“Pardon?” The duchess glanced at her son curiously.
“It was the reason you always came here. It was a personal retreat from the hell you had to endure at the hands of my cold, unfeeling father. It was your haven for grief after Edmund’s passing. And your solitude for loneliness when I abandoned you.”
Silence fell after his announcement and then the duchess turned to Lexie. “My dear, I don’t like to ask this of you, but would you mind giving my son and me a moment to talk?”
Lexie nodded. “Of course. I should like to acquaint myself with my new surroundings.”
“Explore wherever you wish,” the lady returned graciously.
As Lexie silently slipped out of the room, she hoped that the two might finally be able to reconcile. She smiled and sent up a small prayer as she headed down the hall.
Dominic shook his head.“Forgive me for embarrassing you. I shouldn’t have spoken so freely.”
His mother sat down on the settee and patted the seat next to her. “I am thankful that you have someone whom you can speak so openly around,” she countered. “I never thought I would see you so happily settled.”
“She is the air I breathe,” Dominic returned sincerely.
“I can see that,” his mother concurred. “At one time I had hoped for the same connection with your father, but as you know, he was a man who concealed his emotions very carefully. Through no fault of anyone, of course. It was just the way he was. I am glad that you have allowed yourself to release your inhibitions and became receptive to the possibilities of love. His downfall was that he never could let go of his insecurities.”
“He was a fool,” Dominic said in a hard tone. There were times it was still difficult for him to forgive the man, and he had been dead for many years. “I always blamed him for Edmund’s death.”
She reached out and took one of his hands and squeezed gently. “I know you did. There was a lot of heartache and hatred you had to work through in order to move on. But you have done so admirably. I am proud of you, Dominic.”
He glanced up at that. It wasn’t often that his mother called him by name. Ever since he’d inherited the title after his elder brother’s death, she had insisted that she use his title. Her reasoning was so he could acclimate himself to the change, but he wondered if it was more than that. Now, he knew. “For years I was lost, in a dark place that was difficult to overcome, but the last time you were here, I actually started to feel the first stirrings of hope. I had wanted to believe that you had discovered contentment at last, and I am pleased to know that my intuition wasn’t wrong about that. Alexandra seems like a wonderful choice in a bride. She will make an exceptional wife and duchess.”
“Even if she did not, I would choose her every time,” Dominic said with conviction. “We didn’t have the most conventional courtship by any means, but she has stood by me through it all. She has been the solid foundation upon which I stand and she claims the same of me. Contentment, happiness—I’m not sure there is a proper word for how I feel about her.”
His mother smiled gently. “Love is as good as any,” she replied softly. “And one of the most profound of all.
He nodded. “I would have to agree.”
She withdrew her hands and reached into the pocket of her skirts and handed him a ring. “I don’t know if you have given Alexandra a choice of ring for her marriage, but I would be honored if you would offer her the use of mine. Whereas it did not bring me the joy I had hoped it would, my fondest wish is that it will work that magic with both of you.”
He closed his hand over the shining gem and said, “I would be honored and I’m sure Lexie will be as well. You will love her; I am sure of it.”
“I have no doubt of it. If she managed to capture your heart, she can work miracles and God only knows that our family could use some of those.”
After exploringthe rooms of the main part of the house, Lexie found her way outside. She had already spied the stone chapel on the property and her heart warmed knowing that is where she would share her vows with Dominic.
What currently interested her was the enclosed gazebo with its round roof peeking out among the back gardens. Making her way along the expanse, she noted the dormant flowers that would bloom again in the spring. She had never been much of a horticulturalist, but she attempted to guess what flowers might sprout where as she passed.
She was pleasantly surprised to find the gazebo had been well maintained. The smooth parquet floor had been carefully preserved and the glass shone in the late day sun. The padded benches inside the enclosure beckoned her and she couldn’t resist the urge to sit down. Running a hand along the bright colored pattern, likely inspired by the Asian influence that had struck the country like a whirlwind, she appreciated the mix of red and gold that mingled quite nicely with the wood beneathher feet. She already decided that this would be one of her favorite retreats. She could imagine lounging here with a plate of scones and reading a novel. She might become sleepy and even rest her eyes for a time.
“I half hoped you were playing hide and seek.”
Lexie glanced up and spied Dominic and her heart clenched in her chest as it always did when he was near. “Why is that?”
“So I could have the pleasure of finding you, of course.”
She laughed. “It seems you did that anyway,” she noted. Turning serious, she asked, “Did you work things out with your mother?”
“All is well.” He grasped her elbow. “But I am more interested in us and this moment.” He held out his hand and she spied the most luxurious golden ring with an emerald set in the center.”
“It’s… breathtaking,” she murmured.
“It’s yours.” As her gaze clashed with his, he added, “A gift from one duchess to another.”
Lexie didn’t know what to say. Her throat had suddenly closed up at the lovely sentiment she’d been shown. “Please tell her thank you on my behalf.”
