Page 73 of A Duke's Sinful Bargain
Intrigued and amused, he played along. As he stood there in anticipation, he heard the soft sound of Anna leaving the study.
“Anna?” he called out, just to make sure that she was still there, but there was no reply other than his own echo.
The moments stretched, leaving him wondering about the nature of surprise she had in store for him. He had no idea how much time had passed. He was surprised to find out that being left in the darkness, even if it was voluntary, left him at a loss regarding the passage of time. One second could be as long as an entire minute. Then, the subtle rustle of fabric and faint footsteps reached his ears. And something else. Heavy breathing?
“Were you running up the stairs, my love?” he asked.
“No.” She chuckled, but the breathing did not subside. “Just one moment, please.”
He waited patiently until she gave him the permission to open his eyes.
“Now?” he asked, just for more clarification.
“Now,” he heard her respond.
As he opened his eyes, his eyes befell Anna standing before him, cradling a small greyhound puppy in her arms. The entire room seemed to light up with the infectious joy emanating from the tiny bundle.
“Surprise!” she exclaimed, her eyes brimming with joyful tears.
Alexander, usually composed and stoic, felt a surge of overwhelming emotion. He wasn’t expecting any such thing. She had caught him completely off guard. But the moment he laid eyes on the adorable puppy, with its curious eyes and wagging tail, his heart was stolen.
“I know you said you had no time for a dog,” she continued, sounding a little apologetic, and he could understand why. He remembered their conversation well.
He didn’t say anything. Instead, he approached her and stretched his arms out to her. She smiled as she handed him the puppy. The warmth of the furry bundle against his chest and the soft beating of the pup’s heart immediately created a connection between them. The puppy, nestled in Alexander’s embrace, responded with a contented sigh, as if sensing the love that had enveloped it.
“What is its name?” Alexander wondered.
“Well,” Anna replied mischievously, “seeing you are so fond of human names for dogs, I thought we might name it Lord Montague. Or simply, Montague.”
“Montague?” he echoed, unable to resist chuckling. She joined in immediately, and their chuckles transformed into boisterous laughter. “Montague it is,” he said once they had calmed down a little. He looked down at the puppy. “Do you like it?”
The puppy immediately barked in response.
“I think he does,” Anna acknowledged. “It is settled, then. From today, little Montague is a member of our family.”
Alexander pretended to be offended, then he cleared his throat. “I beg your pardon, madam. But this is Lord Montague, if you please.”
His comment made them chuckle again, with Montague joining in with yips of his own. Alexander put him down, and the little puppy immediately started to explore his surroundings while Alexander took Anna into his arms once again.
“What did I do to deserve you, my love?” he asked, unable to believe that this would be his life from now on, a life spent with the woman he loved by his side.
“You agreed to a naughty proposal,” she teased, stepping up on her toes and kissing the tip of his nose.
“Speaking of which, I have a naughty proposal right now.” He winked at her mischievously.
“You are utterly incorrigible.” She laughed melodiously, a sound he would never grow tired of. “But I have to leave you. I need to choose the menu for the wedding breakfast, and there are still a few things left undone.”
She looked to the side, where little Montague had already found a place for himself. He nestled on the long Axminster carpet, right by the side of the armchair that Alexander liked to sit in with a book in his hand.
“It seems he has already chosen his favorite spot.” Anna smiled tenderly at the sight. Montague had already closed his eyes, and he was dozing off. “Should I take him out with me so you can focus on work?”
He appreciated her thoughtfulness. “No, thank you. Let him stay. He is my puppy after all, no?”
“Yes.” Anna beamed.
“Thank you, my love,” he expressed his gratitude, although he felt that words would never suffice to express everything that lay in his heart. Still, he hoped he would be able to show her every single day, for the rest of their lives together.
“I want you to be happy,” she replied.
