“You really are a wonderful child, Reuben,” she told him gently, holding his hands gently between hers. “I’ll stay for a little while longer, then. Would you like that?”
Reuben nodded, forgoing another verbal response but Jane was not disappointed. What she had gotten was more than enough this far.
After all, they had only just begun to bond.
They returned to the blocks and Reuben excitedly handed her some more, pointing at one of the towers he had made, asthough he expected her to replicate his design. Jane glanced at the duke and had an idea, holding out a block to him.
“Would you like to join us, Your Grace? Trust me, it is much more difficult to do than it appears.” She said, tilting her head slightly.
Thomas regarded her for a moment, and a look of disappointment flashed through his eyes. She wondered if she had upset him with her request, but he shook his head.
“No, thank you. My hands are not... as nimble as yours. I would like to simply observe your great work. Both of you.” He stated, looking at Reuben who looked quite unwilling to acknowledge his father’s presence.
It was all Jane could do not to combust, blushing at the idea of being the subject of his attention once more. She had barely been able to hold herself together the night before and even then, the flush in her skin was quite obvious to him. She only wondered what he would think of her now.
“Suit yourself,” she huffed, scrunching her nose playfully as she looked down at Reuben who rewarded her with a bright smile in return.
They continued to play until it was well and truly time for all of them to retire for the night. Jane stayed long enough to tuck him into bed, stroking his hair and watching as his eyelids fluttered, heavy with exhaustion.
“Good night, Reuben,” she whispered softly as he finally gave into the urge to sleep.
Thomas opened the door for her when she was ready to leave and wordlessly walked out by her side, both of them heading in the direction of what Jane believed to be her room.
She had much she wished to say, but no idea of how she would but any of it into words, so she kept her eyes forward, refusing to acknowledge the knots her insides were twisting into or the awkwardness in the air between them. Luckily, it seemed the duke had a lot on his mind as well, and unlike her, he was not as hesitant to share.
“I did not think... I had hoped. To one day hear his voice again. but it had been so long. And with nothing working, no matter how much I tried, who I had asked for help. Choosing to do this – choosing you, felt like a risk that I was not sure would yield the benefits I'd hoped for. It might have not seemed like a lot, but it meant everything to me, to have heard him say that word,” he confessed quietly.
Jane could not take her eyes off him, entranced by how honest and open he was being in that moment. Suddenly, it was not enough. These glimpses of him she had gotten up until this point, the things she had heard about him and his past. She needed to know it all, desired to hear about it from him.
She wanted to put together all the pieces that made up his life. She did not understand why she was so fascinated, but Jane realized that these feelings would not fade any time soon.
Thomas turned to face her and Jane looked away immediately, clearing her throat.
“Well... I understand. O-Only a little. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you. He is your son and you have known him all his life. I have only just met him and yet... I want the very best for him. I want him to be happy and healthy and to live as well as any other child out there. He deserves that much, at least. And you deserve to watch your child live a good life, without worrying so much. So... I am happy too. That we have achieve some semblance of progress.” She confirmed, her gaze focused on the corridor ahead.
Thomas was silent for a moment, then he nodded slowly.
“I see. Thank you.”
Jane felt the corner of her lips rise up into a smile and she nodded as well in response. Soon, the door to her bedroom came into view and they both came to a stop in front of it. As Jane put her hand on the knob, Thomas enquired,
“Are you settling in... well?”
Jane turned back to him slowly. “Yes, I am. It has been... a little challenging – the worst of which was just learning to find my way around the house on my own. But, I am adjusting.”
“All right. If you need anything –”
“I will be sure to address Mrs Greene about it. I have met the other members of your staff as well, and I know that I am in good hands.”
He regarded her with a strange expression, then sighed. “Our.”
Jane blinked. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace?”
“Our staff. They work for you as well. This is your house, Jane. We are married, legally, and although the reason for our union might be... unorthodox, it doesn’t negate the fact that you are well within your rights to have whatever you wish and do whatever you wish,” he informed.
Jane knew that, but she did not want to seem as though she was reaching beyond her station. She had agreed to marry him for a single reason and it made no sense to take any liberties outside of that reason.
“I understand, but –”
