Page 35 of The Beast’s Unwanted Duchess (Icy Dukes #1)

Today, standing here with his wife, those dark memories were slowly being overpowered by new ones. Memories of sharing a passionate moment with his wife.

After this day, whenever he saw the river, he would remember the feel of his delectable wife's wet body in his arms, her beautiful smile, and the sound of her musical laugh.

"Thank you," he whispered into her ear.

"While I am not aware of the reason why you are thanking me, I am never one to pass on a chance to have you in my debt. So, you are welcome Your Grace."

He chuckled quietly at her response. He was so in love with this feisty woman he had married. So in love that it was ridiculous.

"I do have a question though," she said. Reluctantly, he released her so he could look into her face.

"Yes, my love," he answered, smiling down at her.

"Well, for someone who claims to hate water, you definitely seem to be at home in the water."

"I used to practically live in the water once, when I was very young. Before my mother died and everything changed. Sometimes I think she knew how much I loved the water and in her resentment, even in her death, she sought to destroy everything I hold dear. She is quite capable of that."

"I do not believe that a mother would go out of her way to scar her child so deeply with her death.

I think she was ill for a very long time and the times she treated you badly, I think she was just grasping for a reason at all to survive, even if she had to blame an innocent person.

It was quite unfortunate and cruel of her to transfer her hatred and dissatisfaction with your father to you, but at the core she was just a young woman in pain who had nobody to rely on.

If you think of it that way, you might be able to forgive her one day. "

Instead of responding to her, he gathered her into his arms, the feel of her body in his arms calming the storm that raged in his heart—a storm that she seemed determined to quench. But his demons had haunted him for too long, and they were never going to be vanquished easily.

With her beside him, he had hope that one day, he just might be free of them.

"What would I do without you, my duchess?"

"Frankly, mothing. Of course I am well aware of my value, and I am never shy to declare it."

"You are definitely not shy."

"I never pretended to be."

"I do not think you have a single pretentious bone in your sweet body. Your temper will not allow it."

"I do not have a temper!"

"Says the lady who never hesitated to tell me off, even though she was quite aware of the stories circulating the ton about me."

"If I have a temper, you have an even more volatile one."

"How so?" he asked with mock outrage.

"Well , your temper was the reason you had a black reputation to start with -"

"Those are just exaggerated rumors."

"Says the man who stormed away and stayed away from the manor for several years simply because he saw me standing in front of an open window, convinced that I wanted to kill myself. As if I would kill myself because of a man."

"You were virtually hanging out of the window."

"I was admiring the flowers."

"You could have done so standing upright. You could have fallen over."

"I was in no danger of falling until you screamed at me."

"I did not-"

"You did-"

Alice was gearing up to continue the argument when he kissed her, promptly emptying her mind of her next line of defense.

She was quite aware that their argument was childish at best, but something about teasing Victor was quite enjoyable, and she could not control it.

When he finally broke the kiss, he looked down at her with a rueful smile.

"That was the only way I could think of to shut you up."

If that was his mission, he had been immensely successful. She was surprised she had not melted into the river surrounding them.

"We both have a temper. Let's agree to disagree," he said, drawing her close till she was hugging his body.

"Well I do hope our child does not inherit that particular trait. If that happens, we will have our hands full in the coming months," she said, a smile in her voice.

She knew when the implications of her words hit him because he stiffened and gently pulled away to peer into her face.

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?"

"And what do you think I am saying, Your Grace?"

"That you are...with child," he said, his voice filled with fragile hope.

Nodding vigorously, she giggled with joy. The giggles turned into loud laughter when he lifted her and proceeded to whirl her around.

" Sto... Stop, we will fall," she sputtered between bouts of laughter.

He carried her out of the water, dropped her to stand on dry ground, and then pulled her into a fierce hug.

"Thank you so much. Thank you. I love you," he said, placing a kiss on her shoulder.

" I think we should return to the manor. I do not fancy standing in wet clothes," she said after some time.

Victor immediately withdrew, then proceeded to sweep her off her feet and carry her bridal style. He ignored her when she insisted she could walk and wanted to walk into the house with her own feet.

"It is my responsibility to take care of you and my unborn daughter," he said as he made his way to the staircase, ignoring the small crowd of servants assembled in the foyer to watch the rare sight of the duke carrying his wife.

"Why do you think the child is a girl? I would have thought you would prefer an heir to solidify your title," she teased.

"No, in case you have not noticed, I am a selfish man. I want a daughter with your eyes who will greet me with sweet smiles."

"A son can do that also."

"No, boys are trouble, little terrors if you will. They are more mischievous than sweet. I would prefer to have a sweet daughter before I have to deal with the trouble of male children."

"With your luck, you just might end up with a daughter who is a hellion."

"Well I will just have to tame her like I tamed her beautiful mother," he said, watching her face closely to see her reaction.

"You think I am tame now?" she replied, a baffled expression on her face.

"Well what do you think?" he said with a mischievous smile.

Instead of answering, she flashed him a wicked smile that promised retribution. A punishment that the Duke was sure to enjoy very much.

The End?