Page 5 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
She turned toward him, looking him bravely in the eye. “I am fine. I shall just pace around and stretch my legs as I wait for you.”
He was trapped by her gaze and just stood stock still, staring at her until he realized what he was doing and then abruptly turned and left the room.
Living with her is going to be a lot more difficult than I thought.He strode down the hall as fast as he could, needing to put some distance between them.
Ava was beginning to think she had made a terrible mistake agreeing to this marriage. She did not understand why Edward spoke to her so rudely or why he was so cutting and dismissive.
Is it because of Lily?
Ava’s heart sank as she wondered if she had put her child in a dangerous situation. For all intents and purposes, Edward would be her father. Would he treat her with the same dismissive contempt he was currently showing to Ava?
God, I hope not. I do not know what I would do if he is cruel to my daughter.
There was a knock at the door, and a maid came in with a pail of hot water, a jug, and a basin. She smiled at Ava. “Our bread is freshly baked, Your Grace. My mother makes the best soup in the district. I shall bring you a bowl in ten minutes or so. Will you need anything else?”
Ava blinked at her, nonplussed. “No, thank you, that will be all.”
The girl executed a clumsy curtsy and left the room.
“I should have asked for some ale,” Ava murmured to herself regretfully.
With a sigh, she turned toward the table where the basin sat, poured out some water, and washed her face. She used the chamber pot provided and then sat down just in time for her steaming meal to arrive. Hesitating a moment, she wondered if she should wait for Edward, so they could eat together, but there was only one bowl brought to her in addition to the plate of bread, a pat of butter, and a stick of jam.
She shrugged, picking up the spoon, and ate.
In the middle of her meal, the door opened, and Edward came in. “Is everything to your satisfaction?”
She was surprised by his solicitous tone and slowly nodded. “Everything is fine.”
“Good. We will leave in the next fifteen minutes. Be ready.”
Again, she nodded, mostly in bemusement. He backed out of the room and closed the door behind him.
Ava sighed.I don’t know if I can continue to live like this.
Chapter Four
Edward ate his meal in the main tavern, bearing the stares of the other patrons as penance for his rudeness to Ava earlier. He had not meant to be so brusque, but in his nervousness, that was how he sounded. He had a bad feeling that this was just the beginning of their awkward interactions. When she stared at him with her wide blue eyes, he forgot himself for a moment and then compensated for that by showing just how distant he could be.
He did not like how he was acting, but it seemed out of his control at the moment.
Get a hold of yourself, Barrington.
He took a large gulp of ale and then got to his feet, aware that every eye in the room was upon him. He held his head high, walking out with as much dignity as he could muster, and went to check on the horses.
The coachman was just about done with securing new horses with the help of the groom. Edward went back to the private suite to apprise Ava of the fact that they would be leaving soon. He took the time as he walked to compose himself and try to find the right tone.
“We shall be leaving soon. I hope you found everything to your satisfaction?” He practiced what he would say to her as he walked then cleared his throat, shaking his head. “Is everything to your satisfaction? We shall be leaving soon.”
He nodded to himself. “Yes, I think that is just right. Solicitous yet detached. Polite concern,” he murmured to himself just before he opened the door. She had her spoon halfway to her mouth, and she turned to stare at him with that wide, doe-eyed look. Everything evaporated from Edward’s mind. He murmured something that he hoped was coherent and was relieved when she gave a calm answer. It meant he had not mangled his words too badly. With a last nod at her, he fled.
The rest of the journey was just as excruciating. He had to contend with her nearness, the intense looks she kept shooting him, her scent… a tantalizing mix of mint, orange, and something earthier that he could not quite put a finger on.
“Your child,” he ventured when he could bear the thick silence no longer, “she will be arriving from Jaxton?” he said referring to her childhood home.
Slowly, Ava nodded. “Yes, she will.”
“And… how old is she?”
