He grabbed the dried fruit tray for snacks as they passed the kitchen area toward the seats. She took the one by the window and he joined her, placing the food on a pull-down table. “I can’t imagine how you’re used to flying in a private jet.”
He offered her a fig. “This isn’t the first time for you now.” She accepted the fruit and had the same look of delight as when she'd eaten them before. “It’s the first time as your wife.”
Her wide eyes made his heart tick differently, as if he was proud. The plane lifted off and there was a slight shift in cabin pressure, nothing else was out of the ordinary. But when Clara first started flying with him, she’d been alarmed, but now barely noticed.
Clara slipped off her new black flats with the pointed toes like they hurt. He offered her another fig. “We’ll be in Avce soon to ensure we’re officially registered there and you can meet my sister, Olivia.”
She finished the second fig and moved the arm support so she could rest her head on his shoulder. “It has to be hard for her to live there.”
Olivia hadn’t wanted him to give up his claim. She’d been adamant, though she’d be the next duchess since she wasn’t thirty yet, but then he feared she’d be even more of a hermit. “You can ask her yourself when we arrive.”
Clara ran her hand up and down his shirt as she said, “I just want to enjoy the now.”
He helped move her legs on top of his so that she was on his lap. “Last time on this plane, you sat at least three meters from me.”
“That’s clearly changed for the better.” Clara laughed and kissed him. “I’m not used to using the metric system.”
In high school one of his teachers had once told the class that "a happy wife is a happy life." While he’d never be good enough for Clara, he’d do what he could to make her happy.
So, he showed her how they could be even closer with most of their clothes on.
Hours later,Astorre memorized the curve of Clara's cheek as she dozed on his arm.
The plane had stopped a short while ago, but he’d tired her out in the best way. He waited until she stirred and knew she was awake from her slight movements. He said, “Here we are.”
She opened her eyes and took a few minutes to adjust her dress appropriately.
When she was ready, they exited the plane to the tarmac surrounded by olive trees. Clara gestured to the greenery around them as they walked to his limo. “The airport is nice.”
He agreed but said nothing until they reached the limo and then he told her and the driver, “We’ll head to Haren Hall, Rossie and Stephano’s estate, for lunch.”
Clara slid inside the limo and he went in next. As he settled back, she teased him, “Delaying your return to the house?”
Forever if possible. But that wasn’t to be. Once they did the minimum they could leave, or burn the house down for all he cared. “After we establish you as the proper duchess, we don't have to return often. My sister will inherit her dowry that she can retire on, and she can have the dower tower as neither of us have parents.”
The limo drove off the tarmac to a main road. “What happens to my whole baron thing that I inherited? I’d like to learn more about that.”
Now that she'd mentioned it, it was time to talk children. He’d need to have at least one so there was never a question in the future of who inherited. The laws grew trickier as new rules replaced old ones that were still on the books. “Well, you’ll have a choice. If we have one child he would get both our titles. If we have two you can give the barony to the second born.”
Her entire body stilled and her eyes grew wider as she thought this over. He waited for her answer by holding his breathe, but the she blinked and turned bright red. “Huh. I hadn’t meant about children. I can’t imagine myself as a mom.”
His neck muscles tightened. “We don’t have to have any if you don't want to.”
“Good.” Clara brushed against his knee. “Let’s table that discussion. I meant, what happens to the title and the money and stuff, now.”
Understood. He wouldn't rob her of whatever she had--he wasn’t sure what the Baron de Dona’s coffers were like. “As my duchess, no one will refer to you as my lady. You’re now ‘Your Grace.’”
She nodded like she needed this information. “Are there lots of responsibilities I’ll need to somehow master?”
Clara had clearly been uneasy about the baby conversation. Time was a good thing for them to have before kids and he needed to focus on them being in Avce without her finding out how rotten his soul was. “Probably not, but if you want to funnel the money to your unborn, it’s best to let that sit and live off your allowance.”
Her lips pressed together. “Allowance? That makes me sound like a child. I can and will do whatever work I need.”
She had a point. The word "allowance" sounded horrible. “I assure you as Duchess of Modena the money involved is nothing childish. And unlike my father, I excel at financing.”
She tilted her head as they drove onto the vast estate belonging to Stephano, and now Rossie. Cut grass and olive trees lined the road toward their home. “Guess we’ll figure out how to live together over time, but I’m happy to know you have a skill. I don’t excel at anything unless you need me to fix something. I worked repairing wood arrows at a Ren festival once.”
Finance meant sitting at his computer and calculating risk. This wasn’t a skill so much as training from college. “You do yourself a disservice, Clara. You excel at seeing right through people so clearly, which is something I could never do.”
