His Favorite Mistress (43 page)

Since that night in his coach, she hadn’t been able to get his face out of her mind, continuing to see the expression of hurt in his eyes, to hear his earlier declaration of love. Obviously she had wounded him deeply, since he’d stopped calling upon her after that. Nor was he sending his usual assortment of gifts and cards to her, leaving her to wonder if her lack of faith had injured him so much that he’d decided to wash his hands of her, after all. Yet she knew she owed it to them both to make one last attempt to repair their faltering marriage.

After a nearly sleepless night, she’d realized it no longer mattered what she believed. She loved Tony, and that fact alone compelled her to give him her trust—and her devotion. If he honestly loved her, then all would be well. And if he did not, then she would spend her life striving to change his mind. Her life was with him—for better or worse, just as the vows said—and with him she would remain. Now, she had only to convince him to let her come back—to his arms and his bed and his life.

Which was another reason she had decided to attend the ball tonight, so that she and Tony might have an opportunity to talk. She’d considered going to Black House, but hadn’t been able to work up enough courage. But maybe she could get him alone, or at least see if he would agree to escort her home, and then she would tell him—not only what was in her heart, but also about the baby. He had a right to know he was going to be a father. No matter what, she would never deny him that.

Stopping at the refreshment table, she reached out to get a drink.

“The lime punch is quite good,” said a shy voice from nearby. Turning, she gazed at a pretty blonde in spectacles, her hands twisted into the folds of her plain white gown.

“Lady Jeannette, is it not?”

The girl shook her head. “Oh no, I’m Violet. M-my sister is over there.” She nodded across the ballroom where an exquisitely dressed, stunningly coifed blonde beauty held court among a group of enthralled gentlemen and ladies. As the other girl turned to display her lovely profile, Gabriella saw the marked resemblance between the two sisters. Without Violet’s glasses, they were so close to identical she wondered how anyone could tell them apart.

“That’s right, you are twins,” Gabriella said. “I met your sister only briefly in the receiving line.”

“And Raeburn? Did you meet her betrothed as well?” Lady Violet asked, her gaze moving to linger on a tall, handsome man standing on the ballroom’s other side. Without knowing it, intense longing shone in Lady Violet’s eyes as she beheld the duke.

Heavens,
Gabriella thought.
Does she have feelings for him?
But then she shook off the thought, aware she had her own duke to worry about. “The lime punch, did you say?”

Violet turned back. “Y-yes. Forgive me, Your Grace. I did not mean to intrude upon you.”

“You haven’t. Not at all.” Taking a cup, she sipped her punch, finding it as refreshing as promised. A moment later, she saw Ethan with a very pregnant Lily at his side. “It’s been lovely talking, but if you will excuse me, some friends of mine have just arrived,” she said, setting down her cup.

“Of course. I see my friend Eliza as well.” Lady Violet waved to a mousy-looking girl attired in a dreadful pea-green gown. The mousy girl waved back.

Parting, Gabriella made her way toward Ethan and Lily. Only moments after reaching them, Tony appeared. Her pulse hurried faster as he made her an elegant bow.

“Gabriella,” he said, his voice low and smooth as whisky. “Would you do me the honor of the next dance?”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

After a couple of minutes’ conversation with Ethan and Lily, she and Tony made their way to the dance floor. As the music began, he led her into a waltz, the sensation of being held again in his arms wonderful, even magical. Neither of them spoke, so many thoughts and emotions whirling around in her head that she feared she might not be able to express them all, or at least not adequately.

“Tony, I…I wonder if we might speak later. I…I have things I need to say.”

A mild frown creased his brow. “I have things to say to you as well. In the garden perhaps, before tonight’s fireworks?”

A lump caught in her throat as she forced herself to nod her head in agreement.

But nearly two hours later as she stood on the terrace, she feared she might have made a mistake. For one thing, there were far too many people out-of-doors for any sort of private conversation, guests making their way from the townhouse so they could enjoy the coming show. For another, she was worried over what he might be planning to say.
Mercy,
she mused,
surely he hasn’t decided to end things between us?
She didn’t know what she would do if he had. Plead, perhaps?

But then the time for indecision was over as Tony strode across the stone terrace toward her, the light from the house casting his gorgeous features into prominence. When he reached her, she tried to draw him away, wanting to be alone. Only he resisted, taking her arm instead to pull her forward so she stood in a pool of golden illumination that she imagined must look like a kind of theatrical footlight in the gathering darkness.

“Tony, let us go back inside,” she urged.

“No, not yet,” he said. Turning, he raised a hand to draw the crowd’s attention. “Everyone,” he said, projecting his deep voice. “I have something to say, something of extreme importance that I would like all of you to witness and share.”

Witness and share! What is he doing?
Confusion rippled through her, then a twinge of alarm. Subtly, she tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held tight, clasping her hand so she could not possibly get away. Trembling, she held her place, her heart beating out a crazy tattoo.

“As I am sure all of you know, my wife and I have lately been living apart.”

“Tony,” she hissed under her breath. “
Stop this!
What are you doing?”

But he ignored her, retaining his hold upon her as he continued to speak. “This has been a situation of great distress for us both, but I am hoping all that will end tonight.”

End tonight! Oh, dear Lord, is he going to cast me aside? Publicly?
She closed her eyes and struggled not to faint. Sensing him changing position, she opened her eyes enough to peek, her gaze growing wide when she found him on one knee before her, her hand clasped inside his.

“My dearest Gabriella,” he intoned. “I want to say what is in my heart before you and all these good people. I am doing this without shame or pride, so there can be no misunderstanding and no more doubts. I love you with everything I am and all that I possess. Since we met, there has been no one else. There
can
be no one else because you are the only one. My only true love.”

She couldn’t breathe, her lips parting in astonishment at his words.

“I used to say that I would never beg—woman or man—but I am here before you tonight begging you to forgive me for any hurt I have caused. Beseeching you to believe me when I tell you that I love you and cannot live another day knowing we are apart. Wherever you are, that is where you will find my heart. Where you go, that is where I long to be. If you cannot bear the sight of me, tell me now and I will leave you in peace. But if you return my affection, pray end my present misery and say you will be mine.”

Gabriella’s breath caught in her chest. “Oh, Tony. Oh my love,” she whispered. Tugging him to his feet, she threw her arms around him. “Of course I will be yours. Don’t you know, I already am.”

His lips met hers in a fervid, ardent kiss while around them people broke into thunderous applause. She barely heard the commotion, however, too overwhelmed by the joy and relief in her heart.

At length he broke their kiss, pressing his cheek to hers so no one else would hear. “Forgive me if I embarrassed you with this, my love,” he whispered. “But I did not know what else to do. I could think of no other way to reach you.”

“No, no it’s all right,” she told him. “I’ve been so stubborn—too much so and for far too long. Everything you said tonight was so beautiful, but you had only to wait a few minutes more and I would have come to
you,
to say I love you. To ask if I may come home.”

He squeezed her closer into his embrace. “Of course you may.”

“I don’t want to be anywhere but with you either. And I was wrong for not believing you, not trusting you when you told me how you felt. I’m sorry, so sorry, love.”

“Don’t be. You were right to do what you did. You were right all along. I’ve been such a fool!”

She smiled and stroked his cheek. “We both have.”

“Hey, you two. Are you done cooing?” Ethan asked, grinning at them. “I think they want to start the fireworks.”

“Tell them to wait a minute,” Tony ordered. “I have one more thing to do.” Reaching into his waistcoat, he drew out a small, black velvet-covered box, then turned to take Gabriella’s hand. “My love, I didn’t do this right the first time. We rushed to the altar and not for the reason that should have counted most.” Opening the box, he drew out a shimmering gold ring. “Gabriella St. George Black, will you marry me? Again? I want us to wed for love this time, so there will never be any doubt between us. We can even post the banns and hold a big church wedding, if that is what you want.”

Tears slid down her cheeks. “I don’t need all that, I only need you. But yes, I would love to marry you again. Our anniversary is soon. We could do it then.”

He wiped his thumb across her damp skin and kissed her. “Read the inscription first.”

She took the ring, turning it so she could make it out even in the low light.
“For eternity you hold my heart.”
Flinging her arms around him again, she kissed him, uncaring who watched.

Pulling apart from him a good minute later, she let Tony exchange her old ring for the new one. She was admiring it when a fresh thought struck her. “Oh, I nearly forgot.”

“Forgot what?”

“My news. But maybe I should wait until we are alone.”

“No more waiting,” he said, slipping his arm around her waist. “What is it?”

“Sweetheart, you’re going to be a father.”

“What! Are you with child?”

She nodded, a huge grin on her face. “I am. Why else do you think I’ve been dizzy and falling asleep at balls lately?”

Letting out an exuberant shout that made everyone stare at them again, he picked her up and whirled her in a circle, both of them laughing with happiness. Bending low, their lips met in a warm, rich kiss, while above the night sky filled with whizzing rockets and colorful showers of light.

But Tony and Gabriella needed no such displays, reveling in a celebration all their own.

Chapter Twenty-four

Rosemeade—Bedfordshire, England
January 1817

“
W
HAT ARE YOU
doing up?” Tony murmured in a tender scold. “I thought you promised me you would rest.”

Gabriella turned as he joined her in front of the elaborately carved rosewood cradle that had been used by every Wyvern baby for the past two centuries. “I was resting, but I awakened and just had to see him.” Reaching down, she stroked a fingertip over one tiny cheek, the day-old baby making sucking motions with his lips for a moment before falling back to sleep. “He’s so beautiful, I can’t believe he’s finally here.”

Tony slipped an arm around her waist and hugged her close, dropping a kiss against her temple. “He is indeed, our little Jonathan. Though he certainly gave you several rough hours, and me as well. I’ve never been so scared in my life as I was waiting for him to be born. You were amazingly brave, braver than any man who ever did battle.”

“I didn’t have much choice,” she quipped. “He was coming whether I was ready or not. I was so relieved, though, to have you with me through the delivery. I’m glad you didn’t let the doctor shoo you out.”

“He couldn’t have budged me. Besides, Rafe and Ethan were both at the birth of their children. I wasn’t about to be left out of mine.” He brushed a soft kiss over her mouth. “Thank you for our son, my love.”

Smiling, she kissed him again.

A soft tapping came at her bedchamber door a few moments later, Julianna poking her head around. “So you are awake. I thought I heard voices and decided to come see.” Julianna strolled forward, stopping before the cradle. “And how is the new Marquis of Howland? Oh, just look at him sleep! Aren’t they adorable when they’re so little like this?” She paused for a moment as the three of them looked on. “You know, Tony, I think the baby has your nose.”

“The Wyvern nose, you mean. The heir always seems to have it. The picture gallery is full of ancestors with that exact same nose. Jonathan is apparently holding true to form.”

“Well, I’m glad he is. It’s a beautiful nose,” Gabriella declared.

“Handsome, love. Handsome,” Tony corrected with a grin.

“Are you all in here admiring the baby?” Lily asked, walking in on silent feet. “I thought Gabriella was sleeping.”

“She’s supposed to be,” Tony reminded his wife, pinning her with a look.

“I’ve barely been able to do more than sit and waddle around this past month,” Gabriella complained. “I needed to be up on my feet for a while. It’s been so wonderful, though, having all of you here at Rosemeade again for Christmas and the Twelfth Night celebration. You made everything so merry.”