The Ice Princess

Chapter 3

"Ryder, you are coming to the ball tonight and that is final. You should stop fighting and start a family."

"Mother, it was an accident. It won't happen again. Besides, I'm only twenty six, I have plenty of time to start a family." Ryder was getting annoyed with his mother's behavior. 

Ever since his slight injury his mother took advantage of it and was adamant that he retire as a knight. He knows it's been rumored that he has decided to retire, but he was only taking a break. He was far too young to withdraw. That and start a family. He was the best on the fields, England needed him. 

Duchess Ava looked at her son and sighed, "I cannot let you get hurt. You are the Duke of Devonshire for lords sake, you will not be going back."

"The Hastings were all soldiers. I am inheriting our will."

His mother looked annoyed, but she had to know that he would not stop. It didn't matter that he was the heir to the Dukedom of Devonshire and the only one who could prolong their family's lineage.

"Darling, you haven't been to a ball in years. I know you are on a break, so please, attend these next ones with me and your father. Please..." She looked at him with her puppy eyed face. "Pleaseee."

Ryder inwardly groaned, there was no way he was getting out of this. "Fine, fine. But don't expect me to dance with whomever you want me to."

The duchess smiled with all of her teeth showing as she finally got her son to go. She was going to get ready to send every available girl his way, it was far time he got married. "That's perfectly fine dear, as long as you are of attendance. Well, I'll be off now. I must inform your father." She stood up turning towards Ryder once again with her big smile on her face.

Ryder groaned. He really need to wield his sword. Being cooped up in this house was driving him crazy. He stared into space for a while longer before deciding to take a round into town to blow off some steam before tomorrow. For all he know it was going to be a long boring night.

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Walking into town he stopped at the local bakery. He figured his mother would fancy some pastries and he could go for some as well.

He headed on inside when some lady ran into him. With his fast reflexes he caught her before she was about to fall flat on her face and when he looked at her face, he was immediately besotted. She looked like an angel sent from heaven. Her hair was a magnificent rich golden color and her pale skin was bright and radiant. "My apologies my lady, I did not see you there." Ryder rightened her up and saw that her eyes were a brilliant light cerulean color. 

She looked up and smiled at him graciously, "It's my fault, sir. I should've been more careful." Her voice sounded like an angel too, a soft spoken one. She looked like a pure innocent angel and among the usual ton, it was different. She was definitely different, a good different, 

Ryder was usually one whose stoic face intimidated the ton. He did not smile often in the presence of strangers, but the way she smiled at him made him want to smile back. He had never felt like this before.

"No. It was my fault. Please, let me take care of your bill."

Her eyes grew big and she jumped, "Oh, no sir! That is not necessary, it was but a little bump."

"Please, I insist." He may have been trained to be a tough soldier, but his mother did teach him how to be a gentleman.

She looked troubled at first but then finally relented. "If you insist."