Page 82 of Claimed By the Beastly Duke

“I am surprised you wish to cut things off with your lover,” he taunted. “Have you suddenly grown a conscience, Mother?”

“Edwin!”

“I must tell you, though. It is rather too late. A cruel mother such as yourself would?—”

Whack!

Edwin felt the sharp sting on his cheek before he registered what happened. He went still, stunned for a moment.

The sound of a familiar gasp snapped him back to the present, and his eyes darted around in search of its source. He was dumbfounded when he spotted Ava standing by the door, her eyes wide in surprise.

His wife had just watched him get slapped by his mother.

“Ava!” he called as he rushed towards her.

CHAPTER 20

“Oh, I am so happy!” Stella squealed for what might as well be the umpteenth time.

Ava smiled as she watched her sister lean back in her seat, her eyes closed and a pleasant smile on her face.

Stella suddenly opened her eyes and turned to face her. “I cannot wait to be Thomas’s wife!”

Ava placed her hand on her sister’s. “I know. But now, we must ensure that you look like a dream when you walk down the aisle towards your husband.”

Stella sat up and nodded. “You are right. I must make sure I am the most beautiful, most radiant bride there ever was.”

The carriage finally lurched to a stop in front of the biggest bridal shop in all of London. Stella hopped out and made a beeline for the shop while Ava tried to keep up with her.

The scent of lavender and vanilla enveloped her as soon as she entered. It did not take long for her sister to browse through the different dresses that were available.

“I want this!” Stella crooned. Then, she turned and gasped at yet another dress. “No, this is far more bridal.”

An assistant approached Stella with another dress in her favorite color, lilac. Predictably, it made her swoon.

“Oh, Ava!” she cried. “Now, I am confused.”

Ava placed her hand on her sister’s shoulder as she switched into elder-sister mode.

“We will find the perfect dress for you, Stella,” she reassured her. “Now, what do you love about this?” She pointed at the first dress.

“It is simply exquisite. I cannot resist?—”

“Stella!” Ava snapped. “What do you love about the dress?”

That finally seemed to calm Stella down.

She took a deep breath. “I love the skirt and how it flares at the hips,” she said.

“Good!” Ava pointed at the second dress. “Now, what do you love about this one?”

“I love the crystals on the bodice.”

“And this one?” Ava pointed at the dress in the assistant’s arms.

“It is simply the color. And I love how the fabric flows so effortlessly, like water.”

“Now…” Ava turned to the assistant. “She wants a dress made of this lilac fabric, with a skirt just like this one”—she pointed at the first dress—“And a bodice adorned with crystals. Can this be made by your modiste?”

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