Page 31 of Three Nights with the Beastly Duke

“It was,” Susan agreed. “But Papa and Arthur were adamant that he would survive, and he went anyway. Mama was so mad at Papa. For a long time. But then, Arthur came back for a visit after his first seven months abroad. Then again eight months later, and so on and so forth. And finally, when the war was over, he came home for good. But in one of those times when Mama feared Arthur was going to die and Papa was dead, she decided to teach me everything she knew. She worried about our future if some stranger got the title.”

“That’s so much responsibility,” Lavinia said in wonder. “How old were you?”

“Fourteen.” Susan sighed. “You’d know something about that, wouldn’t you?” she asked, smiling softly as she turned the subject back on Lavinia. “You practically became a mother when you were just a child yourself, didn’t you? Not by birth, of course, but because of your mother.”

Lavinia felt a stir of sadness in her heart, and she returned Susan’s sad smile. “Yes,” she admitted. “I did. But I don’t regret a single second of it. I love my sisters with all of my heart, and I think my mother would be proud of how I’ve taken care of them.”

“Do you miss them?” Susan asked, reaching out to squeeze Lavinia’s hand comfortingly.

“Every second,” Lavinia confessed, feeling her chest tighten. “I’ve never spent more than a few hours away from them before, and it is… excruciating. But I do appreciate your lessons. They were a great distraction, and wonderfully educational.”

“You shall write to them tomorrow,” Susan urged. She patted Lavinia’s hand one more time, then signaled to the nearby maid to come over with a dry towel. “Tell them that they are most welcome and that we can receive them as soon as this weekend,” she added as her feet were patted dry.

Lavinia stared up at her, happiness welling up inside of her. “That soon? Are you sure?” she asked.

“Of course!” Susan said, slipping her feet into her satin slippers. “I shall want to meet my other new sisters, and there is no use for you to be in pain when it isn’t necessary. You are the duchess after all, you can invite whoever you want in your home.”

“Oh, Susan.” Lavinia sighed, standing up so she could hug her. “ You will love them, I swear.”

“I know I will,” Susan agreed, hugging Lavinia back. “Now, I’m off to bed, and you should be, too. You did wonderful today, but tomorrow brings new challenges. Sleep well, Sister.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

“Welcome home, Your Grace,” the doorman greeted, taking Arthur’s coat and hat.

“Thank you, Miles,” Arthur replied, taking a long look around the foyer.

He had expected so much to change now that Lavinia was here, but his home looked exactly the same. He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. He feared Lavinia looking at him the way Grace had, and he almost wished that she would so he could stop wondering when it would happen.

“Did you see my wife today?” he asked, making a slow turn back to the servant.

Miles nodded, a polite smile gracing his face. “Yes, Your Grace, I did,” he replied.

“And how was she?” Arthur asked, then quickly followed up with, “How did she seem?”

“Oh, you have picked a wonderful lady to be your bride, Your Grace,” Miles praised. “Lady Susan made the introductions today, and I believe the new Duchess shall be very efficient at her new role here.”

It wasn’t exactly the answer Arthur was hoping for, but he was relieved that Susan had taken his request seriously. He knew that it should have been him who assisted in making Lavinia more comfortable, but after the horde of emotions that had hit him the night before, he couldn’t. Instead, he had chosen to throw himself into work hoping to distract himself.

The only issue was that now that the work was over, there was nothing to keep his thoughts away from Lavinia. His body had screamed in irritation all night after he’d left her room, not giving him a moment of sleep. He had wanted so badly to give in to his needs, but his warring heart wouldn’t allow it. Finally giving up on sleep altogether, he had left home before the sun was even up, hoping that his duties would provide relief. They had, but they had been nowhere near as effective as he’d needed.

Every spare thought he’d had went straight to Lavinia. The taste of her lips, the feel of buttery-soft naked flesh tight against him, the sound of her sweet, breathy moans, it all rushed back to him, making his hunger for her rise over and over again.

If he hadn’t been focused on his wife’s body, his mind would rush back to the past. He had already trusted a woman before, he could not afford to do it again. Especially with Lavinia. He was battle-hardened. He was scarred. Lavinia had sworn she didn’t care about the scars, but he couldn’t believe it. He’d seen himself in the mirror. He knew what he looked like. And no woman could ever love his face.

“I’m glad to hear it,” Arthur finally responded, realizing he’d gotten lost in thought yet again. “Good night, Miles.”

He heard the doorman reply in a similar fashion as he made his way up the stairs. As he reached the third floor, Gregory, his valet, was there to meet him.

“Good evening, Your Grace,” Gregory greeted him politely. “It is good to have you home.”

“It is good to be home, Gregory,” Arthur returned, clapping him on the shoulder as he walked past him.

“Your room is prepared, Your Grace. Shall I send up water for a bath as well?” Gregory asked.

Yes, you should.

Arthur knew it was the responsible thing to do. And yet, as he thought the words, he shook his head as he stopped in front of Lavinia’s door.

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