Page 71 of A Marriage of Convenience with a Rake
“Then yes,” she said softly. “I think we did. We broke it, Sebastian. Our love broke it. It undid what was done in the past.”
“Yes,” Sebastian murmured. “I think only love can do that. As Shakespeare tells us, it is infinite, not bound by time or space. I suppose it can touch each corner of the Universe and heal it.”
She gazed up at him and he smiled down at her and then he cleared his throat.
“You think it was him?” he asked, gesturing to the front page of the Bible. “Edward Montague.”
“Yes,” Eleanor said at once. “I think he must have laid the curse on your great-great-great-grandfather.”
“It wasn’t him,” Sebastian explained. “It was his aunt.”
“His aunt?” Eleanor looked confused.
He chuckled, enjoying the fact that he had at least one fact that she did not.Aunt Tessa had told the story well, and his own version felt less interesting as he told it, but he tried. As he told her, they fitted the remaining pieces of the story together.
Her great-great-great-grandfather was Edward Montague, who was the man in the article. It related how he had lost all of his fortune after an investment in the High Seas Shipping Company. The company was the one begun by the Marquess of Ramsgate, Sebastian’s great-great-great-grandfather.
“So, my great-great-great-great-aunt cursed your great-great-great-grandfather,” Eleanor said with a smile.
“Yes,” Sebastian murmured.
She grinned at him. “And that’s why Aunt Tessa thought the newspaper article could ward off the curse. Because it held the truth in it of where the curse had come from.”
“Yes,” Sebastian replied softly. “I suppose. Truth and Love together. I think no darkness can stand against such a light.”
“Quite so,” Eleanor murmured.
He gazed into her eyes, his heart flooding with love.
“I love you, Eleanor,” he said softly.
“And I love you, too,” Sebastian,” she whispered.
His heart was aching with love, and he leaned forward topress a kiss on her lips.
“The curse is broken,” Eleanor whispered. She giggled; eyes bright as she looked up at him.
“I know,” Sebastian said in a quiet tone. “But I still worry anyhow. I cannot help it. I know childbirth can be dangerous.”
“Well, you needn’t worry,” Eleanor said firmly. “I want to have lots of babies.”
“You do?” Sebastian laughed joyfully. “Well, I cannot argue with such a scheme.”
“Good,” she said, her green eyes bright and teasing as she looked up at him.
“I would not dream of arguing,” he said warmly, and kissed her tenderly on the cheek.
She giggled and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
They kissed.
Epilogue
Ramsgate Manor, July 1818
The sunshine poured in through the bedroom window and Eleanor blinked wearily. She felt dazed, like she was floating, exhaustion filling her and mixing with elation. She frowned, hearing voices outside the door. They slowly floated into her mind.
“Papa, please. I have to go in.” That was Sebastian.
