Page 45 of Her Duke Next Door
“They like one another. Of course, they both postured a little. I think His Grace felt overwhelmed that Alexander and Christian were already such good friends. They all chatted when I introduced them earlier.”
“I believe Alexander and His Grace get on well, too,” Anne said. “Alexander said as much.”
“Of course they do, they have much in common.” The two sisters giggled together, watching their children play up ahead. Mary glanced at her father and mother on the other side of the terrace, the two of them closer than ever in recent years.
Ever since Annette had suffered a heart attack the two of them had been more cautious of one another and their reactions, and now appeared more in love than ever. It warmed Mary’s heart to see it, and she found herself straying to find Dominique before chiding herself. They were not a real couple. A mother for Katie and protection for Mary and Eloise. That was all their arrangement was.
Christian approached them, a wide smile on his face. “Sisters! You are both looking beautiful today,” he called. “And the dearest happy birthday to my nephew. He is growing up quite fine, is he not?”
“Indeed,” Alexander said, his deep voice startling Mary. Behind her, both of the dukes approached and they all sat down together. Yet Dominique was quiet, his gaze far off. There was an awkward set to his shoulders.
As Alexander and Anne listened to the news of Christian’s next travels, Mary leaned into Dominique.
“Your Grace, are you quite all right?” she whispered.
He startled at her nearness. “I am,” he answered quietly, his eyes on the unfolding party around them. The noise gathered incredibly until even Mary could only just about hear him above the squeals of children. “It is just… A lot, is it not?”
“It is,” Mary agreed. “Although I grew up in a very noisy household this is not too much to handle for me. Was your family quiet, Your Grace?”
“Ah,” he said, appearing uncomfortable. “Let us simply say that Livingston Castle has not heard this much noise, aside from Katie’s birthday.” He paused, seeming to think about something before nodding once to himself. “Please excuse me for a moment.”
Before she could protest, Dominique strode away from their table and disappeared inside before Mary could move to follow him.
* * *
That night, Dominique walked Mary upstairs. Her family had left for their own home, and the girls had gone to bed. His mind was still racing from the overwhelming experience of meeting her large family.
You do not have family for her to meet, he thought, the words intrusive and unwelcome. He stiffened as they ascended the stairs.
“Are you all right, Your Grace?” Mary asked.
As soon as he set his eyes on her inquisitve, concerned smile, he relaxed.
“Quite,” he answered. “Do not worry about me. I am quite fine.”
He was not in Livingston Castle. He did not have to think about those empty halls and how they rang with silence. How he wished he had a mother and father to introduce his new wife to. How a family might pour light and music and conversation into those lonely castle halls.
“You appear lost in thought,” she commented. “That does rather concern me.”
His breath was coming quicker as they reached the landing before their rooms. “I promise you I am quite fine.”
But before he could finish his false lie to convince her, she had taken hold of his face gently. His breath steadied once again, and his heartrate slowed down the longer he told himself to focus on Mary.
This is your future, he told himself.Leave the past behind. She could be your future.
He grasped her wrists from where she still held his face. She blinked at him, her eyes widening, as if she was waiting for what he would do. With every second he could feel her soft skin against his he felt more grounded.
“You are very beautiful,” he told her. “I cannot remember if I told you at the ceremony.”
Mary laughed softly. “That is unexpected.”
“Can I not compliment my new wife?” he asked, smiling.
“Convenient wife,” she reminded him, teasing.
“Convenient, hm?” he asked, lightly. Dominique stepped closer to her in the hallway, right next to his bedroom door. One step forward and he would back inside his own privacy, with nobody watching him or talking to him for a while. And yet he was rooted to the spot, gazing at Mary.
“Yes,” she said, breathless, as if even this gaze undid her as it was him. “That was your proposal, was it not?”
