Page 6 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

I n the years since Cecilia had come out in London society, she had come to see marriages - especially the ones between members of nobility - as a lifetime prison sentence.

One that was bound in secret contempt and public pretense.

That, amongst other reasons, was why she was determined to enjoy her life the best way she could before she submitted herself to be leg shackled in miserable matrimony.

This ideology of hers was always put to the test whenever she was with her friend Ava and her ever attentive duke. Even now he might be outside the room, she knew he remained within earshot to ensure that he could jump in to protect his little family if need be.

The man practically worshipped the ground she walked on and in return his wife, Ava, glowed in a way that only happiness and true love could cause.

Even now as she watched her, she felt both happy for her and a little bit envious that she didn't have such love and was unlikely to, given her unique circumstances.

Their love was more baffling whenever she met them, especially because the two seemed to be as different as light and day.

Ava being the bright person she was, lit up spaces with her sheer blinding light, chattering and making merry.

So it was shocking when she fell in love with the Duke of Gillingham.

The man was like ice -the type that could be found only in the dead of winter. He was always brooding and talked so little that, at some point the members of the ton started to spread rumors that he might be mute.

But then, his character was not out of place for a war veteran and while she didn’t know what could have forced him into the path of war, she knew it was nonetheless pleasing than what had forced her brother.

He had tried to spare her the reality of their father’s behavior but though she was young, she had still been aware of the truth of things.

Living with one, she understood how continuous exposure to violence could cause deep scars, uglier than the physical ones. Every day she thanked the heavens that her brother was still here with her, even though he could be insufferable.

Considering the nightmares her brother still suffered on some nights, she could not imagine how it had been for her brother's friends who had stayed in service longer.

While her parents' death was a tragedy, it was also ironically a blessing that has saved Magnus from more years of torture, violence, and bloodshed.

While it was surprising that Ava had married the Duke of Gillingham, it wasn't quite so far-fetched, because knowing Ava, she was probably the only person on the planet that could probably illuminate the darkest corner of the planet with her sheer internal light.

She was sure the Duke had no other choice than to succumb to her tempting luminescence. Little wonder the man was willing to give his life to keep her in his life. And why won't he? He looked happier with no hint of the gloominess that followed her brother and his friends like an unseen specter.

Well that could not be said of all of them, because Theo was an exception.

With his annoying cheerfulness and mischievous wit, he was the polar opposite of his friends, but Cecilia had a sneaking feeling that when it came to Theo, there was more to him than met the eye.

It was there in the dark shadows that crossed his eyes and on the edge of his laughter lines.

He didn't quite hide his demons as well as he thought he did.

Theo was dangerous and quite distracting and disastrous to her mood. She couldn't afford to be drawn into thoughts about him, not when she was supposed to be celebrating the birth of her dear friend's beautiful daughter.

"I could swear she had your eye shade. She looks exactly like you, dear Ava," Eveline, Duchess of Mayfield and Ava's sister, exclaimed.

Her excitement brought a smile to Cecilia's lips.

Eveline had only the week earlier informed them of her pregnancy and how excited she was to have a child.

If left alone, she might proclaim the child an angel that simply descended from heaven, the laws of childbirth be damned.

She was also like Ava, happily married to her duke who loved her to bits. It was a miracle he had let her out of his sight long enough for her to come visit her sister and new niece, considering how overprotective he had become since Eveline had told everyone she was expecting.

"I do not think we can conclude that the baby looks like Ava at this moment.

Babies' eye color changes over time. Besides dear Eveline, the baby has been sleeping since we arrived.

It is unlikely you have seen her eyes and what color they are," Lily replied dryly and Cecilia had to bite her lip to suppress a burst of laughter.

Lily might be Eveline and Ava's sister but she was like Cecilia when it came to views on matrimony. She was determined to remain a spinster, declaring that she would rather care for her nieces and nephews than submit herself to be trapped in a marriage just to bear children of her own.

Like her, she envied Ava and Eveline's happiness, but she was aware of how rare it was to find what they had in the perilous sea that was the ton .

"She opened them briefly," Eveline said defensively, turning to face Lily. "I saw her eyes then."

They all leaned in closely to see the adorable baby girl in a red dress resting in her mother's arms. Eveline might be right that she resembled her mother with her nose shape and her lips, but beyond all that, the baby was sound asleep with no sign of rousing.

Ava was laughing as they all turned to look askance at Eveline. Cecilia held her own, staring them down, challenging them to call her bluff.

"Settle your feathers, ladies," Ava said with a laugh. "When Arabella wakes up, you can all meet her. Let's leave the squabbles for some other time."

All the ladies adjusted back into their seats to assume the prim posture that was expected of ladies born to English nobility.

It never ceases to amaze Cecilia how easily her friends transformed from the prim and proper ladies to mischievous young girls and back.

In some ways she was grateful that they had kept their friendship, even with all the changes that came with half the group getting married.

At this rate they would still be annoying each other and squabbling even when they were old and grey.

"How are you doing, Ava?" Cecilia asked. "You look exhausted, perhaps you could rest. We could help hold the baby while you nap."

"No, do not worry," Ava said with a grateful smile, shaking her head in refusal " I have done nothing but rest for the past few days. Edwin was convinced I would collapse if I left the bed. It is frustrating," she said, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"It just shows how much he loves you. Perhaps you should sit back and enjoy it," Lily said with a smile.

"And end up bedridden? No thank you," Ava replied.

"It is ladies like you that give us a bad name," Lily said jokingly. "Some of us truly desire a man to care for us that tenderly."

"Easy for you to say," Ava said, adjusting the swaddling cloth around her daughter so it covered her better. "I will be there to remind you of your statement when your husband treats you the same."

"You are doing it again," Lily said quietly. "Assuming that everyone will be lucky enough to land an attentive husband."

"You are a remarkable woman," Ava said quietly looking up at Lily. "Any man would be lucky to have you."

"Any man except the one I want," Lily muttered under her breath so quietly that Ava and Eveline didn't hear.

"In the spirit of snagging wonderful husbands," Cecilia piped up, hoping to distract them from Lily's mood. "I would very much appreciate it, if you happily married ladies," she said gesturing to Ava and Eveline, "could tell us how we could snag our own attentive husbands."

"I would not know," Eveline said, a flush climbing her face. "I do not think I did anything different to get married."

"I am certain you did. You looked downright flush," Cecilia pressed.

"Perhaps she feels embarrassed," Lily said with a mischievous smile. "I do not think you should pressure her, Cee."

"What about you Ava? Tell us how do we get to marry our dream man?"

"I am hardly an authority on the subject, Lily," Ava replied. "I think love is important. Find someone you have something in common with. Find someone who loves and wants you even against his own best intentions and you love him as much in return."

"Just that?" Lily asked, wide-eyed.

Cecilia wouldn't accept Ava's words that easily, because she knew from evidence that love was not that easy to find and it was even more difficult to find someone that could fight with you for that love to survive.

It did not help that with her brother's overprotective tendencies, it was even more difficult to find someone she could probably share that elusive emotion with.

"Of course it is not just that," Ava said. "You have to get married..."

"And live happily ever after," Lily interjected. "That sounds so terribly boring," she declared, relaxing in her seat. Ava just shook her head and returned her attention to the baby in her arms.

"But then..." Lily began again, a mischievous smile growing on her face. " That is not just it. Is it?"

Ava must have heard the tone of trouble in Lily's voice, because she looked up from Arabella with a wary look in her eyes.