Chapter Twenty-Nine
T hat evening Finn sat in the music room and watched as Lily played for him and his friends. They were still and quiet as the music flowed around them. Shay wiped a hand over his face, and Finn wondered if he’d been brushing away tears.
Finn had been moved to such emotions more than once when listening to his wife play. She had a talent for building and breaking a person with her gift.
When the piece concluded, Reese jumped to his feet clapping in earnest.
“My God, she can play. Not just as drawing room entertainment, but she could easily fill music halls and theaters in Town.”
“Aye. And if she wished to do so, I would have seen her there myself.”
Lily smiled and shook her head. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. But Finn is right. I have no aspirations of fame. And in truth, no desire to go back to London anytime soon.”
She let her hand rest on her stomach and Finn smiled at the gesture. She’d been doing it more of late and every time he found himself filled with thoughts of their future with their little one—many little ones—over the years.
“Yes, I imagine Finn will want to keep you safely locked away in his castle while you are increasing,” Shay said with a grin. “Good job, laddie. Not just in securing such a lovely bride but getting her with child with haste. I know how much you missed having a family. Now you’re set to build your own.”
He and Lily shared a look and he saw the slight shake of her head telling him she didn’t want to share the truth with their guests. He had no plan to.
He was content for he and Lily to be the only people to know the truth. Even Oliver and Mrs. MacDougal assumed they had married quickly because Finn and Lily had taken advantage of Mrs. Prichard’s poor chaperoning skills.
That was all anyone needed to know.
Finn had seen the way his mother had loved Juniper. The way she’d treated her no differently than Finn. And the happiness Juniper brought to their mother. His mother was a good example, showing him how easy it was to love a child no matter their parentage. Blood was not as important as love.
He occasionally saw the doubt and worry in Lily’s eyes when they spoke of the child. She had yet to settle on any names, while he constantly provided ideas for both girls and boys.
It seemed Lily was particularly worried the child would be a boy. If so, he would be granted the courtesy title of the Earl of Haliday, until one day when he became the next Duke of Granton.
Finn had no reservations with this. He planned to raise his children with love and honor. Blood didn’t ensure a person was honorable. A title didn’t promise respectability.
Spending time with the men of Lily’s family proved that. Titled louts all of them. Even her brothers were on a path to debauchery.
Finn and Lily’s child might be born with the blood of a weasel arse, but any son of Finn’s would know better than to ruin a lady and leave her on her own.
“You sang so well yesterday for my family, should we sing?” Lily proposed and started playing one of their bawdy tunes. They laughed and stood around the pianoforte belting out the lyrics like drunken sailors. Finn joined in, catching Lily’s eye. He was pleased to see how much she liked his friends.
He’d not thought how important such a thing might be. How lucky he was that he’d found this lovely woman who filled his days. And most recently his heart.
He knew she’d married him for security, but he hoped one day, it might come to be more.
“You picked a good one,” Reese said while Shay managed a solo.
“I did,” Finn said. Though there had been no picking. She’d fallen into his life and he’d claimed her.
“I forgive you for marrying her without us. I know you were probably worried Shay or I might steal her away from you if you’d invited us before your ring was on her finger.”
Finn laughed off such a thing.
“I also understand why you weren’t able to keep your hands off of her, therefore making a quick wedding required.”
“There was no reason to wait,” Finn said vaguely. He laughed at Shay’s slaughtered attempt at singing. “He’s really quite horrid.”
“It’s good to see you happy,” Reese said.
“It is good to be happy.” And it truly was.
The next week Lily admitted to being sad to see the men leave. Finn had been so happy spending time with them. But as they stood on the top step waving goodbye to Shay and Reese, Finn was glad they were alone again.
“I’m glad I won’t have to battle for your attention in the evenings.”
She looked up in surprise.
“There was no battle, Your Grace. You are by far the better singer.”
He was the one to look surprised. “You think I’m a skilled vocalist?” he asked.
“Oh, God, no. I didn’t say that. I said you were better than them . You’re still terrible, but they are absolutely dreadful.”
She spun and ran for the stairs.
“I’ll get you for that, Your Grace,” Finn threatened playfully as he chased her into the house and caught her on the stairs. Sweeping her up into his arms, he carried her up to their bed chamber and only put her down on the bed when she was well and thoroughly kissed.
*
“You will miss them?” Lily asked as they lay there in the quiet that extended out beyond their room. After weeks of entertaining guests, they were alone again in the castle.
“Not as badly as I would if you were not here. I’m so glad to never have to be alone again.”
“Yes.” She swallowed or tried to. It was nearly impossible with the big lump caught in her throat. She knew he was lonely. He’d told her as much. And now that they were married it meant he’d always have someone with him if he wished it.
She knew he hadn’t asked her to marry him out of love. For a marriage of convenience—hers more so than his—she was pleased they had friendship, respect, and passion, if not love.
But she was often reminded of the reason he’d married her. Or perhaps there was more than one reason. The first being to save her from her downfall. The second to keep him from being lonely. The third, she’d just added, to pleasure him in their bed. Though he did reciprocate that pleasure.
Still, it was an arrangement rather than a need to be together.
She recalled her short time with Reggie and things he’d said to her. That she was the only one who’d understood him. That he’d loved her. That he’d found her more beautiful than any other woman because of her smile.
It had all been lies, but the way those lies had made her feel when she’d thought them true was indescribable.
To be someone’s chosen one made a person feel special. Irreplaceable. Cherished. With Finn she felt affection, of course, how could she not when he’d been so kind to her from the very beginning? She felt gratitude for his offer of marriage, saving her and her child from scandal that would have ruined their lives.
She’d given him no reason to doubt his words when he said it truly didn’t matter if her son held the title of duke. But it was one thing to say so now when they were caught up in desire and the child was just a concept.
It would be another thing when the babe arrived. She didn’t know what might happen then.