Page 57 of Til Death Duke Us Part
“A worm!” She stuck the tip of her shovel in the ground and rested one arm on it. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to get you.” He straightened his cuffs, rolled his eyes. “What else would I be doing here? Robbing graves?” The slightest tug upward at the corner of his lips. “Sadly, I’ve given up the criminal life. It’s likely the only way you’ll have me.”
Her heart stuttered. “I… I’m so proud of you, Victor. Today, at Hyde Park… you were glorious.”
“Lord Driditch thought so, too. He’s completely financed the creation and launching of Peabottom’s aeronautical device. Peabottom is my alchemist partner. Brilliant fellow. Somehow terribly dim at the same time.”
She drew a line in the soil with the toe of her boot. “Congratulations.”
“I’ve already a pile of alchemists begging for my help selling their devices. I’m saved.”
A worm poked up out of the soil then dove back down, undisturbed in its sinuous journey.
“That is wonderful, Victor.”
“I owe it to you.”
She shook her head. “You did it. You… you didn’t even tell me.”
“Is that why you ran?”
What answer could she give? She’d run for multiple reasons, not the least of which was a fear he didn’t want her there. She gave a small, pitiful laugh. “A duke’s mistress should not be seen with him in public.”
“Damn it, Sephy.” He ruffled a hand through his hair. “I didn’t tell you because I was terrified I would fail, and I didn’t want you to see me failing. I’ve been failing for years now, and you’ve seen me at my worst. I wanted you to see me at my best. In the vain hope it would convince you to marry me. I should have just accepted your parents’ offer in Manchester.”
Her head shot up. “What offer?” She knew he’d spoken with her parents, changed their hearts toward her, but they’d not mentioned an offer.
“Right after you hied off with my money, they paid me a little visit, offered you up with mountains of gold attached to you. A little wedding present. But I told them no and”—he grinned—“taught them a little lesson, I hope.”
“You denied my parents?” She was terribly confused. Her heart didn’t know whether to expand with joy or plummet in despair. “You could have married me, took the money, and solved all your problems!”
He nodded. “I had everything I’d wanted in the palm of my hand.” He held his hand up, palm to the sky like he had when he’d made dancers waltz across his palm. “But it wasn’t right. It felt like theft, and I know how you feel about that. Besides, your happiness… your future… I could never steal that. I am a rather wretched thief after all. What a bloody fool I am.” He dropped his arm to his side.
“I thank you for your foolishness.” She was silent a moment. “I would not have been unhappy. Married to you.”
He lifted a single eyebrow.
“Oh, I would have raged at my parents for selling me off without my consent. I would have stomped about and led you on a merry chase.”
“I would have run after you. Exhausting proposition.”
“You could have simply drawn a bath and waited. I would have come back. Poverty is not… easy. And money can help alleviate it for so many if in the right hands. I am determined my hands are the right ones.” Yes, she’d decided to climb, to stop digging. And she would lift as many up with her as possible.
“You’re determined to use my newly hard-earned money for charity work, then? I’m not surprised. Very well. I allow it.”
She grinned. “Oh, not your money, your grace.”
He tilted his head to the side, a storm cloud growing over his head.
She waved it away. “This is delicious. Hold onto the dirt, Victor, or you’re sure to fall down.”
He crossed one ankle over the other.
“A few days after I arrived in London, I went home from here, dirty as an urchin, and found my parents sitting in my rooms, looking horrified and pale. And contrite.”
“Rooms is generous. There’s only one, darling.”
She swatted his shoulder.
