Chapter Thirty-Two
After spending most of the night docked in Calais as they waited for cargo to arrive, they finally set sail at dawn.
Lainey stood on deck as the sky caught fire with the first of the day’s light and remembered that evening weeks ago. The last sunset she’d shared with Julian.
The sun had set on their time together and now it rose on a new life for her.
This day would start like the rest of the days in her future. Without Julian.
As she did each time she thought of Julian, she pressed her fist to her chest and sniffed back tears. The pain seemed to grow worse instead of easier. She didn’t know if she would survive it.
Her aunt and uncle had been supportive of her retreat from London. Though Aunt Rose warned her there was no escape from a broken heart, and so far, she seemed to be correct on that. But in Egypt, Lainey would be able to focus on her work and not have to think of Julian’s marriage.
“Beautiful, is it not?” a voice said from behind her. She froze for a moment thinking she’d conjured up his voice, but when she heard his footsteps approaching, she couldn’t help but turn to see.
He was really there. Walking toward her with a devilish grin, looking slightly rumpled. Julian was there.
“What…?” She swallowed and tried again. “What are you doing here?”
“You are here, and I want to be where you are.”
She shook her head.
“But you need to return. Time is running out. Your birthday is in just a few weeks and you must find someone to marry.”
“I have already found the person I want to marry. It is the reason I am here.” He kneeled before her and offered up an exquisite emerald ring. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Elaina?”
“I would love nothing more but marrying me will mean giving up your mines. I can’t do that.”
He stood again and sighed.
“I have found a way. Or rather Hale has. He is going to purchase the mines from Osborne after the transfer and sell them back to me. It may be a while, but I’ll pay him back.”
“But you shouldn’t have to lose them at all. I can’t allow you to make such a sacrifice.”
“It is not a sacrifice at all to get my own way.”
He tilted his head to the side and winked at her with his normal boyish charm. Her heart, raw and broken, seemed to heal as if it had never been injured. How did he do such a thing?
“But later you might—”
“Be so deliriously happy with my choice I won’t care that our coffers are not overflowing. We will not be destitute, love. I promise I can provide for you and our children. We might not have excess, but we’ll have each other. We’ll make it work.” He blinked and his grin faded. “Unless it matters to you.”
She smacked him in the arm.
“Of course, it doesn’t matter to me. I love you, not your money or your title. And I don’t need extravagance. I’m certain whatever we have will be enough to keep me in breeches.”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes. So much I left London rather than have to see you marry someone else. As you said, it was unbearable.”
“I love you, Elaina. I can’t marry anyone else. I don’t want to marry you to rebel against my father’s wishes, though it is a welcome incentive. I want to spend my life with you, Lainey.”
He kissed her and she felt her resolve melt away.
“Marry me? Please? We will be happy, I promise. Say yes.”
“Yes,” she answered. There was no other answer. She wanted him too much.
Seeing him smile, she knew it was the right thing. No matter what happened, they would face it together.
He kissed her, but just when it started to lead somewhere he backed away.
“One thing. What do you think of the name Jeremy for our firstborn son?”
She laughed, vaguely remembering hearing the Duke of Roxburghe’s given name was Jeremy.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Good. Then stay here. I’ll be right back,” he said before stealing another kiss and rushing off.
“Where are you going?” He’d just asked her to marry him and he was leaving? Not that he could get far since they were out at sea.
Instead of answering, he called out for the captain who appeared too quickly to have been very far away. Bentley was also there.
“What is this?” she asked as he came to take her hand again.
“The captain of a ship can perform a marriage ceremony.”
“We are marrying now?” she whispered rather than ask loud enough for the others to hear.
“Now that you’ve said yes, I don’t want to wait another minute. Besides, my birthday is coming quickly and I must be married after all. Does now suit you?”
She couldn’t argue because she didn’t want to wait either. With a smile on her face and no trace of doubt in her heart, she nodded and said, “Now sounds lovely.”
*
Julian smiled intohis bride’s eyes as they said their vows in front of the crew and his longtime friend. The captain gave an efficient ceremony and when he prompted Julian to kiss his bride, he didn’t need to be asked twice.
He managed through an impromptu wedding breakfast, but when they’d finished eating, the weight of the journey to rendezvous with the ship began to catch up with him.
“Husband, I think I should take you to my room and allow you to rest.”
“Yes. Take me to your room, and I’ll give you a reason to need rest as well.”
She offered a naughty smile and took his hand to lead him below.
As he closed the door behind them, Lainey remembered the last time they’d been together. How sad it had been to have to leave him afterward that final night.
But this night held no trace of that heartbreak as he removed her gown with a sense of urgency that came from being apart and thinking they would never know such happiness ever again.
“Wife,” he said, but this time it wasn’t a question, her new title was said with sheer joy.
“Husband,” she answered and he groaned as he thrust inside of her.
“We never have to be apart again,” he promised.
Those words alone were enough to bring her pleasure, but her new husband went out of his way to make her cry out his name as she reached her climax.
But this time, he didn’t pull away when he found his release. Instead, he thrust deeper as he pulsed inside her body matching her own tremors. It was more than she’d ever expected.
Her happiness overflowed her eyes and ran down her cheeks.
*
That evening afteranother round of love-making with his wife and a generous nap, Julian and Elaina went up on deck to watch the sunset.
It gave him peace like he’d never felt before to know he would share a lifetime of sunrises and sunsets with her.
He wound his arms around her and kissed her neck. He was about to suggest they go back to their quarters when someone cleared their throat behind them.
Julian turned to see Bentley waiting patiently with a knowing smile on his lined face.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wasn’t able to give you your wedding gift this morning.”
“Your being a witness to our ceremony was gift enough, Mr. Bentley. I’m so glad you agreed to join Julian for this journey,” Lainey said while squeezing his valet’s hand.
“As am I, but if you will permit me a moment of your time.”
“Of course, Ben. What is it?”
“Perhaps you should read it for yourself.” Bentley held out a letter.
As soon as Julian opened it, he noticed the handwriting as belonging to his father. The familiar tension pulled his fingers into fists.
“I received it when we returned from Egypt and was instructed not to open it until after your wedding.”
Julian began pacing as he read the letter, but Lainey stopped him so she could read it as well. He held it out so they could both see.
Dear Friend,
I know you have always had a soft spot for my son, but I must ask you to do your duty since I will not be there to see to the matter myself.
I have instructed my solicitor to give away the mines if my son is not married to a proper countess by his thirtieth birthday.
He defies me with his every breath, but he will have no choice in this if he wants to continue in the lifestyle he is accustomed to.
I need you to ensure his wife is acceptable. Of good breeding, without scandal, a woman of grace who will bear the next Melville heir. You know the type of woman I would pick for him if I’d been there, and I ask that you judge the woman as I would myself.
This is the final request of a dying man. I know you will see to my last wish to the letter, old boy.
Earl of Melville
He and Lainey shared a glance and then turned as one to face the valet. The anger in Julian’s chest was for the man who had written the letter. Who had placed such a burden on Bentley.
Elaina’s lip trembled when she looked up at him.
“I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head, rejecting her apology.
“No. We knew this is how it would be. It doesn’t matter. We are happy and we will find a way.” He turned to Bentley and patted the man on the shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to be involved in this. I don’t blame you in any of this. I know you are only doing your duty.”
The valet looked between them with a crease between his brows.
“Do you really think I would give you such a thing as a wedding gift if it was not good news?”
Julian and Elaina waited in silence.
“I approve,” he said.
“You approve?” Elaina said with the surprise he felt.
“Of course.”
“But my father said—”
“Pfft.” The older man waved his hand. “Your father left the decision up to me. He wanted to ensure you selected the perfect countess, and I can say without a doubt you have. As far as I know, there is no scandal attached to your name. Your grandfather was a duke so your breeding is commendable and you are the epitome of grace, my dear. When the two of you are blessed with an heir, I am certain you will raise him with love and honor.”
He swiped his hands together as if the matter was settled before he continued.
“Those were the man’s requirements and as I see it, they were well met. When we arrive in Cairo, I will send word back to the solicitor to let him know you have passed this ridiculous test, and that the mines will remain part of the Melville estates.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bentley,” Elaina said with tears running down her cheeks. Julian might have given Ben the riot act for making his wife cry except Julian himself was having a bit of tightness in his throat.
“There is nothing to thank me for, my lady. I should be thanking you for making Julian so happy and showing him what it is to be loved unconditionally. I feel not a trace of guilt with my decision since the man who wrote this letter, failed to love his son in the same manner as you do.”
Julian hugged the man who was more like a father to him than his sire ever was.
“I’ll see you are well compensated for this, my friend.”
Ben laughed. “I would be willing to forgo compensation so long as I might stay in Egypt during the winters. I do prefer a warmer climate.”
With a promise to do just that, and a few more hugs, Ben excused himself to allow them privacy.
“I told you everything would work out. You should have trusted me,” Julian said with a wicked smile.
“I fear if I agree you were right, I will not be able to live with you.” She leaned up and kissed him before pulling away to add, “I do trust you, Julian. Completely.”
That feeling of acceptance he’d searched for all his life wrapped around him, and he knew he was where he belonged.