Page 87 of Their Brazen Countess
From what Arthur could see, Linc looked contrite. He must be nursing quite the hangover, based on what Jo had related to him the night before. She’d been beside herself with worry, so he’d invited Stone and Theo over for dinner to discuss the situation. Of course, Stone had been all for pounding some sense into Linc. But Theo had insisted on another course of action: this course of action. Talking to him in the clear light of day and out in the fresh air. They’d planned to take Matthew to the park anyway, so it was quite easy to arrange everything else from there. The only risk was Linc refusing to take the drive, but Theo had assured them she could get him in the vehicle. How, Arthur hadn’t wanted to know.
Jo handed him a cup of lemonade then waited. Linc was the one who needed to speak first.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the last few days and I am sorry for not sharing more openly with you both before now.” Linc stared at the cup of lemonade in his hand.
“What have you not shared?” Arthur asked, curiosity getting the best of him. He and Linc were so close, he found it hard to believe there was much he didn’t know about this man; about the man that he loved.
“I had a sister,” Linc started with a deep exhale.
Shock and a spark of a memory from the night Matthew was taken slammed into Arthur, hard and brutal. “A sister? How? You’ve never spoken of her.” He inhaled sharply. “That’s not quite right. You mentioned her that night outside of the Downs’ home.”
“Yes. I haven’t spoken of her in years,” Linc agreed.
Arthur looked over at Jo, who looked terribly pale at this point, but he didn’t want to interrupt Linc’s story. Linc went on to explain how his sister died and what happened afterward with his parents.
“Oh, my poor Linc. You do know it was not your fault, don’t you?” Jo asked as she leaned across and took his hands in hers.
Linc had long since finished the drink and set the glass aside. “Yes, and no. As an adult, I understand I was not responsible for what happened, any more than Matthew was responsible for what happened to him. But that little boy still lives inside me and at times I stillfeelresponsible. It makes little sense, but it’s not something I can seem to control.” He shrugged. “So when Matthew was taken that little boy reared his head, and I felt responsible once again when…when perhaps I shouldn’t have.”
“If anyone was responsible, of the three of us, it was me,” Jo said firmly. “I was the one who married Lord Whitestone, I was the one who allowed the situation to get so out of control. But truly, in the end, it was all Lady Downs. She is the one who chose to take Matthew. She couldn’t let the title go, even once they had the unentailed portion of the money.”
Linc nodded. “I am sorry I didn’t tell you of Melanie before now. Perhaps the last few days could have been avoided had I been more open with you both.”
“Perhaps, but perhaps not. You may have had the same reaction—the only thing which might have changed was how we dealt with it,” Arthur offered with a smile. “I certainly wouldn’t have let you sod off on your own like I did.”
Linc chuckled. “I probably would have fought you on it, but either way, I am sorry.”
“So are we.” Jo squeezed his hand. “We should have realized there was something more going on with you, not just left you to get blazingly drunk alone.”
“Apology accepted.” Linc smiled at them.
“It’s getting late, but Linc, we’d like you to be in our home for dinner tonight, the home of all three of us—and back in our room, where you belong.” Jo looked at Linc, and then over at Arthur. Her heart shone in her eyes as she looked for his agreement.
“Absolutely, Linc. Come home. We miss you.” Arthur leaned over to slap Linc on the shoulder.
“That would be wonderful,” he said with almost a shy smile. “Assuming I can get a ride with you. Otherwise it may be a long walk home from here, and missing dinner is a very real possibility.”
They all laughed.
“Of course we have room for you. Unlike Theo, we brought a very practical landau.” Arthur grinned and they began packing up the picnic.
That night, after a lovely dinner, Jo waited for Linc and Arthur to join her in the drawing room. She had been busy finding as many candles as she could after they got home. Every surface was covered in candles and a pair of maids had been lighting them since halfway through dinner. There were only a few left to light by the time she came in after excusing herself. Once Linc and Arthur joined her all was ready, and she waited for them alone.
Linc came in first. “What’s all this?”
Behind him, Arthur smiled, because he’d known Jo had been up to something. “This is what you were doing instead of resting, as you should have been after the picnic.”
“It was.” She smiled lovingly at both of them: her men, her hearts. “I wanted us to renew our vows to each other. I think it’s important, after all that we’ve been through, all we’ve learned.”
Linc nodded and took Arthur’s hand and walked him over to where she stood. Then he took Jo’s hand, and held them both in one hand. “I swear to love, honor, and cherish you both. To never hold secrets that aren’t wonderful surprises. To never pull away from you without talking to you both first. And I promise to love our son and any future children, and protect them as fiercely as I shall love and protect you both.”
Arthur said the same thing. “I swear to love, honor, and cherish you both. To never hold secrets that aren’t wonderful surprises. To never pull away from you without talking to you both first. And I promise to love our son and any future children, and protect them as fiercely as I shall love and protect you both.”
Jo smiled through the happy tears that slipped down her cheeks. “I swear to love, honor, and cherish you both. To never hold secrets that aren’t wonderful surprises. To never pull away from you without talking to you both first. And I promise to love our son and protect him as fiercely as I shall love and protect you both.” She took a breath and then continued on. “Three hearts entwined to beat as one. Three souls merged to live as one.”
Linc and Arthur repeated the phrase to finish the vow from their original ceremony. Then Linc pulled Jo into his arms and kissed her until she felt like she was floating three inches off the floor. After he released her, he kissed Arthur just as passionately, then Arthur kissed her.
It was a perfect moment, just the three of them. And Jo knew it was true, and forever.
