Page 115 of Marigold and the Marquess
She rolled her eyes. “Dear heaven. I was sure Adela and Ambrose would be furious, but they were remarkably understanding. I suppose it helped that my lecture was well received. An anonymous benefactor just pledged a tidy sum toward completion of the forensic laboratory. Of course, it could be a prank. But Ambrose will check it out.”
They had just left the museum and were about to walk to their waiting carriage when Leo came to a sudden halt.
Marigold looked up at him. “What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”
“Yes, we have to go back. Come with me.” He led her to the Hall of Dragons which was now empty of visitors since the museum was closing. The only ones left in the place were Marigold’s friends, Adela, Syd, and Gory, and Huntsford and his brothers, but they were all in Huntsford’s office. Even the Bow Street runners were gone, leaving just a few night guards on duty.
Marigold gasped when she realized what he meant to do. “Leo, it isn’t necessary. You have nothing to prove to me.”
“Think of it as something I need to prove to myself.”
She nibbled her lip. “You are very thickheaded, aren’t you?”
He laughed. “Yes. Take me through the exhibit, love.”
“We’ll need a lantern. Even though the Hall of Dragons is kept in darkness, the visitors would be falling all over each other if we did not have some light to guide them through here. Ah, Mr. Smythe-Owens has yet to put these away.” She pointed to a table of lanterns beside the door to the exhibit.
Leo lit one and held it up as they entered the tomb-like hall. “It’s very dark,” he muttered.
“Yes, but it is no different than being out on a moonless night. It isn’t the darkness that rattles you.”
“One feels the air rushing about you when one is outdoors. One sees stars. And hears birds and crickets chirping. One can breathe.” He coughed and his heart began to race. “Perhaps this wasn’t the best idea.”
“We are almost there, Leo. And I am with you. I won’t let go of you. Hold the lantern up higher so the light shines toward the ceiling. Look. There’s my dragon. Doesn’t its skull look marvelous?”
The breath caught in his throat.
He had never seen any sight so wondrous. This flying creature’s wings spanned the width of the hall and it appeared to come to life in the glow of firelight. Its eyes glistened like fiery rubies, and its jaws were open as though it was about to grab an unsuspecting prey in its jaws.
Leo stood in awe.
The torment of his years of captivity began to melt away. Perhaps he was meant to endure great hardship in order to appreciate the greater joy in marrying Marigold. What would have become of him had he never been held prisoner? He would have returned to London after the Carpathian mission and circulated among theton, for certain.
Would he have married before ever meeting Marigold?
By returning to England after an uneventful trip, would Cummings, his ogre of a cousin, have succeeded in catching him unaware and killing him?
He shook out of those thoughts.
None of this mattered. Life had taken its course and he was married to Marigold, this amazing woman who dreamed of the impossible and brought it to life. And she was not yet twenty.
She smiled up at him, an angel in the glow of firelight. “Impressed?”
“Yes, immensely.” The room no longer felt like a tomb because she was with him. His soul was beginning to shed its burden because everything felt possible with her by his side. He was far from cured. Indeed, he was not going to come in here ever again unless there was a dire need.
Perhaps someday he would just walk in on his own and not feel the walls close in on him. But he already knew he could do it with Marigold by his side.
He took in the mural drawing, this recreation of mist and foliage that made it appear as though one was walking through a jungle. There were smaller displays within the vast hall, but he did not think he would hold himself together long enough to view those beyond a cursory glance as he was passing by.
Perhaps he would summon the courage another day.
Marigold led him out, saying nothing as he handed her the lantern and then doubled over breathing hard. But it took only a few breaths for him to return to himself. “Let’s go home, Marigold.”
“Yes, I am exhausted. Adela and Ambrose are hosting a reception tonight. We had better nap if we are to make it through the evening. And do not think of getting amorous, Leo. We really need to sleep.”
He chuckled. “As you wish.”
“Because we have all week to catch up on…you know,” she continued as he led her to their carriage and helped her in. “And Gory told me the most outrageous story. You will never believe it because it is so outrageous.”
