Her Mystery Duke(99)
“David.”
“It’s not just an endearment, you know. I truly do love you. For so many reasons.” He pressed her palm more firmly to his cheek. “I want to tell you each and every one of those reasons, and I shall very soon.”
Her cheeks ached from smiling too broadly. “I love you as well.”
“Are you hungry?”
After such weighty declarations, the practical, mundane question startled her. She stared at him dumbly.
His beautiful green eyes shone with tenderness. “You must be hungry. You’ve been sick for days and have had only liquids.”
Roused at the topic of conversation, her stomach growled. The sound echoed loudly in the silence. An embarrassing reaction for such a romantic moment. She laughed softly and placed her free hand over it. “Yes, actually, I think I am.”
He arose and called for a light meal to be brought to her. And she ate it with surprising gusto. It did not twist and torment her stomach, either. She drifted into another nap.
When she awoke, he was lying beside her but he was not sleeping. She turned to him and he cupped her face. “I will write the stories, David.”
“I know, you told me that a few days ago.” He smiled at her, broadly. “But you don’t really have to, not if it is too painful.”
“I want to.”
“I meant what I said yesterday. We shall be wed, quickly and quietly.”
“You can’t marry me. It wouldn’t be good for your political career. Your future.”
“You are my future.”
“Goodness. You can’t throw all that away.”
“Jeanne, the Watch did decide that, given all who were involved with the events at Isabella’s house the other day, it would be prudent to keep things quiet. You were correct. Toovey wasn’t worth killing. He’s completely insane and it happened so slowly that those around him weren’t fully aware of what was happening. His uncle has come and taken him away to the country. He’ll be cared for and watched. It’s in everyone’s best interests to hide what’s happened. But things like this have a way of leaking out. And when that happens, my marrying a commoner will be the least of it.”
“A commoner whose father was insane?”
“The least of it, Jeanne.”
He sounded so resigned. Her heart panged for him. “I am sorry, David.”
“None of it was your fault. I sowed the seeds for all of this drama in my youth.”
“We cannot be held accountable forever for the mistakes and misfortunes of our youth.”
“No, we cannot, Jeanne, and you must stop punishing yourself for what happened between yourself and your father. You did the best you could with little life experience and limited funds. I am sure he understood. I am sure he forgave you in his heart.”
“I’d like to believe that.”
“We have a whole life we can share. We have to look forward now. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, I will.” How calmly she accepted this. But it still didn’t seem real. She suspected she was yet dreaming.
* * * *
A few days later, David watched Jeanne as she sat in Thérèse’s garden with her face turned up to the afternoon sun. A wreath of pink roses adorned her hair and she wore a simple white day dress with a broad sash of silver cloth. She was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
Jeanne was going to be just fine. The doctor had assured him so just yesterday.
And she was finally his.
Weeks ago, he had procured a special license before he’d left on his aborted trip to Scotland. He hadn’t known what would have transpired on that trip if Jeanne had gone with him and he’d wanted to keep all options open.
And so this morning, while the clock swung up from eleven-thirty to noon, they had been wed in the parlor with Thérèse and Lord Henry Somerville as witnesses. Henry proved to be his usual quiet, sober self and had watched the proceedings with a stony expression. What did he feel about Isabella’s death? There was no way to know. But he shook David’s hand and nodded to Jeanne, giving her his best wishes before he left.
Thérèse had smiled and cried and given them both lavish wishes for a lovely life and many, many, many children.
Jeanne had smiled in return but David saw her lips tremble and wondered inside if she were altogether ready for “many, many, many children.” There would be so many adjustments for her to make. The transition wasn’t going to be easy. He would do whatever he could to smooth the way for her but he couldn’t shelter her completely.
Jeanne and David had remained here, for the doctor had warned against moving her too soon. But today they would go home. He was impatient to be going.