Marigold glanced to Miss Wickersham who had very strict rules about her charges and the time they spent with unmarried men. "I believe that would be acceptable," Miss Wickersham said. "The two of you have some matters to discuss. I will send for tea and you may join me when you've finished."
The duke held her fingers lightly but firmly and his thumb rubbed back and forth over the top of her hand. It was an oddly intimate and comforting gesture and Marigold continued to find it difficult to breathe as they left Talcott House and entered the garden. The duke led them to the precise spot in the garden where he had tended to her wounded finger. This could not be a coincidence and even in her dazed state, Marigold thought it was supremely romantic.
"I thought you would be more comfortable talking out here. Like we have done before."
"Before, when I thought you were a gardener," she said. Not accusing, but curious.
They sat on a bench and he turned so he was facing her, taking both her hands in his. "I am sorry for the charade," hesaid. "If it makes you feel any better, I truly did all of the gardening work for the entire week I was here. Then I promptly returned to Willowmere Estate and gave my entire gardening staff a raise for their hard work."
Marigold giggled. "You jest!" she said.
"I do not, and I have the sore back to prove it." He smiled at her and her heart fluttered. "But it was worth it. Worth it a hundred times over, because I got the chance to meet you, my sweet Marigold."
Marigold's face flushed and her heart thundered in her ears.
"Bu-but why not simply arrive here as yourself to meet me, or the others?" It was wicked to question a man of his standing, yet she felt that she could not go any further without learning the whole truth.
He squeezed her hand and a jolt of warmth and something more shot through her. "All my life, people have treated me a particular way because I was first, the son of a duke and then the Duke of Norwich. Though I like to think I have good powers of discernment, this decision, to take a bride...and a special bride who would also be my Little girl...was far too important. I wanted to observe the young ladies here in a rather anonymous way."
"You were spying on us?" Her mind raced considering the things he might have seen or heard.
He sighed. "That would be one way to put it," he admitted. "Though I hope you will think of it as doing research more than spying. I did my work in plain sight so it is not as though I was lurking behind the hedgerows and listening in to your conversations."
A giggle slipped from her mouth. "You would hardly fit behind the hedgerows," she said, feeling oddly bold though she was seated next to a nobleman. Who was still clasping her hand in his. Rubbing his thumb over her fingers.
"I came to Talcott House looking for a unique sort of wife. A lady who could be my cherished little girl and who would carry out the duties of Duchess of Norwich with grace and kindness. You are that young lady, Marigold. You are the one I want.... If you will have me?"
Was that a bit of hesitation, uncertainty even, in the duke's countenance? If Marigold had not already thought he was the sweetest and kindest man she had ever met, this moment of vulnerability convinced her.
"I want to be able to care for you. Provide for you and keep you safe. Take away all your worries and see you blossom into the happy, beautiful wife I know you will be. My partner. My little duchess."
"I-I still do not understand why me? Lily is much prettier and —"
He put a finger to her lips to stop her from continuing. "I chose you because you are kind. You were kind to me when you thought I was a gardener."
"I did such a silly thing!" She flushed.
"It was not silly. It was kind and compassionate. And brave.”
This time, when he squeezed her hand, she squeezed back. "A-are you sure?" she whispered. "I have no idea how to be a duchess. And sometimes I am not very good at being a Little girl."
"I heard you talking to Garland about her hair," he said and she gasped.
"No!"
"Yes, I heard all of it. I didn't mean to. I was bent down and weeding the vegetable beds when I heard your voice. I had come to crave the sound of it and perhaps I ought to have made myself known. I could have coughed or sneezed, I suppose. But I wanted to listen to you. If you had been reciting from a dictionary I would have enjoyed listening to you. However, yourkindness to Garland and the diplomatic way you handled her convinced me that you would be perfect as a duchess to help me to care for all of the people who depend upon me."
Marigold could feel the weight of the question he'd asked. The fact that a duke had asked her opinion at all was rather stunning, though it was Miss Wickersham's policy for all her charges to have a choice and if they chose to reject every suitor presented to them, they could have a place here for as long as they wished. Like Garland.
While one hand was held by the duke, Mari reached into the pocket of her dress with the other and retrieved the handkerchief. "I am not the only one who is kind to others," she said, holding it out to show him. "You cared for me so gently when I hurt myself and then gave me your handkerchief."
His face lit up. "You kept it," he said, reverently as he took the handkerchief from her.
"I know it was silly, but I wanted something to remember you by." She raised her face to look into his blue eyes. "I do not know how to be a duchess, but if you are willing..."
"I am more than willing," he said, his eyes lighting up.
"If you are willing to teach me, I think I would very much like to be your ... your wife." The last words came out breathlessly. It was surreal, but Marigold knew that it was absolutely what she wanted more than anything in the whole world.
