Page 53 of The Trouble With Her Duke
“Thank God we found you.” He leaned back and noticed the blood streaming down the side of her face and his knees nearly buckled. “You’re hurt! Here, let me . . . “ He withdrew a small handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed her head.
“My handkerchief!” she exclaimed.
“Yes! Michael gave it to me to use in case Rosie needed it to find you—just like you taught him. But our very clever young pup had also secured a piece of fabric from one of your kidnappers. It will be good evidence to give the magistrate.”
“She’s an amazing dog. The children will be so proud of her,” she said, leaning her forehead against his. Then she pulled away. “Wait, you said our clever young pup.”
“Yes, I did.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Oh Damon, I. . .”
“Hush, love.” He gave her a gentle kiss. “I need to say something.”
She nodded.
“You are the most incredible woman I have ever met. I have no doubt you would have saved yourself. Hell, you practically did.” He nodded in the direction of the door, where his men had just taken the unconscious Naomi and the kidnapper. “Wait until the children hear how you nearly saved yourself. Lydia, my children have never had a mother, and I believe this whole mess with the governesses reflects that. Let’s get you and Rosie home. Dr. Baker should be there.”
They arrived home, and the front door to the manor house burst open. Michael and Mandy ran out, followed by the two dowager duchesses.
At the sight of both dowagers, Lydia gave Damon a curious look. Suppressing a grin, he simply shrugged.
“Foolish girl,” Sophy said, cradling Lydia’s face in her hands and kissing her on the nose. “Haven’t I told you to keep a chaperone with you? We came to see your new dresses and were devastated to learn of the fire and hear that you’d been kidnapped.”
“I had Rosie with me but wasn’t paying attention and didn’t hear them slip in behind us.”
“You’re injured,” Rosalind said, gently cupping the side of Lydia’s face. “Come inside. The doctor is in the parlor, waiting.”
“You found Miss Hammond and Rosie!” Michael cried out, tearfully hugging Lydia. “I sent your handkerchief with Father.”
“We were afeared you were gone,” Mandy said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry I scared you both.” Lydia knelt and wrapped her arms around both children. “I’ll be much more aware of my surroundings in the future.”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Mrs. Jenkins said. “I didn’t know what I was going to do with these children. They were beside themselves with worry. We all were. I enlisted Annabelle’s help in keeping them occupied. You simply cannot leave us—for any reason, again, dear girl!” the older woman blurted and hung her head. “I apologize, Your Grace.”
“Not at all,” Damon said. He realized he had not let go of Lydia’s hand. By their sly smiles, he realized his aunt and the Dowager Duchess of Featherly had also noticed. He didn’t care one whit.
At Lydia’s insistence, Dr. Baker examined Rosie, first.
“Rosie has a couple of broken ribs. I don’t know how she managed to walk—except through sheer determination,” Dr. Baker said, walking into the parlor with his sleeves rolled up. “I bandaged her to help with the healing. She needs to rest.” He nodded at Lydia. “I’m ready to see Miss Hammond.”
“One moment,” Damon said. “While you are all here, I’d like to ask Miss Hammond, something and I’m afraid she will not take me seriously otherwise.”
He dropped to one knee and gazed into Lydia’s beautiful violet eyes. “We have much to discuss, and I’m sure many lively debates are in our future, but. . .”
A hush fell over the room.
“Lydia Hammond, until I met you, I never realized what I was missing in my life. And what I was missing was you. You are a strong, courageous, clever, beautiful, wonderful woman who challenges me at every turn. A woman who has embraced my children as her own. A woman who has brought joy and laughter into our lives. You’re all I’ve thought about since that day we bumped heads. Will you do me the honor of becoming my duchess, my partner in life and love, and the mother of my children?”
Lydia’s eyes brimmed with tears, and her hands trembled in his. “Yes, Damon. I will! I will be your wife! I love you with all my heart. And I love you too, you imps,” she said, turning to Michael and Mandy.”
“Hooray! We did it!” The children both hooted and hollered as they danced around Damon and Lydia.
Damon wrapped his arms around his children and Lydia. “I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life making you three happy.”
“And don’t forget Rosie,” Michael added.
“And Rosie, too,” Damon said with a chuckle.
