Emma nodded. "I found out he was coming this way, so I tagged along."
David approached them with his usual commanding presence, brushing off dust from his coat as he came to a stop in front of his sister. His sharp eyes scanned Lavinia's face, and his expression softened slightly, though his tone remained stern.
"Lavinia," he said, still assessing her with his eyes. "How have you been? Has the duke been treating you well?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked with furrowed eyebrows, noticing that he was assessing her.
"I'm trying to figure out what's different about you but I can't place it," he said with squinted eyes.
Lavinia rolled her eyes. "It's nice to see you too, dear brother."
"Has the duke been treating you well?" he asked her again, his hands clasped behind his back like a man about to deliver a sermon. "If he hasn't, you need to tell me. I can?—"
"You can what, David?" Lavinia cut him off, giving him a knowing look. "Challenge him to a duel? Bargain for my honor? You married me off to a man without so much as a word to me about it beforehand. And now you want to act concerned about his intentions? Forgive me if I find this sudden concern a little late."
"Am I not allowed to ask my own sister simple questions?" he shot back. "Don't tell me this is how you talk back at your husband, Lavinia."
"I don't talk back at him."
"You're talking back at me," he argued.
"That's because it's you," she said and crossed her arms. "And to answer your question, yes, he has been treating me well."
"David..." Andrew interrupted them, stopping to greet David upon his arrival. "I trust the ride here was smooth?"
David turned, his brows lifting as he regarded Andrew with a look that was equal parts suspicion and disapproval. He clasped his hands behind his back, his posture stiff. "It was, Your Grace. Thank you for the hospitality," he said. "Though I must admit, I've been curious to see how my sister is faring under your care."
Andrew glanced at her and smiled before turning back to David. "I'm hoping my wife is well cared for here and respected. She is Duchess of Hargrave, after all."
My wife...
Lavinia felt her heartbeat increase at the sound of it. She chanced a glance at him, his faces as composed as ever, his sharp jawline set in that faintly amused expression he always seemed to wear. Did he truly see her as his wife, or was it just another role he played, another mask he wore to keep up the notion that they were a happily married couple?
David didn't seem to miss it either. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Well, as her brother, it is my duty to ensure that she is treated with the respect she deserves."
"And it's my duty as her husband to provide just that," Andrew countered smoothly "Lavinia's well-being is my priority, and I assure you, David, she's in capable hands."
David's gaze flicked to Lavinia, who stood awkwardly between them, her hands twisting together. "Is that so, Lavinia?" he asked her. "If there's anything amiss, you know you can always tell me."
Lavinia tilted her head to the side. "Why don't you find your way to the guest quarters, David? I'm sure you need rest after your journey. We can come together for an early dinner in an hour."
David nodded stiffly, his gaze darting between Andrew and Lavinia as though he were still searching for something unspoken. "Very well," he said, his tone begrudging but polite. "I'll see you both at dinner." He turned and strode off, following a servant in the direction of the guest quarters.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Lavinia let out a long breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She glanced at Andrew, who was watching her with a faintly amused expression, one brow raised.
"Impressive," he said, his voice light with teasing. "You handled your brother quite well. I half-expected him to start issuing duels in the garden."
Lavinia giggled in response. Their eyes met and she found herself smiling despite the strange knot of emotions swirling inside her. Andrew's teasing had a way of disarming her, making her feel lighter.
He tilted his head toward her, with a mischievous look in his eye. "Do you think he'll quiz me on your well-being over dinner? Or perhaps he'll want a full report on how I've handled my ‘duties' as a husband. I'm afraid that if he does, I'll have nothing to report."
Lavinia smirked. "If he does, I'll make sure to give you glowing marks, Your Grace."
Andrew laughed again, shaking his head. "I would appreciate that. Though, if you wanted to scandalize him a little, I wouldn't object."
She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched in a reluctant smile. "You're impossible."
"Oh, you'd miss me if I weren't," he said, leaning in slightly.
