Page 43 of The Brooding Duke's Fateful Letter
“I cannot tell you how happy you have made me, My Lady,” he said, cupping her face for a tender kiss. This time he showed more passion, yet asked instead of demanding. “There is just one small detail, My Lady,” he said with a chuckle.
“What is it, Your Grace.” Charlotte said as she tried to figure it out before it was said. Nothing she came up with did not scare her.
“Our families will be upset. We did not involve them. We shall have to do this again in their presence.”
“Well, if that is the only concern, Your Grace. I shall gladly do it.” Charlotte replied with a relieved laugh.
Chapter 16
The duke felt elated that she felt the way he did for her. He had played this moment in his head over and over. Never did it compare to the immense joy coursing through him. The voyage they had spoken about would now be an engagement celebration and not only to get their families together. He still held her hand in his. He had thought that he would never put a ring on a woman’s finger.
After Emma had left, who could he trust? The very person who had sworn to always love him, had left him without much consideration. With this woman by his side, he had confidence that she would. Stay there.
I just hope she will not despise me when she finds out that I’ve hidden one more thing from her! The duke thought as he looked at her. As she stared down at the ring, he could not tell how she felt.
“If you do not like it, My Lady. We can go back to the jewelers and we can exchange it.”
“No never. I do not want to remove it, let alone exchange it, Your Grace. It is the most splendidly beautiful thing I have seen in my life, thank you,” she said, as happy tears streamed down her face.
“I thought that about you, My Lady. The night we met,” he said.
“And I thought how fortunate I was to have been rescued by such a handsome gentleman,” she replied.
“I also thought that it would be more romantic if I were to have a ring already when I asked you. I chose this one as it reminded me of your eyes,” he explained to her. He felt nervous each time he spoke to her plainly about his feelings. Each time she had encouraged him, he had thought of how the pain of her eventual rejection would be.
“It is perfect, Your Grace.”
Henry moved back to his seat and looked at all the food he had brought.
“The sun is getting low in the sky, My Lady. I shall have to plan a picnic to make up for this picnic,” he said, feeling too disappointed to hide it.
“I think we could eat and talk further, Your Grace. This picnic has, after all become our private celebration.”
He watched as Bethany spread cheese onto a slice of honey bread. “Besides it has been a few hours since lunch. This is practically a starter to dinner.”
“You do not think it unwise to stay here until dark, My Lady?” he asked.
“We do not have to stay that long, Your Grace. We should have another hour or two at the very least before sunset,” she said, before taking a small bite and closing her eyes to relish the flavor. “Besides, I have such a strong man at my side that I fear more for anyone who is on the wrong side of you.” He couldn’t miss her look of admiration.
“In that case, My Lady. You have my full attention,” he said with a smile.
“Good.” She returned his smile. “I hope that from now on, I will be the only woman who has your full attention, Your Grace.”
“Certainly, My Lady. Come to think of it. Since we are engaged. I believe we can drop the honorific, My… Bethany.” He said her name as if trying out the sound of it. “If you look I had the ring inscribed with your name.” He was unable to contain his excitement. He had hoped she would like the gesture. As he watched her, she seemed to have had an uncertainty break her joyous mood.
“That is lovely, Your… Henry, thank you, that is so thoughtful. I must admit, saying your name is strange,” she said, as she took her ring off to look for the inscription.
“It is refreshing to hear something other than Your Grace,” Henry replied.
He had so few people who were close to him. He was addressed more by his title than his name for most of his thirty-six years.
“I suppose it is rather awkward, as we will be married soon.” Bethany said after she had taken a moment to finish yet another slice of bread.
They sat there until the first star started to shine in the night sky. They then packed their picnic and took it to the carriage. The voyage back home seemed a world away from when they had left home in the morning. He was under the impression that asking her would not change anything. It had done the complete opposite and had made him love her more, want to protect her even more than ever before.
“Would you like dinner? Or would you join me for tea before we retire for the night?” He liked that he could now make plans with her, and not only entertain her as a guest.
“I am most definitely not in need of more food. However, I shall like to join you for tea,” his betrothed replied as she put her hand on her stomach to indicate how full she was.
