Percy turned to look at his father and pulled a shiny, gold pocket watch out of his pocket. He opened it up to show that it was empty.
Dominic knelt next to him. “That is very handsome,” he said. His voice only shook just a little with emotion, and he was glad of it.
“We are going to put his mother’s portrait in it,” Selina said. “As soon as we can find an artist who can make a miniature version of it. I think it will look very pretty in the pocket watch.”
Dominic did not speak. He could not have forced words out past the lump in his throat even if he knew what he wanted to say.
Percy pointed at the gold chain coming out of Dominic’s pocket. The duke reached into his pocket to pull out his own pocket watch, which looked so similar to Percy’s new watch. He flipped open the pocket watch to reveal a picture of Percy inside.
“I replace the picture every year,” he said. “To capture your likeness as you grow. But I have all of the old ones, starting from when you were first born.”
His son looked up at him with shining eyes, as if this was the best surprise anyone had ever given him. The little boy hesitated before holding out his arms.
“A hug? Do you want a hug?” Dominic asked, unable to quell the eagerness in his voice.
Percy hesitated for a moment before looking up at Selina, who nodded encouragingly. “Go on,” she said.
His son looked back at him and nodded.
Dominic pulled him into a hug and shut his eyes to stop the tears that stung them and threatened to fall. As he hugged his son, that one whispered word echoed in his mind.Mama.
It did not matter what word Percy had said. What mattered was that he found his voice. It was all thanks to Selina.
That night, after Percy went to bed, Dominic knocked on Selina’s door—the door of her new room.
“Enter,” she called.
He opened the door to find her sitting on her window seat with a book in her hand. He looked around the room. This spare room was significantly smaller than the duchess’s suite. Instead of having a connected sitting room, it had two armchairs and a coffee table in front of the fireplace, which was opposite the canopy bed.
Her belongings had already been moved and put away by the servants. He looked at the walls and saw a portrait of her sister on one wall and another of her parents on another wall. He realized he had never set foot inside her room before.
She smiled at him. “Good evening,” she said. “Was there something you wanted to discuss with me?”
“Your husband comes to your room at night, and you automatically assume he is here for a discussion?” He could not help but raise his eyebrows at that.
She blushed. For a moment, her gaze flickered down, as if taking in the sight of his body. “Are you here for something else?” She sounded shy, but maybe a little excited, too.Intriguing.
He smiled, thoroughly enjoying her reaction. For a moment, he was tempted to say yes, that he wanted to take her to bed. But he restrained himself. “I did come here to talk, yes.”
She nodded, her expression neutral except for the blush that was still on her cheeks. She got up from the window seat and gestured to the chairs in front of the fire. “Let us sit together.”
“There is no need,” he said quickly. The longer he stayed here, in her bedroom, the more he would want her. “I just came to say thank you. I did not think I would ever hear Percy speak again, but you have given him back his voice after only two weeks.”
She looked down, a soft smile on her face. Dominic wished she would look at him again, so he could see her beautiful eyes. “I barely did anything,” she said. “I only did what I could to make him happy. However, I do not know how much he will talk. After all, it is a habit for him to remain quiet.”
“That is all right,” he said. “I know he will never be quite like he once was. He is growing up, and he was too hurt by his mother’s death. But thanks to you, I have hope that I will hear his voice once in a while. Thank you.”
“There is no need to thank me,” she said. “Truly. I want to help Percy as much as you do.” She flinched a little. “Forgive me. That was presumptuous of me.”
“No,” he said. “Not at all. You have already shown him more love and care than Eugenia ever did. You do not need to convince me that you love him.” He looked away. “I should leave you to rest. Good night, Selina.”
Disappointment flickered on her face for a moment before her features melted into a pleasant smile. “Good night, Dominic.”
Why would she be disappointed at him leaving her alone? Surely she did not truly want him to intrude upon her space.Perhaps I imagined it.
He closed the door behind him, feeling content, except for a small ache of longing. He wanted to go back into Selina’s room and pull her into his arms. She had kissed him back, so perhapsshe would not be unwilling if he took her to bed. But he knew she would never be in love with him.
That was all right. She loved Percy, and that was more than he could have hoped for. It would have to be enough. Meanwhile, he would do his best to be a caring partner to her without pushing her for more than she was willing to give him.
