Page 22 of Duke of Chaos (The Four Dukes #3)

One Year Later

“He’s so…small,” Thomas said, wrinkling his nose down at Barbara and Ambrose’s son, Titus. He was over a year old now and was attempting to pull himself to his feet using Thomas’s pant leg.

“I think he is adorable,” Camilla cooed, leaning down to scoop the babe up.

“Uncle Ezra, Aunt Lydia, when are you having children?” she asked.

Lydia blushed as Camilla turned a curious gaze to her and Ezra. The subject had not been breached in over a year and a half. She had not wanted them, and neither had he, but in the past couple of months, Lydia had found herself thinking of it more and more. She looked over at Ezra and saw not humor but contemplation in his eyes.

“One day, perhaps,” was all Ezra replied as he took Lydia’s hand under the picnic table, squeezing it.

Yes, she thought, one day.

Lydia took a look around the patio, smiling at all of the familiar faces. Alice, Duncan, and Beau; Ambrose, Helena, Barbara, and Titus; Camilla and Thomas, and Edmund, Juliet, and baby Claire. The only person missing was Morgan, who, after Juliet and Edmund’s wedding, seemed to be coming around less and less.

“Take your time,” Ambrose interjected, sitting across from them beside Barbara. “Once they are here that is it.”

Duncan chuckled as Beau climbed from his lap and toddled toward Helena and the other children.

“Do I detect a hint of regret in your voice, Ambrose?” he teased.

Ambrose threw a furtive look toward Helena, who was out of earshot.

“I love my children very much,” he answered truthfully, “But it is…rather difficult to raise a babe and a young lady at the same time. As of late, Helena has been more restless and irritable than Titus has.”

Lydia laughed, then quickly covered her mouth.

“Come now,” she giggled quietly, “Surely you are exaggerating.”

“He is not,” Barbara stated, her tone flat. “She has turned into quite the diva. She is an absolute angel when it comes to Titus, do not get us wrong, but around anyone else, she is just downright unhappy.”

“She sounds like Morgan,” Ezra mused.

They all took a silent moment, noting the absence of their dear friend.

“Who has seen him?” Duncan asked.

More silence.

“We sparred last week,” Ezra spoke up, “But he barely defended himself. He gave up about an hour after we started and just headed home.”

“I will check on him when we get back to London,” Ambrose stated, always ready to be the big brother of the group. “Perhaps we should all winter there this year, and let our stewards handle our affairs.”

“You are that worried about him?” Alice asked.

“Not just him,” Ambrose replied, nodding toward Helena. “Her as well.”

Lydia and Ezra shared a look at the suggestion. Though they travelled to London often, they both considered Frampton their true home. It was where they felt most at ease, and the most successful.

Through the last year, she and Ezra had continued their work, gaining him more business and opportunities, and the payoff had been extraordinary. That, in addition to the selling of his London house now that he had his family’s London home back, had made Ezra’s father’s debt flush about two months ago. They had not shared their good news yet, though, because they genuinely loved working together so much and had no plans to stop.

“Lydia and I may have some immovable engagements,” Ezra stated, giving her hand a squeeze under the table, “But we will discuss possibly joining you.”

“Oh, please do,” Juliet gushed, her newborn daughter, Claire, pressed tight to her bosom, “You simply must see how the house looks now that Edmund and I have finally finished it!”

Edmund beamed proudly at Juliet’s side as he warmly squeezed his wife’s shoulder.

“Thank you for working out such a gracious deal with my father, Your Grace,” he said to Edmund, raising his glass of wine. “The house truly is everything we wanted.”

“I was simply happy it got on and off the market so fast,” Ezra replied, raising his glass toward his new brother-in-law. “We are pleased that you like it, truly.”

“And we will certainly visit,” Lydia added quickly, “Whether we choose to stay the winter or not.”

“Oh, please stay,” Alice begged, “We have all been so busy these past few months. Winter is a time for rest anyhow. Can you not just say yes?”

“We will think about it,” Lydia laughed, shaking her head at her sisters as they pouted at her.

“You used to love us,” Juliet said sorrowfully, and the entire table erupted in laughter.

“I still do,” Lydia laughed as Ezra held her and he chuckled.

“Ezra stole her,” Alice teased, glaring at him mockingly, “I demand you give her back.”

Ezra chuckled darkly as he pulled Lydia out of her seat and into his lap.

“Never,” he replied through his grin.

***

“What do you think?” Ezra asked, hours later.

They were in bed, naked and sated from their lovemaking. He raised his head from her chest, only to draw her left nipple into his mouth. Lydia smiled slowly as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“About what, my love?” she asked.

“About wintering in London with the others,” Ezra explained, still focusing on her breasts. “There has been some legitimate concern over Morgan as of late. Helena too, apparently.”

“Yes, but, what of the house?” Lydia asked, her tone gentle.

Though Lydia had teased Sophia about keeping the drawing room as it was, in truth they’d gutted and redecorated the entire house until not a single scrap of Sophia remained. Still, they had only managed to stay in the house a few days at a time without Ezra suddenly feeling on edge. Lydia admitted that she too shared the same struggle from time to time, as though they were both afraid of the past coming to haunt them.

But Sophia was gone. They knew exactly where she was at all times, thanks to Terrence and his seemingly endless list of skills, and there was no way for her to return without them knowing. In time, Lydia hoped that they would learn to relax, but for now, it was still a struggle.

Ezra had nearly had a coronary when she’d told him of her discussion with the dowager duchess, but that fury and concern had just simply been added to the mounting sexual aggression he had later taken out on her. She shivered now, just thinking of all the delicious, pleasure and pain-filled acts he had done with her.

“Perhaps it is time we make it our own,” Ezra murmured, trailing his kisses up her neck.

He pulled her into his chest, his fingers delving softly into her hair.

“Besides, Poppy would be absolutely ecstatic to have you back in London for a while,” he teased.

Lydia laughed and nipped playfully at his chest. He jerked, smiling and caught her throat in his hand.

“You want to share me now?” she teased, loving the feel of his fingers around her neck.

Ezra’s eyes shone with loving possession as he pulled her up to him and whispered, “Never.”

The End