Page 24 of How to Ensnare the Perfect Duke
She finally found some solace in the gardens, where she spent most of her afternoons in contemplative solitude. She wasn’t sure how she might act when the duke returned. She doubted that she would fall into his arms in gratitude, but neither did she wish to continue this heart wrenching separation. She prayed that whatever he was doing, it was something for the greater good and that he hadn’t already tired of her.
She sat on the stone bench surrounded by an array of daisies and held a single white bloom in her palm. She considered plucking the delicate petals from the stem, like she had as a child, but she was afraid that it would end poorly.
But just because she had nothing else to occupy her time, she started to pluck them away from the yellow center. “He loves me. He loves me not.” Each time one of them fluttered to the ground, a tear began to fall in its place. Her fingers began to shake and with each pass around the flower, she started to lose hope that anything might change between her and the duke. She’d confessed her feelings to him, and he’d more or less cast them aside.
“He loves me not,” she whispered.
“He loves you.”
She spun around to see Cortland standing a short distance away from her. She quickly stood and lifted a hand to dry her cheeks that were stained with the evidence of moisture.
He remained where he was, perhaps because he was unsure of his reception. Genevieve should be furious, unable to stand the sight of him, but the heart was a fickle thing, making her yearn to be held in his arms again. He looked like he had ridden to hell and back. He was still wearing his greatcoat, and it was splattered with mud from his journey. His expression looked weary and ragged, as if he had done a lot of soul searching.
“I was a fool to leave you like I did.” His throat worked and he cast his gaze to the ground, before he lifted his eyes once more. “I don’t know that you’ll ever forgive me, but I hope someday you might be able to do so.”
The only thing she wanted was the answer to the question that had been bothering her more than anything else. “Why did you go?”
“I needed to find out if what my mother had claimed was true. She told me that she has syphilis. I traveled to Scotland and spoke to her doctors and discovered it was.”
A surge of relief pulsed through Genevieve. “Why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“Because when I left, I wasn’t sure where I was going.” He shoved a hand though his hair. “I didn’t know if I needed absolution from a priest or to be shackled in the streets. All I know is that I’d hurt you and I hated myself for it. I hated that I never told you about the alliance, but that I was treating you like a common trollop even more.”
Genevieve swallowed hard over the lump in her throat.
“When I discovered that my mother was actually being sincere, I did as she asked. Not that I raise her stipend, but that she would be settled somewhere comfortable for what remains of her days and receives the care that she deserves. I took her to London to the Lock Hospital under an assumed name. She begged me not to tell anyone who she really was, and I agreed, but I was careful to make it known she should have the best care.” He paused, as if finally thinking back on everything that had transpired. “At the end, I found that I could not desert her in her time of need, because I am better than that.” His dark gaze pierced her. “But that is only because of you. I wouldn’t have thought twice about tossing her out on her ear any other time, but you have made me into a better man, when I used to focus on being bitter.”
Genevieve started to tremble, and she had to turn away to keep from flying across the expanse and into his arms, begging for his love.
When she felt the slight pressure of his hands on her arms, she started to tremble.
“I realized I didn’t need the alliance anymore, so I submitted my resignation to your grandfather. You are all I need.” His hands tightened slightly. “Please say you still love me after everything I put you through. I can’t go back and reclaim any of my actions. All I can offer you is a fresh start.”
He gently turned her back to face him. And then he got down on one knee. He withdrew a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen. “My darling, Genevieve. You have the opal ring that belonged to countless Duchesses of Argyle, but I want us to start a new tradition. To have a fresh start with a clean slate.” He took her hand and slid it on her ring finger next to the heirloom ring. “If you will accept my hand again, I promise that my heart is fully attached to it. I never wish to leave your side for the rest of my days. And I hope that they are well numbered for both of us.”
Genevieve couldn’t hold back any longer. She fell to her knees and put a hand on either side of his face. “You might be a maddening duke at times, but you’re also my perfect duke. I wholeheartedly accept your proposal.” She kissed him lightly. “I love you.”
“And I, you.” He ran a gentle finger down the side of her cheek. “Let’s go inside where I can love you properly.”
She smiled. “I would like that very much, Your Grace.”
