Chapter 9 #2
I held out my hand to her, and she entered the room. I lifted her gloved fingers to my mouth, kissing the soft leather that covered her skin. “How lovely you are, Madeleine.”
She curtsied, a light pink flooding her cheeks. “I cannot thank you enough, my lord. I have not worn such a pretty gown since I was a child. I’m not sure I am worthy of such gifts.”
“Nonsense. You are worth that and more. Now, come sit with me, and our dinner will be served shortly.”
I escorted her to the table, inhaling her familiar scent. Lilacs, one of my favorite flowers, filled my nose. I had to stop myself from burying my nose into the juncture of her neck and inhaling. The knowledge the scent would be strongest there was tempting. The urge to hold her close surprised me.
Instead, I waited until she had sat down and seated myself across from her. She looked around in wonder at the shelves of books, craning her neck to peer at the items I had purchased on travels that sat on shelves and tabletops.
“You may explore to your heart’s content,” I assured her.
“It is so vast,” she murmured. “Such treasures to be discovered!”
I met her eyes. “There is more than one treasure,” I agreed, my stare frank.
She bit her bottom lip, bringing attention to her full mouth. I was drawn to it. To her. How, I wondered, would she taste under my lips? Would she be as sweet as I thought? Would she gasp softly as I slid my tongue in to taste her? Whimper as I dragged my mouth down her neck?
How silky would her skin be under my tongue?
Dinner arriving interrupted my passion-filled thoughts. I had to shake my head and shift in my chair to ease the growing ache in my cock. It seemed he was as on board with my ideas about Madeleine as my thoughts were.
But he and my brain needed to be patient. Madeleine was not only fearful of the world, she was innocent. It would take patience and time for her to trust me and for our physical relations to begin.
But I had a feeling she would be worth the wait.
We supped on my favorite—roasted beef with fresh vegetables.
A rich sauce accompanied the meal, and I ate heartily, grateful to be home and eating from my own kitchen.
My cook, Mrs. Dodd, was excellent and could as easily prepare a feast for twenty as a simple meal for two.
Madeleine ate slowly, her portions far too small for my liking, but I knew she was nervous.
She would relax eventually. She enjoyed her dessert, though, the rich bread pudding with a brown-sugar sauce sweet and indulgent.
I would have to ask Mrs. Dodd to regularly make more desserts for Madeleine to enjoy.
After dinner, we strolled in the garden, and I was amazed at her knowledge of the various plants and flowers, once again surprising me with her intelligence. I had kept our conversation at dinner light and easy, answering her questions about the estate and the village.
I looked down at her, her small hand tucked into the crook of my arm. We paused, and she looked out at the well-laid property, inhaling the scent of the flowers and grass.
“Your estate is so lovely,” she mused.
I turned to her. “I would like it to be our estate, Madeleine. I meant what I said in the carriage. I wish to marry you.”
Her eyes were huge in her face, and her one-word response was shocked. “Why?”
I smiled and dared to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, enjoying the feel of the silky curl against my skin.
“I require a wife. You require protection. I find you fascinating. Intriguing. Beautiful. I wish to give you the life I think you deserve. I believe we would suit.”
She didn’t respond, and I kept speaking.
“I am not a man of emotion, Madeleine. But I promise to be a good husband. I will care for you and make sure you want for nothing. We can have a family and reside here at Wheaton. Is that not your wish? A husband and children? A home in the country?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“But you are hesitating.”
“I am in shock.”
I laughed lightly. “I am as well, if I am being frank. I went to Cliffwood to best your father and win back a piece of land I coveted for years. I did not expect to return with a fiancée.”
“Lydia? Geraldine?” she asked anxiously.
“Will stay on here, with you. Lydia will be your lady’s maid. Mrs. Dougall will find a place for Geraldine. Something that will give her purpose but not be too taxing.”
“She is a wonderful seamstress, and she loves to bake. Her pastries are decadent.”
“Then I will instruct Mrs. Dougall to use her skills.”
“Are you certain, my lord?”
“Quite.” I paused, studying her face. “Do you fear me, Madeleine?”
She hesitated, and I took her hands in mine.
I wanted to peel away the gloves, but I had a feeling she needed to trust me before she would show me what she was hiding under the leather.
“I swear to you that you will not be mistreated here. You will have nothing to fear from the world—or from me. I will protect you, Madeleine. Your life will be vastly different from what you have known. You have only to say yes, and I will arrange it all.”
To my horror, her chin began to quiver, and tears filled her eyes. “Madeleine?” I asked. “Is the idea of being married to me so repugnant?”
She turned away, covering her face. I moved behind her, gently holding her shaking shoulders. “Speak your thoughts out loud, my sweet. I shall not be angry.”
She turned, her cheeks wet, her eyes bright in the waning light. “My lord, only days ago, I was cold, scared, and hungry. My life was nothing but pain and work. I felt only hatred and anger directed toward me. It was a continuous circle I thought would never be broken.”
I wiped the tears from under her eyes. “And now?”
“You took me from that. I am in a stunning garden, wearing a dress that makes me feel beautiful. I soaked in a bath for the first time in years. I feel clean and rejuvenated. There is a bed to sleep in with blankets. A fire to warm me. A full belly.” A sob escaped her lips.
“And you are standing in front of me—a kind, wonderful man—asking me to marry you. Promising me I will never return to that place. Offering me the dream I kept hidden for so long. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and a feeling I had lost long ago.”
“Which was?” I asked tenderly.
“Hope.”
“Then you will agree?”
“Yes, my lord. I will marry you. I will strive to be the best wife I can be and make sure you never regret your decision. I would be proud to be your marchioness.”
I smiled at her and ran my fingers down her cheek. “I shall not regret anything. And you are correct. You will make a wonderful marchioness.”
Then I leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
I wanted her mouth, but for now, that would do.
We had a lifetime to explore the rest.
Another sob escaped her mouth, and she covered it. “Forgive my emotions, my lord. I should not bother you with such trivial feelings.”
I shook my head and removed her hand. “No, Madeleine, as your betrothed, I expect you to bother me with everything. Because it is not a bother—it is my privilege.”
Then I drew her into my arms, her head the perfect height for me to rest my chin upon. She fit well into my embrace, her tiny figure molding to my much larger one perfectly. As if made for me.
It was the strangest thought, and yet I liked it.
And it gave me the same hope she had that one day we would fit together in an entirely different way.