Page 1 of The Duke's Second Bride
CHAPTER 1
“Splendid day, is it not?” Lord Barringford asked, gesturing at the gardens around them.
Christian Adler, the Duke of Richmond, bit back a grimace.
It would be lovelier without all this blasted business talk, he thought, but did his best to keep the words internal.
It was indeed a beautiful day, surrounded by hot air balloons and a variety of smaller booths showcasing delightful new inventions. He hadn’t been looking forward to the hot air balloon festival at Vauxhall Gardens, but now that he was here, he had to admit it was quite a remarkable sight.
And, of course, the business talk, however dull, was necessary.
He and Lord Barringford had been partners for years now, shipping fine and rare goods across the continent, and had donequite well for themselves over time. It would not do to insult the lord at this late date.
“We should have word from the shipbuilders next week,” Lord Barringford continued, his voice rising with excitement. “I know it is quite the investment, putting our own money into a ship, but it will rather reduce the costs of transporting goods, and just think of the publicity it ought to give us to …”
As Lord Barringford prattled on, Christian nodded, adding in thoughtful hums every so often, but he wasn’t truly listening.
The deal had already been done. At this point, it seemed Lord Barringford was speaking less to be productive and more for the joys of hearing his own voice. Instead, Christian’s thoughts drifted with his gaze, skimming over the crowds until he reached the sight he was looking for.
A young boy, standing with his governess.
At eleven years old, Luke was already beginning to look a bit like his father: he was tall for his age, like Christian had been, and shared Christian’s blue eyes and brown hair. He even stood stiffly, shoulders hunched, in the way Christian had been reprimanded for doing as a child.
But the cut of his features was entirely Isabel, Christian’s late wife. As were his mannerisms, such as the nervous way he tugged at his governess’s sleeve, glancing furtively in Christian’s direction.
After a moment, he abandoned her and ran over.
“Well, good day to you, young Lord Luke,” Lord Barringford said cheerily.
Luke gave him a nod, but did not verbally return the greeting, instead tugging at Christian’s sleeve.
Christian resisted the urge to sink to his son’s level. Ever since Isabel’s death, he had felt so afloat in raising Luke. He loved the boy, certainly, but he never quite knew how to show it. His own upbringing had been very polished, very respectable.
Silence, obedience, and control were the values on which he was raised.
“Yes, son?” he said.
It came out more stiffly than he had intended. While his and Isabel’s marriage had not begun as one of sweeping romance or passion, she was certainly warmer than he was used to; since her death, he had been left reeling without any idea of how to show that same warmth to their now motherless son.
“What is it?” he added.
Luke pointed. Christian followed to where he was pointing, closer to the balloon, and saw a gaggle of boys, around Luke’s age, shouting and cheering and running around raucously.
“M-m-may I—” Luke furrowed his brow, clearly trying to aim his focus on getting the words out. “M-may I join th—join them? Father?”
“What’s the matter, lad?” Lord Barringford said with a chuckle. “Cat’s got your tongue?”
He glanced over at Christian, clearly expecting him to agree.
When Christian only glared at him, his face paled. “My apologies,” he murmured, straightening up.
Christian looked down at Luke’s hopeful face, then back at the group of boys.
Boys could be cruel at that age. At any age, he supposed—just look at Lord Barringford’s callous joke—but particularly as children, before the decorum expected in polite society was drilled into them. He could just picture what would happen if he allowed Luke to go over. As soon as he tried to speak, the other boys would tease him mercilessly. Christian could practically hear their jeers in his head.
He didn’t say this, of course. Rather, he simply shook his head.
“I don’t want you too close to the balloon,” he lied, trying to come up with an excuse that would ruin his son’s confidence. “It isn’t safe. Go back to your governess.”
