Page 56 of The Duke's Second Bride
“You were right, Edith,” Ava muttered to herself.
Edith was right on at least one account: it didn’t even take a day for Ava to receive an invitation for Christian and her to attend the Evett’s ball, only a few days from then.
It was short notice for a ball. Fortunately, the modiste had a few fashionable gowns already made, which she was all too happy to show to the new duchess of Richmond. Once Ava had found one she liked, the modiste promised it would hardly take a day to more properly tailor the gown to her measurements.
She and Christian spent the carriage ride to the ball in characteristic silence. When they arrived at the Evett’s manor house, however, he did step out of the carriage and immediately turn with a hand extended to her.
“Here,” he murmured.
Through the thin silk of her glove, she felt the heat of his skin and had to swallow. How could it be that she could feel so conflicted about this man, but still want him so desperately? A man who had rejected her, no less?
Once she was on the ground, he extended his arm to her.
She told herself that she shouldn’t have been so surprised. After all, he was the duke of Richmond. It made perfect sense that he would want to uphold basic appearances and dignity in public.
And yet, despite all her complicated and often opposing impressions she had gotten of the man over the past few weeks, one thing she was certain of was that he didn’t particularly care for what other people thought about him.
They had passed their first few days in the house with relative civility, of course, but most of that civility seemed born of the duke’s willingness to avoid her at all costs. It was even more striking than it had been in the country.
Of particular note was that, for the past few days, he had not even joined the family for dinner. He had sent his butler to apologize, making excuses that increased work was keeping him busy in his office, and so Ava and Luke ate alone.
It wasn’t unpleasant; if anything, she felt certain that, over the course of these dinners, Luke was making even more noticeable progress with his stammer. And certainly, one could not complain about being able to eat supper without constant bickering.
And yet, Ava could not deny that the room felt odd without Christian there. Emptier, even.
What stung was the fact that he had yet to properly apologize for his words from that last night they had eaten together.
So, when he offered her his arm, she merely took it with silent assent. She had resigned herself to not going out of her way to speak to him unless he saw fit to apologize.
Which, knowing Christian, he likely never would.
Just before they entered the ballroom, she gave her cloak to one of the attendants at the estate. She caught Christian faltering, his gaze snapping to her dress like it had revealed some dangerous truth.
He hadn’t seen it before, she realized, because he had met her at the carriage, where she had already been wearing her cloak.
“I didn’t spend much money on it,” she said, referring to her dress. “If that is what your concern is, Your Grace. It was a dress already made, not custom-ordered. The modiste only had to make slight alterations.”
Christian swallowed, silent for a moment. Then he coughed, clearing his throat.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I was not concerned.”
He said nothing more. Ava felt another sinking feeling. She hadn’t expected a compliment from him, of course, but the lack of one still stung.
Looks like Edith will be let down, after all, she thought.
Swallowing her disappointment, she took her husband’s arm again and let him lead her into the ballroom to make their society debut as the Duke and Duchess of Richmond.
As soon as their names were announced, there was a palpable shift in the ballroom.
Christian watched as nearly every head in the room turned to watch their entrance.
Ava’s hand was light on his. He fought the urge to pull her down a side hallway and kiss her right then and there. She looked so damn beautiful in that dress, it was as though it had been made for her.
The color was a pale yellow, almost gold, which amplified the golden honey tones of her hair. Amidst the glittering lights of the ballroom, she looked like a shining star, with those fierce, lovely eyes glistening in the middle of it all.
He assumed it was this, more than even the sound of their names, that kept all those eyes trained on them as they madetheir way through the crowded ballroom. Of course, he heard whispers as they passed by onlookers.
“… such a sudden marriage …”
