Page 30 of The Duke's Second Bride
Luke giggled at this, greatly amused that anyone would speak to his stern father in such a way.
“She will have all of the safety and security marriage has to offer,” Christian said. Ava wondered why she felt disappointed at that.
An older woman came by whom Ava recognized as the Dowager Duchess of Richmond. She went to curtsy, only to be brought back to standing by the older woman’s hands on her shoulders.
“Congratulations, my dear,” the Dowager Duchess said, practically beaming. Ava was pleasantly surprised; every other time she had seen the Dowager Duchess at a ball, the woman had always seemed stern. “I was beginning to worry that our dear Christian would live out the rest of his days alone.”
“I told you, you needn’t worry,” Christian said. “Though we thank you for coming to share in this … celebration with us.”
Ava noticed the hesitation. She tried not to let the disappointment sweep through her too much. “Yes,” she said to the dowager duchess. “Thank you so much, Duchess.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” the older woman assured her kindly. “And I look forward to hearing what you think of the country estate. I hear you’re quite fond of animals, just like darling Luke.”
“Speaking of,” Christian said. He cleared his throat and turned, to Ava’s surprise, to her. “I suppose it is time we were on our way,” he said. “Shall we, wife?”
He extended an elbow. Ava fought past her surprise and took it. Beneath her hand, the contours of his muscles were strong and warm even through the fabric of his suit. She tried her best to ignore the thrill it sent through her.
“Yes,” she said. “Let us be gone. Luke will soon be tired, won’t you, Luke?”
“No,” Luke said. “I shall be awake f-f-for hours and hours!”
Ava could not help but laugh at his precociousness. “We shall see about that,” she said affectionately, ruffling the boy’s hair. She briefly let go of Christian’s arm to lean in to hug her friend. “Thank you for coming,” she said to Edith.
“I would not miss it for the world,” Edith said, squeezing her firmly. “And I meant what I said before,” she continued, lowering her voice to a whisper only Ava could hear. “If he mistreats you in any way, he shall rue the day most thoroughly.”
Ava chuckled. “I shall let him know,” she whispered back jokingly, before leaning back and smoothing out her skirts.
She took hold of the Duke’s arm once more. Then, on a whim, she reached out a hand towards Luke.
With a grin, the little boy grabbed onto the offered hand. She felt Christian stiffen in surprise at her side.
Once they were in the carriage, with Luke seated on one side of Christian and Ava on the other, the full weight of what had just happened finally settled over her.
She was married. A wife once more.
She was the new Duchess of Richmond.
And Christian Adler was her husband.
Luke began fidgeting practically the moment the carriage began to move.
“How l-l-long will the ride b-be?” he asked, not quite whining, but getting close.
It was a bumpy ride already, and Christian knew that if he was uncomfortable, surely the boy was even more so—not to mention Ava, in her stays and dress.
“Quite a bit,” Christian said stiffly. It was one thing to have to deal with the boy on his own in front of his new wife—God, it would take him a while to get used to that—it left him feeling almost embarrassed. “We are leaving to go to the main estate in the country.”
“I d-do l-l-love Richmond,” Luke said, seemingly pacified by the information. However, merely a few minutes later, he began squirming again.
“Luke,” Christian said sharply.
“I’m bored,” Luke muttered to himself.
“If you cannot remain still, we will have to stop the carriage, and you shall have to spend the rest of the journey in the carriage behind with your governess. Is that what you want?”
Luke shook his head.
“Then behave, please. I will not stand for this, and neither shall Lady D—” He shook his head. He had not called Ava byanything other than her former married name, aloud. “Your stepmother?—”
