He gritted his teeth, frustrated with himself. He would forever regret what he said to her that morning. “I apologize for what I said to you after?—”
She looked away. “It is all right. You were just setting expectations. You do not want me as a wife, and I understand.”
“Youaremy wife, Selina. And I do want you.” He grabbed her hand and gently pulled her to him so she could not look away. He held up the piece of paper that had been tucked into Duke’s collar. “I am through with being the Misunderstood Duke. I am through with being the Stone Duke. I will not hide behind those titles anymore and use them as excuses and shields.”
Her brow furrowed. “What are you saying?”
“I am saying that I want to be a good husband to you and a good father to Percy. I want to be involved in his life, and I cannot do that without you at my side.”
Tears started to form in her eyes. “Sure, you can. I have done nothing special.”
“You have done everything.” He stepped closer. “Percy called you ‘Mom’ today. He read aloud one of my notes to him.” A lump formed in his throat. “And he asked me to read them aloud to him. I did. I read every single one of them.”
She smiled a shaky smile. “I am sure he enjoyed that greatly.”
“He did. So did I. But you must know that I never would have done it without you. You were the one who gave me the strength to tell him how I feel.” He reached out and cupped her face with his hand, savoring the feeling of her soft skin against his fingers.
“I admit that I am scared. I am scared of failing you, and I am scared of failing Percy. But I will not let that fear hold me back anymore. I love you, Selina. You have made Greystone Manor into a home for all of us. It was merely an empty shell before you walked into our lives. I was cruel to you, but I swear to never be that way again. I want to cherish you as my wife and treat you the way you deserve. Please, if you will have me. I am yours. Always have been. Always will be.”
A tear fell down Selina’s cheek, and Dominic was quick to brush it away, even as his own heart leaped to his throat at the sight of it. He did not know how he would bear it if she decided to reject him.
“You love me?” Selina said, her voice breaking. “Do you truly mean that?”
“Yes,” he said. “It is painful and intense how much I love you. But it is also the best feeling in the world, and I would not trade it for anything.” He poured out his heart to her, desperate for her to believe it, to take him back.
“I love you too,” she said. “I love you, Dominic. So much.”
He breathed out a sigh of relief and pulled her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head, and when she lifted up her face to meet his own, he kissed her there as well. “Let us go home,” he said.
She nodded. “Home,” she whispered, almost as if she was in disbelief. “It is time to go home.”
Epilogue
Selina smiled as she gazed up at the night sky. A week after Dominic confessed his love to her, she and her little family were at an old observatory, built by the dowager duchess’s late husband.
“I cannot believe this has been on the edge of the property all this time,” Selina said.
“It is hidden by the trees, so it is difficult to see from the manor,” Dominic replied. His hand reached out to clasp her own. “It has fallen into disrepair, but it is still strong and sturdy. I will make arrangements to fix it up properly so we can visit the stars whenever we want.”
“That sounds perfect.” Selina looked down at Percy, who seemed mesmerized by the night sky. There was not a cloud in sight, so he had a perfect view of all of the stars. “What do you think, darling? Would you want this place fixed up so you can visit it whenever you wish?”
Percy nodded excitedly. He pointed up at the sky. “Pretty stars.”
Selina smiled. “That is right. They are beautiful tonight, are they not?”
Dominic turned to look at Percy. “You know, your grandfather loved watching the stars. When I was your age, I would come out with him.”
Percy looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Do you know what his name was?” Dominic smiled down at his son, the warmth and love evident in his eyes.
Percy shook his head.
“His name was Perseus,” he said. He tapped Percy on the nose. “You are actually named after him.”
Percy gasped in delight, his eyes lighting up.
Selina smiled. “That is beautiful,” she said.
