by Miers, Fiona
They stared at one another for a long moment, their naked bodies entangled as one. Then he began to worry.
“We ought to get dressed,” Charles said, pulling away from the warmth of her body.
“Charles?” Emma asked and he gazed at her.
“Yes, my duchess?”
Her eyes were intently focused on him, but she wasn’t speaking. He detected a hint of sadness within them.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Emma shook her head and wrapped her arms around Charles’s neck. “Would you lay here with me for a while, please?”
A shot of love coursed through him at seeing Emma so vulnerable and in need. And he wanted nothing more than to give her what she truly wanted.
“Of course, I would. Nothing would give me more joy and more pleasure,” he said. “Well... almost nothing.”
Emma giggled when he winked as her, then shifted to lay beside her.
He wrapped his arms around her, and as her warm breath softly caressed his neck, he knew there was no better feeling in the world than having the woman he loved beside him.
Chapter Seventeen.
Her heart still pounded in her chest and Emma intently gazed at her fingers skimming the surface of Charles’ naked chest. She was wrapped up in his arms, lying beside him in her bedchambers as beams of sunlight shone through the openings in the curtains. A happy smile tugged at her lips, and she never thought she would ever feel this way.
Charles’ arm moved, stroking her back and she looked up at him. His gaze was soft and tender, his jaw relaxed and at ease.
Emma almost did not recognise the man lying beside her, as she had not experienced him in such a manner, but she was not complaining.
He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead. “I still have so much to say to you.”
“And you are more than welcome to as we are completely alone now.”
Charles nodded and paused for a moment. “I have not been a very good husband to you or a very good father to our daughters. I have been preoccupied with things that should not matter as much as they do.”
She frowned at his words. “But they matter to you, Charles. Your Parliamentary role and the textile business. You cannot say that they do not matter to you. Those things are important.”
“But I allowed them to become the most important things to me, which was wrong. You, Catherine, Sarah, and Lilly are.”
Emma smiled and placed her hand against his cheek.
“And I wish to apologise.”
“You have nothing to apologise for, Charles.”
“You are far too forgiving. I simply must say this to you, Emma. Would you please allow me to explain?”
“Very well.”
Emma moved away, allowing him to sit upright, and she did as well. She leaned back against the fluffy pillows and gazed intently at Charles.
“From the moment I met you a fortnight before our wedding day, I had only known you from the letters you sent. You wished to know me more personally prior to the ceremony, and I did not put much thought into it. After reading that first letter, there was something inside me that wanted to know you better. I began craving those letters and once they arrived, I would indulge in them. You were perfect and witty and intelligent. Then we arranged to meet a few days prior to the wedding. I had only seen sketches of you, but your beauty surpassed any image I had seen or any description I had heard,” Charles said. “It terrified me, as I was to spend the rest of my life with you, but without love. I was young at the time, and my father sat me down and explained what was expected of me. And I accepted, as it was my duty as the eldest son to keep the family tradition.”
“As it was expected of me to honour my family’s wishes,” Emma said.
“Within an hour of meeting you, I was intimidated by you. Your intelligence knew no bounds and you were more than everything I had wished for in a wife,” Charles said. “I vowed to care for you and look after you, but love was never present in those early days. We had begun to learn more of one another, and out of respect for our families, we began a family of our own. We now have three beautiful daughters, but there was still something missing. And I realised what it was when I was on the precipice of losing it all.”
It was too much. She had to stop him. “Charles...”
“It is true, my dearest Emma. You’ve done everything in your power during our marriage to keep the peace, to ensure our children are well taken care of and that I did not lose my mind. You endured my moods, my anger, and the times when I drove every single person insane with my extravagant behaviour.”
“There were quite a few of those,” Emma said with a chuckle.
“The point I am trying to make, Emma, is that through it all, you stuck by me, supported me, defended me, and cared for me. I did not see how important you were to me until the situation with Joseph arose.”
Emma worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “I should have told you from the start, Charles. I was afraid that it would cause a rift between you and your family, and it would take a toll on your business. I did not wish for that to happen. Family is important, and I did not want to get in the way of that.”
“Even at the expense of your own comfort and safety?” Charles asked.
“In everything I have done and everything I still do, Charles, I always have your best interests at heart.”
Charles stared at her lovingly, with a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I wish I’d realised this sooner. It would have spared you much sorrow.”
Emma sighed and shook her head. “I am not sorry I married you, Charles. Not in the least.”
“Nor am I,” Charles said. “And although it may not seem as such at times, you are the most important person in my world. And I loathe myself for every second I wasted not telling you so.”
Emma smiled tenderly.
“I love you, Emma,” Charles said and brushed a lock of hair off her face. “I have loved you for a long time, and even though I did realise it at first, that love has only grown stronger. It grew as I saw Catherine being born, and how you nursed her, and cared for her. Loved her. It grew as I watched you with her, teaching her to be strong like her mother. It grew when I watched you look after Sarah and Lilly. It grew as I saw the kindness of your heart, and the strength of your soul. How you are towards others and love them, and how you keep the peace when things get out of hand. There is not a moment where I regretted marrying you, Emma, and there is not a moment where I could imagine my life without you in it. You have my heart until the day I breathe my last breath.”
Emma blinked, certain her ears had played a trick on her. Charles loved her, just as she had hoped he would many years ago. Throughout the entirety of their marriage, he had not displayed much emotion or spoken of his feelings. Now he laid beside her, speaking the words she had longed to hear for so long, and it meant the world to her.
He leaned in closer and kissed her lips, causing her skin to tingle with delight.
“I have realised something,” he said.
“And what is that?”
“I have not greeted your father, your mother, or the children.”
She laughed, happy to be at the top of his priority list for once. “I am certain they will forgive you. They were looking forward to your arrival even before we got here.”
Charles sat up and nodded. “I never wish to disappoint them or you, ever again. That is my vow. And I meant what I said about your father residing at Finlay Hall.”
“Thank you, Charles,” she said with a smile, allowing the tears of happiness to roll down her cheeks. “I will certainly mention it to him.”
Charles’ words and actions truly meant the world to her, and she was grateful to know that her love was reciprocated, even more than she could have ever imagined.
IT WAS LATE EVENING at Mill Grand House, and Charles breathed in the quiet and peaceful evening air as he sat on the terrace. Emma and the children were readying themselves to turn in for the evening, and Ch
arles had joined Emma’s father, Roland, outside while the older man smoked his pipe.
“I am pleased you finally made it here, Charles,” Roland said. “I was beginning to think you would not be joining your family.”
Charles lowered his gaze for a moment, noticing the subtle undertone of annoyance from his father-in-law. He could only imagine what Roland thought of him when he did not accompany Emma and the children.
“Roland, I am not certain what Emma mentioned—”
“Emma did not mention anything at all. I spent the past two days trying to figure out why my daughter evaded me at any mention of you. The only conclusion I came up with was that the two of you had been in another disagreement and that she did not wish to speak of you.”
“That is a well-thought-out conclusion, Roland.”
“What was the disagreement about, if I may ask?”
Charles cleared his throat and leaned back in his seat. “I accused Emma of being unfaithful, while I was the one who was not the husband she deserved.”
“Were you unfaithful?” Roland asked.
“Not with a person, but with things that now seem rather trivial. I placed my Parliamentary work and my textile business before her, and before the children. It was only when I felt I was about to lose my family that I realised what was truly important. They are. Parliament does not need me, and although I might require a new partner in the textile business, my family is my priority. By far. I was merely too preoccupied to see it.”
“It takes a brave man to not only see what is truly important to him, but also to make changes in his life to corroborate his realisations.”
“Indeed,” Charles said. “You are a wise man, Roland.”
“Where do you think Emma gets that from?”
Charles chuckled and Roland joined in.
The air around them began to ease and Charles drew in a deep breath.
“I do love your daughter, Roland. More than I ever thought possible. I have not been a good husband to her, but I vow that I will be for the rest of my time in this world.”
Roland smiled as he patted Charles on the back. “It delights me to hear you say that, Charles. Love has the power to do many things, and if you find it, cherish it. I have loved Caroline for as long as I can recall, and she will always be the love of my life. Do not take love for granted. Ever,” Roland said.
“I will most certainly not,” Charles said. “How much time does she have left?”
“Not much. She has already been saying that her breathing is becoming more difficult,” Roland said.
Charles noticed the strain in Roland’s voice and felt a deep sympathy for him. Although Charles could not imagine what Roland was going through and the pain he felt, he did have an inkling of those feelings.
“I am truly sorry, Roland. I cannot imagine the pain you are experiencing, watching Caroline deteriorate before your very eyes. There is not much I can possibly say to you that would provide you with adequate comfort.”
“I appreciate your concern and your attempt of comforting me,” Roland said and shook his head.
“Feeble, at best. But if there is anything I can do...”
Roland sighed wearily and stared ahead of him into the dark garden. “Thank you, Charles. As much as I would like to say I have accepted it, and I know what I am to do after...”
Roland’s voice broke and he lowered his gaze. Charles reached out his hand and placed a reassuring palm on Roland’s shoulder.
“You are more than welcome to make Finlay Hall your new home. I am certain that Emma and the children would love to have you there,” Charles said.
Roland wiped the tears from his face. “Thank you, Charles. That is most gracious of you.”
“I mean it. There is nothing that would make the children—all of us in fact—happier than having you with us.”
Roland puffed on his pipe and nodded.
Through the quiet evening, Charles heard footsteps approaching and he glanced over his shoulder. Much to his surprise, Joseph stepped outside but he seemed as surprised at Charles was.
“Charles,” Joseph said and immediately took a step backwards. “I was under the impression you were—”
“Why are you still here?” Charles asked and rose to his feet, anger building in his gut.
“Charles, calm yourself,” Joseph said, raising his hands in defence. “I was on my way back to London. I believe I have matters to tend to with my attorney.”
“Indeed, you do,” Charles said.
Joseph stood quietly in the same spot but reached out his hand towards Charles. “I do apologise for the trouble—”
Before Joseph was able to utter another word, Charles balled his fist, and planted a facer upon Joseph. It was done with such force that his cousin stumbled backwards, and he landed on his arse.
“Your apology means nothing to me, as do you. Now leave at once.”
Joseph nodded as he scrambled to his feet and Roland grumbled behind him.
“There is no place for violence in my home, Charles,” Roland said.
“He harassed Emma with unwanted attention and inappropriate intentions, Roland. No one does something of the sort to my wife,” Charles said.
“In that case, he deserved nothing less,” Roland said, a small grin filled with amusement formed on his lips.
Charles suppressed a smile, but when he turned his attention back to Joseph, his jaw clenched. Joseph scrambled to his feet and hastily left, disappearing completely from sight.
His jaw and shoulders eased as he noticed Emma standing in the hallway, and his heart began to pound. She was clothed in a white dress with lace trimming, her long hair tumbling down her left shoulder. Her eyes sparkled, and she did not seem in the least angered or upset by his violent outburst.
Emma approached him and took his hand in hers. “Thank you,” she said.
“For you, my dear, anything,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Epilogue
6 months later
The sweet melody of two birds singing outside the window gently woke Emma from her peaceful slumber. Silk sheets brushed against her skin and a soft moan escaped her lips as she stretched her legs. Her eyes opened, her vision still blurry from the sweet dreams she’d encountered the night before. Her arm reached out to Charles’ side of the bed, but it was empty.
Emma sat upright in a sun-drenched, charming room she and Charles had been occupying for the past three nights. It had immediately felt like home as soon as they stepped inside. A large glass paned door led out to a balcony overlooking the entire city of Paris.
Many things had happened in the past six months, but Charles and Emma’s relationship was stronger than ever.
After her mother had sadly passed away, Roland had accepted Charles’ offer to reside at Finlay Hall. Of course, Catherine, Sarah and Lilly were ecstatic, and thrived having their grandfather at the estate. Although Charles kept the townhouse in London, he only visited if his wife and daughters accompanied him, and they did not stay for extended periods of time.
Most of Charles’ correspondence of his Parliamentary duties were done via post, and it allowed him more time with his family. He had become a different man, but still the Charles she had cared for. He was attentive now, and listened to her. He adored her and treated her with the tenderness and love she had always hoped for.
Emma was not only merely content with her life, she was happy. Truly happy.
After they were married, Emma and Charles didn’t go on a honeymoon, as his responsibilities had gotten in the way of that, but Charles had insisted that he wished for them to travel together. That was precisely what they had been doing, and Emma could not be happier.
She rose from the bed and noticed the glass-paned door was slightly ajar. It was nothing odd, as she and Charles had been enjoying breakfast on the balcony every morning since their arrival. Attired in her sleeping dress, which was much less conservative than the ones she wore at Finlay hall and left little
to the imagination, she quietly stepped outside. She found Charles lounging on the wooden bench, only in his breeches, bathed in the morning sunlight. He smiled when he saw her, and Emma could not help but smile as well, the happiness in her heart overflowing.
“Good morning,” he said and reached his hand out to her.
“Good morning,” she said.
Emma sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. She gazed at the magnificent view before her and sighed happily.
“Did you sleep well, my love?” he asked.
“Indeed, I did. I expected you to sleep in this morning, especially after the rigorous lovemaking last evening.”
“It certainly tired me out, but it also invigorates me,” Charles said. “It feels as though I am twenty again, and not the old man I am now.”
Emma pouted and wrapped her arms around him. “You are certainly not an old man. An old man would not be able to possess such virility and stamina.”
Charles chuckled and shook his head. “You flatter me.”
“I speak only the truth, my dearest.”
An extended moment of silence passed between them as Charles held her close, lightly stroking her back.
“Are you happy, my Emma?” he asked.
“I am. Unbelievably and indescribably so. Are you happy?” she asked.
For a moment, she wondered what his answer would be. The only thing Emma was concerned about was the state of his mind. She wished for him to be content as well. She wished for him to want to do all these things to make her happy. She did not wish for him to be secretly miserable. She would never forgive herself for that.
“Generally speaking, yes, I am. I am happy and blessed to have you in my life. I do miss London at times, and the Parliamentary meeting as well.”
“Charles,” Emma said and turned to him. “If those things make you happy, I do not wish to stand in your way of them. You are still allowed to enjoy things without me and the children. I would never keep you from going to London.”
“But I want to stay at Finlay Hall. I want to see my children grow into wonderful young ladies. I want to spend time with my beautiful wife. I do not wish to miss anything as I had before.”
