Chapter Twenty-three
Bellwood Estate
Two days later
He knew she would be here. He knew Dutch would be by her side. Dutch had been his dog and now was devoted to Selena. He didn’t mind. Not one bit. Selena was whispering softly to Azure as she fed him a carrot. Gerald had so many things he wanted to say to her, but there was one very important thing he had to say first.
“Good morning,”
Gerald said as he approached her.
“Good morning,”
Selena said, turning to him, with a soft smile.
“How are you feeling this morning?”
“Better. So much better than I was yesterday and much better than the day before,”
she sighed.
Gerald took her in his arms and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I have something to ask you.”
“Is everything all right?”
she said, her eyes wide with concern.
“Yes, everything is fine.
“Doctor Baker stopped by to check on Paul and Kat. They are on the mend. I swear, between Mrs. Macdonald and Maggie feeding them and Anna and Gabby reading to them and your mother and my mother and Diana sewing clothes for them, they will be right as rain in no time.”
“Love and time will heal their wounds, both inside and out,”
Selena said softly. “They are lovely children.”
“I know, you’ve been spending a lot of time with them as well.”
“I can’t help it, they are so adorable.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“I don’t remember them as the children of any of our tenants. Paul told me that his mother was a barmaid at The Pig and The Poke . But that they had been traveling from town to town since Kat was born. I shudder to think what would have happened to them if you hadn’t found them at Rose Point,”
Selena said. Thank God you did.”
“What will happen to them, Gerald?”
“As you know, Paul told us his mother abandoned him and Kat. I believe him. I have no desire to go searching for a woman who would do such a vile thing. And who might in turn try to extort money from us. When Paul is older, I will help him find his mother, should he wish to do so.”
“Does that mean what I think it means?”
she asked softly.
“What do you think it means, my darling.”
“Do you want Paul and Kat to stay with us? Because if you do, I would be so happy.”
“I do. And I’m glad you’re happy. I want us to raise them as our own.”
“Oh Gerald, you are the kindest, most incredible man in the world.”
“Well, if you say so. Who am I to argue?”
He grinned bending down to kiss her. ‘I have something else to tell you. Percival and Wright set out early this morning to assess the damages at Rose Point. It will require a lot of work, that bastard really did a lot of damage.”
Selena gave a deep sigh. “Yes, Maman already spoke to me about it. She mentioned that Maggie and Ben would be going with them. They’ll be of tremendous help and I’m sure will be able to track down many, if not all, of our former staff members. While I am deeply saddened that Rose Point was ravaged by that evil man, I have every faith that Percival will restore it to its former beauty.”
“And how do you feel about your mother moving back there to help?”
“I’m happy for her. She has a renewed sense of purpose. Maman will give Percival all the benefit of her wisdom.”
She smiled. “And how do you feel about Connery moving there?”
“I’ll miss that rough old Scotsman, but I’m of the same mind. Connery will be able to guide Percival in the same way he guided me.”
“I’m happy for them. For Maman and Connery.”
“Ah, so you’ve noticed as well?”
“Noticed! It’s as plain as day, how much they care for each other,”
she giggled. “ Maman smiles like a debutante with her first crush when she talks about Connery. “My mother deserves to be happy. She is still young and has many years ahead. I would not want her to spend those years alone as a widow. Besides, I know she will always love Papa and keep him in her heart. She seems years younger since meeting Connery.” Selena leaned in close to whisper to Gerald. “And I’ve noticed she’s always blushing when they return from one of their afternoon walks.”
“Connery is the same,”
Gerald chuckled. “I think they’ll almost be as happy as we are.”
“Ah, you don’t say…”
“I do say.”
Gerald bent down and claimed Selena’s lips in a passionate kiss.
“Actually, I have something else I wanted to speak to you about,”
Gerald said.
“My you have quite the list this morning,”
she giggled.
“Yes, I do,”
he chuckled. I’ve had thoughts about Azure and possibly other thoroughbreds.”
“And what are those thoughts?”
“Azure is one of the finest horses I’ve ever beheld. For you to have ridden him here alone, makes him a very special horse. You have a special rapport with him,”
Gerald said, gazing into her lovely eyes. “Connery was right, you have an uncanny ability to understand animals, I was planning to ask for your assistance in helping me expand my stable of racehorses.”
“You mean help you train them?”
“Yes, that is what I mean.”
“Oh, I would love to. I know I have a lot to lear n— ”
“My love, while there is much, I can teach you about the industry of horse racing, I believe you have all the inherent talent you need when it comes to training horses. I’ve seen the way you communicate with Azure and the other horses and Dutch. You are extraordinary.”
“Thank you,”
she said, a lovely blush tinting her cheeks.
“I want you by my side, helping me expand this venture and making our stable of racehorses the best in the country.”
“Gerald, I am — I don’t know what to say. That you would ask me to work with you, I am so touched and honored.”
“Nay, it is I am honored by having you in my life and by my side.”
“My sister, Diana, is a very accomplished horsewoman. Have you introduced her to Azure? He chuckled. “I feel certain Gabby will be just like her. She’s already asked about riding Aphrodite.”
“Gabby has been begging me to let her ride Aphrodite,”
Gerald said with a groan.
“Oh, goodness! You don’t plan to allow…”
she stopped. “I sound like my mother did when my father brought me Azure.”
His laughter filled the air. “No, not until Aphrodite is much calmer. You have nothing to worry about there. And I’d welcome your help with her. She’s still a bit wild. The race at Newcastle will be in May. I’d like to race Hermes and Aphrodite. And possibly one more. I will be hiring jockeys to train with them, shortly. But in the interim, your help would be invaluable.”
Selena’s interests were so closely aligned with his own. If only I’d spent time with her, her sooner. Instead, he had neglected their engagement for all those years until disaster almost took her away from him.
“I’ve had some thoughts on things along those lines, too,” he said.
“I truly enjoy spending time around horses. I would love to ride with Diana, but her time has largely been taken with the children, so we aren’t able to spend much time together. And …”
Gerald gently placed his finger over her lips. “My darling, you don’t have to feel bad about that. With Mother and Gabby here, she’s had plenty of help.”
Gerald wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so glad you’re safe and back here with me.”
“Oh Gerald, I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to Anna and take a footman with me when I came out here the day Vern snuck into the stable.”
Selena nodded in the direction of Dutch, who was dozing on the soft hay about ten feet away. “I almost cost that sweet dog his life with my foolish behavior.” Selena shivered and Gerald held her closer. “It’s really over? That evil man is out of our lives?”
“It is my darling. You won’t have to worry about Vern Stiles ever again. You have nothing to fear from that blackguard for the rest of our lives. Both my father and Banbury along with Percival will be speaking to the magistrates and with Prinny himself to make sure they know the extent of his crimes, including the kidnapping of those poor girls. And Prinny was livid about that, not to mention the fact that Stiles tried to kill a peer of the realm. Stiles will be tried and hanged for his crimes, you have my word.”
“What a vile and evil man. What about Grom? Is he also going to hang?”
Gerald let out a deep sigh. “I don’t think so. Percival and Wright have offered to speak on his behalf. Because of the extenuating circumstances with Stiles coercing Grom, I think they will be lenient. Percival also mentioned that he wants to take Grom under his wing, promising the magistrate that he will offer Grom employment and will maintain contact with the authorities on Grom’s behalf.”
“That is very good of Percival,”
Selena said. “I think he is a good man. My father told us he had every faith in Percival before he passed away. And that evil imposter will be punished as he should be.”
Azure gave a resounding whinny as though in agreement.
“Yes, Azure, I know how you feel about that horrid man.”
She smiled as she petted his mane.
“Now, for the final item on my list of things to ask you.”
“Oh my, is it last but not least?”
“It is definitely not least.”
“Very well, I am all ears.”
Gerald reached into his waistcoat pocket, withdrew a small box, and dropped to his knee in front of her.
Selena’s eyes widened, but she stayed quiet.
In that tranquil moment, Gerald found the courage he needed to speak the words he had rehearsed in his head. “Selena Bowles, for years I ignored our betrothal, believing I had been wronged by my father to have been committed to a future wife at such an early age. However, little did I know back then (I was a fool by the way) that the most incredible woman in the world that I would ever hope to meet was right there all along. I thank God for your courage and strength in riding through a rainstorm in the dead of night to reach Bellwood. And since that fateful night, I have gotten to know your heart, your bright and clever mind. I have been mesmerized by your beauty, both inside and out. And I have been captivated by those incredible blue eyes. I have come to realize the wisdom of my father, and yours, and how they wisely had our best interests at heart. And with all of this, I hope you will consent to be my wife. I love you, Selena. And I will love you forever.”
As Gerald finished his heartfelt proposal, he opened the small black velvet box and displayed a gold band with a large sapphire stone, surrounded by small diamonds. The ring sparkled in the light drawing a smile from her lips.
Selena’s azure eyes sparkled with tears of joy as she flung her arms around him with such fervor, she nearly toppled them both to the ground.
"I think that bodes well,”
he chuckled.
“Yes, it does my love! Oh Gerald…yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”
As their lips met in a searing kiss, Gerald thought he was the luckiest man in the world.