Page 8 of The Duke’s Second Bride (Regency Second Chances #4)

“Don’t speak like that to Lady Dunfair!” Luke said firmly.

Christian realized with a moment of shock that he hadn’t stuttered at all .

Looking up, he saw a similar expression of surprise on Lady Dunfair’s face.

Before either of them could say anything, however, a new figure approached.

A man, tall—though not quite as tall as Christian—with blonde hair and sharp eyes. His gaze was fixed on Lady Dunfair as he approached, and Christian at once had a bad feeling about the snide expression on the man’s face.

“My dear Ava! I have been looking for you, but I see you’ve already found other company.” He gave a nod to Christian. “Good day to you, sir. I’m Brandon Warren, Earl of Dunfair.”

“Christian Adler,” Christian responded.

Ava , he thought. That was her first name. It suited her.

“Ah, the Marquess of Drake. Charmed, I’m sure.”

“Well—”

“Or, no …” Brandon pressed a finger to his lips before his eyes lit up in recognition.

“Oh! I do know of you, old chap. You’re the new Duke of Richmond, are you not?

After all that nasty business with your cousin.

My condolences. Though of course, he was a rather nasty piece of work himself—I can only imagine you’d be an improvement?—”

Christian cleared his throat and did his best to keep his disdain off his face. “I would thank you not to speak so around the lady and—” He cleared his throat and placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder, not pleased by the idea of a man with such cruel energy speaking to his son.

His fears were misplaced, however; Lord Dunfair barely even threw a glance at Luke, which seemed equally cruel.

“Hm. Of course. My apologies, Your Grace.” Lord Dunfair gave another unpleasant smile that sent a chill crawling up Christian’s spine.

“If you wouldn’t mind excusing me and my sister-in-law?

The two of us have some matters to discuss that are better spoken of in private. Family matters, you understand.”

“Of course,” Christian said. “Come along, Luke.”

Luke shot a wary glance up at the newcomer, hesitating. It was clear he didn’t like him—and didn’t want to leave Lady Dunfair alone with him. Though Christian hated to admit it, he felt much the same.

“I-I-I?—”

“Yes, run along, little Luke,” Lord Dunfair said. “Time to let the grown-ups talk. Unless you really have something important to s-s-say?”

At the sudden mockery of Luke’s stutter, Christian took a step forward. “Watch your tongue around my son, Dunfair,” he growled, resisting the urge to grab the other man by the lapels.

Lord Dunfair seemed startled for a moment—but only a moment. After that, he returned to normal, his usual smarmy expression plastered over his face and a revolting chuckle dancing up his throat.

“Of course. Forgive me, lad.”

Luke paused, then nodded. He turned back to Lady Dunfair—Ava. “Goodbye, L-Lady Dunfair,” he said.

“Goodbye, Luke.” She looked up and nodded at Christian. “Goodbye, Your Grace.”

He nodded. “Goodbye, Lady Dunfair. Lord Dunfair.”

And with that, he began walking briskly with Luke in the other direction. As far from Lord Dunfair as possible.

Though the Duke of Richmond was an infuriating man, Ava could not help but look at him longingly as he and Luke departed. Without them, there was nobody to bear witness to the way Brandon spoke to her.

“Darling Ava.” He began to walk in a slow circle around her. “What a delight to see you out and about. I’m glad you took my suggestion to show your face more in public. Though your dress … is perhaps less than would befit a lady of your stature, at an event such as this?”

Ava stood stiffly, trying to avoid eye contact with him.

“Yes. I had hoped to speak to you about that, as a matter of fact.” She lowered her voice to a whisper.

“I understand my allowance this week was significantly lower than it has been in weeks previous. May I inquire as to what the reason was for that?”

Brandon waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, you need not worry about that,” he said, chuckling with a shake of his head. “I merely had some … other obligations to attend to, and unfortunately, your allowance was the only place from which I could reasonably reallocate those funds.”

“I see,” Ava said. “It’s only, if these … other obligations of yours are to continue, it would be helpful if I were to know in advance. It is important that I am able to budget properly for the expenses of the household.”

“The household I so generously have allowed you, no?” Brandon asked, with one brow raised.

Ava gritted her teeth and nodded. “Yes,” she said, with no small amount of reluctance. “Yes, of course.”

“You know I only want you to be well taken care of, Ava,” Brandon said, stopping his pacing in front of her. “In fact, let me make it up to you by inflating your allowance for this upcoming week.”

“That would be … most generous,” Ava said, warily.

Surely such a sudden boon would come with strings?

Brandon nodded. “You could use the extra funds to buy a new gown for your next outing. Soon, I hope. Something more fashionable. I hear lower-cut necklines are all the rage these days. And something more form-fitting, I should think. It would be a shame to hide that …” His eyes dropped, and Ava fought the urge to squirm as his gaze traced the contours of her body. “ Delicious figure.”

“I am your sister, Brandon,” Ava said, once she had gotten her voice back. “While I appreciate the fashion advice, I would ask that you adopt a more appropriate tone when you speak to me.”

“Sister-in- law , dear Ava. Not by blood,” he replied.

“And hardly that, now that William is gone, don’t you think?

Really, you are just a poor, unattached widow.

Well, not poor.” He leaned in with a smile.

“For now. Be careful of how you speak to me. You are a young woman in her prime, and yet without a husband. It is a shame to see you like this, wasting away without a man to warm your bed.”

Ava felt her hand curl up into a fist at her side. Just before she nearly lost her temper?—

“Ava!” Edith came up behind her, looping an arm around her elbow. “There you are. I have been looking everywhere for you!” She curtsied to Brandon. “Lord Dunfair. If you don’t mind, I simply must steal Ava away. Enjoy the party!”

Before Brandon could respond, she tugged Ava away.

As they walked away, Ava was speechless. Edith seemed to notice that she wasn’t in the mood to talk and tried to lighten the air by rambling on in a one-sided conversation.

“Oh, Ava. I’m so sorry I didn’t find you sooner! What a brute that man is. However, did he manage to corner you? Well, it’s no matter. You’re safe now. Are you all right? What did he say to you? Really, there must be something that can be done about him …”

As they walked away, Ava found her thoughts drifting … not to Brandon, though.

In fact, not to her financial situation at all.

Rather, her thoughts danced over to Luke—and his tall, infuriating father.