Chapter 9 #2
“Yes,” she said firmly, looking the Dowager Duchess Arabella straight in the eye. “Seduced by a harlot is quite correct, my lady. But then as I was soundly seduced in my turn, I think really that the label ‘harlot’ could be ascribed to both of us.”
With that, she took a step to the side, and grasped Alexander’s hand once more.
She did not know where she found the strength to stare at the woman who would have been her mother-in-law, but she managed it. The steely gaze that was levelled back at her almost made her want to sit down, it was so strong.
But she held it. She was not going to be forced away from the man she loved by a pair of disapproving eyes.
And then those eyes creased. The Dowager Duchess of Caershire was smiling.
“By God, I like you,” she said heartily, a smile broadening across her cheeks as she nodded decidedly.
“My dear, almost every well born lady in this country is essentially a courtesan, flaunting her wares – or as much of them as she dares – in the hope of securing a little fortune. You were honest, and I like you for it. Alexander, my boy, why is the wedding taking place tomorrow afternoon? You know that I prefer a morning wedding.”
The conversation moved between them, and Teresa stood very still, almost as if the slightest movement could break the spell, and remind the Dowager Duchess Arabella that she had just accepted a courtesan as her daughter-in-law.
“It is high time this family got a little fresh blood,” she was saying as she looked approvingly at Teresa. “This woman is perfect. She is beautiful, evidently smart if she was able to bag you in the hunt – ”
“She cannot swim, though,” interrupted Alexander with a grin on his face as he glanced at Teresa.
The Dowager Duchess Arabella threw her hand in the air nonchalantly, as though there would be servants who could do the swimming for the future Duchess of Caershire.
“That is of no matter. Miss Metcalfe, would you do me the honour of taking tea with me this afternoon? The Green Room would be best, Alexander, you know that the afternoon sun is just splendid from that side of the house.”
As she spoke that last sentence, the Dowager Duchess of Caershire strode away towards a large door. It opened to admit her, and she walked through as they caught a glance of the previously concealed footman who opened it quietly.
Teresa found her breath slowly escaping from her lungs, and tension that she had not realised was building up in her neck was loosened as her shoulders slumped.
“What a woman!”
Alexander laughed. “Well, I suppose so. I grew up with her as the epitome of womanhood, so it is not really any surprise to me.”
Teresa’s eyebrows raised as she looked at the man she loved. “No wonder you did not find my strength of character intimidating – your mother is made of iron!”
“Steel, I think you will find,” came a satisfied voice from a corridor as the Dowager Duchess of Caershire disappeared into the depths of Loxwich.
Teresa clapped a hand to her mouth, and flushed. “Is she gone now?” She whispered.
Alexander could barely answer, he was laughing so much. Throwing himself onto a chair in the hallway, he chuckled, “I certainly think you have made your mark, Teresa – and fear not, it is a good one. I think she may end up preferring you over her own son.”
She could not help but grin. “Well, that would be a true honour indeed.”
He opened his arms, and Teresa folded herself into them, sitting in his lap and feeling the warmth and security of his arms around her. Could there be any greater joy than this?
A twinge at her heartstrings told her that there was. There was just one thing missing.
“Alexander,” she whispered.
“Teresa.”
He was nuzzling her neck through her long blonde hair, and she squirmed with the intimacy of it.
“I love you.” It felt glorious to say, like a secret that no one else knew – though society had been informed of their impending nuptials a week ago, and the scandal and gossip that it had created had overwhelmed the wagging tongues of London, and Bath, and Edinburgh, and even Brighton.
“And I love you.” His arms had, if possible, tightened around her even more. “I certainly ran into a stroke of luck when I heard you in the Thames. To think what would have happened if I had not jumped in and rescued you!”
Teresa shivered. She still had nightmares about that dunk into the icy cold waters. “I would have drowned.”
“And I would not have been drenched,” Alexander smiled, and brought his face to hers so that their noses touched. “And this drenched Duke came home with a greater prize than he could ever have imagined: a water nymph.”
Teresa laughed, and squirmed happily in his arms. “And what exactly do you intend to do with this nymph?”
His lips touched hers, and she welcomed his kiss: rich and slow, with his devotion poured out onto her willing flesh.
“I am going to marry her,” Alexander whispered, and Teresa could not help but stare, smiling, deep into his eyes. “And I am going to devote my life to making her happy: every minute of every hour of every day.”
Teresa’s whole body was tingling with anticipation for this next stage of her life to start. “You know, our bedchamber is but two minutes away. Let’s start now.”