Chapter 27 #2
Eamon had received messages that the ship, departing early this morning, had already reached Amsterdam. He’d sent messages of his own the previous night to those who would ensure Rudyard stayed far away from Caro and Leo and caused them no more trouble.
“Thank you,” Caro said again.
“You achieved it yourself, you know. You and your friends are more resourceful at gathering information than Wellington’s scouts ever were. A pity ladies aren’t allowed into the army. Wars would be much shorter and more decisive.”
“I had to do something to expose him.” Caro quieted. “It was either that or send you away.”
The simple words told Eamon she had seriously considered dismissing him, and that though it would have hurt her, she’d have done it to keep Leo safe.
His heart ached.
“I am glad,” Eamon said softly. “I don’t want to be sent away.”
Caro studied him as though on the verge of telling him what he meant to her, but she only nodded. “Good.”
Eamon rested his fists on the desk, carefully not touching the manuscript. “I also have something to ask you,” he said.
“Yes?” Caro’s trepidation returned.
“May I speak to Leo a moment?”
She regarded him in bewilderment. “I suppose you can. He is with his grandmother.”
“All the better.” Eamon drew Caro around to his side of the desk and kissed her fingers before twining her arm through his. “Then let us ascend.”
Leo leapt up eagerly from the writing table when Caro led Eamon into the fourth-floor sitting room. Leo had been restless all morning, as though he knew his fortunes had changed, though none of them had realized how.
Eamon released Caro and made his formal bow to Leo, addressing him as My Liege. Leo grinned, enjoying the game, while the dowager languidly looked up from her embroidery.
“May we sort through more of the books now?” Leo asked Eamon in excitement. “I’ve studied enough, haven’t I, Mama? My head is stuffed.”
“If you like,” Caro answered. She’d not deny her boy anything today.
Eamon held up a hand. “First, I must ask you a question, Leo. It is a very important one, the most important I will ever put to you.”
Leo’s zealousness faded at the seriousness of Eamon’s tone. “What is it?”
“Shall we sit?” Eamon directed Leo to the writing table and pulled another chair alongside the lad’s.
Leo hopped onto his seat and waited in consternation for Eamon to settle himself.
“Please ask,” Leo said. “Or I’ll burst.”
Caro sympathized. Her heart was hammering, and she clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. The dowager fixed her eagle-like stare on the three of them and waited as impatiently.
“It is nothing terrible,” Eamon said, quickly reassuring. “What I want to ask you, My Liege, is—would you mind if I married your mother?”
The dowager gasped. Caro froze in place, her breath dying on her parted lips.
Leo leapt to his feet in delight. “You mean you’d live with us for always?”
“I would.” Eamon put a hand over his heart. “If you’ll have me.”
“Of course,” Leo all but shouted. “That would be splendid.” He swung to Caro. “You’ll marry him, won’t you, Mama? Then you can kiss him all you want, and we can move to the country together and go riding and have all sorts of larks.”
Caro couldn’t move. Leo’s exuberance, the dowager’s interest, and Eamon’s wicked smile seemed remote, as though she viewed them through a fog.
Eamon rose, his smile softening as he moved to her. He took Caro’s hands, his so warm, and gently squeezed them.
“Will you marry me, Duchess?” Eamon asked softly. His gaze fell to the necklace Caro had determined to wear every day of her life. “My duchess in diamonds?”
Caro swallowed the lump in her throat that threatened to choke her.
Eamon was offering her everything she wanted—love, happiness, joy for her son, a life free of the petty worries that had dogged her since Leopold’s death.
Could it be real? This handsome, devilish, but generous and loving man offering to be in her life forever?
Caro pressed Eamon’s hands, trying to reassure herself that he was here in truth. That he’d asked her a question she hadn’t let herself yearn to hear.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Leo whooped. Caro had meant to extend her speech but knew she’d never be heard over Leo’s yells.
Eamon jerked once as though he wanted to leap in the air and shout as well, but instead he pulled Caro into a hard embrace, his body solid against hers. Despite their audience, Eamon kissed her.
Caro met his kiss with a hungry one of her own. Dimly she heard the dowager rustle past, leading a still-whooping Leo out of the room. Leo’s footsteps pounded in the outer hall, and his voice rose again.
“Singleton. Guess what’s happened?”
The door shut, leaving Eamon and Caro alone.
Caro clung to Eamon, her pillar of strength. The kiss turned deep, his mouth tender but arousing, sending fire through her blood.
She found herself being lifted to the table where she spent most of her mornings, Eamon skimming up her skirt and stepping between her thighs. He drew kisses down her throat, lingering at the diamonds on her bosom.
“Caro.” His breath burned her skin through her thin frock, then he raised his head. His eyes swam with desire, hope, and also fear. “My duchess. I love you. I love you so much I might perish of it.”
“Please don’t.” Caro touched his cheek. “I want you here, with me.”
“I am going nowhere. Never again.”
“Good.” Caro laced her arms around his neck and rubbed one slippered foot along his strong calf. “I love you, Eamon. My charming, handsome, picture man.”
Eamon drew back the slightest bit. “Is that what you call me?”
Caro’s heart thumped. “I will address you as anything you like. My beloved. My darling. My dearest one.”
“I’d like it if you just called me Eamon.” He ran his thumb across her lower lip. “You are the only one who does.”
“Eamon.” Caro loved the taste of his name. “I love you. Please kiss me now.”
“Now and always.” Eamon’s rakish smile returned as he came down to her. “Caro. My duchess.”
His kiss erased any other words Caro might have said, but she didn’t mind at all.
She laughed in pleasure as Eamon gathered her to him and began loving her with a passion that guaranteed they’d not be downstairs to celebrate with Leo, the dowager, and Singleton for many hours to come.