The Mad Duke Takes a Bride: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel by MacAdams Ava

Author:MacAdams, Ava
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cobalt Fairy
Published: 2024-01-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

As they returned to the rose arbor, Annette could not quite believe what had passed between her and Magnus. Kitty was dancing with Major Haselock, and the Dowager was sitting with a glass of punch in her hand, which Magnus swiftly removed after he hurried over to her.

“Where did that come from?” he demanded, and his mother looked up at him in surprise.

“Oh… a nice young military man gave it to me,” she replied.

Magnus glanced at Annette and raised his eyebrows. She shook her head, sitting down next to the Dowager and taking her hand in hers.

“We will go home now, Mother,” she said, for there seemed little reason to remain at the ball, given their purpose had been accomplished.

She and Magnus had been seen together as a couple, and despite Annette’s earlier mistakes, the ton would surely think the two of them were happily married. But what had passed between them in the shadows of the rose garden had come as a surprise. It had been an act of primal desire, one Annette had found herself entirely caught up in, and one she wanted again…

“Yes, there is no need to remain here any longer,” Magnus replied, offering Annette his arm.

Annette helped the Dowager to her feet. She swayed slightly, gaining her balance with Annette’s help, and the three of them made their way through the pleasure gardens, enduring the stares and whispers of others as they passed. Kitty looked anxiously at her, but Annette smiled, wondering what her friend would think if she knew what had just passed between her and Magnus.

We are married, she told herself, but despite this knowledge, Annette remained astonished at the thought of what she had done.

On the day of their wedding, it would have repulsed her to think of herself in Magnus’ arms, and yet as the days had passed, and she had come to realize the truth about him, her feelings toward him had changed. She no longer feared him nor considered him to be the man the rest of the ton took him to be. He had his eccentricities, but there was no reason to reject him for those. She was beginning to realize their marriage was proving far better than she could possibly have imagined.

“Wait here a moment. I want to visit one of the stalls over there,” Magnus requested as they came to the gates of the pleasure garden, where a row of carriages was waiting.

Annette watched him, curious as to where he was going. He returned a few moments later, carrying a small box, and now, he ushered them toward one of the waiting carriages.

“What a delightful evening it has been,” Magnus’ mother enthused as they rode home in the carriage together.

“It has, yes,” Magnus replied, glancing over at Annette, and smiling.

The dowager seemed to have forgotten her evident disappointment at seeing Annette dancing with Major Haselock, and Annette blushed, thinking back to the passion they had shared. Did it mark a change in their marriage? Certainly, there could be no going back, and Annette wondered what it would mean for them going forward.

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