Page 101 of The Duke's Second Bride
Vincent was laughing so hard he nearly fell over as well, grabbing his stomach as though he were suffering from gastric pains.
The children laughed, as well. Even Ava could not help but giggle at the sight of her surly, stoic husband tangled in a kite string, particularly when the kite itself fluttered to a stop atop his head like a bright blue paper hat.
She and Luke ran over to help him detangle himself.
“The wind was being difficult,” Christian grumbled as he stood up, brushing the dirt from himself.
Though he wore a scowl, it was clear he was also somewhat amused by the mishap.
“Yes,” Ava said, still unable to hold back her laughter entirely. “Yes, I’m certain that was it.”
“D-don’t worry, Papa,” Luke said assuringly, taking the kite from his father and beginning to help untangle the knots in the string. “Sometimes you just need to practice. Practice makes p-perfect, isn’t that right, Mama? It’s all right not to get everything right on the first try.”
“Indeed,” Ava said, looking at Christian to find him looking at her too, his scowl completely melted into an adoring look.
“You are quite right, both of you,” he said, pecking Ava’s mouth gently and patting Luke on the head. He looked at Ava again, his eyes practically glittering with love and joy and affection. “Sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right.”
Ava grinned and kissed him again.
“All that said,” Christian continued, once he had pulled away from the kiss, “I think I am quite bruised and battered for one day. My future attempts with a kite shall have to wait.”
“May I continue flying with Lucy and James?” Luke asked. Both of his parents nodded.
With the string carefully detangled, he ran back to join the children, enlisting James to help him get his kite back in the air.
Ava and Christian watched him as they walked back to join the other ladies in the shade, by the refreshments.
“A good effort, young man,” the dowager duchess remarked, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
“He’ll have it in no time,” Ava said teasingly. “I’ve never known a man who was better at flying a kite.”
“But Vincent—” Christian pointed out, but she silenced him with a kiss.
“Ah, young love,” the dowager duchess sighed. “Let her shower praises on you, Christian. Certainly, you are the finest man I have ever known Ava to associate with. Much better than that odious former brother-in-law of hers.”
They both looked at her, surprised.
“Lord Dunfair?” Christian asked. His voice hardened slightly at the name. “What brings him to the top of your mind?”
Ava felt surprisingly neutral about hearing Brandon’s name. While she still never wished to see him again, she felt safe and content in Christian’s ability to protect her. And she certainly felt safe with him being out of the country.
“I was discussing how one of my stepsons ran into him, on his travels,” Edith volunteered. “He seems to be doing poorly. Wasting all of his money abroad, it seems. I would be surprised if he leaves himself enough capital to return to England.”
“Oh,” the dowager duchess said. “I doubt he ever will.”
Ava felt Christian relax against her. She looked up at him, smiling.
“Good,” she said. “There is nothing for him here.”
“Indeed,” Christian replied. Then he sighed, looking back at the children and their kites. “I suppose I should try again, hm?”
Ava looked at him, surprised. “Again? So soon?” she asked. “I had thought you said you were too beaten and bruised to continue.”
Christian shrugged, a soft smile spreading across his face, lighting it up. He bent down to kiss her.
“As Luke told us,” he said, “sometimes a thing may take a few tries to get right. And I think we can both agree,” he continued, “That the rewards of taking a chance on life, of taking a chance on joy, far outweigh any risks.”
Ava smiled and tilted her head up so that they could kiss again. Then she watched him jog across the field back toward his son.
