Page 30 of The Duke’s Sworn Spinster (A Duel and a Wedding #1)
S pring gave way to summer, and before long, it was fall. The leaves had changed and fallen on the ground, coating the gardens in warm autumn hues. The cold air nipped at Lydia’s nose and cheeks as she rushed from the carriage to the house, a small box hidden under her muff.
“Your Grace,” Mr. Lyall greeted Lydia at the door as she rushed in to get out of the cold, Landon at her heels. “Lord Nittinghill.”
“Mr. Lyall,” Landon greeted, quickly taking off his greatcoat and handing it over to Mr. Young, who stored it away. “Sister, you seem to have acclimated to your new lifestyle quickly. Before, such mild temperatures wouldn’t have sent you running for cover.”
“You’re one to speak,” Lydia snapped as she rubbed her arms gingerly.
“I have never acclimated to anything,” Landon said with a smirk. “I’m as sensitive to the cold as the day I was born. Can’t stay it in the least.”
“Would you like me to take that, Your Grace?” Mr. Lyall asked, pointing to Lydia’s muff.
“No, I’ll keep that for now,” she replied as Mr. Young helped her out of her coat.
Blistery winds chased the sibling away as Archer came in behind them.
“Darling, I have no idea you could move that fast,” he teased, giving Mr. Lyall his coat before attempting to kiss his wife on the cheek.
“My God,” she said, leaping out of arm’s reach. “Your face is freezing!”
“Then you’ll just have to warm me up.” Archer lunged at Lydia, trying to grab her waist.
“No!” she screamed in horror, dodging her husband’s freezing hands. “You stay away from me!”
Lydia attempted to hide behind her brother.
“Do not bring me into this.” Landon stepped out of the way as Archer kept pursuing Lydia. He chased her into the sitting room where his uncle and sisters were drinking and playing a game of cards. The blazing fire warmed the small room, and Iris sat next to it, working on a painting quietly.
Lydia made a beeline for the fire, bracing her hands against the bellowing warmth.
She let out a blissful sigh as the heat tickled her frozen extremities.
It didn’t last long, however, before Archer caught up to her.
She squealed as he rubbed his frozen face against her cheek and proceeded to plant butterfly kisses all over her face.
Lydia couldn’t suppress her bubbly giggles. “All right, I surrender!”
“Leave your poor wife alone,” Juliet laughed, holding out a steaming mug. “Do you want some hot chocolate, Lydia?”
“Oh, yes, please,” she gasped in excitement and wrapped her fingers around the toasty warm mug. Taking her first sip, she hummed happily, falling back on her husband’s shoulder as she felt the hot chocolate work its magic and warm her tummy. “That’s heavenly.”
“You won’t offer your dear brother a cup?” Archer asked teasingly.
“Only if you behave.” Juliet waggled a finger at him, but ultimately pulling out a second mug. “Dash of whiskey?
“Perfect,” he said as he got comfortable on the floor next to the fire. He crossed his legs and pulled Lydia onto his lap. “My goodness, you are chilly.” Archer laughed as he rubbed down his wife’s arms.
“How was London?” Uncle Rupert asked joyfully. “And how was Crish’s A-La-mode?”
“Loud,” Archer sighed. “Crowded. Too many people kept swarming Lydia, wanting to discuss some gossip or another. The Marquess of Penketh would not stop going on and on about Lydia’s new shipment of Indian spices. We barely got done any shopping, and the restaurant was too sociable.”
Lydia patted Archer’s leg affectionately. “It was lovely,” she corrected him. “My husband is being a grump because the restaurant ran out of cake.”
“I should have rented out the restaurant. At least then we would have had some alone time.”
Lydia shook her head, “The Marquess of Penketh owns the restaurant, so I doubt he would allow it, no matter the price.”
“Let Penketh try,” Archer grumbled.
“I believe it’s your wife who’s meant to be over-demanding and particular about these things,” Rupert teased as Lydia gently pushed the mug of chocolate up to Archer’s lips. He gave her a mischievous look of contempt.
“Juliet,” Lydia said, changing the subject, “have those dresses we sent out for come yet?”
“No,” Juliet sighed. “I’m sure Mrs. Barkley has many orders to fill. The season’s coming fast, and I might just have to settle for one of my old dresses.”
“Nonsense,” Archer jumped in. “We can always go straight to another store and pick something ready-made. There is no way I’m letting you debut without a new dress.”
“She is not getting something ready-made,” Lydia said firmly, giving Archer a distasteful look. “Juliet deserves only the loveliest dress. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we are not going to spoil it by buying a ready-made dress.”
“Or,” Cora snapped, looking at the couple, peeved, “you can ask her what she wants.”
Lydia and Archer looked at each other, wincing before looking back at Juliet apologetically.
“We’re sorry, sweetheart,” Archer said. “What is it that you would like to do?”
“I would prefer to wear Mrs. Barkley’s dress,” she said shyly. “But if it’s not ready, what else can we do? Lydia and I can go window shopping, but…”
“You had your heart set on Mrs. Barkley’s dress,” Archer finished.
“I’ll send Mrs. Barkley a letter,” Lydia exclaimed.
“I’ll ask about the progress with the dress.
I’m sure we’re all worrying about nothing, and it will arrive any day now.
You will look no less than absolutely breathtaking when you play your viola music.
Without a doubt, you are going to be the center of attention. ”
“And don’t forget your dance lessons.” Rupert jumped to his feet, whisking Juliet out of her chair and spinning her around the room. Her feet flying through the air.
“Uncle! I’m not a little girl anymore. You can’t throw me around as if it’s nothing. You’ll throw out your back!”
“Nonsense. You will always be my little girl. And my little girl,” he bopped her nose with his, “is as light as a feather.”
“Auntie!” Iris shrieked as she launched herself into Lydia’s lap.
“Careful, Iris!” Archer scolded.
“Sorry,” she said absently as she waved her painting in front of them. “I finished.”
“How exciting,” Lydia cooed. “Our little artist has made her first masterpiece.”
“Maybe not a masterpiece,” Iris said shyly.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” Lydia held the painting up to the light of the fire, so Archer could look at it from over her shoulder. “Let’s see here…”
“That’s Uncle Rupert,” Iris said, pointing out all the little characters she painted, holding hands against a background of green which Lydia assumed was the garden.
“Uncle Archer, Auntie Juliet, Auntie Cora, and that’s you,” she pointed out a figure holding a small bean-like bundle in her arms. “And that’s my new baby cousin. ”
Archer and Lydia shared a look of surprise at Iris’ accurate drawing.
“Iris, how do you know your Auntie Lydia will have a baby?”
“She will?” Iris looked shocked as well. “I’m really getting a baby cousin!?”
Lydia pulled out the small box that had been nestled in her muff. It was a lovely-looking present with a nice red bow on top.
“Is that for me?” Iris asked hopefully.
“Of course,” Lydia laughed. “Don’t we always bring you back of present from London?”
Iris grabbed the box excitedly and tore it open. Inside the box was a small music box carousel with several horses, all decorated in different themes.
“I love it!” Iris cried.
“Turn it around, carefully,” Archer instructed. “And you’ll see there’s a little nob you need to turn a couple times.”
Iris turned it carefully, hearing the gears crank inside and churn. The carousel started turning, the horses bobbing up and down to the tune of Frère Jacques.
“Oh wow,” Juliet exclaimed as the whole family crowded in closely to walk the little music box. “Where did you get such a marvelous thing?”
“I had it imported from Switzerland,” Lydia replied. “The Marquess of Penketh is the one who introduced me to a Swiss friend of his who makes these custom music boxes.”
“Why Frère Jacques?” asked Rupert.
“It was the nursery rhyme Archer used to sing to Iris when she could not sleep. And I have always rather liked the name Jacqueline.”
Archer wrapped his arms around her, kissed her on the cheek, and whispered, “I’m sure it will be a girl. Just like you.”
“Do you really think you can handle that much stubbornness?” Lydia’s eyes glittered.
“As far as I am concerned, dear Duchess, I will never have enough of you.” Archer pressed her hand to his lips.
The End?