Page 64 of Her Lion of a Duke
“You will visit again soon, yes?” her father asked Leonard the following morning as they prepared to leave.
“Indeed. You are both more than welcome to visit us, of course. You need not write or ask for permission. Our home is yours.”
Cecilia liked the warm, steady presence that her husband offered. It was obvious that her parents did, too, for her mother accepted his offer with a twinkle in her eyes.
Leonard took Brutus to the carriage first, to settle him, briefly leaving Cecilia with her parents.
“You have found a wonderful man,” her mother whispered as they embraced one final time. “Make sure that you treat him well.”
“And you have an excellent dog,” her father added. “We may, indeed, have to find one of our own.”
“I can ask my husband where he found Brutus, if you like,” Cecilia offered.
Her father shook his head. “His breed may be too difficult for us. We have never had a dog before, after all. If His Grace does know of any breeders, however, I will trust his judgment.”
“We will see you soon, dear,” her mother said gently. “We are only a letter away.”
Cecilia wondered during their journey home if that letter would need to be sent sooner than they expected.
Brutus slept at her feet throughout the ride, and she could see Leonard glancing at him every so often.
“What have you done to him?” he asked. “I could never control him like this.”
“I am not doing anything, nor have I ever. He has always liked to rest.”
“Yes, but he used to bound through the halls and crash into the staff. He does not do that anymore. He simply sits at your feet.”
“Perhaps he likes me?” she suggested. “I am not sensing any envy, am I?”
“Not at all. I am pleased that he likes you, but that does not mean I understand this bond of yours.”
Cecilia laughed, turning to look out the window.
“It was not as bad as you expected, then?” Leonard asked.
“It was as good as it could have been. They admitted their fault, and it is not as though I can punish them forever. They never used to work through problems before, so I cannot ask for more than this.”
“What would they do instead? My brother and I had so many disputes that I cannot fathom doing it any other way.”
She thought back to her childhood, the short whispered discussions between her mother and father whenever she had done something wrong.
“They would say how they felt and leave it there. Sometimes, they would not say anything at all. It was easier to pretend that nothing was wrong. When I was a little girl, I wondered if that was the best way to handle matters. If everyone agreed that there was no issue, then there was not one. I know better now, of course.”
“As do they, it seems. That is something good.”
“Indeed, which is why I am pleased you have extended an invitation to them. They would love to see Pridefield Manor again, especially now that everything has changed.”
“Ah, yes, you finished the renovations. Are you pleased with them?”
“I love them. It finally feels like my home, and that… that means more to me than I could ever express. I have never felt like I have belonged anywhere. I have simply drifted from one place to the other, stopping for a moment before moving on. I feel like I have truly planted my roots now.”
“Good.” Leonard nodded, and she leaned against his shoulder. “I am pleased about that, for I would not want you to seek a home anywhere else.”
His words were comforting, and hers were honest, but she could not stop her heart from lurching. She was a liar, and she had inadvertently tried to ruin her husband’s reputation in an attempt to feel powerful. He had never deserved it, and whether she had meant it or not, the damage was the same. Her regret did not negate her actions.
“There will be a fair at the village tomorrow,” he reminded her suddenly.
“We ought to attend.”
