Page 71 of Her Wicked Duke
“There is one other thing,” Georgia added.
“Yes?”
“There is nobody else whom I would want more as my bridesmaid than you, Anne. You would be doing me the greatest honor, as my friend, to stand by me as I marry Lord Marston.”
Anne couldn’t help her smile. She was tired of holding grudges and being sharp-edged. She wished to be soft and whimsy, the way she had once been. She wished for the ease of her friendship with Georgia Baxter, and thus found it in her heart to forgive her.
“I would be honored,” she said and then hugged her friend.
True to his word, Alexander took Anne to a dessert shop after her visit with Georgia. In the carriage, he played with her hair, smiling fondly at her.
“I remember the night that I pleasured you here.” His voice was soft, deep, and Anne had the thought to reach up and place her fingertips on his throat to feel the vibrations of his voice. “Youwere so angry with me after we talked. I could not believe I had ruined such a wonderful experience with… my careless words.”
“We have many experiences to look forward to,” Anne said.
Alexander shook his head. “You are very used to dismissing things when you think they should no longer affect you. I watch you do it with your parents’ constant bickering, and I want you to know that you do not have to do it with me. There is a concept of still admiring somebody but being angry with them.”
He tucked some curls behind her ear, caressing the soft shell. “I understand that your parents have left their mark on you, Anne. They have convinced you of the condition that love and anger cannot go hand-in-hand, but it is so not severe as that.”
He kissed her tenderly. “I want you to know that we can be angry with each other, but we can also love each other. Anger and love, they are partners in a dance that is rather inane, but it can be delightfully passionate if handled correctly.” He laughed quietly, nuzzling her neck. “So, if you are ever angry with me, Anne, please let yourself be, but let me kiss you at the end of each of our arguments with every inch of passion I have for you.”
Nobody had ever taught her a lesson like that before, and she gaped at him as he pressed gentle kisses to her face, kissing the top of her cheeks, the corners of her eyes, and her brow.
Was it truly possible? She had only seen her mother walk away from arguments. When had her parents ever truly resolved anything? And yet here was Alexander—the man she had calledheartless, as the ton had called him—asking her to always reconcile with him following any argument they might have.
He held her hand. “This is my promise to you, Anne,” he said. “I shall do my best to be open and honest, and if I can’t, I’ll tell you why. As long as you promise to not do as your mother does and walk away from me. I want to help you find ways to let your frustration out—preferably with me, not away from me.”
He let out a low laugh, and she did not need it spelled out for her to know that his thoughts had taken a sensual turn.
“I promise,” she returned. “The lessons my parents have taught me through their marriage are hard to unlearn, but I trust you to help me with it.”
They pulled up near the dessert shop Alexander had picked. A friend of his owned the business, and he said that he could treat his Duchess-to-be to an afternoon there. Anne had giggled. She didn’t need that! But the thought of it was quite surreal.
Alexander tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as he led her from the carriage to the dessert shop. She was aware of the eyes on them, especially after talk of the duel and Patrick’s death had quickly overshadowed their scandal.
In their eyes, the Duke had gone from a rakish man who’d ruined Anne to her villain stalker, and had now become the hero who’d saved her from herrealstalker. Anne could barely stand even the looks of admiration.
“Perhaps we should dine elsewhere,” she whispered.
“Nonsense,” Alexander said. “Philippe is a fine baker and shall see that we’re given privacy once we’re in there.”
Anne tried to find comfort in that.
They entered the shop and ignored the glances as best she could. She was thankful that nobody she knew was in there, but she felt as though, despite her not knowing any of the patrons, they all knew her.
Her neck tingled as Alexander led her up the swirling white staircase at the side of the counter, up to the top floor. There, a round man with a white apron greeted them both.
“Alexander,” the man greeted, embracing Alexander. “And this must be Lady Anne. It is lovely to meet you.”
“Thank you for setting this up for us, Philippe,” Alexander said. “I would like to order two of the usual, please.”
Philippe nodded and promised to return swiftly.
Anne and Alexander sat down, and she raised an eyebrow at him. “You wish to order for me, now?”
“Only if I can treat you to the best cake in the ton, yes.” He grinned at her. “How did your meeting go with your friend?”
“It went well,” Anne said. She held back her smugness. “She wishes to throw us an engagement party as an apology for her involvement in spreading the rumors.”
