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“Not chafed,” he said. “Not at all. I just found that I wished to…take a hand.”
Cecelia offered him hers. He took it, and they exchanged an affectionate squeeze.
“You don’t mind?” the duke asked.
“Well, I don’t suppose you are planning to take over everything.”
“Good God, no!” He blanched. “Unless you wish…”
“I do not. I enjoy estate work. You know that.”
“Yes. It has been a boon and a joy to watch.”
“Until just recently, when I became overbearing.” Cecelia raised questioning brows, showing both amusement and concern.
“Never that.” He squeezed her hand again.
“I hope not. I do treasure the way you allow me to be myself.”
“I don’t think I had any choice in that matter,” he answered with a smile.
“Of course you did, and do. You might object and hamper and forbid me into misery.”
“Why would I do anything so foolish?”
“To revel in your power. To ‘prove’ that you were right.”
Their eyes met, and each knew they were thinking of the duke’s tyrannical father.
“And so I never would,” he said.
She nodded, her expression tender. “That is one of the many reasons I love you. To draw out another’s deep self is the real gift of marriage.”
“Do you say I did that? I have no idea how. No, you did it all for yourself.”
Cecelia shook her head. “You made way for me. That is ideal in a husband.”
Tereford seemed greatly moved. “I think, rather, that your virtues must have, er, rubbed off on me.”
“So you think if we rub together enough, we will achieve a perfect balance?” she replied archly.
He laughed. “There’s a capital idea.” He pulled her close and kissed her. She responded with enthusiasm, and several miles passed in mutual delight. “It seems love is a complicated thing,” he said. “I don’t feel I will ever exhaust its nuances.”
“Thankfully,” his wife replied with obvious satisfaction.
They rode in silent contentment for a time, then Cecelia said, “I hope Sarah will be all right.”
“They will have to find their own way of rubbing together.”
“When did you become so wise?” she teased.
He gestured gallantly in her direction. “Once again, by example.”
She smiled at him. “Meanwhile, there is this Leicestershire problem.”
“That is worrisome. If our information is correct. I hardly think it can be.”
“It was an outlandish tale.”
