Page 8

CHAPTER 8

A s Ava slowly walked down the aisle in her lilac silk dress, she felt like a lamb being led to the guillotine.

For a brief moment, she wondered if most brides also felt this sense of dread hanging over their necks. Or perhaps she only felt so doomed because she was marrying a beast.

Speaking of the beast, he was already standing in front of the priest. At least, he was dressed in a finely tailored tailcoat and breeches. And to his credit, he cut quite a fine figure.

Under different circumstances, she might have even been happy that she was marrying such a handsome man.

When she finally stopped in front of him, he had the same cold, unfeeling look on his face.

His lips curled into a strained smile, and yet the coldness in his eyes remained. And of course, the mask remained on his face.

It had been only two weeks since Edwin had announced that he was marrying her at the ball. The wedding, in her opinion, was rushed.

It was as though he could not wait to finally dig his claws into her.

Ava sighed before she gave a small smile in return.

Eveline and Lily had been surprised to learn of their engagement, and they had demanded to know everything that had led to it. She had regaled them with the tale, which they had found rather dramatic. She wished she could be as amused by the circumstances as they were, though.

The priest began the sacrament, and Ava looked around at the small crowd in the pews. It was simply her family and the Duke’s three friends.

She preferred it this way.

Soon enough, it was time for them to speak their vows, and as was tradition, the groom went first.

He held her gaze as he began to speak. “I, Edwin Crawford, take thee, Ava Jennings, to be my wedded wife. To…”

Soon enough, it was Ava’s turn.

At first, she was not quite certain if she could go through with it. However, one look at Stella, who was wiping tears from her face as she sat in the front pew between their father and Eveline, was all she needed to muster the strength to continue.

“I, Ava Jennings…”

The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur, and finally, the newlywed couple were escorted to their carriage.

She waved cheerily at their family and friends before she and her husband climbed into the carriage and took off.

The ride back to the Duke’s residence was rather quiet, but Ava preferred the silence. After all, the air between them was thick with tension, and she was not quite certain that a conversation would help. Moreover, she needed time to truly think .

She was truly impressed when they finally arrived at the estate. Even though she had been there before, the circumstances surrounding her last visit did not quite afford her the liberty of admiring the house. Now, as she stepped out of the carriage as the new Duchess, she could see that the estate was by far larger than her father’s and that the building was even more grand.

By the time they stepped into the house, Ava knew exactly what she wanted from her husband. All she needed now was time to spring it on him.

She finally got the chance when they sat down for dinner.

“This shall be our first dinner together,” Edwin said as they both entered the dining room. “The first of many, I hope.”

Despite her inner turmoil, Ava could not help but admire the dining room. It was huge, almost three times the size of the one in Notley Manor.

She was pleased. If she was going to spend the rest of her life in the same house as this man, having ample space would definitely make it more bearable.

“The dining room is lovely,” she said.

They soon began to eat, in silence. However, Ava caught her new husband staring at her from across the table.

When they had eaten their fill and the servants had cleared away the plates, Ava finally spoke up.

“There is a matter I wish to discuss with you.”

“I suppose we can discuss any matter in the bedchamber,” he said as he stood up.

“The bedchamber is one of the matters I wish to discuss with you.”

She watched as his brow creased in confusion.

“If you sit down, then we shall discuss this matter,” she added.

“I think I would rather listen while standing,” he said.

Ava swallowed nervously.

Even though he was several feet away, he towered over her, and even that unnerved her. Especially since the matter she wished to discuss with him was rather sensitive.

“Edwin, I will perform all my wifely duties. I will be of use to you in every way you want, but I will not be a mother.”

Relief washed over her as she said those last words.

Edwin blinked rapidly as her words registered.

I will not be a mother.

He was shocked, and he did not know what to make of what his new wife had just said.

He had never given thought to having children before. However, he knew that he would have them, eventually. After all, he was a duke, and if he did not sire an heir, his estate and wealth would simply be passed on to some distant relative he had never heard of before.

“You will not be a mother?” he echoed.

His wife nodded, her eyes hard. “I know you must have questions.”

“Indeed, I do,” he replied as he approached her.

He stopped right in front of her so that she had to tilt her head up to speak to him.

“I simply never wanted to be a mother. Of course, you can take mistresses and have as many affairs as you desire. I do not care. However, you will not share my bed,” she continued.

Edwin could not believe his ears.

First, she had declared that she would not have children, and now she said she did not want to share his bed.

He smirked. He knew only too well that her resolve not to share his bed would shatter soon enough.

“You are smiling,” she noted, confused. “I know you must think that this is a joke, but it truly isn’t.”

Edwin shrugged. “I suppose I am simply amused by your declaration. After all, I love a good challenge.”

“This is not a challenge,” Ava huffed.

Her eyes narrowed, and Edwin could tell that she was beginning to get infuriated.

That excited him even more. He enjoyed angry Ava.

“Only time will tell,” he responded simply.

“If you have been nursing the idea of sharing a bed with me, then you must know it will never happen,” she declared fervently.

Edwin’s lips twitched. Her insistence, her anger—it only made him want to tease her further.

He sat on the table in front of her and then pulled her out of her chair.

Ava gasped, confused for a moment. “What are you doing?”

“Simply showing you what you will be missing out,” he drawled.

He pulled her between his legs, caging her in.

“I do not care,” she scoffed. “I have decided not to share your bed, and nothing you can say or do will change my mind.”

Edwin sniggered. “You think I wish to change your mind?” he asked.

“You do not?” She looked taken aback, and he caught a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

“Not at all. If I wanted to change your mind and have you beg me to take you, I know what to do.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Certainly. All I have to do is simply have you sit on my lap again while I stroke your breasts with one hand and trace a line from your belly to your sex with the other,” he purred.

His lips quirked in a smirk when her face flushed red with embarrassment.

“How could you say such a thing?” She swatted at him.

“Perhaps because you are my wife and it is no longer inappropriate for me to talk in such an indecent manner to you,” he quipped.

“You are simply incorrigible!” she huffed, shaking her head.

“You must be prepared to hold onto your resolve not to share my bed,” Edwin said.

“I believe I will find it rather easy,” she insisted.

“Is that so?” he asked, leaning in.

Her breath hitched as he placed his hand on the back of her head and the other on her waist.

Instead of terror or defiance, she looked rather nervous, as though she could not trust herself with him.

He leaned in further and stopped only an inch from her mouth. “I could kiss you now,” he whispered.

Ava drew in a ragged breath, and he watched as her eyes flicked to his lips, her plump lips parted just slightly.

“If you do not want me to kiss you, then pull away from me,” Edwin said.

He waited. However, instead of pulling away from him, she kept staring at his lips.

In one swift motion, he captured her lips with his own.

She sighed into his mouth, and he groaned. His heart rate quickened, and he could feel the blood rushing to his groin.

For a moment, nothing else mattered. There was no drawing room, just soft lips that tasted like cherries and large breasts that pressed against his chest.

At that moment, he was lost to her.

When he finally broke the kiss and pulled away, she was panting, her eyes dark with need—with passion .

Edwin chuckled. “You may resist me all you want, but you will soon be begging for my touch.”