke of Kilbride confirmed last night, that he will wed the long-lost, orphaned, twin-sister of Lady Emily Fairfax," Ava read aloud, shock reverberating through her body. "When asked," she continued to read, "If he thought that a lady with no societal background, or aristocratic connections, would make a good duchess, Kilbride simply replied that Miss Ava Smith would make the perfect duchess."
"Lud," she breathed, setting the paper down, unable to finish the whole column.
"Er, congratulations?" Emily offered, her eyes dancing with amusement, "Are we to take it that you are pleased?"
"He could have asked," Ava retorted, though her heart was skipping a giddy beat. There, in black and white, was Kilobaud's declaration that he cared not about her background or society's censure, but only about her.
"I should go to him," Ava said distractedly, her exhaustion completely forgotten.
"I rather think," Lord Fairfax said, with a nod to the window, "That he's coming to you."
Emily rushed forward to the bow window, to peer out through the drapes. She gave a shriek of excitement—that Ava was certain could be heard from outside—before turning to her sister. "It's him!"
Following her sister's lead, Ava peered out the window and saw Kilbride descending from his carriage. He looked confident, ducal, and so utterly out of Ava's league, that she wondered if perhaps Kilbride had hit his head.
"Oh, dear," she whispered, fidgeting nervously with the string of pearls around her neck.
"If you don't want to marry the chap," Lord Fairfax said, seeing her anxiety, "Then just say. You always have a home here."
"I-I-" Ava stuttered, but she did not get a chance to finish her sentence, for Graves entered the room, announcing Kilbride's arrival.
Ava felt her breath catch in her throat as Kilbride strode into the room. He was dressed in a dark jacket over light breeches, and looked utterly, devastatingly handsome.
"I take it you have read the papers?" Kilbride enquired, as the rooms three occupants stared at him in dumbfounded shock.
"Indeed I have," Lord Fairfax bristled, drawing himself up to his full height, "It is customary to ask the father's blessing, before asking a girl for her hand."
"It's also customary to ask the girl," Ava added with a mischievous smile.
"Are you saying no?" Kilbride asked, his confidence faltering momentarily.
"Lud, no," Ava replied shyly, "I'm saying yes, Your Grace."
"I think at this stage of the game, Ava," Kilbride replied with a smile, "You might finally permit yourself to call me Raff."
Ava would have said his name, but her mouth had gone terribly dry, as Kilbride—Raff—shot her a deep, meaningful stare. Gemini; was she truly going to marry the man? It seemed impossible to think of herself as his wife, when even a look rendered her nervous and giddy with desire.
"Shall we step outside, Papa?" Emily said loudly to Lord Fairfax, in a tone that was less of a question and more of a command.
"I still haven't given the lad my blessing," Lord Fairfax blustered, in a show of paternal protectiveness. The marquess, however, gave a laugh, as he saw the startled look on Ava's face, "Oh, alright, you may have it Kilbride. I don't think I would leave the room alive unless I granted it."
Chuckling away to himself, Lord Fairfax followed his daughter out the door, and Ava and the duke were finally alone.
For a moment they both stood in silence, staring stupidly at each other, until Kilbride offered her a shy smile.
"Are you certain?" he asked hesitantly, "Because if you're not, it works out rather well. I shall be nationally humiliated, which would be an apt punishment for my thoughtlessness."
"I would never wish you humiliated," Ava replied, stepping forward to take his hand, "And I have never been more certain of anything in my whole life."
