Page 80 of The Duke's Second Bride

Christian chuckled. “More than anything,” he promised. “I shall join another time, I swear it.” There was a twinkle in his eye as he looked over at Ava. “I am most determined to spend quite a bit less time locked in my office.”

Ava felt another blush rise to her cheeks.

“I shall believe it when I see it,” she retorted cheekily, and was rewarded with smiles and chuckles from father and son alike.

After greeting Ava and Luke at breakfast, Christian returned to his office. The trading company expansion had been going swimmingly, but it did mean quite a lot of paperwork.

Luckily, all his experience with the business so far meant he was able to make quick work of it. And yet, somehow, it seemed there was always more piling up. He sighed, looking out the window.

Immediately, his stress faded away as he saw Ava and Luke taking a walk across the grounds. Christian couldn’t help but smile at the sight of them. Luke was chattering up a storm, tugging Ava’s sleeve every now and then to point at something, and Ava responded to each one of his thoughts attentively.

It was remarkable how much progress the boy had made in just a few weeks.

And, more so, Christian realized, he had been opening up so much more, too. Where he used to almost avoid talking to his son for fear of saying the wrong thing, now it felt more and more natural every day.

He looked back down at his paperwork, then up at the window, and stood.

Work could wait. He was going to go for a walk with his family.

The weather was beautiful outside as he briskly walked towards his wife and son.

Suddenly, Ava put her hand on Luke’s shoulder. Christian assumed she was going to point out something interesting, the way the boy had been.

But then, she stumbled.

Without even thinking about it, Christian took off running across the field.

“Ava!” he shouted.

Ava soon righted herself, not falling entirely. Christian didn’t slow his pace. It only took him a few seconds to reach them.

“Are you all right?” he demanded, taking Ava by the arms. Luke looked up at Ava with matching concern in his eyes.

Ava pressed a hand to her forehead. “Yes,” she said, though her voice bore a breathlessness that suggested otherwise. “I simply felt a bit dizzy. There is nothing to be overly concerned about.”

“I should beg to differ!” Christian said sharply. “I will call for the doctor at once. You should rest.”

“What?” Ava asked. But before she could say anything else, Christian had already picked her up and had begun carrying her back towards the house. “Christian, don’t be ridiculous.”

“Father is right, Ava,” Luke piped up, practically running on his little legs in order to keep up with Christian’s strides across the field.

“Christian, this is silly.” Ava patted his arm, and then, in a hushed tone, whispered, “You’re frightening Luke.”

“I should think I am frightening him no more than he was frightened by you nearly fainting on top of him,” Christian said firmly.

Ava had to admit that he had a point there, but she continued to protest the entire way he carried her to her room.

“Don’t call the physician,” she insisted once more.

Christian paused. His jaw clenched so hard that a vein stood out. “Fine,” he said brusquely. “So long as you rest.”

“Yes,” she agreed, though somewhat exasperatedly. “I shall lie in bed all day if it keeps you from starting a fuss over nothing. I’m certain it’s nothing but exhaustion.”

A series of thoughts fluttered through Christian’s head. Ava was a strong, healthy woman. It wasn’t like her to faint, especially from something like exhaustion.

Unless…

He shook his head.