Chapter 42
Vindicated
BAZ
Lanie’s childhood home in a posh neighborhood in Chicago further supported Caleb’s assessment of her status as an American Princess.
I’d never seen this place, but Chicago didn’t disappoint in views.
It was a big American city. And jet lagged, I had to finish this mission before I even found Lanie.
I hoped the address she’d given Jeremy was the correct one as I stood on the doorstep.
I knocked. A woman in a pair of slacks and a crisp white shirt answered.
“I am looking for Lady Danna Delphine,” I said.
She looked me over. “I will see if she is accepting visitors. Who should I say is calling?”
“Basil,” I answered. “She will know who that is.”
I waited a moment on the doorstep, awkwardly, until the woman returned. “She will see you in the conservatory.”
I followed the woman through the impeccably appointed townhome. Lady Danna new how to decorate a grand house. It further affirmed my purchase the day before. The owners accepted our bid after I granted them a 60-day requirement for them to vacate. I expected Lanie would be happy to hear.
Lady Danna barely gave me a casual gaze. If I’d surprised her, the poker face remained intimidating.
“What are you doing here, Lord Osgoode?” She sighed in annoyance.
In an attempt to humble me, I was neither invited to sit or to take tea.
“I must speak to you about your daughter.”
“Yes? The one you impregnated?”
“Yes, my wife.”
She chuckled. “On paper.”
I ignored her tone. “Lady Danna, you risk your daughter and I writing you off completely over this. I would be less casual about it.”
“For what? For being right? I will be here to pick her up when you discard her for something less complicated.”
“That is not my intent. It is your brutish treatment—”
“She is better to hear the reality of her situation from me than from polite society. No one believes you are capable of being a proper husband.”
“Regardless of what people say, Lady Danna, I haven’t strayed or betrayed her. It is my true intent to do well by Lanie. I adore her. I miss her. That is why I am here.”
“Did she ring you with a sob story?”
“No. She is hurt—wounded. All that woman wants is for you to love and affirm her, Lady Danna.”
Lady Danna rolled her eyes. “She knows that.”
“She doesn’t. Ever since you told her that her father would be appalled by her behavior, she took all your words to heart more than anyone knows.
She is brave. She won’t tell you that this hurts her.
And as her husband—as a man who loves her—I am telling you to please stop with this.
I don’t need you to think I am good. I just need you to respect her for being the wonderful woman she is.
She’s perfection. She deserves to know that, Lady Danna. ”
“You love her?” Lady Danna scoffed.
Why could I say it to everyone but the woman who needed it most?
“I do. Our love is unconventional. This… is odd for you. However, I will do right by Lanie. I want a good life with her. I want to take care of her. I’d like to think your late husband would find that admirable.
I’d also think he’d be over-the-moon about Lanie’s career.
I know I am proud of her. I hope you are, too. ”
“He’d be mortified to hear Lanie decided to degrade herself with nude scenes. That doesn’t bother you, Baz? You aren’t angered by your wife parading around naked for all to see?”
“It’s part of her job. Do I love it? No.
But she comes home to me. She does good work—she tells stories.
And she’s brilliant to watch. She deserves your love and support as much as anyone’s.
I say this as someone who lost the only parent who loved him at a young age, it is wrong for you to take out her choice of husband on her like this. ”
Lady Danna fell silent. “You’re just like your father.”
“I refuse to let that be the case,” I said.
“I understand why you think that and I don’t blame you for being cross with me.
But even if it takes another thirty years to prove to you that I’m even slightly worthy of your daughter, I will do it.
You can have a dim view of me, but not your daughter—not in my house, not ever.
And I will protect my child as much as I must. I’d hate to think I have to protect them from their only living grandparent, but I will. ”
Lady Danna looked at her tea. “I am offended by your assertion that I do not love my child.”
“I know you do,” I said. “But that is how she feels. Apologize. Do better.”
LANIE
Baz arrived in our hotel room, finding me in bed.
His gaze intent, rather than sympathetic, he switched off the television, and gave me the longest kiss.
Shivers ran down my spine. I didn’t want to speak.
I couldn’t chat. I wanted him to give me everything.
I wanted to feel something—to feel chosen. And for a moment, I got to be his.
There was no talking. Without a word, I signaled all I wanted was for him to take me.
I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth for words.
As we both shed clothes and Baz drifted south, I lost myself to the way he chose me.
It was almost like a dream. As he got me off, I felt everything come back to life.
Doubts faded for a moment. Once more, this felt like an actual marriage.
My husband adored me. As I climaxed, I remarked on how safe I felt.
As Baz kissed back up my body and parted my legs around his hips, I gaped in awe at him.
My hands on his face, I pulled him in for another deep kiss.
In that moment, I loved him. This wasn’t fucking.
For the first time, I admitted we were making love.
It was raw in a different way. It was earnest and beautiful.
Baz kissed my neck as I wound up to another climax. Then, he pulled back, feasting on my expression as I came—exhausted and so wrapped up in how he looked at me. His gaze loving, I gave myself to him—not because he wanted to own me but because he’d flown across an ocean when I needed him.
As we lay in bed, our limbs in a tangle, I said nothing. I wanted to tell him I loved him, but felt it might ruin this perfect moment.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here faster,” Baz apologized.
“There was a geographical challenge,” I giggled. “It’s okay.”
“Have you had food? I’m famished,” Baz said.
“I could eat. It seems I always can.”
“Good. Let’s order room service.”
“Get me a cheeseburger, fries, and a massive slice of cake.”
Baz rolled over to grab the room service menu, then dialed. He got himself a steak—predictably—then left bed.
“I should at least grab some clothes,” Baz said.
I groaned, not wanting to move.
“No. Stay there. Just like that. Don’t move on my account, darling.”
His gaze remained uncharacteristically sweet. Realizing he could see the changes in my body clear as day, I self-consciously climbed under the covers.
“You’re beautiful, Lanie.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
Baz climbed into bed by me, running his hand to my stomach under the covers. He tenderly kissed my temple.
“You don’t need to say anything. Just let me take care of you. It’s infuriating watching you traipse all over and knowing I’m not even allowed to dote, Lanie.”
I rolled towards him. “I am sorry. I didn’t think you cared. I’m trying to be uncomplicated.”
“I’ve just parted with an obscene amount of money to prove to you that I care, Lanie,” Baz chuckled. “Please give me the benefit of the doubt.”
I nuzzled his nose with mine. “How much now?”
“About forty mil,” Baz chuckled. “And I regret nothing after this. I really should be smarter about my investments, but you drive me mad, darling.”
He kissed me deep and sweet. I melted.
“Now, this child… how is it? Given that you’re not telling me anything...”
“The baby is well.”
“And you know the sex?”
“I declined,” I said. “I decided to wait, hoping you might come to the next scan with me and be there.”
He pulled back, surprised. “If you thought that, why didn’t you tell me? I would have taken the time—”
“You were busy. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“It’s no bother. It’s my son or daughter. You’re my wife, Lanie.”
I smiled. “I will be back that week. We can go to the scan together. And with any luck, we’ll have a new house.”
“Unfortunately, given what I agreed to, we’ve got a house, but it’s not going to be ready until shortly after that. Also, when you see it, I have a feeling you’ll want to make some changes.”
I brushed his cheek. “That’s fine, Baz. A girl can’t complain about a surprise house.”