Chapter Eleven
Lavender Cottage
Two nights had passed since Caleb had returned from his fishing trip with her husband and had told her the duke was dead.
While she was still very much in shock, there had been things to attend to regarding that before she could find time to think about what his death meant for her.
When the contingent of servants brought Tittleford’s body back to the manor house, she’d stood at the doorway while his valet undressed him.
Eventually, a physician from the village had come to attend to him and make the proper pronouncement that he was, indeed, dead and had succumbed to drowning, compounded by hitting his head. It matched what Caleb had told her.
Only when she looked upon the duke’s lifeless body did she truly believe it.
I’m free.
And she couldn’t wrap her head around it even now.
Needing time to think, Angelica slipped away to the dower house.
In fact, she was in the process of moving her belongings into the cottage, for she couldn’t bear to remain in the manor any longer.
There were memories attached to it—mostly horrible ones—that she no longer wished to traverse.
Of course, the remembrances of her children as they’d grown through life were lovely, and she would hold those in her heart, but everything else, she had no compulsion to recall.
It’s time to start a new chapter.
The patter of rain against the window glass was quite soothing, and even though it was nearing teatime, the gloom outside coupled with the rain provided the balm her soul needed as she came to terms with the duke’s death.
After twenty years, her captor was dead.
Her cage wasn’t only open, but it had been smashed to bits.
It no longer existed, and she was free. Yet she couldn’t help but think there was a pall over the whole situation, and she had questions.
If Caleb had dispatched her husband, how could she even think of being with him?
As the carriage-style clock on the drawing room mantle softly chimed four in the afternoon, the barely there sound of a footstep alerted her to the fact she wasn’t alone. With an accelerated heartbeat, she turned from the window, and when her gaze landed on him, she sucked in a breath.
“Caleb.” Due to everything that needed attending over the past two days, she hadn’t had the opportunity to be in his company alone, and she’d missed him.
“Hello, Angelica.” Though his expression was somber, anticipation lit his blue eyes. “It’s been hell not being able to offer you comfort or support during this time.”
“There have been so many things to do that I haven’t even had a moment to myself, which is why I am here.” She waved a hand to indicate the whole of the cottage. “I am moving house, you see, and…”
“I know, but I wanted to seek you out and make certain you are well.” He moved toward her, and she did the same.
When they met in the middle of the room, tears freely fell to her cheeks, for the wealth of emotions battering her chest needed an outlet.
In seconds, she’d shoved into his arms, and when they came around her, she melted into his embrace.
“I have had to be strong the past two days, to put on a show in front of everyone, and it has been difficult, for I’m not the least bit sorry Tittleford is dead.
” Her words were muffled in the folds of his cravat.
“I wrote to my children with the news, sent the letters off yesterday when the post chaise came ‘round. It will be weeks before they will make their way here, and by then, the duke will need to be buried.”
“It’s a hell of a time, I agree.” As he stroked a hand up and down her back, relief and awareness shivered along her spine. “But you no longer have to live in fear, sweeting.”
The low rumble of his voice worked to further calm her. “I still can’t believe it. He’s gone, he’s dead. After so many years of hoping…”
Caleb nodded. “He won’t hurt you—or anyone else—again.”
Never did she think she’d hear those words.
It was all too much, almost too fantastical to believe.
She trembled in his hold, but then the questions rose into her mind once more.
Pulling back in order to peer up into his eyes, Angelica sighed.
“Did you kill him, Caleb? Please, I want the honest truth.”
“Would it change how you feel about me?” Nothing in his expression gave away his intent.
“I’m not certain, but I deserve the truth.” She braced herself for what he would say; surely he hadn’t done such a terrible thing.
“No, I did not murder the duke, but I was there.” After blowing out a breath, Caleb continued.
“Did we argue? Yes, we did, over his treatment of you, in fact.” He shrugged.
“I wasn’t about to back down, for you deserve so much better in this life than him.
He threw the first punch. I responded. His next caught me in the chin. ”
Her gaze dropped to the bruises on that area. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have defended me, but I know how it feels when he brings out his fists.”
“I will defend you until my dying day.” Caleb cupped her cheek, caressed her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb.
“Twenty years was too long of a sentence for you, and I’m sorry for that, but it’s ended now.
The duke slipped in the mud at the edge of the pond during his rage, fell, hit his head on a boulder, then he tumbled into the water.
Apparently, he couldn’t swim, and the liquor he’d had at luncheon must have dulled his response times.
That, or the knock on the head muddled his brain. ”
It all made sense, but she searched his eyes anyway. Then, she nodded, for she saw no dissembling there. “Did you try to rescue him?”
“You still want the truth?
“Yes, of course.”
He shrugged. “I did not.”
When she expected some sort feelings, she was devoid of such. “Why?”
“Frankly, the duke didn’t deserve any sort of help.”
There should have been shock after that answer, but there wasn’t. She should have had some sort of reaction, yet she didn’t. Why? If she were honest with herself, she knew the reason. Caleb was correct. Tittleford was a blackguard and a monster. He didn’t deserve kindness.
“Will you tell me everything that transpired that afternoon?”
“I will not.” Nothing but honesty reflected on his face.
“The point is moot now. Suffice it to say, I told the duke what I should have said for twenty years but was too frightened to do so. In the moment of greatest vulnerability, I believe the duke finally realized that death was his just desserts.” Shadows gathered in his eyes briefly, only to flee with his next blink.
For long moments, Angelica held his gaze.
Could she live with that explanation? Did she truly wish to learn the whole truth?
And most importantly, did she believe and trust Caleb?
After everything she’d endured at the hands of her husband, she rather thought she could and did. He was nothing like Tittleford.
She gave him a slight nod. “What now?”
“Well, first, there is this.” Before she could do anything, he swept her into his arms then carried her upstairs. “Which room is yours?”
“The suite is at the end of the corridor.”
“Excellent.” As he strode toward the stairs, Angelica clung to his shoulders.
“Are you certain now is a good time to indulge in… this?” she asked while he carried her up to the next level.
“Why not? Your husband is dead. Nothing is going to bring him back. You are free to do what you please.”
“To a point.” She didn’t speak again until he shoved open the door to her suite and put her onto her feet. “I’ll have to play a part in society for a long while, and I have no idea what to tell my children as to why I’m not wracked with grief regarding my husband of twenty years.”
“Tell them the truth, sweeting. They are old enough that I suspect they know the truth.” As he met her gaze, he offered a small grin.
“Your life is yours. Don’t waste it, but I advise doing everything you’ve always thought of doing but couldn’t because you were prevented by the duke.
” He gently held her head between his palms. “However, right now, I’m going to have you naked.
Then I’m going to claim your body. After that, I’m going to love you as you should have been loved all along. ”
“Oh.” She trembled, for in the shadowy gloom of the newly acquired duchess suite, there was suddenly hope in the air and a certain lightness she’d never experienced before. “And?” Her mouth had gone dry, waiting for his answer.
The cheeky man winked. “Then I’m going to tell you how much I love you.”
“Oh.” Heat seeped into her cheeks. “I know that already.”
“Good. After that, I plan to implore you to marry me.”
Excitement twisted down her spine, for there was now a path visible in front of her that hadn’t been there before. “I’ll have to do a year of mourning. You know that.”
“I do, but I’ll wait for you. What is one more year when love burns true and strong between two people? I have already waited twenty.”
“Ah, Caleb. I’m frightened by what is now possible.”
“Don’t be. It’s what you’ve always dreamed about.”
“Yes.” A sigh escaped as she nodded. With a small smile, Angelica curled the fingers of one hand into his cravat and tugged him closer. “Kiss me, Mr. Marsden. Show me why choosing you for my second husband is the right choice.”
“My pleasure, and soon to be yours.” With a low growl, he took her more comfortably into his embrace and claimed her lips with his.
Not to be outdone, she pushed onto her toes and kissed him with the same enthusiasm, for she wanted to be lost in the moment. “Love me,” she whispered against his sensual mouth.
“What do you think I’ve done the past twenty years?” Caleb drank from her as if he couldn’t have enough. The years of pining and longing between them fell away, for in this moment, she was his, and he was hers, and they finally had a future together.