Page 134 of The Meaning of Love
Gordon dipped his head in acknowledgment.
Julian looked around the small gathering, studying all the faces. They’d made up their minds, and he had, too. He nodded. “Right, let’s have them in and inform them of their fate.”
Damian volunteered to fetch the group. He returned, followed by the procession of the prisoners, Phelps, and the footmen. At Julian’s wave, the four returned to stand before their chairs.
He took in their resigned expressions. They were all expecting him to send them to trial.
“We’ve discussed your activities while under the control of the late Findlay-Wright. Your actions were very wrong, but you did not make them of your own free will.” He glanced once more at his family and felt both grateful for their support and proud of their collective decision. Looking back at the four, he stated, “We’ve determined to allow you to leave Carsington free of all charges. It’s early enough in the day—if you gather your belongings, we’ll have Hockey drive you into Derby.”
The stunned looks that overtook their expressions were almost enough to make him smile. Those looks also assured him that the decision to free the four was the right one. They looked like people waking from a nightmare and finally understanding it truly was over.
He looked at Phelps. “Please make sure they have all the wages due to them and add two pounds to each sum, so that they can travel to their homes in reasonable comfort.”
Looking back at the now-incredulous four, he met their gazes. “I hope you’ll seize this chance with both hands and get back to leading blameless lives. You’ve escaped unscathed from the crucible Findlay-Wright dragged you into. Don’t squander this chance.”
“No, my lord,” came from all four throats.
“I’ll never set a foot wrong again,” Mitchell said, his heartfelt tone making the vow transparently sincere.
Julian nodded a dismissal, and with steps much lighter than when they’d entered, the four made for the door.
It was Benton who paused in the doorway, glanced back, and with a more relaxed expression than they’d previously seen on her heavy-featured face, observed, “He’s dead and gone, and we’re all free of him now.”
Julian, Melissa, and all the Delameres inclined their heads in agreement.
The footmen trooped after the four, and Phelps followed on their heels and shut the door.
The sudden dissipation of tension affected all those remaining. As if they were puppets whose strings had been cut, they slumped in their chairs.
A second later, Damian sprang to his feet and headed for the tantalus. “I know it’s early, but after that, we all need a drink.”
No one demurred, and Damian poured libations for them all, which Gordon helped ferry around.
Accepting a glass of his best brandy, Julian looked around the faces of his nearest and dearest and found a smile curving his lips. He sipped, then as Damian and Gordon returned to their chairs, held up his glass. “Here’s to a future free of Findlay-Wright and his murderous machinations. As the head of the family, I hereby decree that we should put his works behind us and go forward as if he’d never been.”
“Hear, hear!” resonated through the room, and everyone drank.
That night, after sating their continuing need for the physical and emotional reassurance that lovemaking bestowed, Melissa settled beside Julian in her bed and, with her head pillowed on his chest, idly played with the crisp hair adorning the sleekly muscled expanse while her mind retrod the events of the day.
His hand closed over hers, and he lifted her fingers and kissed them before returning them to his chest and anchoring her hand beneath his. “What are you thinking about? I can hear your mind whirring.”
She chuckled, but when he pointedly waited, as patient as ever, she replied, “I was just thinking of the lessons one learns during our journey through life, if one is wise and opens one’s eyes.”
“And what have you deduced from our recent travails?”
“That love is so much more than I’d thought.” She paused, searching for the right way to phrase her musings. Eventually, she settled for, “We’ve been wrestling, you and I, with the meaning of love, of what love means to us. Yesterday, in learning of Veronica and Frederick and your father, we saw another, albeit similar aspect, and today, with our four would-be attackers, we saw love in yet another form.”
He shifted his head and brushed his lips over her temple. “One thing I’ve learned is that love is a powerful force. I hadn’t truly understood that before, but it’s a force to be reckoned with.”
“It’s a force that should never be underestimated.” She glanced up and, through the shadows, met his eyes. “And if properly appreciated and harnessed, love can achieve so very much.”
Julian held her gaze and smiled. “I’m willing to give it our best shot. Are you?”
She laughed, and her smile was the most glorious sight he had ever thought to see.
“I’ll take that challenge, my lord, and make sure you live up to your side of our bargain.”
He grinned at her. “Please do.”
