Page 111 of His Forsaken Duchess
She studied him, her expression unreadable. “It took you long enough.”
His lips quirked up briefly, but he sobered quickly. “I should have seen it from the start. It will take time for me to face the shadows of my past. But I can do it, Audrey. I know I can—especially with you by my side.”
Her chest tightened, and she fought the emotions his words stirred. “Go on.”
“You are brilliant and kind,” Cedric said, his voice softening. “You challenge me, see through me, and make me hope for a better future. I love you, Audrey. I love everything about you.”
Audrey’s breath hitched, and she looked away, trying to regain her composure.
“Let me court you,” he added, his hand brushing against hers. “The way I should have from the start. Let me prove to you that I mean every word.”
She hesitated, his words pushing against her carefully constructed defenses. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, finally, she nodded.
“All right,” she said quietly. “But only because I’d like to know what else you’ve remembered.”
Relief and joy flashed across Cedric’s face, his smile so genuine it took her breath away. “You won’t regret it.”
“I should hope not,” she replied lightly, though her voice trembled slightly.
Before she could say more, Cedric leaned in and pressed a soft, tentative kiss to her lips. Her breath caught, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, her hands finding his as the kiss deepened, and a quiet promise passed between them.
When they finally broke apart, Audrey’s cheeks flushed, and Cedric’s eyes held a warmth that made her heart race.
“Thank you, princess,” he murmured.
“Don’t call me that!” She laughed.
Epilogue
“Cedric, what are you up to?” Audrey asked, her tone laced with suspicion as she allowed him to guide her into the unfamiliar room.
The silk blindfold over her eyes felt both ridiculous and intriguing, but she trusted his steady grip on her hands.
“Patience, my love,” he replied. “You’ll see soon enough.”
Audrey let out a soft huff, though her lips curled into a small smile. “If this turns out to be some grand folly of yours, I will never forgive you.”
“Noted,” he said, laughter in his voice. “But I’m confident you’ll be pleased.”
He stopped, and the faint hum of voices and rustling fabric reached her ears. She frowned slightly, her curiosity growing. “What’s that sound? Are there?—”
Before she could finish, Cedric took the blindfold off her. Audrey blinked, her eyes adjusting to the light. When the room came into focus, her breath caught.
The ballroom in Haremore House was transformed into a scene so breathtakingly familiar that it sent a shiver through her. The decorations mirrored her wedding breakfast—the peony garlands, the glass vases of camellias. Every detail was lovingly recreated. But there was more. Golden candelabras lined the tables, and a scattering of delicate fairy lights added a magical glow.
It was the wedding breakfast she had planned, only elevated into something grander.
Her gaze swept across the room, and her heart swelled. The guests weren’t just a recreation—they were all there. Everyone who had been at their wedding, plus the familiar faces of Miss Sarah and Lady Margaret, Lilianna’s closest friends. Near the edge of the room stood Mr. and Mrs. Potts, their eyes bright with joy. Beside them were Stevenson and young Peter Potts, his smile so wide it nearly outshone the chandeliers.
Audrey turned to Cedric, her voice faltering. “Cedric… how?”
He watched her with an intensity that made her chest ache, his expression a blend of hope and nervousness. “Do you like it?” he asked softly.
“It’s…” she trailed off, looking around again before her gaze returned to him. “It’s perfect. You did this?”
“For you,” he said simply. “You deserved better than the wedding breakfast I left you to face alone. I wanted to give you what you should have had.”
Her throat tightened, her hand instinctively reaching for his. She squeezed his fingers, unable to voice what she felt.
