Caroline nodded. “I do. I understand better than you realize. All of my life, I dreamed of falling in love and being happy. Oliver is my joy, and I have great happiness with him in my life, but you are my love. I never wish to be apart from you again.”
“Then we will not allow that to happen.” He leaned over and pulled her close, and when their lips met, Caroline felt a passion that matched her own. The feeling of a kiss that was given in love could never be matched, and the ravens perched in the branches around them seemed to caw their agreement.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The cool wind ruffled Oliver’s hair as Caroline walked with him and Philip through the gardens of Blackwood Estates. Three months had passed since the day Philip had saved her from a forced marriage with Neil Hayward, and now, in one week’s time, she would marry the man she loved instead. It had been a whirlwind of events that had led to this moment, including a trial that had sentenced her former brother-in-law to be hanged a fortnight ago. Some women would have relished in being present for such an event, but she had chosen not to attend; she had endured enough as far as she was concerned. No sadness of his death resided inside her; although, regret that the man had such evil within him still lingered.
“So, next year I will be able to begin my horse-riding lessons?” Oliver asked as he looked up at Philip.
“That is correct,” Philip replied. “Of course, I expect you to remain diligent in your studies. Although, I expect you will do just that, will you not?”
Oliver gave a firm nod. “I will, I promise.”
They came to a stop beside a willow tree, its limbs swaying in the slight breeze. Caroline could not help but look upon her son and see the man he would become. Despite all he had been through—more than any one person would be expected to experience in their entire life—already he was thoughtful and caring and had a ready smile.
“When you marry Mother, will you still spend time with me?” The innocence of his question brought a warmth the sun could not have provided. The boy needed a strong man in his life; he craved such attention.
Philip squatted down, eye level with the boy. “Yes, I most certainly will. In fact, once your mother and I are married, we will spend even more time together. That is, if you would like that?”
Oliver did not reply with words but instead threw his arms around Philip’s neck, clinging to him for several moments before pulling away. “May I go inside?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye. “I have planning to do.”
Caroline had to keep herself from laughing.
Philip ruffled the boy’s hair. “Of course you may,” he replied, and Oliver ran off down the path that led back to the house. Philip turned to Caroline. “I believe the boy is far more excited than either of us for our wedding.”
Caroline slipped her arms around him and smiled. “He adores you,” she said. “And I can understand why, for I adore you, as well.”
Philip smiled down at her, and she saw that emotion behind his eyes once again. Now, however, she recognized it for what it was. He cared for her as much as she did him.
They continued their stroll, and Caroline stopped in front of the large bed filled with flowers struggling to remain alive to spite the cold weather that had set in.
“What are you thinking, my love?” Philip asked.
“I was remembering digging through this soil with my bare hands, wondering how I would escape this life. Then you came into it, taking away that desire to leave.”
“It took everything in me that day to restrain myself,” he said as he placed an arm around her. “I could not bear to see you hurt. I believe that was the moment I fell in love with you.”
“I adore how you gave me strength,” she whispered. “You still do.”
“I gave you nothing,” he replied. “I only showed you that which you held inside already.” Caroline went to speak, but he held up his hand. “That day I fell from my horse, my body was weak. I truly believed I could not go on. And yet, a woman, strong in heart and mind, gave me her strength to stand and to go for help. Never doubt that you are strong, for you are the strongest woman I have ever met.”
His words made her heart soar, and happiness spread through her body. “I will never doubt it again,” she said. “Do not think me foolish, but although I know you are a duke, I cannot help but think of you as a gardener at times. It is how I remember you—a simple man.”
Philip laughed. “Would you rather I return to my days of working here?” he asked with a wave of his hand about him.
“No,” she said with a giggle. “I want you beside me forever.”
He leaned in and kissed her, and that now-familiar flame inside her grew, threatening to consume her as the kiss became stronger and deeper.
She struggled to catch her breath when the kiss ended, and she placed her head on his chest, as if searching for support.
“We will be together forever,” he said, his voice husky. “Whether Duchess or gardener, it does not matter the title, for that which we share is most important of all.”
As a raven came to rest on the branch of a nearby tree, Caroline knew in her heart his words were true. For she understood the meaning of strength, of courage, and of wisdom. They were used in the most dangerous and heartbreaking of situations, but all of them were guided by one thing.
Love.
Epilogue
A small cry woke Caroline, and she sat up in bed and strained to hear it again. Thunder rumbled outside and the cry repeated. She pulled on her dressing gown and made her way to the bedroom down the hall.
“There now,” she whispered as she brushed back the hair from her daughter’s forehead.
Thunder boomed again, and the girl pulled the blankets over her head.
“There is nothing to fear,” Caroline consoled. “The storm brings rain, providing water for the animals to drink and the plants to grow strong.”
Anne gave her a small smile. “So, the thunder helps, too?”
“Of course,” Caroline replied. “Have you never heard the rushing of water from a waterfall?”
The girl nodded.
“Well, imagine how much noise a cloud must make to release the amount of water it does during a storm in the form of rain.”
Anne thought about this for a moment and smiled again, this time much wider. “Mother, will you tell me a story?”
Caroline pulled the blanket to her daughter’s chin with a nod. It had been five years since she and Philip had married, and they had begun a new life at Ravencroft Manor, leaving behind the dreadful memories of Blackwood Estates. Philip still saw to the day-to-day workings of the house, for one day, when he was old enough, it would become Oliver’s. It had been strange at first living in a new home, but Oliver had adapted quickly.
When Anne had arrived, he had been taken by his younger sister.
“I will protect you,” he had whispered as he gazed into her bassinet, placing his finger in her tiny hand. “No one will ever hurt you.”
Just thinking of that day made Caroline smile, and she leaned over and hugged her daughter. “Of course I will tell you a story,” she said. “I will tell you a story my mother told me when I was young.”
Her daughter yawned and wriggled down under the blankets, a habit she had whenever Caroline told her a story.
As Caroline began, she glanced at the door and saw Philip leaning against the doorframe, a wide grin on his face. He said nothing while Caroline told the tale, only moving to the bedside as she came to the end.
“And the ravens knew how much the Duke cared for her, so they guided him to his love, leading the way and giving him strength. Since that day, neither of them suffered again.” She reached over and kissed the forehead of her sleeping child, her heart near bursting.
Then, hand in hand, she and Philip stopped and peered into the bedroom belonging to Oliver. He had grown much over the years, but his sleeping form reminded her of when he was younger, so innocent and so angelic.
“You have done well,” Philip
whispered to her as she closed the door to the boy’s room.
Caroline looked up at her husband and knew that her life had finally given her all that she desired. A man who cared for her, who gazed upon her with such love that she wondered how she had won the affection of such a wonderful man.
They returned to their own bedroom, and just as in the story she had told her daughter, she knew they would never suffer again.
Author's Note
Author’s Note
Much like most Regency authors, Jennifer Monroe fell in love with historical novels of dashing dukes and women wishing to be swept off their feet. She believes that no matter how well a romance story is written, love must be the driving force behind the characters.
Born in France to parents who worked for the United Nations, she found herself traveling the world, until she settled down in New York whilst attending University. As she completed her degree in literature studies, she met and married her loving husband and they soon had two wonderful daughters. She chose to stay home and raise her children, and it was not long before she began to wonder about the novels she loved as a young adult and began to reread some
If you liked this story, try The Duke of Fire (which is also available in audiobook) or feel free to pursue Jennifer’s other titles.
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