Page 54 of Wedded to the Loveless Duke
“You never mentioned any interest on your part.” Eleanor lowered her head, the brim of her bonnet shadowing her face. “I thought I was mistaken to think you held any interest in me and convinced myself you were there for my father, not for me.”
“I see.”
“I knew then that I wanted you. When I realized it was you I had married, I was so angry with you.”
“That much I knew,” Phillip muttered with a grimace.
She laughed. “I suppose you did. I hardly tried to hide it. It is a wonder you never lost your temper with me!”
He reached out and took her hand, popping the grape into his mouth and taking time to consider his reply. “I knew that if I could simply break down your walls and show you that you were mistaken, you would change your tune. I admit that it was difficult for me at times.”
“Now, things are so much different than I ever thought they would be.” She squeezed his hand and lifted her head. “You know, I have grown terribly fond of you.”
“Only fond, my love?” Phillip shook his head in mock sadness. “It seems I have not done my job nearly as well as I imagined I had.”
Eleanor leaned over and kissed his cheek before turning her attention to her food. “You know I have never been the sentimental sort, Phillip. If you must know, though, I am more than fond of you.”
“When did you realize that?” he asked, suddenly wanting to know.
Her lips curled in a soft smile. “Truth be told, I think I began to feel so on our wedding night when you walked away from that kiss. I first realized it on some subconscious level when you finally kissed me that night after the Bedfords’ ball. Consciously? I realized it when the whole truth of the matter came out. I suppose it felt safe to admit how I felt once I knew how sorely I had misjudged those who love me.”
Phillip sighed. “You know that I am amongst those who love you, do you not?”
“I realized that along the way too.” She took a bite of her sandwich and stared at the water with a thoughtful look on her face. “Phillip, I need to apologize for what I said and how I acted.”
He cupped her chin in his hand. There was nothing to forgive. She’d been upset, frightened and out of her element. True, she was stubborn, sometimes to a fault, and it had taken much longer to bring her around than he’d expected.
He leaned in, tipping her chin up. “There is nothing to be forgiven, my love. I know you were struggling, and I was in part responsible for it. You acted based on what you knew.”
“Still, I feel dreadful for what I said and did. You did not deserve that.”
“Perhaps not.” He ran his thumb over her lower lip with a sad smile. “Still, I felt it was fair for my duplicity. What you have just told me only further convinces me that I was correct in my assessment.”
Eleanor met his gaze with a sad smile of her own. “Phillip, you are so good to me. How did I ever come to be so fortunate?”
“Perhaps by spilling wine all over our host’s fine white table linens?” he teased, his lips quirking up in amusement. “Or by discussing Locke and Shakespeare with equal interest?”
She laughed. “Truly, I know of no other man who would find those things so endearing that he would go to such lengths to marry the woman who could manage them.”
“I am heartily relieved to hear that there is no competition, then.” Phillip closed the distance between them, kissing her softly.
She sighed and melted into him. When he pulled away, she made a quiet mew of protest. He stroked her cheek before sitting back and taking a bite of his sandwich.
“I have something to show you once we finish eating.”
Eleanor finished off her sandwich. “What is it?”
“A surprise.” He swallowed the last bite of his sandwich and stood up. “It is just a little way down the lake’s shore. We can return to the picnic after.”
She let him help her to her feet, and he led her down the rocky shore of the lake and walked alongside her until they reached a large structure he’d had built for her.
“What is this?” She turned to him with a frown.
“I saw how much you liked the greenhouse at the Bedfords’ estate, and I thought you might like one of your own. I have even built a gazebo inside for holding tea parties if you like. I plan to have a trail cut to it so that ladies may bring their carriages out here or ride together.”
Eleanor’s eyes filled with tears, and she threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Phillip. Truly, it is beautiful.”
“You have not yet seen the inside. How can you say so?”
