Page 38 of The Duke's Lesson in Love

ChapterFifteen

Sadie’s gaze rested on each of the people standing in the small room in disbelief. The stable master’s sons who drove them into Scotland at record speed stood to one side with Edwin. The doctor who looked less haggard today than during their two-day journey sat on a chair. Lord Gilleasbuig stood beside her with a determined tilt to his strong jaw.

They were all insane. There was no other explanation.

Perhaps they had contracted a sort of carriage fever that she was immune to.

“If nae a soul objects to this ceremony, then I will see ye wedded,” the strapping Scott said. The man towered over everyone in the room. His beard was full and long, barely exposing his thick neck. While he wore a shirt tucked into his kilt, there was no mistaking the brawny muscles running from shoulder to wrist. He wasn’t like any priest she knew.

“What?” Her eyes widened. “You cannot mean to go through”—her gaze flickered to the Scott, then to his lordship, but the set in his chin was even more resolute. Was this mad dash to Scotland the reason why he risked his health? Why he was secretive each time she questioned his rationale?

“No objections,” Lord Gilleasbuig said.

She objected!

Marriage had been out of her reach since dedicating herself to the orphanage. Marriage to a Duke? Outlandishly impossible. She cared deeply for his lordship. Love had bloomed for the man who thought he did not deserve it. Everything he did came from a place of selflessness, and he did those acts of kindness without expecting anything in return. How could her heart not be captured by his goodness?

But marriage? She shook her head. She knew getting shot had scared him—seeing him wounded had stopped her heart. The blood… Witnessing the pale sheen blanketing his skin…Hearing her son’s agonizing cry as he clutched her had chilled her blood. But he needn’t marry to have her loyalty or to trust she would never jeopardize him or the safety of their son.

Their son.

Her throat thickened. Those words came easily and filled her heart with contentment.

“Your Grace,” she whispered, “have you come down with a fever of the brain?” She clutched his arm and glanced fleetingly at the doctor. Surely he knew this was ludicrous.

“Excuse us,” Gill said to the Scot, before gripping her elbow in his uninjured hand, and dragging her to a corner of the room.

“This is madness! Who ever heard of a Duke marrying a caregiver?”

“Sadie—”

“A man of your station must marry a woman of your rank to ensure your son isn’t given the cut-direct.”

“To endure a marriage as painful as my forefathers? Would you really subject my son and me to such a fate?”

“Better that than the ridicule he shall face once society discovers my low-born status.” Sadie paced back and forth while wringing her gloved hands.

“Sadie, do you forget who I am?” Gill pulled her around to face him. “Society will think twice before uttering nonsense regarding my duchess. They will have even less to say once you show them up. No one has more grace than you.”

“Your flattery will not move me. Your son is defenseless and will be hurt by the rumors that are bound to spread at school.”

“Sadie, you are grasping for reasons. By the time he enters the schoolyard, our union will be old fodder no longer worthy of airing. If you must, consider what you and he stand to lose if a more successful attempt on my life occurs. Will your fiery nature allow you to stand by as a stranger declares guardianship over Edwin? What will happen to him when he becomes frightened and you are nowhere to be found? Can you live your life knowing you’ll never see him again?”

She opened her mouth to object but he interrupted her.

“Don’t deny it. You may intend to stay on as a caregiver but his next guardian will not give you the liberties you have now. You will break my son’s heart when you can no longer suffer with him. You may be strong, but your soft heart won’t survive the separation.”

His logic was winning her over. Edwin’s wellbeing was important, it was why she’d followed them to Berwick. However… “Shall I assume this will be a marriage in name only?”

“You will be my wife in every sense of the word,” his voice was heavy, laced with longing.

Sadie took a shuddering breath to steady the quickening of her pulse. “Have you thought of the consequences to future children?”

“Of course. The best consequence is love. Any children of ours will have your spirit, and your kindness. They will know they are truly loved by both of us, because they will be ours. A gift I will forever cherish.”

The moment he released her, Sadie folded her arms to protect herself against the sweetness of his words. How could she say no now? “At the very least, you could have done me the honor of asking for my hand.”

“Would you have said yes?” he pressed.

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