This arrangement might just be what helped Roderick grow into a man far more like his uncle than his father.
“I know a great many people in this country,” she reminded Crofton, “people so closely connected to your brother that I will know if you break your word. Do not think for a moment that I would hesitate to destroy you. I wouldenjoyit, Your Grace.”
And in an admission she suspected he hadn’t meant to make, he said, “I believe you.”
“You’ve made your decision then?” she pressed. “Lord Mowbary will spend all his Christmas holidays with his uncle Aldric, free of you and your wife?”
“I agree.” He shrugged. “I am getting the far better bargain, truth be told.”
“Thank you for calling, Your Grace.” Céleste motioned to the drawing room door with a languid flick of her hand. “You may return to whatever you were filling your days with.”
“Youare dismissingme?” The proud tip of his chin felt a little contrived. He was attempting to salvage some of his pride, having just been bested by someone he quite obviously considered below him.
So she didn’t answer but simply watched him with a patient and enigmatic expression. Crofton looked to Julia, who mirrored her expression. After a moment, the almost universally disliked duke offered a clipped bow.
“Ladies,” he said by way of farewell.
And he left.
Julia grinned at Céleste. In French, she declared, “That was remarkable.”
“Aldric’s mind and heart would never know any peace without some guarantee he would continue to have little Roderick in his life. I wasn’t going to rest so long as I could secure that.”
“I hope he knows how much you’ve done for him.” Julia made the pointed observation while looking at the far doorway. Following Julia’s gaze in that direction revealed why.
Aldric stood there, watching not the door his brother had exited through but Céleste. He walked slowly toward her, not looking away, not deviating from his course. The fierceness of him matched what she’d seen so many times over the past seven years, but the tenderness underlying his gaze had become every bit as familiar to her. This remarkable man, with his many layers and complexities, no longer intimidated her. He waseverythingto her.
“You, Céleste Fortier, are astonishing.” He reached her and immediately pulled her into his arms. “My mother’s necklace, now Roderick’s childhood. When I think what you have saved and rescued—”
“My only aim has been giving you the happiness you deserve and the future that ought to have always been yours.”
He bent achingly closer. “Is that truly theonlyaim you have had?”
Céleste brushed her fingertips along his jaw, her eyes studying every beloved contour of his face. “I already told you that I’ve loved you for years. That hasn’t changed. It never will.”
“I wish I had proven wise as quickly as you did,” he said. “It took me far longer to realize how much I love you. How entirely and inalterably.”
She trailed her fingertips against the edge of his bottom lip.
“I want to build a home with you, Céleste. I want to see if we can’t help each other fully unlearn the lessons our families taught us.”
“You’ve always said ‘Benicks ruin families.’”
He dipped his head enough to kiss her fingertips. “And Stanley always said the Gents would be family to me. He was right. Despite my fears to the contrary, I haven’t ruined them. In fact,theyhave savedme.”
“You are worth saving, Aldric Benick.” She hoped he knew that. “Whatever it takes.”
He kissed her cheek. “I am going to replace your violin and give you back your music,mon ange.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “And anything else you’ve lost that you want. If I can give it to you, I will.”
“Oh, Aldric.Youare what I want. A life with you.”
His lips met hers, just as they’d done twice before. But this time, it felt like coming home.
August, Lampton Park, Nottinghamshire
A month had passed since the tense flight from France and the horrible events that followed in Derbyshire. Céleste still sometimes awoke in a panic, her dreams filled with menacing carriages, gunshots, Pierre and M. D’Aubert, Adèle screaming, Paris burning. But, outside of the increasingly infrequent nightmares, Céleste was happier and more at peace than she’d been in years. Perhaps more than she’d been all her life.
Lucas and Julia had insisted that she, Adèle, and Aldric return with them to Lampton Park. They’d managed to offer house room without making it feel like charity. Indeed, Céleste felt like part of the family.
