Page 49 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
She gave a despairing wail of a laugh. “I feel that we could do so well together. We could be so happy… but of course, something has to come along and take that away from me.”
Edward stood up and crossed over to Ava’s seat. He sat down next to her, taking her hand in his and holding it tightly. “Do you feel that? Do you feel the warmth of my hand?”
She frowned at him in puzzlement even as she nodded. “Yes,” she said quietly.
“That is because I amhere.I am alive. Do you think you are the only one who got a second chance? I never thought I would ever be happy again. Do you think that I want this to end? No, I want to hold tight to you and never let you go.”
Ava gazed at him in understanding. “But your brother was murdered.”
“Yes.”
“If something like that happened to my sister, I am not sure I could let that go.”
He nodded slowly; their gazes locked.
Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Pleasebe careful.”
“I will.” He leaned in slowly and pressed his lips to hers. “I promise.”
Her lips twisted sardonically. “I am not sure I should believe your promises. You promised to come to dinner.”
“And I should have kept that promise. I am sorry. I got distracted.”
She gave him a challenging look. “And you didn’t really want to spend time with my family.”
He dropped his eyes, hunching his shoulders in shame. “Yes, all right, maybe I didn’t. Maybe I wasn’t ready to be stared at like a museum exhibit.”
“My family wouldn’t?—”
“I know you love them, and you think the best of them, but in my experience?—”
“You have to at least give them a chance.”
“Yes, I know I do. I was merely… girding my loins.” He grinned ruefully. “Tomorrow, at breakfast, I shall apologize sincerely.”
Ava cupped his cheek, giving him an affectionate look. “Are you coming to bed?”
“Later. I still have work to do. Forgive me?”
Ava sighed, “Fine. I will see you tomorrow.”
“A ball? Your Grace, I thought you were a recluse?” Martha put down her fork to stare at Edward incredulously as Ava shifted her scrambled egg nervously on her plate. She was anxious for her family to behave in a manner that did not make Edward feel self-conscious. So far, they had managed to be polite although making it clear they did not appreciate his extended absence.
“Yes, I… well, as you have learned, I am not very good with company, but your daughter deserves a proper introduction to society as my duchess.” He cleared his throat, fixing Martha with a blue gaze.
Ava shivered just a little to see it. She marveled at how intense Edward could be when he set his mind to it.
I don’t know why he worries about people gaping at his scar when he can stare them down with one look.
“I agree.” William smiled as he ate his ham. “She does deserve that after everything she has been through.”
Ava looked at him in surprise. Her father had always been quietly supportive of her and Lily, never treating them unkindly,but she had always thought that he was perhaps a little disappointed in her.
“Thank you, Father.”
His smile turned soft as he looked in her direction. “You are welcome.”
“Well,” Margaret spoke up, “I for one am very excited about this ball. Ava, I do hope you have found a good modiste. We don’t have much time, and we need new gowns!”
