Page 61 of Love, the Duke
CHAPTER18
MAN’S PRACTICAL GUIDE TO APPREHENDING A THIEF
SIR BENTLY ASHTON ULLINGSWICK
Take help wherever you find it.
“All right,” she answered tentatively but knew she was fearful that something wasn’t right.
“I want to propose a toast.”
A toast?
That made the tightness in her chest ease a little. She nodded. A toast couldn’t be too bad, could it? Perhaps even appropriate for just the two of them, even though there had been several from his friends throughout the afternoon.
“I want you to know that while I didn’t agree to marry you when Winston approached me about the possibility, I am grateful fate later brought us together and I know that he had blessed our marriage long before it took place.”
Ophelia’s heart felt as if it melted into a puddle in his hands. The sentiment was so touching that for a moment she thought she might have tears glistening in her eyes.
“That is very kind of you to say and to remember Winston privately to me on this day. It means so much to me, and I believe that too. If he were here, he would bevery happy. He wanted me to marry well, knowing if I was taken care of, so would our mother be.”
“Her home is with us for as long as she wants,” he assured her. They clinked their glasses, and each took a sip.
Hurst took a few steps away and leaned his back against the spiral bedpost. “I’m glad I can repay some of the kindness your mother showed to me when I was a boy. I’ve always felt she was protective of me.”
Once again, Ophelia felt the need to know more about his childhood, but sensed this wasn’t the right time to delve deeper into his past. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself from saying, “I asked Maman to tell me about you, but she didn’t tell me much except she was quite fond of you.”
“As I am of her. There’s no reason she couldn’t tell you anything she might know about me. Winston and I did the usual boy things. We rode your father’s horse and my uncle’s all over the meadow and bogs. We fished in the pond and looked for frogs.”
Ophelia laughed softly.
“I was always envious of your brother.”
The faraway look in his eyes caused Ophelia’s heart to squeeze. “If that is true, I’m sure Winston didn’t know.”
“Believe me. It is true. My father would leave me for months at the time and never once write and inquire about me while he was gone. And usually, he would be weeks late to return for me. Your father and mother were very protective of Winston. If we were going to leave the area around the vicarage, they wanted to know where we were going and they expected us to not change our plans without telling one of them. I didn’t understand that kind of caring but I wanted it. My father never worried about where I went or if I came home. Winston said his fatherwanted to know in case he ever had to go looking for us, so he’d know in which direction to go.”
It was difficult for Ophelia to imagine what it must have been like to not have the security of loving parents. Perhaps that is why Hurst had always seemed so protective of her. “It is comforting to know someone cares for you enough to worry. I suppose there were reasons your father was that way.”
Hurst straightened. “And I suppose you are right. Tell me, are you feeling more relaxed now that everyone is gone, and we are alone?”
Accepting his signal that he’d said all he was going to about his past, she answered, “Yes, I think so.” There was still the biggest part of the night to get through. She wasn’t dreading it, but she did wonder how it would all come about that they would end up in the same bed together.
“I want you to be settled. Continue to drink the champagne.”
She nodded and took another sip.
“Your hair is beautiful, Ophelia. I wondered how long it would be. I like the inviting way it spills around your shoulders and drapes down your back with waves and curls.”
“Your hair is beautiful too,” she replied in the same easy manner he’d spoken.
A chuckle rumbled in his chest.
“It’s true,” she said. “It feels like silk and the color is lovely. Especially when the sun sparkles off it.”
Hurst’s smile let her know he appreciated her compliment while his eyes narrowed with good humor. “You noticed that?”
“How could I not notice a sparkle? I find it very attractive the way you wear it low across your forehead.” She glanced at his hair again. “Lamplight sparkles off it too. So yes, it’s beautiful.”
