Page 29 of The Duke’s Only Desire (The Dukes of Darkness #3)
One year later
S ophie let out a deep sigh, pulled her fur-lined cape closer around herself against the chill of the early spring morning, and settled back against the velvet squabs of the Malvern carriage as it wound its way down the long drive of Ravenscroft Manor and toward the river road, which would take them south. The day dawned bright with golden sunshine. Mother Nature had given them her best send-off for their trip, and Sophie couldn’t help but think of it as a good omen, one befitting the happiness that had enveloped them during the past year.
Yet a few days from now, they would arrive in London, when a new period in their lives would begin. In all kinds of challenging and exciting ways.
Sitting on the bench opposite her, Shay stared silently out the window.
Her heart tugged for him. The expectations for this trip weighed heavily on his shoulders. For one, they were returning to London so he could be near his old friends, whose lives had changed nearly as much as his during the past few years. And second, he planned to take up his role in Parliament and sit in the Lords as an active participant who had great plans for his country and its new role in a changed Europe. He planned on joining committees and proposing bills…if not fully engaging in the social season.
It wouldn’t be easy for him. Or for her. Sophie had to admit that emerging back into London society gave her trepidation. She had once moved so easily in its circles. But unlike before, she would now be taking up her role as a duchess, a position that came with some wonderful benefits but also great responsibilities. Not the least of which was how she wanted to use her status to push for reforms for children and the poor.
She wasn’t na?ve. Even with Malcolm safely ensconced in Italy, from where he had never once attempted to contact them, their family wasn’t at all a conventional one. As if proving that, she glimpsed the second carriage trailing behind theirs as they rode around the large bend in the narrow river where it turned south, away from the village and estate. Ruby traveled in that carriage this morning with her nanny, Pearson, and Smithson, only because Sophie wanted time alone with Shay before they reached their first stop for the evening. Otherwise, the little girl would have been with them, claiming a space in the travel carriage the same way she had claimed a place in their hearts during the past year. As if she were truly theirs.
There had been no word from Cora during the past year, yet Sophie and Shay hadn’t expected any. They doubted they would ever hear from her again, now that she knew her daughter would have a good life with them, so they completed the paperwork to officially adopt Ruby, who had flourished at Ravenscroft under their love and her nanny’s care. Soon, no one would be able to tell that she had ever lived anywhere but on an aristocratic estate, and her future would be brighter than anyone could have ever imagined.
Just as hers and Shay’s would be.
She nudged his foot with her half-boot. When his dark gaze darted across the compartment to her, she gave him a reassuring smile. “It’s all right to be nervous about returning to London.”
“I’m not nervous.” But even that protest sounded anxious.
“Everything will be fine there. Malvern House will be a wonderful London home for us, and all the lords, MPs, and society dandies will accept you once they realize how beautiful you are on the inside. Just as I did.”
He frowned at that comment but didn’t challenge it, muttering instead, “I’m worried about leaving Ravenscroft just as all the new plans for the gardens and repairs have begun.”
That was a lie if ever she’d heard one. “And our new estate steward is more than capable of handling all of it in our absence.” She gave a soft laugh. “He’s probably looking forward to having us gone.”
Especially since Mr. Cross had struck up an amiable friendship with Miss Danvies since he arrived last summer to replace Mr. Enfield. Very amiable. One might say downright loving, in fact. Sophie fully expected a wedding by fall.
But her teasing did little to ease away Shay’s visible tension. So she bit her bottom lip for courage as she moved from her seat to cross the compartment and perch herself upon his lap.
“This will be the perfect new beginning for us,” she assured him. “A whole new family. A whole new purpose in government and charity.” She lowered her lips to his ear and murmured as provocatively as possible, “And all kinds of devilish fun at those boring society events when we can find a way to steal away without anyone noticing.”
“Without us caring a damn whether they do or not, you mean,” he corrected as his hands slid up her back to draw her down against him, her breasts pressing against his chest.
With a throaty laugh, she playfully bit his earlobe. “But we will have to take care…just a bit.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because,” she whispered, her happiness overwhelming her to the point of tears, “you’re going to arrive in London…as a father-to-be.”
He froze at the news. Then he leaned back from her just far enough to stare into her eyes. “ A baby? ” He touched her cheek. “You…you’re with child?”
“Yes.” A beaming smile shone on her face. “I only found out a few days ago. I suspected, and Miss Danvies confirmed it. We’ll have a baby by August.”
A stricken look suddenly gripped his face. “Last night in your bed—Christ! Are you all right?” He cupped her face between his hands and searched her quickly for any sign of trauma. “What we did—Good God, did I hurt you?”
“Not at all.” With a soft laugh at his concern, she kissed his lips. “And there’s nothing wrong with what we did as long as we’re careful in the future. Miss Danvies assured me of it.” Sophie hated to tell him, but from the way her body had been behaving lately, with all the primal cravings she’d been experiencing, they would be making love quite frequently in the next few months. “That is, as long as you want me.”
He promised, “I will always want to make love to you.” Yet his expression turned somber as he asked, “And you? Have you gotten from our marriage all the happiness you wanted?”
She twisted her fingers in the silky hair at his nape. “James Norton was right about us.”
He frowned at the mention of her former fiancé.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, brought her smooth cheek against his scarred one, and murmured, meaning her soft words with every bit of her whole heart, “We’ve both gotten exactly what we deserved.”