A month before their wedding, Alex had been invested as the 8th Marquess of Lockheade. The Committee on Privilege had signed the necessary papers with a sigh of relief and washed their hands of the business.
Lottie knew that the transition from physician to marquess had not been an easy one. After all, Alex had spent nearly fifteen years of his life preparing and studying and practicing medicine.
Before his investiture as Lockheade, he had traveled to Edinburgh and seen his patients one last time, indulging in everything he loved about being a physician. Then he had deeded his share of the practice to McNeal, returned to London, and taken his seat in Lords.
Lottie’s heart nearly broke for him.
But the situation lit a fuse of intense admiration in her heart for his dedication. Once his path was determined, her Alex fell into it with single-minded focus.
He studied and asked questions.
He rehired Mr. Argent as the marquisate’s man of affairs, and Mr. Argent had been invaluable. Together, they had begun to set aright all that Frank had wrecked. Tenants’ properties were being repaired. Wages were restored and additional laborers hired. Fields and farming methods were being modernized. They had also halted or reversed all the unsavory changes that Frank had made to the marquisate’s other holdings.
Additionally, Alex had the advice of Lord Hadley. Hadley had taken Alex under his wing and acted as Mentor, helping him navigate the unfamiliar waters of the English aristocracy.
“Do you have a meeting this afternoon with Mr. Argent?” Lottie asked, kissing Alex’s throat.
“Aye.” Alex ran a hand up her arm. “But ye aren’t quite convincing me tae leave ye, lass.”
Lottie laughed, a soft breath of sound.
Yes, the marquisate and its people were already faring better under Alex’s care. But Lottie still experienced a pang of betrayal whenever she thought about her sister and brother-in-law.
Margaret’s actions had damaged their relationship, but they were slowly reconciling. It helped that Margaret had been decidedly contrite, apologizing repeatedly. Her sister had not condoned Frank’s decision to have Nettlesby ruin Lottie.
“It was an absolutely appalling thing to do,” Margaret said through her tears. “I gave a full account of the incident to Ferndown. His Grace was seriously displeased.”
The duke’s ire had rendered Frank penitent, and Lottie was working on forgiving him.
But Lottiehadto do something for Freddie. After all, the poor boy had played no part in his parents’ misdeeds.
All entailed properties of the marquisate had been devolved upon Alex, leaving very little to be divided between Margaret and Lottie. The Committee on Privilege had been eager to be done with the business and refused to break the entail.
But as a show of good faith, Lottie had deeded the small property she had inherited to Freddie when he came of age, ensuring that her nephew’s future would be secure.
But in every other aspect, Lottie was focused on her own future with Alex.
“I didnae realize that love could be like this,” Alex said, his fingers drifting up to run through her hair.
“Mmmm, like what? Blissful?” Her voice was teasing.
She felt more than saw him smile. “Something of the like.” He paused, his fingers still tangling in her hair. “It’s more like . . . I never grasped that marriage could be this place of affirmation and understanding.”
“Like Wollstonecraft said, you mean?”
“Aye. I should have had better sense and listened to the woman properly in the first place.”
“That is good advice for most situations in life.” Lottie laughed and kissed his neck. “But I understand your meaning. I had no idea love could be so . . . accepting. That our love does not require me to give up pieces of myself or hide the bits that I fear you may not like—”
“Let it be said. I likeallof you, lass.”
Lottie pinched his side, causing him to yelp.
She raised up on an elbow, looking down at those steel eyes.
“I like all of you, too.” She smiled and then pressed a soft kiss to his mouth.
In the end, Alex arrived dreadfully late to his meeting with Mr. Argent.
