Page 62 of The Duke's Bride in Disguise

Chapter Fourteen

Anxiety tore through Ava as she and Kilbride pushed their way through the crowds at Covent Garden. She couldn't help but feel that Lady Georgiana's disappearance was all her fault. Not for the first time she rued having agreed to go along with her sister's plan. Who were they, she thought, to trifle with people's emotions?

Lady Georgiana had called to her that morning, far earlier than the acceptable hour of noon.

"How lovely to see you," Ava had said, leading the young girl and her maid into the drawing room.

"I know it's rather early," Lady Georgiana had said in a rush, "But I just had to ask you—for Uncle Raff is being rather obtuse about the whole thing."

"Ask me what?"

Ava had already known what it was that Georgiana was going to ask her, but she wanted to buy herself a little time to compose an answer for the poor girl.

"Are you and my Uncle not to be married?" Georgiana had asked, her blue eyes threatening tears.

"Well," Ava began, but before she could finish, the young girl gave a sob.

"I had so hoped that you would," Georgiana said, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, "It would be so lovely to have a new face at Kilbride House and, perhaps, a new baby."

A baby? The idea of a baby had never even occurred to Ava, but for a moment she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to hold someone in her arms who belonged to her completely. A rush of warmth flooded her face as she realised that while she imagined herself holding a babe, she was also envisioning Kilbride standing beside her, beaming down proudly at the child in her arms.

Stop that, she told herself sternly, he wouldn't be smiling at a child unless it came with pedigree papers.

"Your Uncle and I," Ava had said, once she had realised that she had not responded, "Had agreed to a long engagement, to ensure we were suited before we decided to marry."

"And are you suited?" Georgiana had probed.

"We haven't decided yet," Ava replied, in an attempt at tact, "But whatever happens, we shall remain friends Georgiana. I have thoroughly enjoyed all your reading recommendations."