Page 16 of A Virgin for the Duke of Scars (Ton’s Beasts #1)

T heresa was crammed into the back of the carriage with a mountain of boxes, all the dresses Aaron had insisted she needed. It felt like she could wear a new dress every day of the month and still have clothing to spare.

Deep down, she felt guilty about her spending. The nuns had taught her that she would not want for anything because the Lord would provide what she needed. Now, she had a husband who wanted to be her provider.

It was a fine line between piety and gluttony.

She tried to push the thought to the back of her mind and pay closer attention to where they were going.

She wasn’t very adept at navigating the streets of London, but she could tell they were not heading back to Blackwell Manor. She poked her head out of the carriage window to address Aaron, who rode elegantly alongside her.

“Where are we headed if not back to the manor? Surely, we have no room for more shopping.”

“I thought we would take a small detour. I had the kitchen maids put together a picnic basket for us. We will stop in Hyde Park for a little while, unless you have somewhere else to be?” His lips quirked up beneath his mask.

“A picnic,” Theresa breathed in wonder. “I must admit that I have never had a picnic before.”

“You have never had a meal in a park?”

Theresa blushed at her innocence again. She had lived such a sheltered life in the convent. There seemed to be no end to the things that she had never done, considering the things her husband expected her to be familiar with.

There’s nothing sinful about having a meal outside with my husband.

There could be nothing sinful about having a meal outside.

“We ate all of our meals at the table together. Always together.”

“Today, it shall be just you and me,” Aaron said.

Theresa sat back in the carriage and tried to breathe slowly. She was not doing anything wrong, and she was permitted to have fun. As her sister-in-law said, she had more freedoms here in the city and even more as a woman married to a powerful duke.

They rounded the corner into Hyde Park, and Aaron signaled for the carriage to stop. The driver handed him a wooden picnic basket after he jumped down from his horse and went to retrieve his wife. He offered her his arm, which she gratefully accepted.

Theresa was elated just to be in the park. She had never seen anything like it before. The grounds were perfectly manicured and boasted groves of tall elms and powerful oaks. The flowers were in full bloom, the air filled with their fragrance.

But to be here with her husband and have a picnic… it was too much. What would Sister Edith and Margaret say if they could see her now, having arrived in a carriage full of dresses, with a handsome husband?

“What are you thinking, dear wife?” Aaron asked as they started their walk.

“I was thinking how different this is from my previous life,” she began. “A week ago, I was being disciplined for riding out past sunset. And now, I am here on your arm, having a picnic .”

“Disciplined for riding?”

“Not for riding exactly, but for staying out past sunset. It was the day we first met, if you recall. It was late when I returned to the convent. I would have been disciplined for not helping with the evening chores. For being overly selfish when the Lord would ask me to serve my sisters. But then my mother showed up.”

Aaron scoffed. “If it were not so inappropriate, I would have let you ride through the city on horseback. You are welcome to ride my horse around the grounds at Blackwell.”

He guided her through the park, away from the benches and people. Theresa realized he was guiding her to a secluded spot. It was surrounded by willows on all sides, creating a bubble where they could be alone, sheltered from the curious looks of passersby.

She was about to sit on the grass in her dress, but Aaron laid out a blanket for her.

“It would not do for my wife to leave with grass stains on her dress. Some may wonder if we were inappropriate here in the park.” A smirk curved his lips.

“And will we be?” Theresa asked.

She secretly hoped that he would be inappropriate with her. But what was inappropriate between husband and wife?

She was unsure what marriage entailed, but she knew that many things were permissible. What they had done the other night seemed to be permissible, and she could definitely do it again.

“Only if you so desire.” He ran a finger along her jawline, and she felt heat pool in her core.

The only thing she could picture was the way he had bent her over his desk, the way he had made her shatter into a million pieces, only to put her back together.

She was desperate for his touch, even if she did not want to admit it so openly.

The truth was, she had no idea how to admit it openly.

He had so many rules for what they could and could not do. She had never properly learned about the intimacies between a husband and wife. After all, she was set to be married to the Lord and no one else. She had only been a short while away from taking her vows.

She watched as he slowly reached for her, giving her the chance to turn away. She wanted his touch. And yet she pulled back.

“Have you changed your mind then, wife?” Aaron’s voice was thick with emotion. What it was, she could not tell.

He gestured to his mask, and she realized that he thought she regretted their intimacy. That she did not want to be with him in public.

“Oh, not at all,” she said quickly.

“Is this about your rules?” He asked, frustration bleeding into his tone.

Theresa knew the feeling. She felt the sweet ache between her legs, craving his touch again. The last thing she wanted was to stop him.

“No, but… should we do this today? We’re supposed to be fasting.”

An amused half smile crept onto his lips as he looked at her. She was serious, but he seemed intent on mocking her for her piety.

He reached out and brushed a finger over her cheek. His touch was tender, but Theresa could feel the yearning in it.

“If I could, I would have you for breakfast every day. But if you don’t want to, then?—”

“No, it isn’t that at all!” Theresa blurted out, belying her eagerness.

She would be with him on a day reserved for fasting, and she would pray for forgiveness later.

Aaron’s smile widened as he reached for her waist and pulled her into him.

She looked over his shoulder and noticed that someone was walking toward them.

“We aren’t alone,” she said sullenly. “But I would very much like to resume this conversation later.”

Aaron smirked because he knew how eager she was. He knew that she would seek him out in his tower tonight, where they could truly be alone. With no interruptions. No interlopers. Just husband and wife.

Maybe she would wear one of those nightgowns he had purchased for her.

He twisted around and seemed to recognize the man walking toward them.

Theresa watched as he smiled at the man, who must be a friend. She thought about her friendship with Margaret and wondered what friendship with her husband would be like.

He wasn’t the type to let people in, so the man approaching them must be special.

“My dear, may I introduce you to the Duke of Hiverville?”

“It is my pleasure to finally meet you, Duchess,” the man said. “We did not have the chance to speak at your wedding.”

He reached for Theresa’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, which caused her to blush. Aaron glared at him, but for the life of her, she could not figure out why.

Hiverville dropped her hand, but she did not miss the way he cocked an eyebrow at Aaron.

“What brings the two of you to Hyde Park on a beautiful day?” He asked.

“I thought to have a picnic here with my wife after spending the morning at the dressmaker’s. We were hoping to spend some time alone together, without Juliette and my grandmama breathing down our necks,” Aaron emphasized.

“I’m sure you will find plenty of time to be alone,” Hiverville said with a smirk. He looked Theresa up and down. “And plenty of things to do to occupy your time.”

“Have you forgotten your manners, Morgan? Watch what you say in front of my wife.”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all,” Theresa interjected. “Please feel free to carry on as if I am not here.”

“We most certainly will not. We will be gentlemen,” Aaron insisted, fixing his friend with a glare.

“We’re meeting up tonight,” Hiverville told him. “At Olympus. You’re welcome to join us, unless you will be preoccupied.”

“Can I come too?” Theresa asked excitedly.

She had never been included in such casual plans before. She had no idea what Olympus was or where it was, but she desperately wanted to go.

Hiverville gave her an apologetic smile. “No women allowed, Duchess,” he said.

“Oh. Yes, of course. It was silly of me to even ask. I was just… curious, I suppose.”

“There will be plenty of time for you to get to know Morgan,” Aaron assured, taking her hand in his own. He turned his attention back to his friend. “I shall be there tonight. But for now, my wife and I must return to the manor.”

They rose from the blanket and packed up the basket before handing it to the driver to store in the carriage.

Theresa was grateful just to have his arm to lean on, someone to rely on in the new situation she found herself in. She had so much to learn, and she was grateful to have a generous teacher.

There were many things she hoped he would teach her—the things he would have done to her if his friend had not interrupted them.

A blush crept up her cheeks at the thought.

“Why does the lady blush?” Aaron asked.

“Just thinking about how fortunate I am,” she lied. “About all the things you will have to teach me.”

“Hmm. I think that can be arranged,” he said with a smirk.