Page 155 of A Baby to Seal the Duke’s Fate

“And wherever we go, whatever comes, you will never again face any of it alone.

“You are my wife, and the person I want beside me for all the years to come.

I love you, Honora.”

He paused, looking at Cecily, who had begun waving a fist wildly.

“And I love you, little angel,” he said, gently grabbing the child’s hand with one of his.

Honora’s hand tightened around the fingers of his other hand.

Then, as Honora prepared to speak her vows, Cecily became restless.

Honora shifted her, trying to settle her against her shoulder, but Cecily squirmed until Honora almost dropped her. She gasped sharply, leaning over so the child could touch the ground. It looked as though Honora intended to try again to hoist the child onto her hip. But Cecily quickly squirmed out of reach, turning instead toward the second row.

Toward Mother, Leopold thought with awe.

For a moment, Honora hesitated. The dowager held out her arms. Honora glanced at him, and he gave a nod. He was not expecting anything more than for Cecily to turn back and want Honora to pick her back up.

But as she watched the dowager duchess beckon to her with outstretched arms, Cecily went to her, walking on unsteady legs for the first time at such a distance.

The entire church froze, watching with silenced awe. Cecily had stolen the entire ceremony, but Leopold did not mind. When Cecily reached her, the dowager caught her without any hesitation and settled the baby against her carefully, one hand beneath her legs and the other supporting her back.

There was no uncertainty in her now. She simply held her granddaughter, as if there was nothing else in the world she wanted to be doing.

And despite how infrequently Cecily had spent time with her, the child looked at the dowager duchess with wonder and a large smile. She patted her grandmother’s face, causing the woman to laugh. She stifled herself, but not before making Cecily giggle, as well.

Leopold looked at his mother, who met his eyes. Something passed between them, and Leopold smiled at her. It might take a little more time still before he could forgive his mother. But what she was doing right then told Leopold that there was, indeed, hope that he could someday. It felt like a beginning, and Leopold was sure they both felt it.

His mother gave the smallest nod. Leopold returned it. Then, he turned his attention back to Honora so she could recite her vows.

Behind him, Barnaby made a small sniffling sound.

Leopold ignored it for the moment, concentrating on what the vicar was asking them. When the vows were finished, however, he glanced over his shoulder. Barnaby was very carefully looking at the wall, dabbing at his eyes. Leopold smiled. He will deny that he cried, he thought with a warm smile. And I will remind him that I saw it until my last breath.

Once the church settled once more, the vicar gave Honora a gentle smile and nodded. She took a deep breath, staring at Leopold so intently that it left him momentarily breathless.

“I came to Belgrave for a child who was the last piece of my sister I had left in the world, and I was prepared to take her and go, and never look back at this house or anyone inside it. I did not plan for you.

“With you, I found a family I never believed I could have. I found a wholeness that I was sure I would never feel again. I found my home.

“I promise you the truth, from this day forward, in every part of my life you ask to share. I promise to stay in the chair, however long the sitting takes, the way you once asked your own mother to.

“I promise to raise Cecily, and any children who follow her, knowing exactly who they are and where they come from, so that no child in this family ever again grows up not knowing “the whole of her own story. And I promise that whatever else life will bring us, you will have all the love, devotion, and support that I possess.”

At the end of the ceremony, Cecily was still in her grandmother’s arms. The vicar introduced Leopold and Honora as the duke and duchess of Belgrave with his blessing, and then the chapel began to fill with movement as everyone rose to congratulate them.

For a moment, Leopold was overwhelmed. He was not accustomed to feeling so much love and support, and he had to brace himself.

Honora noticed and gripped his arm gently.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

Leopold nodded, blinking back tears.

“I am realizing just how all right I truly am.”

Honora smiled, brushing his cheek. She pulled it back damp, and Leopold realized that a traitorous tear had landed there. He kissed it, then took her hand in his own as they greeted their guests.