“I’ve renounced my claim upon your marriage settlement,” he confirmed. “The remainder of the portions of the funds I was to receive has now been relinquished in full to the duke. There’s no more threat of him cutting me off. I’ve cut the purse strings myself.”
Could it be true? Her heart beat faster as she took up the documents for a closer inspection. Yes, she realized, it was true. He had truly forfeited his wealth, the one cause that had originally sent him back to Carrington House to woo her in the first place.
She looked back to him, a hand pressed to her furiously racing heart. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“To prove to you that it’s only you I want. The rest can go straight to bloody hell as far as I’m concerned.” He paused, his vulnerability reflected in his tense expression as he raked a hand through his dark hair. “There’s nothing that can come between us now. My father has no hold upon me. Money has no hold upon me. I would have turned over the entail to him as well were it possible, but my solicitor assures me it’s binding and old as the proverbial hills.”
The gesture left her speechless. She had never expected something so drastic from him. A wild surge of love hit her, strong enough to bring tears to her eyes. It was too much for her to process. She couldn’t have been more overwhelmed.
“Don’t say anything yet,” he continued, his brow furrowed as if he believed she would still reject him. “We’ll need funds of our own, but I’ve thought this through. With your help, we can make the Carrington House estate profitable enough to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. It may not be the life to which you’ve been accustomed, but it will be ours.”
Theirs.
She couldn’t imagine anything she wanted more than to be free to love him without the encumbrances that had wrought havoc upon their union. “Are you very sure, Will?”
His eyes were steady upon hers. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He closed the distance between them then, slipping his arms round her waist and securing her to him. “I’ve also sent word to your parents, inviting them to join us in the country. I hope it wasn’t too forward of me, but I’ve suggested they bring your sisters, Rose, Lillian, Edith, Pearl and Libby.”
She reached up to trace the strength of his jaw, a tentative wonder unfurling within her. “You remembered all their names,” she murmured, truly touched by both the gesture and that he had troubled himself to recall each sister’s name.
His grin appeared in full force then. “The woman I love told me I ought to know.”
“Oh Will.” She felt suddenly weightless and breathless all at once. “I love you too.”
He held her closer, angling his head down so that their noses nearly brushed. “Thank Christ. I’d begun to fear you no longer did.”
“I could never stop loving you.” She slid her palm up to cup his cheek. “No matter how hard I might have tried.”
“Nor I you. Believe me, falling in love with my wife was the last thing I wanted.” He paused, his lips achingly near to hers, his breath a hot invitation on her mouth. “I didn’t even think it possible. But now I can’t bear to live without you. I love you so much it bloody well hurts.”
She laughed at his pained pronouncement. “I feel the same way, my love.”
His teasing air returned. “It’s been a week since I’ve kissed you, and I fear I may soon perish with wanting.”
She grinned at him. “Then what are you waiting for?”
“Ah darling.” His mouth finally claimed hers, the kiss possessive and deep. When he broke away, they were both breathless. “Marry me, my love?”
She giggled, pressing another kiss to his beloved lips. “We’re already married, you silly man, and I couldn’t be happier.”
His expression turned wicked. “Then let’s go home to Carrington House. I can’t wait to undo all those damned buttons.”
His naughty words sent desire through her. It had been far too long. “I should like nothing better,” she said.
And hand in hand, they traveled out of the drawing room and into a dazzling new future together.
One year later
e’ve done it, my love.”Will slid his arm around Victoria’s waist, drawing her in a snug embrace to his side. Before them stood the result of their mutual hard work and determination: a brand new roof on the east wing of Carrington House. He couldn’t have imagined ever gazing upon the old stone heap of his youth with pride or—even more shockingly—with such sated happiness.
But he was.
And it was all because of her.
She threw her arms around his middle and gazed up at him, her green eyes bright enough to rival the summer grass. How was it possible that she was even more lovely now than ever? A year of marital bliss had blessed her with a radiance that not even the dreary country weather could dim. “You’vedone it, Will,” she corrected him gently, “and I’m ever so proud of you.”
His heart squeezed in his chest at her praise. He’d be strutting about like a damn peacock for the remainder of the day just knowing that she was proud of him. But even so, this particular victory was not his alone. It was theirs, meant to be shared and savored together.
He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger, unable to resist a swipe of his thumb over her full lower lip. “No, darling, we’ve done it together. Without you and your father, I couldn’t have raised the funds for this endeavor, and we both know it. There’s no shame in putting thanks where it’s due.”
