Love's Promise (45 page)

He rose from the sofa, and he stepped to Thomas and rested his hand on the top of Thomas’s head.

“You’re a good boy, Thomas. Your father would be proud of the person you’ve turned out to be.”

“Really?”

“Yes, very proud.”

Thomas smiled shyly, obviously pleased by the compliment. “What is your answer, Uncle Michael? Will you marry my Aunt Fanny?”

Thomas gazed up at him, hopeful and expectant and so certain that his remarks had swayed his uncle. Michael couldn’t bear to disappoint him, but he couldn’t explain what he’d done to Fanny. The story was too sordid for his young ears.

Michael peered over at Phillip, seeking assistance, but Phillip was no help at all. He shrugged again.

“I’ve always thought you should wed her,” Phillip said. “If you recall, we once fought—quite viciously—over this very issue.”

Michael snorted in reply, then went to the window, and he leaned against the sill, staring out at the snow-covered park behind the house. His mind reeled as he tried to deduce how to gently decline Thomas’s request, but his rumination was interrupted as his attention was caught by movement on one of the snowy trails. A woman was walking, bundled in a heavy green cloak, a fur hat concealing her identity.

He focused in, studying her, and his pulse began to race.

Could it be?

He whipped around. “Is Fanny with you?”

“Yes.”

“Does she know what we’ve been discussing?”

Both Thomas and Phillip shook their heads, and Phillip said, “She wanted to thank you for retrieving her mother’s wedding ring.”

“In case you were wondering,” Thomas noted, “she’s not angry with you anymore.”

Thomas was chattering away, probably expounding on Fanny’s positive attributes, but Michael had stopped listening. He stumbled across the room to the French windows that led onto the verandah, and he staggered out, the frigid temperature biting into his skin, but he scarcely noticed.

Watching her every second, he ran to the stairs and jumped down into the yard, hurrying toward her, and she kept coming, too, approaching until they were toe to toe. He’d planned to murmur a greeting of welcome, but he was as tongue-tied as a green lad with his first girl.

She tugged off her hat and smiled up at him, her beautiful hair tumbling down her back. Her cheeks and nose were red from the cold, and she looked pretty and young and as wholesome as she’d been that summer day all those months ago. A warm rush of remembered affection swept through him.

“Hello, Lord Henley,” she said.

“Call me Michael.”

“It’s freezing out, and you’ve forgotten your coat.”

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

“Your home is lovely.”

“I’m so glad you came.”

The conversation was the most awkward that had ever been attempted. There were so many comments swirling around inside him, so many things he needed to tell her, that he couldn’t form a single sentence.

“I wanted to thank you,” she finally stated.

“For what?”

“For finding my mother’s ring. How did you?”

“I was passing through your old village last fall, and...” He trailed off, uncomfortable with what the gesture indicated about his continuing infatuation, and he flushed with embarrassment. “Every person I spoke to knew the vicar’s wife had it.”

“When I had to sell it, I was crushed.” She raised her hand, the gold band shining on her finger. “This means so much to me.”

“I suspected it might.”

“It was just so kind of you.”

“It was nothing.”

“I have to know something.”

“What is it?”

“Why did you do it?” She chuckled miserably. “I’ve been driving myself mad with speculating.”

He supposed he could have made some frivolous declaration about friendship or repayment, but there was only one reason he’d found it for her and that was because he loved her. He’d always loved her, and he’d recognized how much she would cherish the gift. In giving it to her, he’d hoped it would show, in some small way, how often he thought of her, how sorry he was.

“Why would you think I did it, you silly goose?”

“I have no idea, but I had to visit so I could ask you why.”

“I was just talking about you with our nephew.”

“About me? Why?”

“He told me that he’s the man of the family now—he and Phillip.”

“They’re very close, as close as you and he used...” She cut off and glanced down.

“I know: as close as he and I used to be. He’s so much better. I’m so glad I brought him to you.”

“I prayed that you’d let me have him, but I never really imagined it would happen. You always seem to understand exactly what I want.”

He did understand—what she wanted
and
what she needed. He’d convinced himself that he couldn’t have her, that it was impossible for them to be together. But why was it wrong? Because his father decreed it? Because his father’s stuffy peers might not approve? Their harsh opinions were ludicrous and couldn’t be the ones that mattered.

The period he’d spent with her had been the only time he’d been happy, the only time he’d been content. In coming to treasure her as he had, love’s promise had been realized.

He had hurt and betrayed her, had turned his back on her as if she meant nothing to him, but in the process, he’d learned a hard lesson. A life without her was no life at all. A life without her wasn’t worth living.

Was he a coward? Would he blithely relinquish the only thing he’d ever truly wanted? For what? For an arranged marriage and decades of misery? For an acceptable match with an
appropriate
woman? And who would that be? Another spoiled, fussy aristocrat’s daughter like Rebecca?

When he recollected the man he’d been before meeting Fanny, he was shocked at how ridiculous he must have seemed to her.

He was his father’s son, was the driven, powerful individual he’d been raised to be, but he was someone else, too, someone considerate and caring and devoted. It had taken an illicit affair with Fanny to make him comprehend that he could be anyone he wanted to be.

He could love Fanny. He could have Fanny for his own. Who was there to tell him no?

Daring all, he reached out and took her hand, delighted that she didn’t pull away.

“Our nephew felt duty-bound—as your male relative—to speak to me on your behalf.”

She looked panicked. “On what topic?”

“He pointed out that you’re about to have a baby, so he believes you should wed.”

She blushed from head to toe. “He said that to you?”

“Yes. Will you marry me?”

“What?” She gasped.

He went down on one knee. “I love you. Will you marry me?”

“Are you insane?”

“Of course not. Are you assuming I’ve proposed on the spur of the moment, without a bit of reflection?”

“Yes.”

“Well, give me a little credit, would you? I’ve wanted to ask you for ages, but I didn’t know how. I was certain you’d refuse me.”

“But what about your father and your position and...and...”

“I don’t care about any of it anymore.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I am, too.”

“You have to marry for money. You have to marry an heiress; you said so.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“You have?”

“Yes. Anne’s trouble with her dowry has been solved by her marriage to Phillip, and as to everyone else, I can’t save the entire world. I’ve decided to let my father fix his own problems.”

“Oh...oh...”

“I love you,” he continued. “I’ve always loved you. I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”

“I already have, Michael.”

“I’ll spend the remainder of my life making it up to you. I swear it!”

She was trembling so violently that he was surprised her knees didn’t buckle.

“You don’t mean what you’re saying.”

“Yes, I do. I’ve had all these months to think about what I want.”

“And what is that?”

“I want you. None of the rest of it is important in the least. My father was wrong; I was wrong.
Love
is the only thing that matters. Loving
you
is the only thing that matters.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and snuggled her to him, and through the soft wool of her cloak, he kissed her stomach.

“Let me be your husband. Let me be a father to this child we’ve created. And after he is born, let me give you another and another and another.”

She laid her palm on his cheek. “This is all so sudden.”

“It’s not
sudden
,” he insisted. “I’ve been waiting for it—for you!—forever.”

“Get up; get out of the snow.”

She urged him to his feet, and he rose, but he didn’t release her. Now that he was holding her again, he was determined to never let her go. He bent down and kissed her, sparks seeming to crackle between them.

She groaned and wrenched away.

“You’re making this so difficult,” she claimed.

“How? How am I making it difficult?”

“When I lived here before, I wasn’t even welcome in this accursed mansion. You kept me hidden from everyone you knew, and now...now...you’re offering it all to me as if the past never happened. How could I fit in? How can you truly want me to share this with you?”

“I’m a fool; I admit it. I’ve been an ass and a boor and a lout, but I’ve changed. You changed me.” He clasped her shoulders and gave her a slight shake. “If you refuse me, what will become of you? Will you putter around Phillip’s country house until you’re old and gray, with no home of your own and no father for your child?”

“I’m so confused.”

“Why is it so confusing? I love you and need you by my side. I’ve started a school—”

“I heard that you had.”

“—an excellent school, with wonderful teachers. Thomas could attend it, and you could help me with the other boys.”

“Oh, I don’t know.”

“This is a good spot for you,” he said, pressing his advantage, desperate to convince her. “You’ll be safe and busy and fulfilled and happy. You’re wanted here—and needed—and I love you so much.”

For an eternity, she was quiet, pondering, and just when he’d decided she’d decline, just when he was positive she’d reject him, she vehemently said, “I want this. I want this for myself, but you’re scaring me. I’m afraid you’re not sincere. I’m afraid you’ll regret it in the future.”

“Fanny, do you actually suppose I could ever
regret
loving you?”

“Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but months and years from now, when you—”

He couldn’t listen to her litany of doubts, so he kissed her again, and he kept on and on, until her protests were silenced, her body relaxed against him.

“I will never regret it,” he vowed. “Never. Say yes.”

Up on the verandah, the door to the house opened, and they glanced over. Thomas had come out, and Phillip was standing behind him, watching them, a questioning look in his gaze.

“The men in your family,” Michael said, “need an answer, Fanny. What shall we tell them?”

Fanny stared at her nephew, at her brother, then she peered up at Michael.

“Promise me that you’ll never be sorry.”

“I promise.”

“Promise me that it’s forever.”

“I swear to you that it’s forever.”

“I want to stay here with you. I want to raise our children together and be gloriously happy every second.”

“And you shall be. I intend to see to it.”

“Then, yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

“Are you sure?” Michael asked. “Once you agree, I won’t let you back out.”

Fanny took his hands in her own. Her skin was icy, and she was shivering. Her beautiful green eyes glowed with affection.

“I am very, very sure,” she murmured.

Michael nodded, so ecstatic that he was amazed his heart didn’t burst from his chest.

He smiled over at Thomas. “Did you hear that, Thomas?”

“No, Uncle Michael. What did she say?”

“She said...
yes
.”

“I knew it! I knew it, Uncle Michael. Didn’t I tell you she’d say yes? Didn’t I?”

“You certainly did, Thomas. You certainly did.”

There was a stunned pause, then Thomas whooped with glee and raced down the stairs to hug them both.

THE END

Don’t Miss the Second Novel in

Cheryl Holt’s ‘Lord Trent’ Trilogy!

LOVE’S PRICE

The story of Helen and Harriet Stewart Sinclair

Coming in June, 2013

PROLOGUE

Farnborough, England, 1810...

“What are you saying, exactly?”

On hearing the question, Miss Peabody stared across her desk at twin students, Helen and Harriet Stewart. The two sisters had attended her school since they were small girls, so she supposed she ought to have felt some sympathy over what she was about to do, but she had a profitable business to run.

The facility wasn’t an aid society for paupers.

She was a tad anxious about the information she had to impart, but she kept her expression carefully blank. It was the aspect of her position that she most loathed, dealing with the family dramas that clouded the lives of her pupils.

As headmistress, she had a duty to break bad news from home, and there was no easy way to convey catastrophe. A clean, brisk airing of the facts was always best.

“I’m
saying
,” Miss Peabody replied, “that you won’t be able to continue your education here.”

Helen frowned, gaping at Miss Peabody as if she’d spoken in a foreign language.

“Why?”

“Because neither your tuition nor your room and board has been paid in over a year. As I’ve often explained, we don’t accept charity cases. You’re aware of the rules.”

“Grandfather would have paid,” Helen loyally declared, “if he hadn’t been so sick all those months before he passed away. He probably didn’t realize the money was owed.”

“Perhaps,” Miss Peabody allowed, “but he didn’t pay, so the issue is moot.”

“You know that we’re waiting for Grandfather’s will to be read and probated. The bank draft should arrive any day.”

“The will
has
been read,” Miss Peabody tersely announced.