Page 38 of The Duke's Second Bride
The tension half broke. Christian couldn’t help but smirk, tilting his head to acknowledge he had understood the joke. “Yes, wife. You have my blessing.”
“Very good.” She gave a little mock curtsy and raised one of Pudding’s paws as though the cat was waving goodbye, and then left the room.
Christian let out a long breath and sank down into his chair, flinching slightly, even though it was obviously empty now.
What was Ava doing to him?
CHAPTER 13
Ava left Christian’s office feeling more than a little short of breath. She couldn’t help but be slightly annoyed at Miss Grant’s interruption, though she knew it was probably for the best.
After all, what was she hoping would happen if they hadn’t been walked in on? Was she hoping that they would kiss?
If that were to happen, it would likely only last a moment before he rejected her again.
The memory of last night still stung more than she would have liked to admit. While she was relieved he had not expected anything from her, and respected him for being a man of his word, her relief was accompanied by more than a little disappointment.
It had been, after all, quite a good kiss.
But perhaps not so for the duke? Had she done something he had disliked? Or did he truly find her so unattractive that he did not want her, even when she came to his room on her own, perfectly willing?
She could not pretend to understand him even a little. After he had told her to leave—so suddenly, after that most excellent kiss—she had retreated to her own bedroom, feeling embarrassed and more than a little wanting.
She had not been with a man since William, and their time in the bedroom had been lacking even in the earliest days of their marriage. And later, of course, William had all but stopped coming to her bed at night. He grew accustomed to stepping out of the house, taking his pleasure elsewhere, and Ava had learned quickly to turn a blind eye.
Indeed, it had been so long, she had not realized she could feel any kind of desire, especially so much as this. Christian was inspired by her feelings, which were newer and more ravenous than any kind of longing she had known in the past.
In some ways, she could not have been luckier—of all the men in the world to lust after, surely her husband was the best possible choice. However, unluckily, he did not seem to want her.
She shook off these thoughts as Miss Grant brought her to the library, where Luke sat in a comfortable-looking chair with his sketchpad on his lap.
He looked up, and his face immediately brightened when he saw her—and brightened even more when he saw Pudding in her arms. She could not help but smile at the look of excitement on his face. Luke reminded her so much of herself as a child, before her parents had disapproved of her interest in nature and animals, and had sent her to the city to learn how to comport herself like a proper and well-raised young lady.
“Ava!” Luke cried out, putting his sketchbook aside to rise and cross to her. He clearly wanted to embrace her, but held back as he eyed Pudding carefully. “Is this a n-n-new cat? I-i-is it yours?”
“This is Pudding. Would you like to hold him? He is quite friendly. You will just have to be gentle.”
He nodded eagerly. She gestured for him to go sit back in the chair. When he did so, she offered him Pudding. The sweet ginger cat took to Luke immediately, gladly curling up in Luke’s lap. Within seconds, Pudding had begun purring.
“W-where did he c-c-ome f-from?” Luke asked.
“I brought him with me,” she said. “He has been mine for a year now, and now I suppose he is yours, too. And your father’s,” she added, almost as an afterthought.
Everything that was hers was Christian’s now, and everything that was his was hers. It was a strange thought to have about a man she had barely known a few weeks ago. She shook off the thought.
“Did you know,” she said, “that I found him with his head in a bowl of pudding?”
“Pudding?” Luke exclaimed, clearly delighted at the prospect. “And is that how he got his name?”
“Yes!” Ava confirmed, smiling at the young boy’s enthusiasm. “His head was completely soaked in it, all the way to his whiskers.”
Luke burst into giggles at that, scratching Pudding behind the ears. “He shall f-f-fit in nicely,” he declared. “There are quite a f-f-few animals on th-the estate. I th-th-think Pudding will like it here v-v-ery much.”
Ava smiled. “I think so too,” she said. “Do you have any favorite animals here? I remember from our time in London that you are fond of horses, like me.”
He nodded vigorously. “Yes,” he said, loudly and clearly. “There are st-st-stables around the b-back of the manor. We have s-s-so many horses. I do not yet have one of m-my own, though I would like one. I hope F-Father might let me get my own this year.”
She nodded. “I think I was about your age when I got my first horse,” she said. “It’s a good age for it. Have you spent much time in the stables?”
