“Very well,” she said flatly. “What is it?”
She heard Val sigh and beneath it was the weight of a sob. She heard him breath again twice more, clearly trying to get his emotions under control.
“I overheard some women talking in the bakery on the day that we went into Faering,” he said. “The things they said broke my heart.”
Cecily blinked. She had not expected anything like what he had just said. She scooted forward in her seat, now curious and concerned.
“What did they say?” she asked.
She listened, bewildered, as he explained how they had made fun of him and called her daft for marrying him. Her guard dropped quickly as he spoke. Suddenly, everything made sense to her. He had not sent her away because she had done something wrong or because he was ashamed of her. He had done it because he was ashamed of himself.
“Oh, Val,” she said, putting her hand over her chest. “I am so sorry that that happened to you.”
He was silent for a moment before chuckling softly.
“You are so sweet,” he said. “You heard all of that and yet you are concerned about me. Not at all what they said about you.”
Cecily blinked and nodded.
“Of course,” she said. “I do not care at all what society thinks of me. But I hate that what they said affected you so.” She said trying to touch his scars for the first time.
All these scars on his face… he should have had many difficult times…
She was right. The Duke had very tough days after his accident. One should have courage, strength and faith to overcome the insecurities caused by others with their vicious criticism. Especially when you are a beastly duke…
Val reached out and took her hands.
“That is one of the many reasons why I miss you so much,” he said.
Cecily gasped.
“Oh?” she asked.
Val laughed nervously.
“What we shared together was real, Cecily,” he said. “I do not regret our marriage, not even for a second. I sent you away because I love you, and I could not bear the thought of people treating you so poorly, just for being married to me. But now I realize that you only cared about us because you understand how cruel people can be.”
Cecily smiled sadly and nodded.
“Indeed,” she said.
Val squeezed her hands and she heard him breathe shakily again.
“Cecily,” he said. “I know that I have no right to say these things to you now. But I cannot live with myself if I do not. I have fallen madly in love with you. And, if you come back, I promise to make all this up to you for the rest of our lives, but if not, I promise you I will disappear forever.”
Cecily’s stomach, previously filled with the weight of grief and shame, now bloomed with a million butterflies. Tears of pure joy filled her eyes and she looked into the face of her husband. She reached up and touched his scarred cheek, which was damp.
“Oh Val, darling,” she said, overcome with emotion. “I love you, too.”
Val leapt to his feet, bringing her along with him.
“Does this mean that you will come home with me?” he asked tentatively.
Cecily laughed brightly, wiping her tears.
“Yes,” she said, nodding eagerly. “Yes, it certainly does.”
Val pulled her close to him and they shared a passionate kiss. Just then, she heard her mother and sister burst into the room, both of them crying.
