I raised an eyebrow at that. He’d seemed pretty smitten with Cecelia until the hunting incident, but I stilled my tongue.
“I am giving you my blessing,” the duke continued. “Given how you handle yourself, I think you will be the addition this family needs to thrive in the future.”
I felt Ambrose’s hand slide over mine and I glanced down as he interlaced his fingers with mine and squeezed. I suppressed the urge to fling his hand from me, and grinned up at him. “You honor me, my lord,” I said to the duke. “Truly, I will make you proud to call me family. And I will ensure Ambrose remains very happy.”
“I can see you will,” The duke chuckled. “You make for a striking couple. We are going to make some changes around here. Things cannot continue as they have. But I believe you will be the perfect team to usher this house in a new direction.”
Ambrose frowned. “Father?”
The duke waved a hand. “You’ll find out tonight. But go with light minds in the knowledge that your futures are secure.” He paused and examined us for a moment, a light smile playing over his lips. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must rest. It’s going to be a big night.”
“Of course,” Ambrose said. We stood as he got to his feet and strode from the room. I glanced at the wheelchair beside him that he hadn’t needed. Perhaps he really was on the mend. Perhaps he would have even lived to see his son wed, if he’d made a better choice.
I turned to Ambrose as the door to the duke’s bedchamber closed. “Are you sure?” I asked him, gazing down at my hands that he held on to.
“Yes,” he said, shrugging. “You’re clearly the best of my suitors, in almost every conceivable way. My parents are both pleased with you.”
Almost?I would have liked to know what areas he found lacking.
He dropped one of my hands to cup my cheek. “Congratulations on winning the competition,” he said. “You’ll find me an adequate prize, I’m sure.” He grinned.
“I will,” I murmured, refusing to snort at what a conceited bastard he was. As if he was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me. He hadn’t even bothered to tell me anything he admired about me, aside from how I performed in the games. He hadn’t even bothered toaskif I wanted him. He assumed I did. As did the duke. It was laughable.
Then Ambrose’s lips were on mine.
My eyes widened as he pressed his mouth against my own, forcing his tongue past my lips. I stood frozen for a moment. I did not want this man kissing me, but I couldn’t very well brush him off. I considered how handsome he was. He was insufferable, but I didn’t have tolikea pretty boy to enjoy kissing him, right?
I returned the kiss, trying to ignore how Ambrose’s mouth opened so wide that it was like he was trying to engulf me. Had he never kissed before? Oh, gods, I wouldn’t have to do this very often, would I? And just what was I doing anyway? He was a vampire hunter. I’d just been thinking how awkward our reunion would be. And here I was kissing him. The enemy. The fact that I needed him to meet Vrykolakas’s terms was the only thing holding me back from smacking him across the jaw.
I pushed myself back, disentangling from him with an apologetic smile. “There’ll be plenty of time for that later, I suspect.”
“And more,” he agreed, voice hoarse.
I ignored the promise in his words. I didn’t need to worry about what more there could be. A little more digging and hopefully I could return to my real life.
We stepped back out into the hallway to greet an anxious Maxwell. His hands were clasped together as he approached, but the moment his eyes found our linked hands, he stilled, and realization crossed his face. His face melted into a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You finally made a decision then,” he said.
Ambrose nodded, clapping Maxwell on the shoulder. “I have. I think this old house will be more lively with Lucian around, wouldn’t you agree?”
Maxwell caught my eye. “I should say so.”
I turned to Ambrose, dropping his hand. “Before we go through with this, I have to ask a few things.”
Ambrose raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Oh? I’m all ears.”
I glanced hesitantly at Maxwell before crossing my arms. This was the perfect opportunity to ask questions that needed asking. “We overheard you in the garden at Foxglove Abbey. You know the men who kidnapped Emmett.”
Ambrose blinked, confusion clouding his features. “What are you talking about?”
Maxwell lifted his chin. “You said your men left him bloodied. Ring any bells?”
“Well, you’ve construed incorrectly,” Ambrose said slowly, looking between the two of us. “I know nothing about what happened to Emmett.”
“But—”
“I was talking about you, Maxwell.”
Maxwell frowned.
