Page 26 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
Edward stood up as well, following her. “You are always wanted here, Aunt.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Good night.”
In spite of severe self-talking, Ava’s heart could not help fluttering at the coming meeting between her daughter and Edward. She truly wanted it to go well. In her short time at thecastle, she had come to realize that he was a good man who had been hurt by the circumstances he found himself in.
One day, maybe we will sit down, and he will tell me how he got his scar.
It wasn’t that she cared about the scar—she didn’t—but it was clear thathedid, and she had made a vow to care forhimthat she intended to keep.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for the bell and rang it. Soon, Diana appeared, a smile on her face. “Good morning, Your Grace. What can I do for you today?”
“Lily has a pink gown. I would like for you to bring it to me as I want to make some adjustments to it.”
“Oh, I can do that for you,” Diana said perkily.
“No, no. I want to do it. But wait until we have gone to breakfast, and then you can go into her chambers. I want it to be a surprise.”
Diana’s brow furrowed, but she nodded her acquiescence. Ava could not blame her for being puzzled. The lady’s maid was a perfectly good seamstress, but Ava had something else in mind for her daughter’s dress—something she could not really explain to someone else.
She nodded to Diana and smiled to reassure her before walking out of the room. She crossed over to the north wing where Lily was housed along with her new governess. She knocked on the door, a ready smile on her face.
Lily turned as she stepped into the room, her face lighting up. “Mama!”
Ava spread her arms out so that Lily could run into them. They hugged for a moment, and then Ava released her. “Ready to come for breakfast?”
Lily’s face fell. “No… Mrs. Mary says I shouldn’t go and eat in the dining hall. That we have suf-suffi-sufficient space in the school room?—”
Ava felt anger rise in her chest at her daughter’s words. “Well, Mrs. Mary should have asked me first because I want you to eat with me.”
Lily’s face brightened. “You do?”
“Of course. Now, shall we go for breakfast?”
“Yes!”
Ava got to her feet and took her daughter’s hand, leading her out to the morning room.
Edward woke up, and the first thing that came to his mind was the dinner he had promised to be at. His hand rose, touching the rough angles of his face, the mottled skin from his burns. He ran his fingers along his damaged skin, his mind on his wife and her daughter.
He regretted bitterly that he had failed to find a gift that might have distracted Lily from his face. With a sigh, he shuffled out of bed. Since he had been back from duty and recovered from his accident, he avoided using a valet because he could not stand the extended attention on his face. Due to the burns he had endured, he could not grow much of a beard on one half of his face, so he kept the other side strictly clean-shaven.
This evening, he was tempted to find a valet, just to make sure he was properly groomed.
All this for a child?he jeered at himself.
With a shrug, he poured hot water into the basin and began his evening ablutions. He was careful to choose a clean shirt and carefully tied his cravat before snatching up his face mask and considering it. He shook his head, putting it back down. It was not really practical to eat with—since it was made of beaten iron—and Lily would have to get used to his face sooner or later.
Better sooner.
He slowly walked down the stairs, his heart hammering. He could hear the sound of childish laughter even before he reached the parlor. He found himself smiling as he opened the door and peered inside.
He practically stopped breathing as a young girl with long brown hair whirled around to face him, her hair flying. She wore a pink gown that had fairy wings sticking out of the back.
He gawped, gobsmacked, for a moment confused as to whether he had lost his mind and was seeing fairies as a result. The girl skipped a little, coming toward him with a grin on her face.
“Do you like my wings? Mama made them for me.”
He was at a loss for words for a moment before pulling himself together and nodding vigorously. “They are beautiful. Are you a fairy?”
She giggled delightfully. “No silly! I am just a girl. The wings are not real.” She turned around to show him. “See?”
