Page 87 of Her Tiger of a Duke
“I am stubborn. I suppose, even then, that I knew I wanted you. I never would have admitted it, but you caught my eye.”
“Then it is fortunate that your friend was marrying me for the wrong reasons.”
“It is fortunate that she was marrying you,” she countered. “Had she not, you and I never would have met, and I cannot imagine that. I have practically forgotten what my life was like without you.”
He took her hand and kissed it, his eyes not leaving hers.
“Then it is just as well that you have me, and I will not be leaving you. I could not, not when you are everything that I have ever wanted and needed.”
He took her in his arms and carried her inside, taking her to his bedchambers and laying her on the bed. They were to leave again by the end of the week, and then she would be needed, and they would not have much time together, thrown into another new situation, but until then she was his entirely.
And what a wonderful week that would be.
EPILOGUE
Beatrice, it transpired, had an immense fear of blood.
When she left Lady Helena’s room, she was so pale that Owen thought that the worst had happened. Mercifully, the doctor then came out to announce the arrival of a baby boy. With both Lady Helena and the child looked after, Owen went to care for his greatest treasure.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“It was awful,” she gasped. “The screams were so loud, and the– the blood– I hated it.”
“Then we need not have children. I will not make you go through that yourself.”
She looked at him with gratitude, but he could already see her faltering. She wanted children, and she had made that very clear to him.
They remained in the household, with Helena recovering in her room. George did not leave her side, and a day later she was able to stand again. She took the settee in the drawing room, and George ensured she was given everything that she could possibly have wanted.
Owen could see that Helena felt almost smothered, but she was so grateful that she did not say a word about it.
“I am most pleased that all is well,” Beatrice said when they were alone that night. “I have heard some terrible stories. That must have been why I was so frightened.”
“Beatrice, I meant what I said. If you are afraid, we will not have children. I will not allow you to suffer like that if you do not want to.”
“Then the matter is settled, for I do want to. It would be worth it if it meant seeing a child that looked like both you and me. Besides, while it was awful, it passed. Look at them both. Have you ever seen such happiness?”
“Each and every time I look at myself in the mirror. I am already the happiest man in the country.”
“Then we can discuss this later but believe me it is what I want. You need not fear for me.”
But he did. He knew that it was something he had promised not to do as much, but it would take time before he could. Hehad always been one to worry about every bad thing that could possibly happen, and in spite of the fact that he was a man he had heard awful stories of childbirth of his own.
They remained with Helena and George for a month, for not only did the new parents appreciate the support, but they felt it necessary to spend more time with them after what had happened during their last visit.
“I am pleased to see that you are both happy,” Helena said as she sat holding her son. “I knew that you would find a way through it.”
“And you were right. All that I needed to do was be honest, and once I did that everything fell into place. I wish I had done it long ago.”
“What did we say about that?” Beatrice reminded him.
“I know. We cannot hold regrets.”
“What matters is that we did what we needed to do, and we have learned from it. Now, we can be as happy as we deserve. As can you, Helena.”
“I know. I cannot quite believe it. I never would have thought, when I learned I was with child, that I could have everything I wanted. That is in no small part thanks to you, of course, Owen.”
While true, Owen had never seen it that way. He did not help her to make himself feel good. He had helped her because she needed it, and it was what he felt he had to do.
