Page 75 of The Duke’s Impossible Match

“He belongs to you,” Gerald said, noticing how Clara was getting more and more downcast. He stepped towards her and lightly touched her arm. “You are upset.”

“I don’t want to say goodbye,” Clara said. Emotion trembled under her words and made them unsteady. It got the better of her and the tears started flowing down her cheeks, while her shoulders shuddered. Gerald immediately put his hands on her shoulders and drew her close. She leaned into his chest. Her trembling body shook against him.

Gerald made a comforting noise.

“I know it is for the best. I know they will be better off for it. I know they are in need of a home and loving parents. But saying goodbye will be the hardest thing I have ever had to do.”

“I know, but think of it this way: they have this opportunity because of you. If it weren’t for you, they would be, well… goodness knows. It doesn’t bear thinking about. We will be able to handle it in the end. We must just be strong, together, and know that we have made the most of our time with the children.”

“I wanted to tell you. I wasn’t sure you realized…” she trailed off. Gerald squeezed her.

“It was in the back of my mind, although I did not like to face the prospect. It’s not easy to suddenly lose the presence of those who mean so much to you. And I think we know that better than most,” he said.

Clara looked up. In her liquid eyes, he saw his own feelings reflected towards him. They both knew the pain of separation, and neither were keen to endure it again. He gently wiped the tears away from her cheeks. They were warm against his thumbs. As he stroked her cheeks, a soft smile was elicited.

“They are going to have good lives,” she said.

“And it’s all because of you.”

“Not only me. You have had a good influence on them as well. Teddy has been practicing his bowing ever since you met because he believes that Dukes should know how to bow.”

Gerald chuckled.

“He isn’t wrong. Would you like me to be present when you tell them?”

“That would be agreeable,” Clara replied.

They stayed together for a moment longer, giving each other a chance to calm their emotions. Then, they returned to the others. Gerald stared at the children and suppressed his feelings. It was strange to think that soon enough they would no longer be in his life, but he had to remind himself that it was for their own good. They would each find new homes, new people to love them, and they would go from strength to strength.

Nothing could stay the same forever. Sometimes this was a good thing, and sometimes it wasn’t.

Chapter Thirty-One

“Children!” Clara called for the third time, but again there was no response. Breakfast was ready, but the table was empty. Clara huffed and marched up to their rooms. She was ready to rebuke them for misbehaving, thinking that perhaps they were rebelling against the proposed changes to their lives.

When she saw the children, her heart melted. They were sleeping in the same bed together, a tangle of limbs and hair that made it difficult to tell where one of them ended and the others began. Duke was at the foot of the bed, as much a part of the group as any other.

Clara and Agatha had considered numerous possibilities for placing the children, but none of them seemed suitable. Looking at them now, Clara understood why. As she stared at them, Clara realized that it would be impossible to separate them. It would be like severing her own arm. Possible, yes, but the pain was only necessary under the direst conditions, and only to serve the greater good of the body.

No greater good would be served by separating them. They saw each other as family, and sending them to different homes would only have caused distress. Instead of waking them, she let them sleep. They should be left to enjoy this comfort while it lasted.

Gerald walked into the kitchen a little while later with a confused look on his face.

“Where are the children?” he asked.

“I did not have the heart to wake them,” Clara said. She turned to face him. Glistening tears were evident on her cheeks. Gerald rushed to her side and wiped the tears away from her cheeks. She fell against him and sobbed. “Oh, Gerald.”

“My love, what troubles you?”

“Everything. I know the children need a permanent home, but I cannot bear to separate them or lose them. I know it is selfish of me and I’m sure I will get over it in time, but it is the hardest thing I have ever had to do and I’m not sure I shall ever recover from saying farewell.”

“I have been thinking the same thing,” Gerald murmured. “Clara, there is an alternative. I could not bear to lose them just as much as I could not bear to lose you. Clemont Hall is big enough for all of us. How would you feel about becoming guardians to the children?”

Clara’s eyes flashed with promise, although they were quickly shadowed with doubt.

“Are you certain? Do you really wish this, or are you only suggesting it for my sake?”

Gerald smirked and kissed the tracks of her tears. “This is not something that I take lightly. I adore the children. They have awakened something inside me that I did not know I possessed. They are wondrous creatures and one never quite knows what they are going to do next. I have had plenty of order in my life as yet. Perhaps it is time to add a little chaos.”