Page 27 of A Bride for the Wicked Duke (Claimed by Regency Devils #2)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A urelia paced the small room in a state of utmost bewilderment that even now, minutes after the fact, she still had no idea what to make of what had just happened.

A part of me is thrilled. A part of me is furious. Another part refuses to believe any of it! What do I do? What can I even do? How is this happening!

Her mind raced and she struggled to breathe as she walked the small room, back and forth, going over in her mind the events of the day. She knew they should have brought her joy, for the duke had come to her and expressed his love. Was this not what she wanted the whole time? Is this not exactly what she had been praying on?

Yet it felt too little and too late. She was angry about that, for why had he not said something sooner, rather than waiting until the literal last second? Was this a game to him? And did he truly mean it? And even if he did, could she simply forgive him and accept his love after all he had put her through?

In the end, she supposed she would find out how she felt when she saw the duke next. As she paced, as she wallowed and rose and collapsed and fought through her confusion, she decided that she could not possibly understand how she felt or what she wanted until she spoke directly with the duke. Only then will I have my answer. Will my heart, hopefully, tell me what I want…

The door to the chamber opened suddenly. She froze still, back to the door, heart racing as she heard the duke enter and close the door behind him.

For a moment, nothing was said, and she could feel him watching her as the tension between them mounted. Hardly able to breathe. Hardly able to think. She reasoned that she would not talk first. He had come here. He had broken her engagement. This was on him.

“Lady Hawkins…” His voice was soft and unsure. “I… I am so sorry.”

That did it.

A fire ignited inside of Aurelia. It was typical in many ways, as the duke had always managed to stoke such feelings inside of her. But she let that fire grow as his apology echoed in her head, seizing on it and then holding it to her tightly because she felt she needed the anger to see her through this moment.

That was when she spun about and saw him standing there. He wore a soft smile, a look in his eyes that suggested he was misreading her reaction entirely. Indeed, that smile grew and he held his arms out for her, no doubt expecting her to throw her body into him to they might embrace and put all this behind them. He wishes!

Aurelia stormed across the room and without hesitation slapped the duke across the face. “How dare you!”

The action rocked him, and he blinked back his surprise as his mouth fell open. “What –”

She slapped him again. “Now you come to me! Now, on my wedding day, you think it is appropriate to… to… to ruin everything! Why not last week? Why not a month ago! Is this a joke to you! Does my life mean to you that little!” She went to slap him again.

The duke caught her hand this time, holding it firm as he met her fiery gaze. He was not angered by her actions. If anything, she saw a hint of amusement behind his eyes. “Not the reaction I was expecting.”

“Unhand me!” she tried to pull her arm free.

“Not until you hear what I have to say.”

“I do not care!” That was a lie, but dammit if she was not angry.

“Be furious with me,” he continued, holding her hand back from hitting him. “Hate me, if you wish. I will not try and change your mind. But just know that I did not come here to ruin your life or upset you.”

“Which you have done anyway!”

“I came here because I have been a fool,” he spoke over her. “I was wrong, Lady Hawkins. About everything. When you came to me the last time –”

“I do not want to hear it!”

“—I was scared,” he said. “Terrified because I knew how I felt. I just did not know what it meant, when you told me that you loved me.”

“A mistake!” She tried to pull her arm free, knowing it was pointless, starting to calm now while trying to hold onto her rage.

“No,” he said. “The mistake was my own.” He grabbed her other arm, forcing her to still and look at him. “I love you, Lady Hawkins. That is why I have come here – why I stopped this wedding. I know I do not deserve your love. And I understand if you do not wish to give it. But I could not live with myself if I did not tell you the truth. You deserve to know.”

“I deserve!” she cried, struggling under his firm grip. “What I deserve it not to have my emotions played with! To not have my wedding ruined! What I deserve is… is… is…”

She felt her anger fading as she held the duke’s pleading gaze. She felt her resolve weakening. Despite the timing. Despite all he had put her through and more. Despite everything! Her feelings for him had not changed, nor would they ever. She loved him as she had yesterday, as she had last week, as she had for longer than she even knew. She loved him… and he loves me. Is that not what matters most?

She bared her teeth at him, a final effort to show her anger. He smirked as he matched her glower. She stepped into him, raising her chin, widening her eyes, daring him to push her further. He looked down at her, holding her close, his grip on her wrists loosening, the fight gone from her just as it was rising in him. And he would fight too. He had fought. That was why he had come. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to. Because he loved her.

In the back of her mind, a small part thought to deny him. To make him beg. To do to him what he did to her. But that was a flickering thought, and Aurelia gave it little credence.

They held one another’s stares. The room around them shrunk and vanished. Silence descended on them, not awkward or tense, but knowing because in that moment they understood completely what this meant. Finally, they were being honest with each other. No more games. No more lies. Truths only.

And with that, the duke rested a hand under her chin, brought her face close, and kissed her on the lips. And Aurelia, not knowing how much she needed it until it was upon her, kissed him right back.

His hands found the side of her face and held her. Her hands were on his waist, grabbing him so she might never let him go. They kissed with passion. They kissed with fiery intensity. They kissed with love. Words were beyond them now, as actions were what were needed. And their actions said it all.

That kiss… not their first. It was, however, the beginning. As they stood in that small room at the back of the church, as they kissed as if their lives depended on it, both seemed to understand the true importance of what this kiss meant. Love given. Love accepted. And most of all, a chance provided at a happily ever after.

If that isn’t worth kissing for, I don’t know what is.