The Duke Takes a Bride (The Rocking Royal Trilogy Book 2)

by Ginger Voight

  Pictures were taken by an official photographer as both Auggie and I, who sat on either side of the cradle, took turns holding Jack so our guests could have a better look.

  Auggie was holding Jack when the Byrnes arrived.

  Though I could tell that she wasn’t a nice person, the devastated look on Eloise’s face when she saw Auggie holding our child struck me hard. Whether I liked her or not, my heart went out for her that she had lost her child.

  I couldn’t fathom the horror.

  She and Allan quickly left almost as soon as they got there, barely eking out their congratulations.

  Riona and Viv came next.

  “What a handsome little man you are,” Viv said to Jack.

  “He’s not near old enough to date,” Auggie grinned. “You’ll have to stick to your current boy toy.” She laughed. “Sorry to see he couldn’t make it,” he added, though it was clear he wasn’t sorry at all. “Don’t tell me the romance is over.”

  She grinned. “He had a prior commitment in the States. He is a working man, after all. But you’ll see him again at the Christmas Ball. He’ll be here the entire holiday.”

  Joy, I thought to myself. But I wore a smile when she faced me.

  “You did well, Mama,” she praised. “A fine, strapping heir.” She leaned forward. “No matter what he says, hold off having ten more unless there’s some jewelry or something in the deal.”

  I had to laugh. Viv was a pip.

  Riona bowed respectfully to Jack. It softened Auggie. “Would you like to hold him, Ree?” he asked, using an affectionate family nickname.

  She balked instantly. “Oh, I couldn’t,” she started, but Auggie had already stood and was handing over the baby. Her face froze in a gasp as she held the warm little bundle in her arms.

  “He’s beautiful,” she said softly as she rocked him like the precious treasure he was. I could feel the painful longing emanate off her in waves.

  Jack was equally enamored, mirroring her facial expression to her delight. We watched happily as the two bonded. If there was ever a hope to bridge the gap between the Byrnes and the Quinns, perhaps it was the two of them. There were tears in her eyes as she handed him to me.

  “Congratulations, Your Grace,” she offered with a bow.

  I wanted to hug that poor lonely woman, but I knew it would have been the wrong move. She was as skittish as a mouse in a house that was full of starving cats. Instead, I bowed back. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  I wanted her to know that no matter what titles we held, I regarded her as an equal; probably more so than anyone else in either family.

  Cillian arrived next. I was glad nobody else was in the room because the tension was palpable. He bowed to Auggie before he turned to me. I was still standing, holding the baby. Our eyes met and held as he stepped closer. He reached out to gently brush Jack’s cheek with the back of his fingers. “He looks just like you,” he said, capturing my gaze. “I don’t see his father in there at all.”

  Auggie stood closer. “Those McPhee genes are hard to beat,” he said stiffly.

  Cillian turned to him. “Better luck next time, ol chap.” He turned back to me, sweeping his gaze over me like he had any right to do so, or that he had any desire to do so. “I can see why you wouldn’t want to wait.” His voice lowered. “I certainly wouldn’t.”

  Auggie steamed. It was just what Cillian wanted. I knew he had no desire for me, he just wanted to poke the bear. To make matters worse…

  “I know the invitation said no gifts were required, but I sent the new prince a little something.”

  “That was unnecessary,” Auggie clipped.

  “Oh, but it was necessary. It’s not every day your best friend has a baby.” He stared Auggie down as he paused. “Right?”

  He turned to me with a smug smirk before he took his leave.

  It put Auggie off for the rest of the reception.

  Hannah retrieved Jack after the official meet and greet was over, taking him upstairs for a peaceful nap away from all the noise. Auggie was still rigid with rage as we entered the banquet hall. He immediately snagged a mimosa.

  “Auggie,” I started, but his glare cut me off. One of his instructors, General Meriwether, whisked him away to meet with several the queen’s courtiers, including General Tremwell, who would provide him counsel once he became king.

  I sighed as I picked up a plate and began to serve myself from the decadent buffet. When I turned to the crowded room, I surveyed how everyone had grouped together. The Queen and the Princesses gaily entertained other royals. Gav and Fern were with the Tremwells and a few other dancers. Mom and Dad sat with the rest of the kids, along with Archer, Audra, and my grandparents. Viv was flitting about from eligible and not so eligible bachelors. Eloise stood stiffly next to Allan, who entertained a gaggle of what looked to be important men.

  Cillian was at a table by himself, watching every move I made as he nursed a drink, eating nothing at all.

  The only other person in that room who sat alone, feeling every bit the isolation that I felt, was Riona, who ate her brunch quietly at a table Viv had long vacated. I walked over to her. “May I sit with you?”

  Her eyes were startled to meet mine, but she attempted to recover quickly as she nodded. I sat. I struggled for something to say, some common ground that would help her trust me. “The service was lovely,” she offered, just to fill the silence.

  “Thank you. Are they all like that?”

  “Baptisms?” she asked. I nodded. “Not always. Most are held in private chapels or in homes. Only heirs get baptized like that. When Benji was born,” she started, but then stopped herself. “It was a big deal,” she said before turning back to her plate.

  “Oh,” was all I could say. I stole a glance in Cillian’s direction. I had always thought him to be sadistic or hateful, but those cold, hard eyes revealed just how painful this event was for him. I found myself softening towards him despite it all.

  Her eyes met mine. “You’re a writer, I hear.”

  “Was,” I shrugged. “I have other jobs now.”

  “You wrote about celebrities?” I nodded. “Sounds exciting.”

  I had to chuckle. Imagine a duchess thinking the made-up world of celebrity was exciting. “It had its moments. Nothing like this, though,” I said, gesturing around.

  She nodded. “I suppose that’s true. But it’s just as fake.”

  I couldn’t argue with her there. I could still feel Cillian’s eyes on me, though I didn’t know why he’d bother. Auggie had followed the courtiers to the study for a more private conversation.

  “Did you date a lot of celebrities before Auggie?”

  I supposed that was a natural question. “Auggie was my first,” I admitted.

  “And last,” she added. I laughed.

  “That’s true,” I conceded. “How about you? Are you seeing anyone special?” I asked, mostly to be polite. Since she never showed up to any of these functions with a date on her arm, I suspected that I already knew the answer.

  She shook her head with a shy smile. “Father doesn’t allow me to date.”

  My brow furrowed. “What does that mean?”

  “He says the only men who would come calling have an agenda. If I got married, I’d be second in line to the throne over Cillian.”

  God forbid, I thought to myself. “So, he just expects you to stay single?”

  She shrugged. “It’s not like there are a whole lot of offers.”

  I figured that was by design. Allan had beat her down like a dog. She had zero confidence and it showed. “Would you want to rule?” I asked her.

  Another shrug. “Father ensured we both got the proper education, but only Cillian has had the military training. I couldn’t stomach it,” she confessed softly. “I tried, but Father was right. It would be better if he did it.” She caught herself. “You know. If it came down to that.”

  “There’s more to leading than that,” I said. “What about compassion and empath
y?”

  “Father says that weakens true leaders, who have to make tough calls.”

  “I bet,” I clipped.

  “But it doesn’t matter anymore because Auggie will become king. He’ll make a good king,” she decided with a nod. “But don’t tell Father I said that.”

  I laughed. “Your secret is safe with me, Ree. Can I call you that?”

  She nodded. Shyly, she asked, “Can I call you Pea?”

  “I insist,” I told her, holding my glass up to toast her. “I hear we’re going to be working together on a couple of committees. Can I depend on you to show me the ropes?”

  She nodded again. “The Christmas Ball is my favorite,” she said. “We get to invite some of the people from Aldayne. It’s always magical seeing things through their eyes.”

  “They really do try to be good to the people, don’t they?”

  She nodded. “I wish more people knew that. Some only see the wealth and the power. But it comes with responsibility.”

  “In honor we serve,” I quoted.

  She laughed. “That’s the Quinn motto anyway.”

  “What’s the Byrne creed?”

  Her eyes met mine. “Victoriam in omnibus.” Off my look, “Victory in all things.”

  “Ah,” I said. “Certainly not subtle, is it?”

  She chuckled. “I don’t think subtle is in Father’s dictionary.”

  “Nor your brother’s apparently,” I remarked.

  She softened. “Cillian is different. A lot like father, but… better. Kinder.”

  My brows lifted. I hadn’t seen any evidence of that. But I wasn’t going to say that to his sister, who clearly loved him. She must have felt my doubt, she kept on going anyway.

  “He’s been through a lot. And a lot is expected from him. I guess I’m kind of lucky in that respect.”

  “What respect is that?”

  She shrugged. “Nobody expects anything from me. I can hang out on committees, go to parties, write poetry. I can be me.”

  “Can you?” I asked quietly. She looked away.

  “My life more boring than most, but at least it’s safe. And honestly, who am I to complain? I have money and privilege and tradition.”

  “Maybe,” I said. “But a gilded cage is still a cage.”

  She chuckled humorlessly. “I’m not like you, Pea. I’m okay being alone. The romances I have are best kept in my head.”

  I leaned forward. “I think you should write them down.”

  Her eyes widened. “You do?” I nodded. “Why?”

  “It makes us braver.” I reached across the table to take her hand in mine. “In our imagination, every ending is happily ever after.”

  She smiled. “Thanks, Pea.”

  We parted ways after we exchanged information. I made her promise she’d send me some of her poems. We were writer sisters. And that was one hell of a way to bond.

  Before I was done with her, not only would she believe she was worth love, romance, and marriage, she’d be up to her neck in dirty diapers.

  Forget every other committee, Riona Byrnes was my project.

  I felt so hopeful about it that I immediately wanted to share the news with Auggie, but he was behind closed doors puffing away on cigars, drinking his favorite bourbon as he got comfortable with the official courtiers.

  This was his job now and I had to respect it.

  I decided I had a little too much peopling for the day, so I went for a walk on the grounds. It was so peaceful and secluded there, it felt like I was back on Maggie Farms. Every step restored me. I walked all the way to a pond on the northernmost part of the grounds, under the shadow of Mount Charlemonde. I wrapped my arms around myself and stared up at good ol’ Grandpa Charlie, thinking about the story Auggie once told us all around my parents’ dinner table.

  “Don’t worry. It won’t blow.”

  My smile faded as I turned to face Cillian. “I guess it was wishful thinking that I could get away from you.”

  He chuckled as he stepped closer, joining me next to the pond. “Now, now. Is that any way to speak to your cousin?” I said nothing, turning to face the mountain. “I saw you sitting with Ree earlier, I thought maybe you were using this auspicious occasion to extend olive branches to us evil Byrnes.”

  “She’s not like the rest of you,” I commented.

  “Too bad,” he replied. I turned to him. “She’s like a rabbit caught in a den full of wolves. I honestly don’t know how she’s survived this long.”

  “For once, you and I agree.”

  “Did she tell you what you wanted to know?”

  I thought about it. “I suppose she did.”

  “Was it about me?”

  I scoffed. “Why on earth would it be about you?”

  “You tell me. You’re the one who hasn’t been able to keep your eyes off me all day.”

  I scoffed. “I think you have it backwards. The only reason you could make that claim was if you were looking at me first.”

  “Fair point,” he conceded with a nod. “But I’m not trying to hide the fact that I’m attracted to you.”

  I laughed. “Oh, please. The only reason you’re interacting with me at all is because it pisses Auggie off.”

  “That’s a bonus,” he agreed. “But I’ve come to discover that I do find you quite fascinating.”

  “Right.”

  “You don’t believe me?”

  “Uh, no. You made your feelings quite clear on Halloween.”

  “Before or after we kissed?”

  “We?!” I exclaimed. I flung around to face him. “You kissed me, remember?”

  “How could I forget?” he said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close, fitting me against the unmistakable outline of his hard body. He glanced down at my full curves. “Look at that. There’s nothing between us anymore.”

  I pushed against him. “Except that I can’t stand you!”

  He laughed as he released me, much quicker and more easily than I expected. “Keep telling yourself that, Sweet Pea. But tell me truly. How long did it take for you to stop seeing my face when your husband kissed you?”

  “You’re an asshole,” I gritted between clenched teeth.

  “Indeed, I am,” he agreed. “But I’m also right.” He stepped closer. “Tonight, when you make love to your precious Auggie, it’ll be my body you remember.” He reached down to leave a peck on my nose. I swung on him and missed him by a hair. He laughed as he walked away. “See you in your dreams, Duchess.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  We arrived back at Castlewick by early evening, just after sunset. The day had worn everyone out. Even Dashie needed a nap. After my encounter with Cillian, so did I. I dismissed Hannah and took Jack to our apartment, which was where we found the wrapped gift from Cillian Byrne sitting on our coffee table. We could tell by the length and shape of the long box wrapped in shiny black paper that he had given Jack his first hunting rifle.

  My eyes swung quickly to Auggie; whose jaw clenched in anger. He picked up the phone to have one of the servants remove the gift. He didn’t even open it. “I don’t care what you do with it,” he had snapped when the housemaid showed up to dispose of it. “Just remove it from my sight.”

  She nodded and quickly scooped up the gift and made a quick exit before my stormy husband blew his top just like Grandpa Charlie.

  I cradled Jack in my arms as I watched the myriad of emotions cross my husband’s face. “Come on,” I said. “Let’s go lay down for a nap. It’ll make us feel better.”

  Auggie followed, but instead of lying down with us, he changed into his riding clothes. “Where are you going?”

  “Feeling restless,” he dismissed. “I think a ride will clear my head.”

  “I thought we could spend some time together alone.”

  “We will,” he promised. “I’m just too wired to take a nap. Get some sleep while you can,” he added, stroking Jack’s cheek.

  I could still smell the booze and cigars on hi
s breath. “Are you sure it’s safe to ride? You’ve been drinking.”

  He chuckled. “You worry too much, Pea. I only had a couple of drinks. Besides, I can ride in my sleep. I’m your knight in shining armor, remember?”

  “Just don’t break anything,” I advised as I lay Jack on the bed. “You never know what you might be doing later.”

  It was the only hint I wanted to give him. After everything, I wanted our special night to be a surprise.

  He pulled me close. “I know what I’ll be doing later. Eating dinner with my beautiful family.” He kissed me deep. As much as I hated to admit it, Cillian had been correct. I still felt his hands on my body, which made me end the kiss with the man I loved way before I would have. Auggie clearly felt the disconnect, which only soured his mood even more.

  I hated Cillian Byrne so very much, more with each passing moment.

  Thoughts of him, angry and hateful though they were, infiltrated my subconscious. Even in my dreams, instead of Auggie returning to my bed, it was Cillian, climbing through the terrace window like some sort of vampire. It was all too real as I felt the weight of his body climbing on the bed, crawling between my legs, his kiss on my lips as he penetrated my body.

  I woke up with a gasp, covered in a cold sweat. Jack fidgeted in his sleep, but easily returned to his restful slumber.

  I, however, wasn’t about to close my eyes.

  I transferred Jack into his nursery before I headed towards the kitchen. I decided to prepare a meal rather than have it brought up from the cook downstairs. I was nearly finished with a stir fry when I heard the thunder of horse hooves outside the open door to our wraparound terrace. My happy grin subsided when I realized that it sounded like two horses instead of one. Food forgotten, I walked to the terrace and glanced down below at the darkened grounds. The horses faded off in the distance towards the stables.

  Maybe he was riding with Bert, I decided. I went back inside to set the table, where I waited for my husband to return.

  Only when I heard a woman laughing did I move from my spot. I returned to the terrace and glanced down, watching Auggie approach with Hannah, who had changed into her riding ensemble.