Page 30 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
Edward made an unhappy face. “I am afraid so. I promise you it will not be for long.”
Edward resolved to collect the doll he had ordered for Lily as soon as he was in the city. He was surprised at how much he hated to see her look so sad, even though their separation would be temporary. She left her mother’s side, running to hug his legs tightly.
He put his hand gently on her head, strangely moved by her genuine care for him. Were it not for any reason other than to obtain information on his brother’s killer, he might have changed his mind about going.
He looked up to meet Ava’s eyes. He could see the conflict in them and wondered whether it was because he was leaving or because her daughter had developed an affection for him.
He stared at her, a challenging look in his eye, daring her to do something, anything really.
If she asked me not to go, would I stay?
He knew the answer to that question because he was aware of the importance of this mission. Still, he wished that she would ask. She did not say a word, and eventually, he turned and left with one last wave for Lily.
Ava let out a long sigh, as Edward’s footsteps died away. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him.
Why are you going to London so abruptly?
Why can’t we come with you?
Are you already tired of us?
She had the right to know, but every attempt she had made to enforce that right had been met with a rebuff. Frankly, she was tired of rejection. She had thought after she found the letter and gave it to him that they had forged some sort of connection—evidenced by his overt efforts to connect with Lily. But he ignored her at every turn, and she did not know how to change that. Grabbing Lily’s hand in frustration, she hurried her out of the orangery. “Time for your bath,” she said briskly, ignoring Lily’s protests.
She handed Lily over to her governess before stomping to her chambers in a huff to change for dinner. While she and Lady Lanton were getting along a lot better, she would have preferred it if Edward was there as a buffer.
She chose a black gown to match her mood, and Diana was wise enough not to say a word about it. She was disappointed to find that she was the first person to arrive in the parlor for the evening meal. She poured herself a brandy and downed it, wondering how far Edward had gotten.
It cannot have been that far. I wager he will have to spend the night at an inn. He should have just waited and traveled early in the morning.
His aunt swept into the room like a monarch, head held high and shoulders back. She nodded to Ava and then sat down, accepting a drink from Notley. “I expect that you are quite put out that my nephew is not here,” she said breezily.
“And you don’t have to sound so pleased about it.”
Lady Lanton merely gave her a haughty look. “Frustrating, is it not? That he does not pay the attention to you that you think you deserve?”
Ava gasped, taken aback by the accuracy of the statement.
Lady Lanton smiled. “Never fear, you will learn. To keep a man’s attention, you must win him over with honey, not vinegar. Stop favoring him with black looks and replace them with coquettish smiles. Seduce him the way you did your child’s father.”
Ava’s eyes narrowed. “You are mistaken. I have never seduced anyone in my life.”
Lady Lanton put down her glass and got to her feet. “Well, it is time that you learned,” she said favoring Ava with a cool look before her face lit up. “Don’t worry your pretty head about it. I shall teach you.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ava found herself in the unique position of having to take advice from a woman she would have sworn was her mortal enemy.
Lady Lanton gave her no choice, beginning her lessons at dinner. “The first thing you need to do is get rid of all these high neck lines. You are not in a convent. Show your decolletage. You have some nice breasts. Let your gowns show them off.”
Ava blushed crimson with mortification. She was at a complete loss at those words. She and Lady Lanton did not have such a relationship.
“And you may call me Aunt Anastasia. That Lady Lanton rubbish is tiresome,” she continued nonchalantly as she spooned her soup.
Ava just gawped at her. “Er…” she cleared her throat, “thank you.”
“No need to thank me. You have brought life back into this house. You and your daughter. I was skeptical, but it seems you have been good not just for Edward but for his duchy as well.”
“I try my best to?—”
