I have already contacted our attorney on this account and, should the worst happen, I would beg that you take my girls and look after them until they are old enough to return to their beloved Wales.
I love you, and I shall always love you, my dear brother.
Your most affectionate sister,
Josie.”
Georgette saw him move out of the corner of her eye and heard the sigh which signified that he had finished reading the letter. As he sat in the wicker seat, he leaned forward, his body entirely covering the small box of letters he had sat and read from one end to the other. Seeing his shoulders begin to heave, Georgette knew that he had been overcome with emotion.
For a moment, she almost decided to leave. After all, what man would be happy for a former employee to see him in so great a condition? And yet she knew that he had asked her to stay for a reason. She had comforted him once before and at a time when he had truly needed it. She knew that he had asked her to stay in the hope that she would comfort him again and, as such, she could not deny him.
Without a word, Georgette moved to stand before him and, gently taking the box from him, she set it down on the nightstand. The Duke was still leaning forward, bent almost double across his own lap. Georgette knelt before him and reached for him, cradling his head in her hands until he sat up and drew her in towards him.
“Thank you,” he said, quietly mumbling the words into her hair.
“You are welcome,” she said and gently kissed his temple, fully determined to gently rock him in her arms until he was quite well again.
“It really is more beautiful here than I had ever imagined,” he said the following morning when he joined her in the garden as she stared out towards the Rhinog Mountains. “I say, is this not the subject of that glorious painting which hangs in the drawing-room?”
“It certainly is, Your Grace. Those are the Rhinog Mountains, and the picture was painted by Carwyn Thomas.”
“I think he loved her as much as she loved him,” he said a little sadly.
“I am quite sure of it,” Georgette said and smiled at him reassuringly.
“If only I had seen it then.”
“You must not do this, Your Grace,” Georgette said, looking him squarely in the face. “You have read your sister’s letters, and you must know from them alone that she would not want you to spend life torturing yourself with what might have been.”
“As always, Miss Darrington, you are quite right,” he responded and gave a light laugh.
“I think I shall quite miss this place,” Georgette said and meant it.
“It does rather capture the imagination, does it not?”
“I think it is the most magical place I have ever seen.”
“And you a confirmed Londoner!” he said with a laugh.
“I suppose we all of us can change, Your Grace.”
“Myself included,” he said with a sigh and turned to face her, stepping towards her at the same time so that they were but inches apart. “And perhaps you will not miss this place if you return with Eleri and Ffion for holidays.”
“Oh yes, I should like that very much,” Georgette said, finding herself inordinately pleased to realize that she had been returned to her previously despised status of governess.
“I am glad to hear you say that, for I should be very glad to have you here with me.” Suddenly, he was reaching for both of her hands. “But please understand that I do not wish you to return with me as a governess, Miss Darrington, but rather as my wife.”
“Wife?” Georgette said and felt her eyes open wide. “You mean … You mean …?”
“I mean I love you, Georgette. I love you as I have never loved another in all my life.” He pulled her towards him until they were touching.
“And I love you too,” she said somewhat hoarsely. Her voice was thick with emotion. “But I had never dared to dream …”
“And I have done nothing but dream, Georgette. From the very first day I met you,” he said and leaned forward to kiss her.
“The last days have been the best of my life, truly they have,” she said when finally they broke their embrace. “I cannot believe how I have gone from desolation to complete happiness in what feels like a single step.”
“Am I to take it that you will marry me, Georgette?”
“Yes, I will marry you; of course, I will marry you,” she said, smiling through her tears.
Epilogue
“Eleri, you ought not to eat quite so much cake, my dear,” Lady Cynthia said with a smile.