Page 110 of Marigold and the Marquess
“He grabbed Mallow out of desperation because he could not find you at home.”
“Leo, are you serious?”
He nodded. “Thank goodness you decided to attend Lord Finchley’s ball. He must have assumed you would be a sweet, obedient wife and remain home while I was away. Marigold!” He dropped the wet cloth into the basin and leaped to his feet, wrapping an arm around her as she began to sway.
“Oh, Leo! What a disgusting creature! Is it a sin to kick a man when he is already dead?”
CHAPTER 18
MARIGOLD WATCHED QUIETLYas her Uncle George cleansed Leo’s wound, applied several stitches that would now add another scar to his already scarred body, and then bandaged his shoulder. He quickly did the same to Mallow’s leg, although the little spaniel did not require stitches. But her uncle cleansed and bandaged his leg just to be sure the cut would not get infected before it had time to properly heal. Mallow enjoyed exploring, and Marigold was never sure where he dug or what he dug up when left on his own in the garden. Oftentimes, he returned needing a bath before being permitted back into the house.
Leo donned the fresh shirt Ethan had left for him.
Marigold smothered her disappointment now that Leo’s magnificent body was properly covered. His broad shoulders and taut muscles never failed to melt her insides. But he was paying no attention to her at the moment, for he was all business and needed to give Ian his report. “George, care to join us downstairs for refreshments and gossip?”
Marigold’s uncle grinned. “No, you’ll fill me in later. I need to stay close to those Bow Street runners. These next few hours are critical. But I will have a cup of tea and a sandwich, if you have some on hand.”
Marigold nodded. “I’ll have Martha bring up a tray for you at once. Fruit, cheese, bread, cakes, cold ham, and whatever else you’d like. I’ve had a bedchamber prepared for you, as well. Just tug on the bellpull if you require anything more.”
“Thank you, Marigold.” He put the roll of bandages back in his medical bag and then returned to his patients.
Ethan also excused himself to attend to the latest set of Leo’s bloodied clothes.
Leo now rose to head downstairs, but Marigold held him back a moment. “Leo…”
He arched an eyebrow. “What is it, love?”
She shook her head. “I owe you an apology. How could I have been so heartlessly cruel to you?”
He put a finger to her lips. “No, sweetheart. You’ve kept me sane while I was on the brink of madness. But the ordeal is over now. I am avenged and ready to move on to enjoy the happy marriage you have offered me.”
She cast him a soft smile despite her obvious turmoil. “All thirty days of it?”
“I think we’ve moved beyond that, haven’t we?” His grin was equally affectionate. “Thirtyyearsis more what I have in mind. Sixty years, if we are so fortunate. I don’t ever want to be without you, Marigold.”
“Good heavens. I am so in love with you, Leo. I don’t think it is possible to love someone more fiercely than I love you. I want you to know how sorry I am that I ever berated you. Obviously, I was the fool and did not fully appreciate how badly you were hurting.”
“You were my splendid angel when I had nothing left in me but that raging beast.” He kissed her, a beautiful kiss that was soft and also passionate. “Now it is my turn to give you advice that you will likely ignore. However, you are to give your speech and then a lecture in a few hours, sweetheart. Everyone will understand if you retire to your bedchamber instead of joining us downstairs.”
“And miss a word of what you have to say? I shall be drummed out of the Farthingale snooping society in disgrace,” she teased. “Besides, they won’t stay long and I couldn’t fall asleep without you lying next to me. I couldn’t, Leo.”
“All right.” He held out his hand and she eagerly took it.
Marigold walked downstairs with Leo and Mallow, her two wounded warriors. As soon as Leo sat down, Mallow hopped onto his lap, curled into a tight ball, and promptly fell asleep.
Well, Leo was the little fellow’s hero, too.
Listening to Leo’s account of the evening, Marigold felt even more ashamed of herself for giving Leo a hard time about his cousin when the man was clearly every bit as wretched as Leo had claimed. She marveled that Leo had endured four years of a brutal imprisonment and still retained his humanity.
It spoke to the nobility of his soul.
She had experienced a few hours of agony over Mallow’s abduction and wanted to take her fists to that dead man’s body. How could she have been so glib? So righteous and imperious? And all the while, Leo had been in agonizing torment.
Despite everything, Leo had never turned his anger on her.
This also spoke to how fine a man he was.
She looked up at him, wishing she could tell him how much she admired and adored him. But he was now filling in Ian and the rest of his audience on all that had transpired. While he did so, she quietly went about pouring tea and serving refreshments to everyone in the room.
