“Treacherous?” he added, arching an eyebrow.
“Well, yes,” she said, eyes still fixed on the basket. Melody lay beneath her soft blanket, swaddled snugly, yet Victoria’s nerves refused to settle entirely.
The two of them had chosen to sit together this time, the first of several small decisions in a day filled with domestic considerations and family joy.
Across from them, Mrs. Hughes kept a careful watch, her posture alert enough to leap into action should the basket tilt or the carriage lurch.
Richard’s figure, in his grey evening coat, looked every inch the formidable Duke of Hawksford. Stern and composed, yet Victoria knew better. She could see the tension in his jaw, the subtle tightening of his hands as they hovered near the basket, the protective weight of his thigh just behind it, ready to prevent a fall.
“Don’t fret,” he murmured, his voice calm but firm. “I have my hand here. The carriage’s springs are fairly new, and we’ve all got eyes on her. Melody has three devoted guardians for the ride to Wolfcrest. We four can survive anything this road throws at us.”
Victoria let out a soft laugh, the tension in her chest loosening slightly. Daphne and Alistair had invited them for dinner, an intimate gathering of siblings, spouses, and children, and she had been thrilled at the chance to bring Melody into the family fold. Yet the journey had been enough to make her nerves prickle with anticipation and a touch of dread.
“I suppose you are right,” she said at last, settling back into her seat. “We should be there soon, yes?”
Richard chuckled, a deep, amused sound that made the carriage seem warmer. “Yes, we should be. Though I would advise against letting the coachman go full speed. You’d be surprised at how rattling it can feel, and the little one does not need a jostled introduction to Wolfcrest.”
He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently, an anchor of reassurance. Victoria felt herself relax under the pressure of his fingers, comforted by his presence.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he murmured softly. “Even without the diamonds and amethysts. Your black velvet alone is stunning.”
She smiled faintly, shaking her head. “I thought them too much for a family dinner. I did not want to appear as the belle of the ball or the host. This is simpler. Elegant, but not ostentatious.”
“I understand,” Richard said, his eyes warm as they met hers. “We should save the more extravagant adornments for another occasion.”
“I am wearing the amethyst pendant,” she reminded him, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Simple, yet significant.
Silence fell over the carriage for a few moments, broken only by the rhythmic rattle of the wheels on the cobbles. The carriage slowed as they neared Wolfcrest, the distant sounds of laughterand chatter already floating through the morning air. Even from the road, Victoria could feel the vibrant hum of family life awaiting them.
The doors opened, and the foyer burst into color and sound. Silks brushed against polished floors, perfume mingled with warm, domestic scents, and the laughter of children echoed against the walls. Though it had not been long since she had last seen her siblings, the joy in their voices made Victoria’s heart swell.
“They’ve arrived! Adrian, look!” Daphne called out, her twin’s voice carrying over the din, melodic and joyful as always.
Daphne approached, her high-waisted gown accentuating her pregnancy, her hands resting on her rounded belly. Alexander, her two-year-old, peeked from behind his father, curious and shy.
Daphne’s gaze immediately fell to the basket, and Victoria lifted it slightly so the children could see inside.
“Let me see the baby!” Daphne gushed, bending forward as Melody stirred, still snug in her blanket.
“She’s sleeping,” Victoria murmured, surprised.
In recent weeks, getting Melody to settle had been a trial; now, she seemed serene and content, a child at home in her new family.
“She is comfortable here at Hawksford,” Daphne observed with a pleased nod, adjusting her posture and brushing a hand over her belly.
Out of the drawing room came a rush of movement, children spilling into the foyer, all animated and eager. Victoria’s nephews and nieces moved like little wolves, their energy untamed but joyful. Hector led the charge, guiding Jamie, Clara, William, Henry, and even tiny Alexander. Behind them, Martin, John, and Lily, Marianne’s children, followed closely, whispering as if sharing some important secret among themselves.
Victoria giggled at the sight, the little conspirators’ antics filling her with warmth. Daphne grinned in response, clearly amused by the spectacle.
“Aunt Victoria?” Twelve-year-old Hector’s voice cut through the chatter, solemn yet earnest. He approached, holding a small object clumsily wrapped in colored paper and tied with a pink ribbon.
“Yes, darling?” Victoria asked, bending slightly to his level, noting his careful handling of the package.
“My cousins and I have something for the new one.”
The words made her lips twitch with the beginnings of laughter, though she quickly swallowed it. The notion that Melody was now officially part of the extended family, the “new one,” filledher with an unexpected rush of emotion. A lump formed in her throat.
