Page 97 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“You sir, are about to be handed over to the French authorities, and I hope you spend a long time in a French prison. We will have you taken to the local Gendarmerie Nationale.”
“I only wanted to … I didn’t mean any harm,” whined Christopher Farrington.
“Nonsense, man. Following these ladies to France, and then making a nuisance of yourself with a musket. You need to be locked up in a mental asylum, at the very least. From the looks of you, I doubt you are capable of rational thought. But a French gaol will suit you very well.”
At that moment, Robert and Simon raced into the room.
“Where’s Henry and Freddy?” mouthed Arabella to Robert.
“With Tabitha and Judd. All safe and sound,” Robert responded before turning to his brother-in-law. “Rathby! Let’s hand this villain over to the gendarmes and find some French cognac.
***
Later that evening, when the boys were tucked up in bed, Robert took Arabella by the arm and led her out to the terrace.
“Oh, look a glow worm,” she said, pointing out a bright light in the darkness of the terrace. “Henry will be so sorry he didn’t see it. I’ll let him stay up late tomorrow and hope it appears again.”
“We shall have to request it puts in a special appearance. They are such wonderful creatures and an excellent reason to stay up late.”
“Look at the stars, so clear and bright,” he said, pointing up to the sky.
“I thought something had happened to you, Elinor, and my mother. We knew something was wrong, and we met Monsieur Craven running to the stables to get help,” Robert told her.
“Christopher Farrington was always a coward. I believe we would have overcome him even if Charles hadn’t appeared. I was very glad he arrived when he did. I think it is called serendipity. Elinor looks so happy to be reunited with her Lord Colonel again,” said Arabella, putting her hand in his.
“And little Freddy’s face lit up with such excitement when he saw his father,” added Robert.
“This is such a beautiful place, and here I am in the moonlight with a French Marquis.”
“Duke, Marquis, it matters not,” he said, his voice a little uncertain.
She looked at him, wondering if something was the matter.
“I’ve been waiting to find a moment to do this, and every time I was about to, something else went wrong. I’m hoping this is the right time and place.” He looked at her intently, and her heart fluttered as she moved towards him.
He surprised her by dropping down on one knee. “Dearest Arabella, my beautiful Bella, my life was empty before I met you. Now I have danger and excitement every day.” He laughed, “I didn’t mean that last line …” He took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips. “I fell in love with you the first time we met; it just took me a little while to figure out what had happened to me. I know we are already engaged, but I never got a chance to do this properly.”
“I love you so very much. Will you marry me? I can’t imagine a day in my life without you in it.”
Arabella stood spellbound. Time stood still around them as she nodded, unable to find her voice to say ‘yes’. This was what life was about, love and building a life together, and she knew this was where she was meant to be.
“Look, a shooting star,” he whispered as he moved her close to him and put his arm around her waist. “We must show Henry and Freddy. There is a meteor shower every year in France at this time. But tonight, I have other priorities, and he drew her into his embrace, and his lips met hers.
Warm sparks radiated from her heart through her body, making her feel alive with energy as she curved her body closer to the Marquis de la Rochaille.
“How special to become properly engaged under a shower of stars,” she murmured. “I’ve heard you should never stop kissing under a shooting star.”
“I’d make a wish,” he whispered close to her ear, “but my heart’s desire is already in my arms.”
Epilogue
Castle Montford
Early September
“I now pronounce that they be man and wife together,” came the loud, strong words of the Reverend Nathaniel Colbrooke as he married his friends Robert and Arabella on a sunny September day in St Mary’s Church on the village green in Montbury.
The bishop had wanted to conduct the service as the duke was a peer of the realm, but Robert had been determined that his friend should marry him to his beautiful Bella.
