Chapter 16
MADELEINE
LONDON
“Another book of poetry,” I exclaimed, staring in delight at the small bound leather volume in my gloved hands.
“If my lady wants it, then she shall have it,” Alexander said gallantly as he approached me, bearing an armload of books I had already chosen from the shelves.
“Oh, but your arms are already quite full,” I protested, thinking of how dear the tomes were.
Alexander wished to spoil me, but we had already been to the jeweler, the haberdasher, and the dressmakers on Bond Street.
He had been adamant that no expense was to be spared.
I had no notion of the cost of what he had already bought for me—gowns that would be custom made for me and delivered to his London town house later, an exquisite parure of emeralds and sapphires, and enough sewing notions and bonnets to keep me occupied for at least the next year.
Still, I knew he must have spent a fortune.
“I will deliver these to the desk and be at the ready to hold more,” Alexander told me.
I bit my lip, feeling guilty at the expenditures.
“I’ll be back in a moment,” he said with a wink, not waiting for my approval. “Carry on with your book shopping.”
I sighed as he left, juggling the stack of books with ease, and then turned back to the book in my hands.
I hadn’t had books of my own in years. The jewels and gowns were lovely, but nothing made me happier than the thought of books that were mine alone.
And this one was so very handsome. I could read the poems to Alexander in the evening by the fire. He could rest his head in my lap.
It was settled. I needed this book. Another spine caught my eye, and I slid it from the shelf.
Alexander returned, dutifully collecting another armload before I was finally contented. As we returned to our waiting carriage with the promise that the books would be delivered to the town house later that day, I sighed in pleasure.
“I could have bought the entire shop,” I told him.
Alexander grinned. “I thought you might enjoy the bookseller. Now I know the true way to your heart. I had believed it would be jewels and finery, but it is merely ink on paper, bound in leather.”
Warmth stole over me. “I think you have already found the way to my heart, my lord.”
It was the closest I dared come to a declaration.
“Then perhaps we should return to the town house and skip the last stop I had planned.”
The lightness in his tone suggested he was teasing me.
“What is the last stop?” I ventured, curious.
He grinned. “It is a surprise, Maddie mine.”
Each shop we had visited thus far had been chosen by him.
Some of them, he had informed me, with the help of Lady Beckett.
For, as Alexander had confided, he hadn’t an inkling which mantua-maker to choose.
We had paid a call upon Lady Beckett and her husband the day before, and I had been grateful to see familiar faces amidst the bustle of London.
“I suppose I shouldn’t ruin your surprise,” I told him, curious about where else he could have planned to take me. “Although I am already extraordinarily spoiled.”
“You deserve it, wife.”
“I don’t know if I deserve it, but I shall accept it just the same.”
He smiled, looking pleased. He cocked his head, studying me, then spoke.
“Maddie mine, I want to tell you something.”
ALEXANDER
The impulsive journey I had brought Maddie on was going splendidly. Watching her take in London was a treat. She loved the same things I did. Had the same dislikes.
Spoiling her was a joy beyond compare. She was as astounded and grateful by a small bowl of cream ice as she was the lavish gifts I bestowed upon her.
When the jeweler laid the trays before her of the items I had picked out, she had stared at them, bewitched and shocked, for a full five minutes.
When I slipped the ring I had chosen to add to the simple gold band I had placed on her finger on our wedding day, she gasped.
It was delicate and lovely—much like my wife, the tiny sapphires twinkling in the lights.
“I wanted to add to my token,” I explained.
She gazed up at me with such adoration, my breath caught.
“Nothing you give me is a token, my husband. Everything has great meaning to me.”
Unable to control myself, I bent forward and kissed her.
I watched, fascinated, as she tried on the pieces I had selected for her to choose from.
I could tell which pieces pleased her simply by the expression on her countenance.
When she was in utter delight, her lips curled up without her knowing.
Her beautiful eyes brightened. When something did not suit, although she smiled, it was different.
At my behest, the jeweler brought in more pieces and, finally, she sat back.
“If I may,” she murmured, “I should love the sapphire and pearl set.”
I glanced at the tray holding the necklace with a matching set of earrings and a bracelet.
“And the ring, Maddie mine? You liked that as well.”
“If it is not too much.”
I chuckled as I slid the chosen items, plus all the other pieces I knew she loved and I preferred, toward the man waiting anxiously to find out how much I was spending.
“All these, if you please. Have them delivered to my town house. My man will attend them.”
I felt Maddie’s shock as he hurried away, pleased beyond his expectations.
“Alexander,” she protested. “It is too much. One set will do me.”
“No, it will not. I am buying you everything, Maddie. We will not take the coral or the jade, as they did not please you. But everything else is yours as my wedding gift to you.”
Her thanks was beyond enthused, both in the way she kissed me before the jeweler returned and later that day in our home.
The memories of that passion still roamed freely in my head.
I had never experienced the rush of sensations I felt with my wife.
How her smile brought me happiness. Her laughter made my chest lighter.
Her mere presence calmed something in me I never knew was lacking.
She had become more than I ever imagined another human being could be.
The feel of her hand on my arm brought me out of my musings. I shook my head to clear it, seeing her looking anxious after I spoke.
She drew herself up. “Is it bad news, Alexander? Have I done—”
I shook my head, taking her hands. “Nothing. You have done nothing, my love. Do not fall back into fear with me.”
I waited as she took a deep breath, calming herself. “No. I will never fear you.”
“Good.” I regarded her fondly. “Never is good.” I leaned forward, keeping my voice low.
“I spoke with my solicitor yesterday and made some arrangements.”
“For?”
“I have established a trust for you. It will be added to annually for as long as I live.”
“Whatever for?”
“For you. Money of your own. I want you to have it. To use as you wish.”
She blinked, no doubt feeling stunned and overcome by my statement.
“Alexander,” she whispered. “You already provide for me so generously.”
I leaned closer, shaking my head. “You had years of nothing, my wife. Of being denied. I wish for you to have everything. I have the means to provide that.”
“If I have you, I have everything,” she replied, breathless.
I smiled at her words. What they implied.
I prayed they meant what I hoped they did.
That perhaps, she, too, was feeling the same tender feelings for me as I was for her.
I had come to the realization that I was in love with my wife and was waiting for the right time to declare myself. I reached out and stroked her cheek.
“And I have everything with you. But this is for you. Use it how you wish. The money is yours. You do not need to ask permission to spend it. It is simply a gift to you from your husband. It means you will never have to ask anyone’s permission again.
” I sat back, pleased. “We will discuss all the particulars when we return to Wheaton. I only wanted to tell you of it.”
Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and she grasped my hands tightly. “You are the most generous, thoughtful man,” she whispered. “I am honored to be your wife.”
I smiled, lifting her gloved hand to my lips and kissing it. “I am the fortunate one, Maddie mine. You make me happier than I deserve.”
“You deserve everything,” she replied.
I met her eyes, a silent conversation flowing between us. It held promises of the future for both of us.
MADELEINE
I was stunned by what Alexander said to me. The way he bestowed yet another unexpected, thoughtful, extravagant gift on me. I had never known anyone like him. This tall, strong, powerful, yet incredibly gentle man who was generous, capable, giving, and so loving toward me.
The gifts he handed to me were numerous and expensive, but none was as worthy as the man himself.
Could he, I wondered, love me the way I had fallen in love with him?
Across from me, he chuckled. “One more surprise today, Maddie mine, then we shall be done. We will head home to Wheaton on the morrow and start our life together, yes?”
“Yes.”
The carriage rocked on through the steady traffic as a companionable silence fell.
I would be contented to return to Wheaton and the quiet stillness of the countryside soon, but I had to admit that our jaunt to Town had been more than pleasant.
Not just because of the vast spoiling Alexander had done of me either.
But because of all the time we had been able to spend together.
There were no tenants, no estate matters to take him away from me in London. It was only the two of us.
The carriage rocked to a halt again.
Alexander leaned forward and peered through the Venetian blinds on the window. “Ah, we have arrived at our next destination.”