Page 159 of Ironvine

She sipped at her drink, enjoying the warmth down her throat. “You realise that if your mother and my father had been allowed to marry when they were young, you and I would not exist.”

“A maddening thought.” Charles met her gaze. “I am glad that her heart’s desire was not lost to her. All this time I thought my mother never knew love, never knew happiness, only—”

She put her fingers on his lips, stopping him from saying the words. Words of darkness, cruelty, the past. “She fought for her happiness and won. Sophie was a triumph.”

A slow smile grew over his lips. “She was, indeed. I only wish I had known her in that great happiness. In that freedom she must have experienced during that time with him. That wild, deep joy that I feel now with her lover’s daughter.” He planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

“We have that happiness, Charles. We enjoy that freedom.”

“We do. You and I are here on this earth as a consequence of a collision of circumstances, ambitions, and desires. And years later we came together in another chaotic collision. Had we not experienced that madness in London, we would not have found each other in this way.”

Putting her empty glass down, she slid a hand inside his dressing gown and stroked his smooth, hard chest. “We would be lost. Married to others or alone. Unhappy, dissatisfied, and the worst of it—probably none the wiser.” Georgina nestled in his embrace, her head against his chest, his heart thumping under her cheek. “I don’t even want to imagine it.”

His arms wrapped around her firmly. “Our destiny may have been unraveled that night, but we were not helpless, we both made choices. And you were a clear voice in the storm. When you arrived at Hyde Park after the duel, you chose me. When I offered my hand to you to escape your brother’s wrath, again, you chose me.” He drew a deep breath. “No one has ever—”

She took the words from his lips with a kiss. Sacred words, words of the heart, of the blood. Words that burned in her veins.

“All my life, I learned to close my eyes to the things I didn’t want to see around me, but I couldn’t close my heart to the things I didn’t want to feel. I couldn’t close my heart to the things I needed. You, my darling Georgie, have opened my heart. Opened it and filled it. Flooded it.” A raw breath heaved from his lips. “I love you.”

Her heart surged with heat. “I love you, Charles.” A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Oh no, have I ruined the renowned rake, Charles Montclare?”

“Indeed. It would seem that in this affair not you, but I had the sordid downfall.”

ChapterSeventy

Charles

The Oakleys were leaving Gloucestershire,and Charles and Georgina had gone to Tidesfar to wish them farewell. The staff had said their goodbyes and listened to their master and mistress’s words of thanks and farewell and had retreated.

Before their coach, the Duke smiled at Georgina as he kissed her hand gently. “Countess, I greatly look forward to having you paint my duchess’s portrait and work on my own commissions.” He tilted his head, the slight narrowing of his eyes unmistakable.

“I shall be ready, Your Grace. I thank you for all you and Her Grace have done for us.” Georgina bowed to the Duke.

The Duchess took Charles’s arm, and they both moved away a few degrees. She had something private to share with him. “She has arrived and awaits him. We will be there in two days’ time.”

“Very well.”

“You must never ask me more. If there is ever something of import to tell you, I shall do so. That is the way it must be.”

“I understand, and I agree. As I told His Grace, I forfeit all to his authority and his pleasure.”

“Ah, Ryvves.” Her lips tipped up in a slight smile.

“Before you go, I must tell you one thing, Your Grace. The night before my brother died, at that last ball in London, he had remarked two things to me. Firstly, that you were the only woman he could ever love, and also how much he admired your marriage. How he felt it took two very special people to maintain such a unique and rare bond.”

Her steady gaze met his. “I would be lost without my husband. He is my rock in all things and I am for him. I know what he and I share is not ordinary, but it is ours. I do hope you find such trust and satisfaction in your marriage, Ryvves. Your wife is a treasure. But, mark me.” She turned to face him. “I do not mean a treasure to be placed on a shelf in a curio cabinet and taken down once in a great while when you’re not busy to dust it off, admire, and briefly stroke it. Georgina is a woman made of flesh, blood, and bone. A woman of spirit with dreams and desires that deserve respect and, most of all, satisfaction.”

He placed a hand over hers. “Georgina is my greatest treasure in this life, and honouring and satisfying her is my greatest purpose.”

She slid her arm through his once more and led him to the Oakley coach, where her husband and Georgina awaited them.

Charles shook hands with the Duke. “Your Grace. I wish you safe passage. And again, my thanks.”

“Ryvves, you’ll be hearing from my attorney in London.”

“Your attorney?”

“He’ll provide you with names and information for my man in Portugal, who creates that Port you love so much. He won’t give you mine for your new venture, but he has other very fine grapes from which he creates magical elixirs. You’ll find one you love, I’m sure of it.”

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