Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

" J ames… wake up."

The voice was soft and sleepy, and as James slipped in and out of sleep, he found that he did not want to obey that command. It was infinitely more comfortable to lie here in bed, warm and safe, than to wake up.

"Wake up," the voice urged again, and at last, James blinked his eyes open.

Sunlight was filtering through the window of the bedchamber, warm and buttery. It took him a second to remember that he wasn't at home, but at an inn, and that he was sharing a bed with…

He started. He was sharing a bed with his wife! And he wasn't simply sleeping next to her but was curled around her, with his arm wrapped around her torso and his nose buried in the crook of her neck.

"Are you awake?" Violet whispered as he shifted and loosed his grip on her. "My arm is asleep… I'd like to move it."

"I'm awake," he said, his voice still groggy with sleep. "I'm sorry, I must have… in the night…"

Heat crept up his cheeks, and he pushed himself away from her and sat up. She did the same, and he was interested to see that she was also blushing.

"How long have you been awake?" he asked, to mask the awkwardness of the moment.

"Just a few minutes."

She was averting her gaze, and he understood why. This was probably the first time in her life that she had been held in bed. Although, truthfully, it had been a long time for him as well…

"Forgive me," he said, coughing slightly. "I am not used to sharing a bed, and my body must have taken over at some point in the night."

"There is nothing to forgive," she murmured. Another awkward silence ensued, and then she stood up. "I should… get ready to go."

"Of course!" James practically leaped up. He then turned away quickly.

In the daylight, their state of undress was accentuated, and he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.

Or look at her mussed hair and rumpled nightdress.

Such sights would only inspire thoughts that he absolutely should not be entertaining right now.

"I'll leave you to dress," he said. "And please take your time. I have an errand to run before we leave."

"All right, but James…" He turned and saw her biting her lip again. "Please hurry. I have never been more ready to leave a place in my life. And that includes my father's house!"

"Where is your husband?" Lady Carfield asked an hour later as she, Violet, and Rosalie sat in the parlor, waiting. "He's been gone for almost an hour!"

"I know, Mama, and I'm sure he will return soon," Violet replied as soothingly as she could.

Truthfully, she was anxious to leave as well. Her husband had left the guards here with them, and he must have believed there was no more threat to his life because he had gone out alone.

But she was nervous. Despite his victory over Farrell, danger still lurked. The inn had almost been burned down to the ground last night, and her father was still out there.

"Aren't you worried?" Lady Carfield asked, peering at her.

Violet opened her mouth to answer in the negative, but then she stopped herself.

That's what you've been doing your whole life—hiding your feelings to protect others. But you don't have to do that anymore.

"Yes," she said instead, looking her mother in the eyes. "I am worried."

Across from her, Rosalie put her book down, an astonished look on her face. "Did Violet just admit to having a real, human feeling?!" she gasped.

"Don't mock me," Violet huffed.

"I'm not mocking you! I appreciate hearing you voice your real emotions, after everything you've been through these past few days."

"Yes, well, I'm trying something new," Violet said waspishly.

"Being more like me?" Rosalie asked hopefully.

"Being more open," Violet said, laughing. "So, yes, I am worried about my husband. But I also trust him. All his instincts have proved correct of late, and if he feels he can go out alone, then I trust he knows what he's doing."

Lady Carfield reached across the sofa and took Violet's hand. "I'm proud of you, my dear," she murmured. "It's not easy to admit when we are afraid, and it's even harder to learn to trust someone."

"Thank you, Mama."

Hoofbeats sounded outside, and the three of them looked towards the window. Seconds later, the carriage James had departed in came into view.

Everything looked normal, and when it had halted, the footmen jumped down and opened the door. James emerged, then shouted instructions, and the footmen unloaded a crate from the back.

"What on earth…?" Violet murmured. "We don't have room for more luggage!"

They heard the front door of the inn open, then James's booming voice as he greeted the innkeeper.

"Where's my wife?" he demanded.

Violet blushed scarlet. Her mother shot her a curious look, and Rosalie gave her a very smug smirk. See? she mouthed. Romantic!

Then the door to the parlor opened, and James strode in, smiling widely.

"Violet!" he said the moment he saw his wife. "Duchess," he corrected himself as his footmen followed him inside with the crate. "Forgive me for taking so long, but you see, it was a matter of grave importance. I had to fire the entire constabulary for collaborating with Farrell and instruct several men loyal to me to find their replacements. It was no easy task. But fortunately, I was also able to make another step for more pleasant reasons."

"Is that what's in the crate?" Rosalie asked before Violet could say anything. "The more pleasant reason?"

"It's a present," he announced, and his sparkling eyes landed on Violet. "For my wife."

"James…" Violet's breath caught in her chest. "You didn't need to buy me a present!"

"I didn't do it because I had to," he said. "I did it because it gives me pleasure. And because I hope it will make you happy as well."

Now Rosalie was smirking shamelessly, and Violet felt her face turn as red as a tomato.

"Now, let's unbox it," James said, turning to his men.

The footmen put down the crate, and at the same time, a shuffling sound came from inside of it, followed by a whimper.

Violet froze.

What on earth could be in there?

The footmen strode forward, and one of them undid the latches at the front of the crate. It was angled away from Violet, so she couldn't see what was inside when the door finally slid open. Rosalie, however, could, and she squealed and clapped a hand over her mouth in excitement.

James, meanwhile, grinned broadly and reached inside of the crate. And he pulled out a puppy.

Violet felt her heart melt. The puppy was the most adorable thing she had ever seen in her whole life. He was tiny, with black fur spotted occasionally with white, and big floppy ears. His nose was pink, and his eyes were big and brown and as wide as saucers.

As James cradled him in his arms, the puppy let out another whimper, and Violet thought she might actually die of love.

"He is for you," James continued, approaching her slowly. "A puppy that one of Farrell's dogs whelped recently. He was going to have her drowned when he realized she was pregnant, but my spies managed to rescue her. She gave birth to a litter a fortnight ago. Just yesterday, I was informed that the litter was doing well, so I wanted to go and see them. And then, of course, as soon as I laid eyes on this little boy, I knew you had to have him."

He stretched out his arms towards her, and Violet instinctively reached out and took the puppy.

She had never held an animal before, and she marveled at how warm the puppy was, how soft its fur was. She could scarcely believe it was real and that she was holding such a beautiful creature in her arms.

The puppy turned his head and looked up at her. Tentatively, she brought a hand to his face, to let him sniff her. He responded by licking her. She giggled and then brought the puppy even closer to her chest, hugging him close.

"Do you like him?" James asked.

Violet looked up to see her husband watching her apprehensively. "Of course I do," she choked out. A myriad of emotions was overwhelming her, and she thought she might cry with love for this little creature. "I love him. Thank you. Thank you so much."

"I wanted you to have one of the dogs that you helped protect by your bravery these past few days," he said quietly.

"It means the world to me," Violet croaked. And she really meant it.

No one had ever given her a gift like this, and as she looked into her husband's eyes, her heart felt as if it might burst with love…

For the dog, of course.

Just for the dog.

But her mother must have sensed that something deep and important was happening because she said briskly, "We will give you two a moment," and then ushered Rosalie and the footmen out of the parlor.

Once they were alone, James drew closer.

"He looks right in your arms," he remarked.

Violet laughed. "He would like right in anyone's arms."

"That's true. He's impossibly adorable."

"Yes, we can agree on that."

They were quiet for a moment, both staring at the puppy, and Violet began to pet his head. He let out another whimper, although this time it sounded like a whimper of happiness, and her heart swelled.

"I also thought…" James spoke tentatively, and she looked back up at him. "If we won't have children, then perhaps we can have a family of another kind."

Violet's heart sank at this reminder of their arrangement, but she tried not to let it ruin her happiness.

"You mean like… more puppies?" she asked.

"And other animals as well, perhaps."

James was looking at her so eagerly, and she was so thankful to him for bringing her the puppy—and for everything they had shared the night before—that she couldn't bring herself to let any disappointment show.

Anyway, she did love the puppy. Perhaps she could even love him as much as she would love a child.

But she had decided not to hide her feelings anymore, so she said, "While I still feel sad that we will not have children, I do look forward to creating a new kind of family with you." She smiled up at him. "Thank you again for the puppy. I already love him so much."