Page 111 of A Tenuous Betrothal
“Yes, that looks delicious.” Marc waved it over to them, and Catrin set it down and left them. As they took from the tea and cakes and other offerings, he considered how happy he would be to begin every day just like this one. “Would you perhaps like a tour of my house?”
“Oh, I would indeed! I’ve been admiring it from afar all these days.”
“Then, we shall go as soon as we finish here.”
“And Catrin does my hair.”
“Must she?” He enjoyed how it hung freely about her shoulders like she’d worn it on the ship. He ran his fingers down the length of it.
“Unless you’d like me to shock the whole of the palace into thinking you’ve brought a hoyden to come and stay.”
“We cannot have that.” He brought the tips of her tresses to his mouth. “But I do love seeing you like this.”
Her cheeks turned pink again. No matter what she tried to hide, he always knew when he reached her. Her cheeks didn’t lie.
“And finally, my news,” he said.
“Yes, what is this news?”
“Our teams have alerted everyone we can alert. If Napoleon finds himself free from exile and wreaking havoc on our nations again, it will not be without us having done our best to warn them.” He brought a sip of tea to his lips. “But even that is not my news.”
“Out with it, man.” She grinned.
“We received a letter from Wales.” He held it out to her.
“Oh, excellent!” She opened it hungrily and then cleared her throat. “It looks as though Uncle has kept his word and is being a wiser steward with the investments you made. Children are enrolled in school. Women are given a choice as to where they’d like to work. And the Davy lamps are being used in every tunnel.” She glanced up. “Have I thanked you properly for that? Did you really want to be part owner of a Welsh mine?”
“Of course I did. After meeting you, I knew miners to be stubborn.”
Her mouth dropped open, and then the corner lifted in a slow smile. “Again you are calling me stubborn?”
He grinned in response. “Well, yes. It is one of the finer Welsh qualities, actually. As well as being honorable, hardworking, and beautiful singers.”
“Much improved over stubborn.”
“But what if your stubbornness is one of the qualities I love most about you?” Marc was rewarded again with the slight pink of Rhi’s cheeks. “And therefore a fine quality for any Welsh miner.” He grinned. “In truth, I know the mines mean something to you. And now they mean something to me.”
They hadn’t yet really talked about things. Besides her teasing, no more mention was made of his brothers trying to win her hand. But he had seen Henri and Karl spending time with her. She fit right in with his family. The other morning, he’d found her with his mother, laughing so hard they’d been in tears. He couldn’t fathom what was so funny about a bit of fabric, but he was pleased, nonetheless.
“I’m afraid you’ve quite distracted me. You were going to tell me about our fathers,” he said.
“Ah yes. My news.” She shifted in her seat and sat taller. “Do you recall your father mentioning my mother’s family here in Oldenburg? I was looking through volumes of your family’s genealogy.”
“Sounds riveting.”
“Oh, come now. I’d like to know what kind of shoulders I’ll be standing on, generationally speaking.”
“And what did you learn?”
“I think—” And then her eyes welled up, and he quickly brought out a handkerchief.
“My dear, are you well? Is this good news?” He thought so, but tears were tears...
“I am well. This is the best kind of news. At least, I think so.” She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief he handed her. “I think I found record of my mother.” She shifted the book. “And her mother and hers, for generations going back a century, here in Oldenburg.” Her smile was wavery but happy. “The letters in that box from my attic prove it. They are addressed to a family here by the name of Wilson. Your father told us as much, but to see her name...” She could no longer speak, the importance of the moment overwhelming her.
He pulled the book closer and read carefully. “She was of the royal line?”
Rhi nodded. “I believe so. Our fathers knew. It is why yours came to Oxford when mine was there.”
