Chapter Twenty-Three
William crawled out of bed, exhausted, his head still reeling in the aftershock of a splitting headache. It hadn’t been that horrible in years. Waves after waves of terror had washed over him for a day and a night, leaving him shuddering and gasping for breath. He had forgotten how physical his nightmares could be.
He was heading for breakfast when he caught sight of Ed, Eric, and Iris standing at his desk, poring over a large white box.
‘I can’t quite believe it,’ Iris was whispering in awe.
‘I don’t get it.’ Eric grumbled. ‘What’s so striking? It just looks like a box to me.’
‘Yes, brother. A box from the most expensive tailor in town.’ Ed rolled his eyes. ‘Royalty buys there. Do you know how many of your stupid Roman pots you’d have to sell to buy even just a stocking from the Sartoria Omobono ?’
‘Morning.’ William winced in the bright light of the study. ‘What are you all doing here?’
Three pairs of eyes opened wide.
‘Well?’’
‘Are you all right, Will?’ Eric’s deep voice was tinged with concern.
‘Mmm.’ He gave him a brief nod. He did not want to talk about it. ‘What’s happening?’
‘An errand boy brought in something for you just now,’ Iris explained. ‘A parcel from Mr Omobono, the tailor.’
‘What!’
There was no mistaking it. The white box was embossed with Mr Omobono’s golden logo. William’s eyes watered with longing just looking at it. Or maybe it was just his headache.
‘Come on, Will, open it!’ Iris encouraged him.
He lifted the lid. An envelope rested over a cloud of crisp sugar paper. He opened it with trembling hands.
Claudia’s handwriting!
I am so sorry. I know you meant every word the other morning. Of course, you were right. We deserve a chance.
Court me, William Campbell.
But surely I will be allowed to court you too?
I heard you can appreciate fine things…
His lips relaxed in a huge grin. He reverently lifted the sugar paper, and all gasped.
It was a cravat of the finest silk, so white and shiny that it refracted the sunlight against the walls of the box. A long, sensuous shiver rippled down his arms. It took his breath away.
Oh my god! Oh my god!
‘That is one hell of a cravat, Will.’ Ed was mesmerised.
‘Seriously, Will, who have you been—er—?’ Eric went crimson.
‘Shagging?’ Ed offered helpfully.
‘Now don’t be indiscreet!’ Iris reproached them.
‘I am surprised you ask, Eric.’ Ed scoffed. ‘Am I really the only one here who knows who Will’s lover is?’
Shit.
Ed had been there that night. He must have come back earlier than expected and heard them together. If Eric found out, he was going to strangle him with his bare hands.
‘All right, let me give you three hints to guess.’ Ed rubbed his hands, delighted. ‘First: blue blooded. Second: not Will’s usual type. Third: stern like a statue.’
William froze.
‘Ed, don’t you dare —’
‘Come on, Will, no need to be worried.’ Ed placed his large hand on his shoulder. ‘We are all adults here.’
Eric seemed to realise something, and he smiled—although it was a vaguely concerned smile.
‘Ah, come on Will.’ He gave him a pat on the back, probably dislocating a rib or two. ‘I would urge some caution, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it. We would all be happy for you. It would take a big weight off my heart to know that you found someone who cares for you for what you are. Not like those vapid aristocrats you’re always wooing.’
‘Er… really ?’ William eyed his brothers incredulously. Could they just be—fine with it?
‘Could you all please stop talking in riddles?’ Iris interjected. ‘I want to know too!’
‘Everyone—let me do the talking,’ Ed said. ‘Iris, let me explain something to you first. When a man loves another man—’
‘W-wait a second—’ William stammered.
‘He’s been shagging Rabenstein,’ Ed cut it short with a shrug.
Aaaaargh!!
‘No! No ! I very much haven’t !’
‘Ahh, Will. I knew it!’ Eric wrapped his arm around his shoulders. ‘You always look so happy when you come home after seeing him. For the life of me I can’t understand why, because he’s pretty damn terrifying, but if he makes you so happy—’
‘Of course I come back looking happy, he’s my closest friend!’
‘Exactly!’ Ed ruffled his hair, making him groan. ‘A very special friend. The kind that sits all close to you—well, not so close—at all social events and whispers tenderly in your ear…’
‘He had his throat slashed by a bayonet !’
‘The kind of friend that to comfort you after a bad day wouldn’t think twice about getting on his knees and—’
‘Ahh!’ Eric covered his ears. ‘Cut it out, Ed!’
‘Listen, Will,’ Ed continued, undeterred, ‘now that we have established that you’re having an affair with Rabenstein, I would really, really need you to do something for me.’
‘I am not having—’
‘So. I have a bet on you two at the Tempio di Venere .’
‘What!’
‘Listen…Wouldn’t you consider even just a little kiss with Rabenstein as Viscount Caiani happens to walk by? Everybody else has you down with the Ambassador’s wife, but I am going to make an awful lot of money if you two—’
‘No! I am not going to kiss Rabey in front of Caiani just so my brother can get rich at our expenses. Do you have any idea how wrong that sounds?’
‘Let me think—’ Ed considered for a moment.
‘Ah, forget it,’ William grumbled.
He picked up the box, uncovering the large crack on his desk. He had just about managed to patch it back together.
Eric ran his finger along it.
‘What the hell happened to your desk?’
‘Ha. That’s another interesting story.’ Ed interjected. ‘The other day, that busybody spinster of your cousin-in-law came round to hold a sermon about our misdeeds. You know how she’s always icy and soft-spoken? Well, Will managed to piss her off. I heard her growling at him, and just as I was heading out I saw her slam her fist on Will’s desk.’
‘Ah, yes. That sounds like her.’ Iris said, laughing. ‘Do you remember how she reduced my brother, darling?’
‘Oh, that was a scene for the ages.’ Eric laughed too. ‘I think he would rather have his nose broken again than rub Lady Claudia the wrong way.’
Oh yes. She is good, isn’t she?
Mrs Russell barged into the room, her cheeks flushed, a huge grin on her face.
‘Mr Campbell,’ she addressed him, ‘we have a visitor for you.’
And as she said so, Claudia walked into the room, tall and regal in the pale blue dress that made her eyes look glacial. The diamonds at her neck reflected the sun, splintering the light all over the room.
It took him all his strength of will not to fall on his knees before her.
***
They were all there, the three Campbell brothers and Iris. Edmund and Eric looked like two muscular lions constricted by their gentlemanly clothes. Will looked like sunlight and gold instead, lean and not as tall, the most handsome Campbell brother by far. Iris was talking, chattering on amiably like birds do, because they are happy and they can. But Claudia did not hear a word because Will was smiling—a cautious, wary smile. Why was he so pale? But he was smiling, thank God.
‘Lady Claudia and I need to talk,’ Will interrupted Iris.
‘What’s this about?’ Eric’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.
‘Would you like to tell them, Claudia?’
She nodded. He walked towards her slowly, his eyes fixed on hers.
‘Go on, then,’ Will said softly. ‘Tell them why I’m in trouble. Tell them why I can’t sleep at night.’ He stood in front of her. He swallowed. ‘Tell them why my heart and my thoughts are not my own anymore.’
A deafening silence fell onto the room. His eyes glinted with mischief.
‘I take it you wouldn’t mind getting into trouble together, Claudia?’
She swallowed.
‘With you, any time.’
‘Then come to me, my darling.’
She closed the distance between them. He cupped her face with his hands and pressed his lips to hers.
Iris emitted a stifled shriek. There were horrified gasps behind them.
But she did not hear anything else because Will swept her off her feet with a slow, adoring kiss, with a hint of his tongue to remind her just how much he desired her, even in that moment. Then he smiled against her mouth, and he pulled back a little.
‘I’m sorry, I could not help it,’ he whispered.
She smiled, leaning against his warm palm.
‘Are you well? You look so pale.’
‘It was just nightmares.’ He brushed a kiss against her lips again. ‘All is good. You are here now.’
They looked at each other and inhaled deeply.
‘Ready for the scolding, my sweet?’
‘Yes.’
They turned around.
Eric, Edmund, and Iris were staring at them, slack-jawed, utterly appalled. Iris alone did not look at them with undisguised hostility. The two Campbell brothers were two lions ready to pounce. At her or him, she could not tell.
‘ Her ?!’ Edmund blurted out, apoplectic. ‘Of all women in this goddamn town— her!? ’
Eric had just gone ashen. His every thought flashed in his grey eyes. That the Earl had entrusted Will with a treasure as a peace offer, and Will had lured his daughter to his bed. And that if the Earl found out, they were finished.
‘I am sorry, Eric,’ Will said softly.
‘Let’s sit down for a moment, my darling husband,’ Iris shared a glance with Claudia. ‘We can talk about it with calm. I am sure there are very good reasons for this. I know my cousin would never—’
‘Talk?’ Eric gave a start. ‘ Talk?’
Eric lunged forward and made to grab Will’s lapel. Before Claudia could think, she was standing right between them, her body ablaze with her sole purpose in life. To defend. To protect. To be there for those who needed her.
Her hand seized Eric’s, tightening around it.
‘ Touch him, Campbell, and I will destroy you !’ she heard herself growl out.
And from that frankly ridiculous reaction, threatening a man who not only was twice her size, but who would also never actually hurt William, Claudia learned an important lesson.
That there was nothing subtle about being in love.
It took her breath away. But instead of releasing Campbell’s hand, she tightened her grip. She made him wince and savagely enjoyed the sight, because nobody had been there to stand between her and Edward that night! Nobody had been there to tell Edward to stop! So she would kill, she would kill if someone dared touch William, she would put herself between him and danger every time, every single fucking time!
For a moment time stood still. There were just Eric Campbell’s eyes, furious and stormy. And hurt. There was so much hurt in Eric’s eyes.
‘Campbell,’ she said softly, releasing her hold a tiniest bit. ‘You wouldn’t hurt him, would you?’
Eric slowly shook his head, now looking more astonished than furious.
She released him and he stepped back, wincing as he massaged his hand. Only then did she realise that she was shaking like a leaf. Her knees barely sustained her. William rushed to her side and supported her, his arm around her waist.
‘Darling, sweet, it’s all good. Iris miserably failed to instil some manners in him, but he’d never hurt me, believe me.’
He nuzzled her face. The softness of his skin almost made her sob. Air rushed into her lungs again.
‘I—I am sorry,’ she said to Eric, half-dazed, realising what she had done. ‘Didn’t know I would react like this. Can’t bear the thought of anything happening to him.’
‘Nothing will happen to me, Claudia.’ Will kissed her forehead. ‘Not with you at my side. You are formidable.’
She smiled guiltily, but she was proud of herself, in an unreasoning, animal way. She was in love with Will, and she had kept him safe. She would keep him safe. Always. Forever.
‘Shall we sit down and explain ourselves? Your brother deserves it.’
She looked over. Eric Campbell was still massaging his hand, looking incredulous, with Iris at his side.
‘I think we all need a moment. We can talk when everyone has calmed down a bit.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Come. Let’s sit in the garden and rest for a moment. I’m still quite weak. I was unwell all night.’
‘What happened?’
‘I’ll tell you later. Come with me now.’
He led her through the dining room. She was blinded by warm sunlight shining through the large windows. From every wall, statues gazed at them drowsily with their empty eyes. They turned into a long gallery lined with potted orange trees, also flooded with sunlight. It overlooked the garden.
‘Pretty, isn’t it?’ He asked softly.
‘Your house is so beautiful.’
‘I chose everything myself. Every single thing.’
As they walked down the gallery, the sunbeams reverberated through her very soul. She imagined him poring over the objects to select just the right colour, just the right shape. Her houses were full of things she took for granted. And before her was this man who had been born in violence, to whom everything was precious.
‘This way, Claudia. Down the stairs.’
They walked into the garden. His knuckles grazed against hers, and a long shiver rippled down her spine. That something so small could undo her. He glanced at her out of the tail of his eye.
‘Do you really mean what you wrote me?’ he asked.
‘Every word.’
His index finger hooked hers.
‘I’m so lucky, Claudia.’
Tears crept to her eyes. Who knew her soul could glow with a feeling so resplendent? With something so unambiguously good ?
They sat on the basin of a small fountain. Red and white fishes flitted among tiny water lilies. He pressed his forehead to hers, their fingers interlocked. Brow-to-brow, they closed their eyes and just breathed, together. Each emerging from their own nightmares, climbing into the light.
Together.
Breath after breath.
His thumb slid on her chin.
‘I missed you so, Claudia.’
‘We won’t part anymore. For as long as you care about me.’
‘What if it is forever, Claudia?’
She opened her eyes.
‘Forever,’ she said softly. ‘I don’t know what forever is.’
‘But I do. I work with forever every day . I can tell which things will crumble and turn to dust. And which will only become more beautiful with time. We will be glorious. Until the end of time.’
‘Will…’ She croaked.
‘What if it’s forever, Claudia?’ He repeated quietly, drying her tears with the cuff of his shirt. ‘What are you going to do about that?’
‘ I…’
‘Do you think you may want a life with me?’
He sought her mouth and bit her lower lip, pulling it a little with his teeth.
‘Do you think you could love me one day, Claudia?’
What a question—she already did. And she’d keep on loving him long after he lost interest in her, in exactly the same way she did all the things that truly mattered. Stubbornly, unthinkingly, loyally. It would hurt when he’d leave her and it wouldn’t matter one bit, because everything worth doing always hurt.
Will lifted her chin. There was so much hope and tenderness in his large blue eyes.
‘I am here to stay, Claudia.’ His voice gave a slight tremble. ‘I hope I can be enough for you. Even though you deserve so much better than me.’
Those could have been her own words. For a moment they just looked at each other, and their souls battled between a fear so deep and a feeling so luminous that they could almost hear the crashing of shields and the slashing of swords.
But when their lips met, the battle faded in the distance.
Yes, when their lips met there was only light.