Page 73 of Bound to a Wicked Duke

The Earl nodded. “Yes, go and put my daughter’s mind at ease.”

Percy nodded and left the study. No sooner had he entered the foyer then Madeleine’s hand shot out of the library door and dragged him inside. To his surprise he found the Countess awaiting him there. “Madeleine, what…”

Madeleine placed a single silken finger against his lips to silence him. “Mother has something to tell you. It is important. Please listen to her.”

Percy nodded, kissing her finger, then took a seat across from the Countess. Madeleine took a seat beside him. He reached outand took her hand in his, squeezing it gently. “Your father gave us his blessing as did your brother.”

Madeleine smiled. “As do both of our mothers and your grandmother.”

Percy’s brows rose in question. “My mother favored you; it is true. It is a blessing of a kind. You never met my grandmother. She died before you were born. It is a sweet thought, I grant you, but you need not convince me of the rightness of our union. I love you, and that is enough.”

“It is more than that,” the Countess answered. “You are aware of your grandmother’s people.”

“I am aware,” Percy nodded. “Most people are. It was quite the scandal in her day.”

“Indeed, it was. She was not treated as she should have been,” the Countess agreed. “After you, Cecil, and Emily were born, when I became with child with Madeleine, your grandmother sent me a missive summoning me to Greyhall. When I arrived, she sat your mother and me down to speak with us. She was very mysterious at first.”

Percy nodded. “It was her way.”

“She spoke of her people, her life, her gifts,” the Countess paused, lost in her own memories of that day. “She said that she had the sight.”

Percy nodded. “She did. She did not always share what she saw, however. If she chose to share with you, then it was a great honor.”

“It was indeed a great honor,” the Countess affirmed, “but what she had to say was not for me. It was for you and Madeleine.”

Percy’s brow wrinkled in question. “About us?”

The Countess nodded. “She said that you and my daughter were destined to be together. That you would both live long and happy lives together, and that your children would equally be blessed.”

“Children?” Percy’s brow wrinkled in question. He looked to Madeleine for an answer.

Madeleine squeezed his hand. “Children.” She smiled reassuringly up at him.

The Countess went on with her story. “Your grandmother saw it all. She knew of Madeleine’s struggle before any of us ever did. She made certain that I knew that you would have children and that you would both live to a very advanced age. I know now that she meant for this message to be delivered to Madeleine but that she herself would not live long enough to tell her of it.”

“Do you believe in your grandmother’s visions?” Madeleine asked.

“I do,” Percy nodded. “When she did choose to share a vision with us, she was never wrong.”

“Children,” she whispered, hope entering her voice. “We can have children.”

Percy smiled, gathering her into his arms. “I would have loved you no matter what you decided.”

Madeleine gave him a tear-filled smile. “Now, you will have more to love.”

Percy’s heart felt so filled with joy that he thought it might burst. He lowered his forehead to Madeleine’s. “The more love, the better. I love you so much. In truth, I always have. From your ten-year-old hand in mine at my mother’s funeral service to you stomping on my foot angrily at the ball, I have loved you through it all. I cannot believe that it has taken me this long to see it.”

“I love you,” Madeleine breathed. She melted into his body, not caring that they had an audience. “I have always loved you and I always will.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Three Months Later, Stonefield Estate, Oxfordshire, England

“Are you ready?” Cecil asked as he helped Percy to pin a red rose to his chest.

“Past ready,” Percy admitted with a grin.

Cecil chuckled. “Any second thoughts?”

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