Page 81 of The Duke and his Hellion
The carriage came to a stop in front of Grouton Manor, the familiar sight of home bringing a sense of relief to both Charles and Abigail. As they stepped down from the carriage, Charles offered his hand to his wife, his touch gentle yet firm. Their eyes met, and in that moment, all the tension and uncertainty of the past few hours seemed to melt away.
Once inside, Charles led Abigail to the drawing room, closing the door behind them for privacy. They stood facing each other, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy in the air between them.
“So…” Charles said at last. “About that promise.”
A blush rose to Abigail’s cheeks and she looked down, though Charles placed a finger under her chin to lift her head so she could meet his gaze.
He took a deep breath, stepping closer to her. “I know we made a promise not to fall in love, but... I am not sorry that I have broken that promise. I love you, Abigail. I have fallen completely, irrevocably in love with you. And I would not have it any other way.”
Tears welled up in Abigail's eyes, a smile blooming on her face. “Oh, Charles,” she whispered. “I believe I broke that promise first. I love you too. I've been trying so hard not to, but I could not help it.”
Charles pulled her into his arms, holding her close as if he never wanted to let go. “When did you know?” he asked, his voice muffled against her hair.
Abigail laughed softly, pulling back to look up at him. “I think I have been falling for you since the beginning, but I realized it that day in the summerhouse. When you showed me that special place from your childhood... I saw the real you, and I knew I was in love.”
Charles smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “For me, it was the night of the Fairfax ball. Seeing you there, so beautiful and radiant... I suddenly could not imagine my life without you.”
They stood there for a moment, basking in the glow of their newfound honesty. Then, as if struck by the same thought, they both burst into laughter.
“We have been such fools, have we not?” Abigail said, shaking her head in amusement.
Charles nodded, grinning. “Utter fools. But no more. From now on, we face everything together, with complete honesty.”
“I like the sound of that,” Abigail agreed, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his lips.
As they broke apart, Charles's expression turned thoughtful. “I think we should celebrate this new beginning,” he said. “How would you feel about visiting your family? I'm sure they would love to hear our good news.”
Abigail's face lit up at the suggestion. “That is a wonderful idea. I have not seen Hugh in so long — he is always at work when I visit. Though I do suspect Lady Lourne will tell us that she knew all along.”
Charles only laughed, and within the hour, they were back in the carriage, this time heading towards the Wilkinson estate. The journey seemed to fly by, filled with soft conversation and tender glances. When they arrived, Abigail could barely contain her excitement as she practically dragged Charles to the front door.
Abigail beamed when the butler led the pair to the study where Hugh sat with little Graham in his arms, Harriet next to him.
“Well, well,” Hugh said, his eyes twinkling as he looked between Charles and Abigail. “What has brought about this unexpected visit? And why do you both look like cats that got into the cream?”
Abigail glanced at Charles, who nodded encouragingly. “Well,” she began, unable to keep the smile from her face, “Charles and I have some news. We... we have fallen in love.”
“Oh, I knew it,” Harriet let out with a joyous laugh. “Hugh, darling, did I not tell you?”
Hugh laughed softly. “She did,” he admitted. “In fact, ever since the pair of you spent some time dancing while my wife could hardly reach the pianoforte, she was adamant that ye were made for each other.”
Harriet merely laughed and Hugh turned his attention to Charles. “I must admit, Grouton, I had my doubts about ye at first. But seeing how happy you have made my sister... well, I am proud to have ye as my brother-in-law.”
Charles felt a lump form in his throat at Hugh's words. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “Your approval means more to me than you know.”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of laughter and joy. They shared the story of Beatrice’s scheme and its ultimate failure, earning gasps of shock and outrage from Harriet and Hugh. But even that dark cloud couldn't dampen their spirits for long.
As the sun began to set, Charles and Abigail reluctantly took their leave, promising to visit again soon. The carriage ride home was filled with a comfortable silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts about the wonderful day they’d had.
When they arrived back at Grouton Manor, Charles helped Abigail down from the carriage, but instead of heading inside, he led her to the garden. They strolled hand in hand through the fragrant roses, eventually coming to a stop beneath the old willow tree.
Charles turned to face Abigail, taking both her hands in his. “Abigail,” he said softly, “I know we have already said it, but I want you to know how much I truly love you. You have brought light and joy into my life in a way I never thought possible. I never want you to doubt that.”
Abigail felt tears prick at her eyes as she gazed up at him. “Oh, Charles,” she whispered. “I love you too, more than I can ever express.”
He leaned down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss that spoke volumes of his love and devotion. When they finally parted, both breathless and flushed, Abigail bit her lip, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face.
“Charles,” she said hesitantly, “what about your mother? Do you think... do you think she'll ever accept me?”
