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Hudson, however, looked as immaculate as he had when they first walked in. It truly was unfair that he could stand there while she struggled to wobble on her feet. When he smirked proudly at her vain attempts, she glared at him.

“I shall have someone inform him thatmyDuchess is currently indisposed,” he said smugly.

She narrowed her eyes at him, even as she leaned into his solid strength with gratitude. “No thanks to you, Your Grace.”

“No better way to tell him to mind his own business. And he should know that the next time, I will not simplytell.”

As he helped her out of their box and into the carriage waiting for them outside the opera house, Scarlett could not help but sigh to herself.

Well now, he’s done it.Heaven only knows what it would take to put my poor brother back in Hudson’s good graces.

Her mama certainly would not be happy. She had been over the moon at her daughter being the Duchess. She certainly was not expecting her son to go and ruin that connection by being the absolute blockhead that he was—and all for what? His best friend?

Her brother had chosen the wrong horse to bet on, and even worse, he insisted on it still.

She yawned and leaned against Hudson, finding his shoulder to be extremely comfortable despite the muscle. As her eyes fluttered shut, she felt his arm wound around her, his solid warmth holding her steady as the carriage swayed on the way back to Wolverton Estate.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

There was a certain pride to be felt when one successfully brought one’s wife to such heights of unparalleled pleasure that she promptly fell asleep.

While Hudson certainly had much experience with women, he had never felt anything beyond the immediate physical gratification from bedding them.

But this… this wasdifferent.

He watched Scarlett doze off peacefully in his arms as the carriage swayed on their way back home, and he could not help but smile. They had not even consummated their marriage yet, and he was already acting like a complete and utter mooncalf.

If he bedded her, made their marriage a true one, he knew he would never be able to walk away from her. And suddenly, it did not seem like such a bad idea at all.

The carriage slowed down to a halt, and a footman knocked on the door. “We have arrived, Your Grace.”

Hudson opened the curtain and pressed a finger to his lips, gesturing for the man to keep quiet. His Duchess was asleep.

The footman nodded and stepped slightly to the side.

“Scarlett.” Hudson shook her gently. “Little cat, we have arrived home.”

Home. It stirred something deep within him, but it was quickly buried when she groaned and buried her nose in his chest.

“Five more minutes,” she mumbled softly.

Hudson could not help but chuckle. In his entire existence, he had never found a slumbering woman adorable.

Except his wife, of course.

Unfortunately, they could not stay in the carriage for much longer.

“Open the door,” he ordered the footman.

The man bowed and pulled the door open, his expression one of great surprise when Hudson exited the carriage withtheir Duchessin his arms.

We are going to need a bigger carriage,and one with even bigger doors.

His brother-in-law, however, and that damned best friend of his were not welcome to ride in it. They could walk, for all he cared.

Hudson made his way to the Duchess’s suite with his precious cargo without much incident, when he heard a low growl at his feet. He looked down and found a mound of snow-white fur and dark eyes regarding him with suspicion, tiny teeth bared.

“Snowflake, eh?” he muttered, and the puppy gave an incensed bark. Belatedly, he recalled hearing Scarlett joyfully call it Snowdrop. “I was not aware that puppies feel insulted at being called the wrong name.”