My Dearest Friend (Books We Love Regency Romance) (29 page)

Hesitantly she rose, still uncertain of what his reactions would be, unable to trust the hope that would rise and she searched his dear face for any signs of the passions that had formerly reigned there. There were none, only a longing, which was impossible to ignore, and casting aside the missive she ran forward to fling herself sobbing into his arms. He held her tightly to him, silently rejoicing as she returned the intensity of his caress, her tears bathing his face.

“I had not thought my note would cause you such distress, my love,” he said, smiling and attempting to lighten the moment when they finally drew apart. Then more seriously, “Come, my love, let us put an end to all this nonsense. Let not misunderstandings come between us, especially at such a joyous time as this.”

Still keeping her within the circle of his arm he led her to the couch to place her comfortingly at his side and, feeling the tension seep from her frame, held her close to his breast.

Resting her head against his shoulder she dabbed ineffectually at her eyes, “I have missed you so, my Robert, I have longed so for your strength and reassurance. You have terrified me with your passions. I knew not what to do.”

“Is that why you have not told me of the babe?” he asked quietly. “Was this your fiercely guarded secret? Could you not have confided in me? Had I, in my jealousy, alienated myself from your affections and become unapproachable?”

“I thought that in your rage you would not believe the babe to be yours,” she replied, not daring to raise her eyes to his face for fear of the anger she might see there.

“
Not for one moment did I believe it to be otherwise,” he said, visibly shaken. “Have I given you such a fear of me that you would believe me capable of such thoughts?”

“
In your jealousy you have been capable of anything, my Robert! So convinced were you in your passions that I had an affection for Darrows that it drove all other thoughts from your mind and you petrified me.”

“
My jealousy has torn us apart. I have been a fool, but it will rule me no more. I swear to you, I have conquered it. You will never have cause to fear me again, my love. All I can do is to ask most fervently for your forgiveness and the return of your trust,” and lifting her slightly away from his breast he asked hesitantly, “Jane, do you forgive me?”

“
With all my heart,” she said, and smiling, caressed his cheek with her hand. “If you in turn can forgive my foolishness?”

“My love, there is nothing to forgive, whatever misconceptions existed were entirely mine. This whole episode was of my making. Had I been more reasonable in my understanding none of this would have taken place. I can only assure you that never again will you have
need to doubt my devotion. You are my life, and our child will be an eternal joy. Now kiss me my imp and let us finally have an end to it all. Forswear, I can live no longer without my wife.”

“Nor I without my dearest friend!”

“
Praise be, and still our numbers increase, my love!”

***

The child, a son, entered this world at the beginning of the New Year and when, at his magnificent christening, his father was asked to give his son’s name, he proudly replied, “Stefan Alexander, Earl of Vale.” The years proved kind and the duke and his duchess, to their ever increasing delight, raised a fine family at
Stovely whilst Harry, his health improved beyond expectation, achieved his wish to set up a bachelor establishment in London.

The End

About the Author

Hazel Statham began writing at the age of fifteen, finally committing to paper the stories she spun as a child. Writing has been her passion ever since, although marriage, motherhood, and career left time for little else. Once she retired, however, she was able to devote herself to writing full-time, publishing her first novel in 2007. A longtime student of history, she writes mainly in the Regency and Georgian eras, though she has been known to dabble in the medieval as well. She lives in Staffordshire, England, with her husband, Terry, and their beloved yellow Labrador, Mollie.

Website: www.hazel-statham.co.uk

Blog: http://hazel-statham.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/hazel.statham.1

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