Page 32 of The Duke’s Spinster Bride (A Duke’s Game #2)
“A gain, again!” a little boy with curly brown hair and startling green eyes cried, holding his hands out.
Andrea watched as Frederick gave a theatrical sigh, before scooping his little cousin into the air and throwing him. They were in the gardens of Caverton Castle, throwing the Dowager Duchess’s annual family party.
The grounds were full of the excited yells of children and adults alike. The smell of freshly cooked food drifted towards Andrea as she inhaled deeply.
She felt a tug on her skirt and looked down to see a small girl with blonde hair and blue eyes looking up at her. Andrea recognised her as one of the children of some of Frederick’s extended cousins, though as she glanced around, she could see no sign of the child’s parents.
“Will you play with me?” The girl’s bottom lip trembled. “The others say I cannot play with them.”
“Of course I will, but why do the others say you cannot play with them?” Andrea frowned around them, a protective urge stealing over her that she fought to hide lest she scare the child.
“Because I am too little. But Tommy is littler than me and John is even littler than Tommy.” The girl pouted and then added in a whisper that was just as loud as her normal speech. “I think it is because I am a girl.”
Andrea knelt beside the girl, and took her small hands in her own. “Well, that seems rather unfair.”
The girl nodded emphatically, clutching the doll tightly to her chest. “That is what I said.”
The hair on the back of Andrea’s neck stood on end, and she glanced up to see Frederick watching her from a distance. His eyebrow was raised and he had a small boy clambering over his shoulders. Their eyes met and he tilted his head towards her in question, already taking a half step towards her.
Andrea subtly shook her head, holding up a finger to him to indicate he should wait as she talked to the small girl. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him stiffen but he did not come towards them.
Her heart sped up as she turned back towards the child who was now twisting from side to side, a hopeful smile on her face.
“What is your name?” Andrea knelt down beside her, keeping her voice cheery and light, as she had heard Frederick do countless times before.
“Tiffany Stapleton.” The girl replied.
Andrea ran through a list of names in her mind, trying to work out which of Frederick’s numerous relations were the girl’s parents. “Is your father the Earl of Windthorpe?”
Tiffany nodded, her eyes bright with excitement. Andrea looked back up at Frederick who was playing with the other children, but she could tell by his posture that he was still watching her.
“Well, Tiffany. What would you like to play?” Andrea asked.
The girl paused with her thumb halfway to her mouth, her eyes scrunched up as she thought. “Do you know foxes and hounds?”
“I think so. One team is foxes and one team is hounds, and the hounds have to try and catch the foxes?” Andrea’s own brow creased as she tried to remember the specifics of the game. “And there is a den the foxes must reach and if they do that without being caught by the hounds, the foxes win.”
“Yes!” Tiffany clapped her hands together and did an excited spin as she yelled. “I’ll be the fox!”
Andrea nodded and stood up, noticing that several of the children who were playing with Frederick looked over at Tiffany’s exclamation, and a few of the girls who were playing quietly nearby did as well. One of the girls, a six year old who Andrea recognised as Elizabeth, one of the children of Frederick’s other cousins, stood up and walked over to them.
“Are you playing foxes and hounds?” Elizabeth asked.
Andrea could see the boys with Frederick watching them intently. She kept the smile from her face as she turned to answer Elizabeth.
“Yes.” Andrea gestured to herself and Tiffany who had ducked behind her skirts and was peering out from behind her at Elizabeth.
“May we play too?” Elizabeth asked, gesturing at the two younger girls who had padded over to them as well.
Andrea glanced at Tiffany who was still holding onto her skirts, a thumb in her mouth. “What do you think Tiffany? It might be fun to have more people in the game.”
“Will I still get to be a fox?” Tiffany asked, peering at Elizabeth suspiciously.
“Of course.” Andrea looked at the three newcomers. “Would one of you like to join me as a hound?”
“I will.” The smallest girl raised her hand in the air, jumping with excitement. “I am really fast.”
“Not as fast as me.” The other girl said, pointing to her chest. “Mama says that I am the fastest.”
“No, she does not, Elspeth.” The first girl frowned at the other, who was clearly her sister.
Elspeth sighed and looked at her sister, hands on her hips as she shook her head. “Yes, she does, Emma.”
“Does not.” Emma scowled at her sister.
“Does.”
“Does not.”
“I am sure you are both much faster than I am.” Andrea hastily stepped between the two children, hoping it would keep the two sisters from devolving into an all-out fight.
“Probably. But that is okay. I can help you catch everyone.” Emma patted Andrea’s hands soothingly as she looked her up and down.
“Thank you.” Andrea smiled at the girl and felt her shoulders relax. “Shall we give them until the count of ten?”
The other girls eyes widened as Emma nodded at Andrea. “You have to close your eyes!” Elizabeth pointed at them.
Andrea nodded and closed her eyes, placing a hand in front of her face for good measure. “One!”
The sound of giggles and shrieking filled the air. She heard small feet scampering away and felt Emma slip a hand into hers.
“Two!” they said together.
When they reached ten, they opened their eyes, and Andrea spotted one of the girls hiding by the table. Quietly gesturing to Emma, she made an exaggerated show of creeping towards the giggling Tiffany.
As they drew close to her, Emma let out a delighted woop and dove for Tiffany who sprinted away. Emma gave chase, and Andrea followed after them, keeping an eye out for the other two foxes. Her heart pounded, and she had to lift her skirts to keep up with the children.
What I would not give for lighter fabrics, these are really not the best skirts for chasing small children in. Over the next hour, she chased the girls around the garden, all of them laughing and giggling in delight.
“We win!” Elizabeth clapped her hands together as the final fox arrived at the foxes’ den (the willow tree by the maze).
Andrea’s cheeks were flushed, and she was panting, sweat beading down her face. “Indeed.”
“Shall we play again?” Tiffany’s eyes were full of hope.
Andrea dabbed at her brow with a handkerchief, trying to think of something to say as she clutched a stitch in her side.
“I hear you lot are playing foxes and hounds, do you think we might join you?” Frederick appeared beside, her looping an arm around her as she caught her breath, he muttered, too softly for anyone else to hear. “The boys were getting rather jealous that the others had convinced you to play with them.”
“Am I truly in such demand?” Andrea whispered back.
Frederick shrugged, his eyes glittering mischeviously. “Of course, if you are too tired for another round, I am sure we can think of something else to do.”
“And let you have all the fun?” she laughed.
The girls were watching the boys apprehensively, looking between Andrea and the newcomers. Andrea swallowed and looked at the gathered children.
“Can we play too?” A young boy asked.
“That depends.” Andrea knelt down in front of him. “If we let you play with us now, will you let the girls join in when they ask?”
The boys eyes widened and he looked down at the ground sheepishly. A taller boy spoke up. “Everyone knows girls are slower than boys.”
“We are not!” Elizabeth glared at the boy.
“You are. That’s why you are too scared to let us play with you.”
“You said I could not play with you!” Tiffany pointed at the boy.
“Well, there is an easy enough way to settle this.” Andrea stepped between the two factions of children. “We shall play two games. The first game, the boys will be the hounds and the second the girls will be.”
The children nodded excitedly. Frederick arched an eyebrow at her as the boys began to count. Andrea ran, watching as the rest of the girls scattered.
The sound of laughter and excited yells mingled with the raucous conversation between adults. She was hiding behind a bush, when she felt strong arms wrap themselves around her and lift her into the air.
She let out a startled yelp as the smell of amber washed over her and she turned to find Frederick grinning at her. “And look what I have caught.”
“Put me down, you fool.” Andrea half-heartedly batted at him, supressing a giggle.
“I rather like having you in my arms.” Frederick’s eyes darkened and Andrea’s heart tumbled in her chest. “But if you insist.”
He put her gently on the ground, but kept his arms around her. She shook her head as she leaned against his chest. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”
“A while.” His voice reverberated in his chest. “In truth, a part of the reason I suggested the children all play together was because I wanted a moment alone with you.”
“Oh?” Andrea looked up at him, leaning back in his arms. “And are you so desperate for my company that it could not wait until we were home?”
He let out a chuckle but then his eyes became serious. “In truth, I wanted to see how you were doing. It was nice to see you playing with the girls, but I… I know that you do not always find such things easy and though you told me to stay away, I did not want you to be overwhelmed.”
“You are rambling.” Andrea shook her head. “But it is a rather sweet ramble. And I was not overwhelmed. It was actually… It is nice, it felt… Well it felt right. I have always marvelled at your way with children, you would be such a good father.”
Frederick stiffened at her words, his smile faltering slightly before he shook his head and shrugged. “I like being a fun uncle. All the perks of children and very little of the hard work.”
Andrea gently pushed him. “You promised to be honest with me, remember?”
Frederick swallowed and ran a hand through his hair, leaving it sticking up at odd angles. “I know, but… I do not want you to feel pressured.”
“Do you want to be a father?” Andrea tried to catch his eye but he was looking off into the distance.
He sighed and turned to her. “I do. But, it does not matter. It is more-”
She cut him off. “- I want that too… I… I think I am ready to start a family.”
“What?” Frederick gaped at her. But she could see the hope in his eyes.
Her heart sped up and she nodded. “I am still scared but… But the more time I spend with you, and the children in your family. The more my heart aches for us to have one of our own.”
“And you do not feel I have pressured you? I do not want you to do this for me, if it is not what you want as well.”
“You have been nothing but kind and patient. As you always are. You and I both know that if you had even tried to convince me to do something I did not want, I would have bitten your head off. Do you really think you could somehow convince me to carry your child if I did not want to?”
“Well, when you say it like that…”
“So… Are you ready to start a family?” She draped her arms around his neck, flashing him a mischievous smile.
His eyes darkened even as his cheeks flushed red. “We are at a family event, Duchess.”
Andrea rolled her eyes at him, feeling her own cheeks redden. “You know very well I did not mean this minute.”
“A pity.” He grinned, and laughed when she thumped him lightly on his shoulder.
“Be serious for one moment.” Andrea chided.
“Very well.” He cupped her chin in his hands. “I would like nothing more than to start a family with you, Andrea Felton.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Now kiss me.”
“With pleasure.” Frederick pressed his lips to hers, and lifted her into the air, spinning her wildly.
They broke apart, laughing and returned to the games, ready to start their next adventure.
The End?