Chapter Nineteen #2
Normally, Rafe would not have participated in the game for all the gold in the world, but he was apparently pathetically weak when presented with Victoria and Dominic’s hopeful faces.
He’d felt quite absurd pretending to trot around the room like a horse, but experienced redemption when Dominic was forced to pantomime a cat and Victoria was at a loss over how to mimic a frog with any sort of grace or dignity during her turn.
Rafe did not believe he would ever forget the sight of his wife attempting to hop across the room in an evening gown—something he knew every other woman of his acquaintance would have sneered at or simply refused to participate.
The uproarious laughter echoing off the wood-paneled walls of the room made it all worth it.
The clock chimed the late hour and, with impeccable timing, Nan appeared to whisk Dom off to bed.
“I don’t want to go,” Dom groused, arms crossed over his chest. For all his mature behavior throughout the meal, this was a reminder that he was, indeed, still a boy, and it was hours past time when he would have been asleep.
Despite the excitement glittering in his eyes and the joy radiating from his body, Dom’s exhaustion was evident in every one of his features.
“Lord and Lady Blackwood were extremely kind to invite you to dine with them and then allow you to stay up so late tonight. Do not be ungrateful and demand more of them still,” Nan chastised gently.
Victoria held out a hand to the boy and Dominic barely managed to stifle a yawn.
He rounded the low table set before the sofa and she patted his arm.
“I am so pleased you enjoyed your day of birthday celebrations, Dominic. It was lovely to dine with you, and I hope we will have the opportunity to do it again soon.”
Sensing that his time free of the nursery was growing short whether he liked it or not, Dom whirled on Rafe. “I will go to bed, but only if you promise I’ll be able to join you for after-dinner drinks one day.”
The request was so unexpected, so specific, that Rafe couldn’t help the slight chuckle of disbelief that passed his lips. He went silent when he saw the fierce determination on Dominic’s face. “Very well. One day,” he said.
“Promise.” Dominic leveled his most intimidating stare at him. “Promise me.”
“I promise, Dom.”
Finally, he allowed Nan to guide him away and up to the bedchamber where his sisters were already sleeping soundly and had been for several hours.
Rafe shook his head. “Wherever did he learn such a thing?” he asked incredulously as he strode over to the sideboard and prepared drinks for himself and Victoria.
The staff had quickly learned they preferred to enjoy their brandy warm, so the supplied decanter was already at the proper temperature.
He strode over to where Victoria sat and handed her one of the glasses.
She gave a nonchalant shrug and said, “He does have a consummate rake for an uncle. God only knows what else he’s been exposed to.
” The flicker of humor in her eyes reassured him that there was no bitterness in her words.
Impulsively, Rafe bent and pressed a kiss to her temple.
He took an inordinate amount of pleasure in the shocked widening of her eyes as he moved only a few feet away to stand beside the mantle.
“Thank you for everything you did for Dom today; you truly went above expectations, decorating, planning activities and meals, and arranging supper.” He looked over and met her eyes.
“I do not wish to make a habit of having the children join us for supper—however selfish it makes me; I quite like our quiet evening meals together—but I would not be opposed to continuing the tradition on special occasions.”
“You seem surprised to admit that you enjoy when we take our meals together,” Victoria remarked over the edge of her glass.
“I only mean that I am accustomed to eating outside of the home or visiting friends for meals; I never pictured myself pleased to remain at home without any grand plans.” He’d never had a reason to want to be there before.
Victoria’s grin was radiant. “Take care, or you might become domesticated, Mr. Tomcat.”
“Fear not,” he replied with a laugh. “I will likely always be just wild enough to keep you on your toes. It is in my nature.”
“I do not doubt that.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Rafe asked, “Are you happy, Victoria?”
She hummed and nodded affirmatively. “As happy as can be expected.” It wasn’t the glowing response he’d hoped for, but at least it was better than a no.
“I do hope so, because your happiness is important to me,” he admitted, a part of him feeling quite raw when he did so.
“I know this marriage has not been everything you expected, but I have been happy to find some peace in it. I hope you have as well.” The words were difficult for him to say, but it felt important to him that she heard them—that she knew she deserved all the support she’d shown to him and the children over these past several weeks.