Chapter 14

The woman Siena had been but a few weeks ago would never believe what she had just done.

She was not, however, the same woman anymore.

Nor did she want to go back.

As she and Levi lay together, wrapped up in the blankets and this moment, she couldn't help but wonder how it was possible to so completely begin to understand herself while at the same time becoming so immersed in who the two of them were together.

She reached up, running her hands up and down Levi's back as she held him against her, her heart swelling at how he had opened up to her while at the same time shown her a side of himself that she hadn't expected – one that was primal, powerful, and possessive in a way that thrilled her.

"You are incredible," she whispered, their breath still intermingling. "That was utterly unbelievable."

"Happy to hear it," he said. "But it is you that takes my breath away."

They lay there, revelling in one another, where they likely could have been lost together all day, until there was a knock at the door, and they both started, suddenly coming back to the present.

In their discovery of one another, they had almost forgotten all of the turmoil that had brought them to this moment and the destruction that lay beyond these doors.

"My lady?" came Mary's distressed voice. "Are you there? Are you well? We couldn't find you and?—"

"I am fine, Mary!" Siena called out. "Please, give me a moment to collect myself and then perhaps a bath would be lovely."

"Very well, my lady," Mary responded in relief as well as some confusion, but her footsteps soon faded down the hall.

Levi looked down at Siena, one corner of his mouth uplifted in amusement as he reached out and brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"You missed some soot," he said, although his smile quickly fled as he was also apparently brought back to the terror from earlier.

"Thank you," she said quietly, earnestly, and his brow furrowed in confusion.

"For what?"

"For sharing with me. For helping me understand who you are."

"Mine is not a happy story," he said, his hands twisted in the blankets beneath him. "It's also one that many people meet with suspicion."

"Because they believe that you started the fire," she said, repeating the rumors she had heard time and again.

"You have read the scandal sheets."

"I have, and they are nothing but that – scandalous papers that will do anything to make a sale. I know that you had nothing to do with that fire, and that if you could, you would go back in time and stop it from ever occurring."

"Thank you," he said, reaching out and covering one of her hands with his own.

"For what?"

"For trusting me. Believing in me."

"It's the truth," she said simply, pausing for a moment before asking, "how did the fire start?"

"That is where the rumors began," he said, throwing himself back down on the bed, "for signs pointed to the potential of the fire being started deliberately. There was an abundance of oil in the kitchen and a few of the servants identified a person fleeing from the area at the time."

"None of that should lead anyone to believe that it was you."

"It shouldn't," he said grimly. "But people can be quick to turn one small fact into a much bigger story. I am sorry to share all of this melancholy with you."

"Don't be. It is your story," she said, reaching out and pushing his hair, which had grown far too long for the style of the day but suited him, away from his face. "When I told you that we will face it together, those were not just words."

He nodded, the trust on his face causing her heart to swell.

"I suppose we best get you cleaned up so that we do not scandalize Mary," he said, reluctantly lifting himself off her.

"I have a feeling that your staff would be quite pleased to know that you are happy," she said as she crossed the room, finding her wrapper and slipping it over her shoulders.

He nodded as though he were about to say something, scratching his head, telling that he was just realizing what their coming together likely meant for her and their future.

Enough emotions had arisen today already, though, and Siena worried that having to make any further decisions would be altogether too much.

That could come another day.

"You should go before the bath arrives," she said. "I know we are both scandalous already in our own way, but?—"

"This might be too much, even for us," he said with a small, slightly relieved smile as he dressed before crossing to her, leaning down, and placing the sweetest, most caring kiss on her lips.

It was one she would carry with her until they were together like this again.

Which she hoped would be very soon.

Buoyed by Siena,Levi carried the bliss of their encounter through the rest of the day as he faced the destroyed stable and directed his staff to find makeshift shelter for the horses in the barn until they could rebuild enough of the stable to make them comfortable once more.

Levi stood beside Collins, the stablemaster, as they watched the footmen help lead the horses away while the smoke still trickled up from the burned building.

"I must apologize, Your Grace," Collins said, rubbing his forehead, which was thickly streaked with soot. "I have no idea how the fire started. There was enough light from the windows that we didn't have any lanterns lit, and as far as I know, no one was smoking inside. I shall have to ask and see if anyone can think of a cause, but?—"

"It's not your fault, Collins," Levi said, stopping him and then catching the stablemaster's surprised expression. Levi supposed that his staff was not accustomed to him being so forgiving, but he was in a different mood than usual today.

"Once the smoke clears and the embers burn out and we can go inside, I'm sure we can determine what happened, but it will only be to prevent it from taking place again. No blame will be laid." Levi pursed his lips together, deciding that he'd had more than enough experience with fires than most people should ever have.

He clapped the stablemaster on the shoulder and was returning to the house when McGregor caught up to him.

"Your Grace," he said with a nod, as he always referred to him by his proper title when they were in public settings. "How are you doing? I can imagine that the fire must have been very traumatic for you."

"It was, in a way, yes," he said, letting out a breath. "It brought back memories that I would prefer to leave in the past. At least, however, no one was hurt."

"I heard Lady Siena was rather close."

"Yes," Levi said, rubbing his forehead as he tried to push the new memory away as well. "Far too close." McGregor appeared troubled, and Levi remembered then that he was not the only one involved in a previous fire. McGregor had lost his own father – a baker – to a fire, and then had witnessed the same fire Levi had endured.

"This must be difficult for you as well, McGregor."

"Never mind me," the valet said, but before Levi could ask anything further, he squinted when he saw a line of people walking around the building and flinched in response, although he didn't run – not yet.

It took him a moment to realize that not all of the people around the barn and stables were his staff, but rather people he had never seen before. An uneasy ball began to roll around his stomach, although he wasn't nearly as on edge as he usually was at the thought of someone seeing him for the first time. He supposed it was because he was used to it at this point and no matter what the people here thought, he was still their duke.

"Who are these people? I do not recognize many of them."

"They are tenants from nearby as well as people from the town," McGregor explained. "They have come to see what they can do to help. There is already talk of coming together to build a new stable."

"How much would I pay them for that?" he asked.

"They would never agree to take payment," Thornbury said, joining them. "This is what they do – help one another in times of need."

Levi was already shaking his head as he took some steps back. For one, he didn't want to allow anyone to take a close look at his face. He wasn't sure that he could stand that kind of scrutiny at the moment, especially not after he was beginning to hope that maybe if Siena could handle what he looked like, others might be able to see past his visage as well.

He couldn't have those hopes dashed.

Not today.

Siena had spentthe rest of the day after the fire by herself. By the time she had finished her bath, evening had already descended, and Siena readied for bed and took dinner in her chamber, as exhaustion had set in from the events of the day – the terror of the fire and the elation with Levi that followed.

She had hoped that he hadn't waited for her for dinner, but Mary had informed her that he had been so busy with the staff as they looked after the horses and stable that he had missed dinner altogether. Siena wasn't keen on that news, but she supposed that he was a grown man and didn't need her to tell him when to eat or not.

She hadn't seen him at all the next day either, although she had spied him through the windows from time to time. She had been very pleased when she had received a message from him, telling her that he looked forward to seeing her at dinner that night.

This meant that now she was looking rather forlornly at her wardrobe, devoid of her favorite of the gowns Eliza had packed for her now that it was ruined. None of the rest seemed to be appropriate for this evening.

At some point, she was going to have to buy new dresses, although she wasn't certain how to do so when she had no wish to return to London and she doubted that Levi would welcome a seamstress into his home.

Which was why she was greatly surprised when Mary knocked on the door and walked in with her arms full of beautiful golden fabric.

"What's this?" Siena asked as Mary practically beamed while laying out what appeared to be a gown upon the bed.

"The duke asked that I bring this to you to wear tonight."

"Where is it from?" she asked as she brought a hand to her throat, aghast at the beauty of the gown. From its style, she guessed that it was created decades ago, but still, it didn't appear worn, and it practically glittered in the candlelight.

"I have never seen it before myself, but perhaps the duke can provide you with an explanation," Mary said, as she busied herself helping Siena prepare for dinner.

Siena walked over, stroking her hands over the beautiful silk.

"What is it for? It is far too extravagant for a simple dinner, is it not?"

Mary smiled coyly. "The Cook told me that His Grace asked her to prepare a special dinner tonight."

"For how many people?" Siena asked, wondering if he had invited guests – perhaps this friend Fitz she had heard of.

"Just the two of you," Mary answered, giving her eyebrows a quick wiggle that had Siena laughing even as her heart fluttered slightly.

A dinner shouldn't seem particularly important after what had happened between them yesterday, and yet… if he was putting an effort into doing something for her, perhaps that meant that he actually cared.

She couldn't help her giggle of excitement and clapped her hand over her mouth after she allowed it to escape, but Mary held no judgement. In fact, it seemed that the maid shared her enthusiasm as she flitted about the room even faster while she carefully helped Siena with her hair and a bit of rouge on her cheeks. Siena wished she had a few jewels to match the beautiful gown, but its finery would have to do.

Soon enough she was prepared, standing in front of the mirror, facing Mary.

"Well?" she said, taking the fabric of the dress between her thumb and forefinger as she lifted it out to the sides. "What do you think?"

"You are stunning," Mary said with a sigh of contentment. "Absolutely beautiful. I can see why the duke is falling for you."

"Falling for me?" Siena said, her mouth gaping open. "I am not sure I would call it that."

"The man has barely left his bedchamber or his study since he arrived here over a year ago, and I have only ever heard him speak to Thornbury or McGregor. Even then, he practically grunted his words. But today, even after the stable nearly burned down, I saw him smile. Lady Siena, I have not seen that man smile once in all my time working here. That is because of you."

"Perhaps he just needed some company," Siena said somewhat bashfully. She had hoped to help the duke find a reversal of his spirit, a lightness that had previously been absent, but she could hardly imagine that he would see her as more than that, that there might even be potential for him to fall in love with her.

Love. She had never imagined that it might be in her future – most especially with a man like the Duke of Dunmore.

After Mary's approval, she took a breath and opened the door to face whatever surprise awaited her with her stomach in knots – but happy, excited knots.

Siena walked toward the stairs with some trepidation, finding that her fingers were shaking on the banister. She stood at the top, wondering just where she was supposed to meet the duke, what he might have waiting for her, why he was doing this – and then she saw him.

He was standing at the bottom of the staircase, more dapper than she had ever seen him before. He wore trousers and a jacket of rich, dark velvet, his waistcoat adorned with intricate gold embroidery and shiny buttons that matched her gown.

Even his cravat had obviously been carefully selected, starched, and tied, his eye patch made of new black silk, and her heart swelled that he had gone to such effort for her.

"Lady Siena," he said, his voice nearly cracking as he held out a hand toward her. "I've been waiting for you."