“Would you like me to do it again? Did I leave something out? I wouldn’t mind doing it over and over, just for the pleasure of hearing the word ‘yes’ from you again and again.”
“Perhaps we can do it once a day, from now on, before breakfast. Or before we go to sleep at night.”
He smiled at her.
“...‘when your lifewasstill so uncertain...’” she prompted. “That’s what you said. Was.”
“Ah,” he said gravely. “You are magnificently astute. Well, this may come as a disappointment, Aurelie . . .”
She tipped her head. His eyes were glinting suspiciously, so she didn’t worry.
“...but you may never need to learn to haggle.”
She put a hand to her heart. “I am devastated,” she breathed. “Please explain yourself.”
He raised her palm to kiss it. “The reason I was delayed in returning to The Grand Palace on the Thames today, my darling wife-to-be, was that the Duke of Valkirk wanted to tell me that the king has, upon his recommendation, created Letters Patent styling me Viscount Redvers in recognition of service to our country. Attached to the title are lands that previously belonged to the crown. And upon this land is a very fine manor house, surrounded by, as fate would have it...” He paused for effect. “...green meadows.”
She was speechless.
And then all at once he went blurry as tears filled her eyes.
“If you want to stay in England, that is?” he said worriedly.
She knocked the tears from her eyes again. “This is so wonderful and it’s only right, they did only the right thing, as you are a hero. It is a dream come true. I want only to be where you are.”
“It means I’ll have a seat in Parliament. I’ve also been offered a position at the Alien Office advising on matters of intelligence.”
She went still. “Not of the sort that involves guns or knives or kicking or rescuing?”
“No. I am to be a sage now. A grizzled advisor. I will order other talented young men to do all of that and perhaps now and again make terrifyingly important decisions, but I won’t need to work very often. And so. We’ll have quite a decent income. Resignyourself to ordering servants about, provided we can get good ones.”
She considered this thoughtfully. “You won’t be bored, Christian?”
“How can I ever be bored? Merely sitting next to you right now is among the most fascinating things I’ve ever done.”
He wasn’t lying. When she smiled at him, he felt like a god. What a miracle it seemed that his existence made her happy, and making her happy was to be his job for the rest of his days. He was both exhausted and bliss filled, and the combination was nearly inebriating. Even now Brundage remained on the periphery of his awareness—and on hers, too, no doubt. There would be a trial, Hawkes’s presence and testimony would be required, and the outcome, given the damning evidence, could mean that not only would Brundage lose his life, his very title would be eradicated. The historical record of him erased. For such were the consequences of high treason. There would be publicity. Hawkes’s name would appear in the newspapers.
He was equal to it. He would see it through no matter what it took. The man would pay. And Aurelie’s name wouldneverbe mentioned in any capacity during that trial. He would use his own influence to see to that and he had friends in high places, indeed.
Aurelie was going to marry a ruthless man.
He supposed this part of him never would change. And he would ruthlessly protect her and their family for the rest of his days.
“We shall find a home in London, too,” he told her, more gently. “We will entertain. We will have dinners, and teas—”
“With perhaps singing, and dancing?” she said hopefully.
“Of a certainty. We shall invite Mr. Delacorte and Mr. Bellingham to sing duets.”
She laughed.
And he liked the sound of it: For almost the entirety of his previous life, social occasions had been reasons to extract intelligence, or to ingratiate, or to build relationships—so seldom had he been able to lose himself in the lightness of a moment. They would all feel entirely new with her.
“We will go to balls, if you like. And the theater. We will see the sights in London, and have picnics, and make love anytime and anywhere—”
“Anywhere?” she breathed, as if he was telling her a fairy tale.
“—oh,anywhere,” he assured her. “And any way we want.”