Despite this appetising offer, Ava pushed her plate of sausage and eggs away untouched. She had no appetite, for food, or anything else for that matter.
"Perhaps we'll take a trip into town?" Emily suggested brightly, "We can take a look at the prints in Ackerman's, then go to Gunter's for a pastry."
Since Emily had resumed her role as Lady Emily, she had been determined to sample all the delights that London could offer. She refused, point blank, to be drawn into any discussion about her time in Kent with the Duke of Hemsworth, always changing the subject to matters material, sartorial, or edible.
She is as glum as I am, Ava realised with a start—only Emily was hiding her feelings behind food and forced frolics.
"I think," Ava said quietly, "That I might go lie down for an hour instead."
"You've only just got up," Emily protested, though her face softened as she took in her twin sister's exhausted appearance.
"Perhaps a lie down would be a good idea," Lord Fairfax said nervously, laying his paper down on the table, before giving Ava a strange look. "If you are to be married this afternoon, you'll need to a good rest beforehand."
"What?"
Emily and Ava spoke in unison, though Emily was quicker than her twin and scrambled from her chair to her father's side. She peered over Lord Fairfax's shoulder to read the paper and let out a squeak of surprise.
"Gemini," she whistled, giving Ava a secretive smile, "I didn't think Kilbride had it in him."
"Had what in him?" Ava questioned, completely confused by it all.
"A romantic declaration," Emily replied, mock swooning behind her father's back.
What on earth? Ava sprung forth from her seat to Lord Fairfax's side, snatching the paper from under him. There, in the society section, was the headline "Duke to Marry Orphan".
"The Duke of Kilbride confirmed last night, that he will wed the long-lost, orphaned, twin-sister of Lady Emily Fairfax," Ava read aloud, shock reverberating through her body. "When asked," she continued to read, "If he thought that a lady with no societal background, or aristocratic connections, would make a good duchess, Kilbride simply replied that Miss Ava Smith would make the perfect duchess."
"Lud," she breathed, setting the paper down, unable to finish the whole column.
"Er, congratulations?" Emily offered, her eyes dancing with amusement, "Are we to take it that you are pleased?"
"He could have asked," Ava retorted, though her heart was skipping a giddy beat. There, in black and white, was Kilobaud's declaration that he cared not about her background or society's censure, but only about her.
"I should go to him," Ava said distractedly, her exhaustion completely forgotten.
"I rather think," Lord Fairfax said, with a nod to the window, "That he's coming to you."
Emily rushed forward to the bow window, to peer out through the drapes. She gave a shriek of excitement—that Ava was certain could be heard from outside—before turning to her sister. "It's him!"
Following her sister's lead, Ava peered out the window and saw Kilbride descending from his carriage. He looked confident, ducal, and so utterly out of Ava's league, that she wondered if perhaps Kilbride had hit his head.
"Oh, dear," she whispered, fidgeting nervously with the string of pearls around her neck.
"If you don't want to marry the chap," Lord Fairfax said, seeing her anxiety, "Then just say. You always have a home here."
"I-I-" Ava stuttered, but she did not get a chance to finish her sentence, for Graves entered the room, announcing Kilbride's arrival.
Ava felt her breath catch in her throat as Kilbride strode into the room. He was dressed in a dark jacket over light breeches, and looked utterly, devastatingly handsome.
"I take it you have read the papers?" Kilbride enquired, as the rooms three occupants stared at him in dumbfounded shock.
"Indeed I have," Lord Fairfax bristled, drawing himself up to his full height, "It is customary to ask the father's blessing, before asking a girl for her hand."
"It's also customary to ask the girl," Ava added with a mischievous smile.
"Are you saying no?" Kilbride asked, his confidence faltering momentarily.
"Lud, no," Ava replied shyly, "I'm saying yes, Your Grace."
"I think at this stage of the game, Ava," Kilbride replied with a smile, "You might finally permit yourself to call me Raff."
Ava would have said his name, but her mouth had gone terribly dry, as Kilbride—Raff—shot her a deep, meaningful stare. Gemini; was she truly going to marry the man? It seemed impossible to think of herself as his wife, when even a look rendered her nervous and giddy with desire.
"Shall we step outside, Papa?" Emily said loudly to Lord Fairfax, in a tone that was less of a question and more of a command.
"I still haven't given the lad my blessing," Lord Fairfax blustered, in a show of paternal protectiveness. The marquess, however, gave a laugh, as he saw the startled look on Ava's face, "Oh, alright, you may have it Kilbride. I don't think I would leave the room alive unless I granted it."
Chuckling away to himself, Lord Fairfax followed his daughter out the door, and Ava and the duke were finally alone.
For a moment they both stood in silence, staring stupidly at each other, until Kilbride offered her a shy smile.
"Are you certain?" he asked hesitantly, "Because if you're not, it works out rather well. I shall be nationally humiliated, which would be an apt punishment for my thoughtlessness."
"I would never wish you humiliated," Ava replied, stepping forward to take his hand, "And I have never been more certain of anything in my whole life."
"I promise I will try to be a good husband," the duke said, as he squeezed her hand, "I know that I am not easy, and I have my daemons, but with you by my side, life will be easier."
"Easier?" Ava teased.
"Well, it will be as long as you don't swap places with your sister, ever again," Kilbride said with a chuckle, "And I know life will be sweeter, warmer, and happier because of you."
"I am sorry for lying to you."
She had said it before, but Ava wished Kilbride to hear it again. He had granted her forgiveness, but she wanted him to know just how much she regretted her falsehoods.
"I feel it is I, who should apologise," Raff said, his arm wrapping itself around her waist and pulling her close to him, "It is I who set a barrier between us by saying that all I wanted in a bride was impeccable pedigree, and then I did not listen when you told me that you could not marry me, because you thought I would not want you."
"Hush," Ava whispered, seeing the pain etched upon his face.
"I want you, Ava Smith," Kilbride breathed, his face mere inches from her own, "I want you to be the place my soul calls home."
"You have me," she replied with a watery smile, though her tears were soon forgotten as Kilbride claimed her lips in a hungry, passionate kiss.
I must have died and gone to heaven, Ava thought, as she felt strong arms hold her tight and felt the heartbeat of the man who loved her. Never, had she felt more wanted, and it was the most beautiful thing in the world.
The chiming of the clock upon the mantelpiece broke apart their warm embrace.
"Lud," Raff ran a hand through his thick, dark hair, "It's nearly eleven. You'd best get dressed before the vicar arrives."
"The vicar?" Ava asked, "Do we not have to wait for three weeks, for the banns to be read?"
"I'm not that patient," Kilbride replied, with a wicked glint in his eye that left Ava's knees weak, "I acquired a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury last night. He was quite peeved at being disturbed at such a late hour, but I told him a young lady's virtue was at stake."
Gemini; Ava's face flushed at Kilbride's innuendo and the purposeful gleam in his eye. In a few hours she would be his wife in every respect—a thought that both thrilled and frightened her.
"So, what say you?" Kilbride asked cheerfully, "Do you think you will be ready for noon?"
"Mary
does love a challenge," Ava replied, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a wedding to dress for."
It was amazing what one could do with a retinue of twenty staff, Ava thought as the guests sat down to their wedding breakfast in the dining room. Plates of bread rolls, smoked salmon, eggs, and bacon were placed before them, accompanied by lashings of champagne served in crystal, long stem glasses.
Just a sip of the champagne was enough to render Ava light-headed, so she pushed her glass away; she was already dazed enough, given that she had just become a duchess.
Ava glanced at her guests, wondering at how, in such a short space of time, she had managed to acquire so many friends. Emily and Lord Fairfax sat on the right side of the table, whilst Lady Georgiana and Laura sat on the left. Douglas and Annalise sat farther down, happily chatting to Mary—whom Ava insisted be given a place at the feast.
Everyone was there; well, everyone bar Mr Hobbs and Percy, whom Raff had promised Ava they would visit on their tour of their estates.
Their estates, Ava bit back a giggle as she thought again of the casual way Kilbride had said that. As a child she had owned nothing, now she had estates..plural!
Beside her, Emily gave a soft laugh, and when Ava turned to look at her twin, Lady Emily smiled apologetically.
"Excuse me," she whispered, "I was just thinking of Hemsworth reading today's papers and imagining his face when he reads that his old governess is now a duchess."
Emily seemed thoroughly amused by this thought, for as she finished speaking, her body shook with laughter and tears streamed down her cheeks.
Oh, dear. Ava bit back a laugh of her own; she had confessed her true identity to her duke, but Emily had no reason to—or did she?
Ava cast a sidelong glance at her twin; Emily had resolutely refused to discuss the Duke of Hemsworth and her amusement at picturing him so perplexed held a slight twinge of bitterness.
"Let us not talk of that man," Emily said, taking Ava's hand in hers, "Today is a happy day—though I am sad to lose you again."
"You have not lost me," Ava replied, "I shall be back in London in a few weeks, and then we can—"
"Spend all our days together," Emily finished for her, before calling teasingly to Kilbride, "I hope that's alright with you, brother dearest."
"Sounds smashing," Raff replied, with an easy smile. Though when Emily turned to speak with her father, he added in a low aside; "I don't mind sharing you during the day, but all your nights will be spent with me."
"All my nights," Ava agreed, "For the rest of our lives."
A footman arrived to place dense fruit cake—hastily procured from Gunter's, Ava suspected—upon the table, which Ava and Raff cut together, and once that was eaten, the breakfast was over.
Soon it was time for the newlywed couple to bid their guests goodbye. As Ava descended the steps to the waiting carriage, she glanced back at her new family, gathered at the doorway, all waving, some crying, and was overcome with emotion.
"Don't cry," Raff whispered to her, once they were safely ensconced in the carriage, reaching out a gloved finger to wipe away her tears.
"I'm crying because I'm happy," Ava said with a watery laugh, "A few weeks ago I had no family—and now I have more than I can count."
"Perhaps soon," Raff added, drawing her toward him, so that she lay against his chest, "You shall have even more."
Her husband laid his hand on Ava's stomach, to signify his meaning, and for a moment she thought she would burst with happiness.
Goodbye London, Ava thought, as the carriage trundled through the streets of the capital, and goodbye loneliness.
The Duke's Bride in Disguise (Fairfax Twins Book 1) Page 17