Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

W illiam was returning home just as his wife was leaving.

He frowned as he saw her slip from the house. There was something off about the way she was moving.

Not only that, but it didn't seem like she was taking the carriage.

Unsure what else to do or why he had such a bad feeling when he saw her, William slipped into the crowd around her.

He followed her from a distance all the way to the park. As she made her way through the greenery he couldn't help but notice the way her eyes seemed to scan the crowd for someone.

Then she stared moving with a purpose. She made her way over to the duck pond.

William thought about approaching her but hesitated. If she was in the middle of something, he didn't want to interrupt her, but he couldn't help the growing sense of wrongness he had as he watched her stand there.

After what felt like an eternity, she turned to go. William let out a sigh of relief, but before it could take root, something pulled her deep into the bushes.

"Rebecca!" he shouted, racing toward her.

The second he was close enough, he reached in, grabbing at whoever had forced her in there.

When he pulled the man out, rage filled him.

"I thought Rebecca told you we never wanted to see you again?" he snarled at Solomon. "Just what were you doing to her?"

Rebecca stumbled out of the bushes, pulling the fabric from her lips. "He was going to try and ransom me back to you," she said.

"What kind of monster would do something like that to his own daughter?" he snapped before pulling back his fist and slamming it into his face.

The action drew the attention of other park goes.

Solomon was nothing if not resourceful. He took the opportunity to turn to the gathering crowd.

"Did you all see that? All I wanted was to protect my poor daughter from this awful man! I never should have agreed to this match. The way he mistreats her is too much to bear!"

To william's shock, Rebecca pushed herself in between them. "The way he mistreats me? You have never cared about my treatment before! In fact you have always been the one to mistreat me!"

"He's manipulated her! You all saw him! The Duke of Danton is clearly a violent man!"

"He has never so much as laid a finger on me! The same can not be said of you. How many times have you hit me, slapped me, forced me to go without food or wouldn't give me warm clothes to wear in the winter? And yet you have the audacity to accus William of being violent? Of being cruel?"

"Do you think anyone will fall for your lies!?"

"Her lies?" William grabbed him by the collar, unable to take this any longer. "If I'm so cruel, if then what does that say about you? You were so eager to marry her off the second you heard I was looking for a wife. You rushed through the engagement before we could even meet. Then you dare to try and kidnap her.!"

""I'm just a concerned father trying to protect my daughter," he finally insists.

But the crowd wasn't quite buying it. They had seen too much.

Rebecca spoke again. "You have never once treated me as your daughter. You don't get to pretend to be concerned about me now.

His face darkened, act breaking. "As if I didn't treat you far better than you deserved. After everything you did, after they way that you killed your poor mother taking her away from me and your sister, you deserved far worse than anything I have ever done to you."

Her gaze hardened even further. "What kind of monster holds his wife passing away from childbirth against the baby? I may never have been lucky enough to meet her, but that doesn't mean I didn't loose someone too."

"You have never lost anything in your life! All you have ever done is take what doesn't belong to you!"

"All you have ever done was show me cruelty and malice!"

William dropped SOlomon, letting him drop to the ground before turning to his wife. "I don't think he's with wasting our time on unless you ave some more you want to get off your chest."

She shook her head. "No, I think I've said everything I need to say."

"Then I'm glad. Now, let's go home."

William took her hand and the pair made their way from the part together.

"Are you all right?" William asked when the pair was alone.

"You know what? I think for the first time ever, I truly am."

The pair made their way back home hand in hand. Rebecca couldn't help the smile that bloomed on her face.

She didn't understand how she could be so lucky.

"What are you thinking about?" William asked as they approached the door to their estate.

"Just how glad I am everything worked out the way that it did."

"I'm glad I found you, but you have to admit the way you ended up here was not fair to you. You never should have been treated the way you were or forced to marry me."

"I won't disagree. It was horribly cruel of my father to use me as a bargaining chip like that, but it's over now, and if it hadn't happened, I doubt I would have met you. To me that makes all of it worth it."

For a long moment, William fell silent.

Ordinarily, this would be when Rebecca would start to worry she shouldn;t have said anything or that she spoke out of turn, but not this time. She had meant every word of what she said. Even if he didn't feel the same way, that was all right, but she couldn't keep it in. she needed to say it.

William didn't say another word until they were actually inside, but the second the door was shut behind them, he turned to Rebecca with an intense look on his face.

"You need to be careful about saying such things," he said, voice thick with unsaid emotions.

"And why not?"

He sighed. "Because, I have rather fallen in love without. While I don't expect you to feel the same way, it's hard not to take your words and give myself hope."

"But what if I want you to hope?" she asked, taking a step towards William.

For a long moment, he didn't say a word, he just stared at her as if afraid to let himself believe what he saw there. "What are you saying?" he finally asked, voice carefully measured.

"I'm saying that I feel the same way, that I have fallen rather in love with you myself."

"Do you truly mean that?"

"I would never say such a thing if I didn't."

He didn't hesitate after that. William surged forward, taking his bride in his arms.

For a moment, Rebecca startled, losing her ballance for a moment, she clutched at his sleeve. "What are you-"

Then he was moving in closer. His face was only a breath from hers.

"Before I say anything else, I want to say it properly. I am so lucky to be married to you. I love you, Rebecca."

"Oh, William, I have never had anyone stand up for me the way you have. You have shown me I can have the kind of life I have never dared to dream about before. You have done so much for me, given so much to me, and I love you for it, but more than that, I love you for the man you are, so kind and considerate and-"

William didn't give her the chance to get another word out. He darted forward, sealing their lips together in a kiss.

It was unlike their previous kisses. Gone was the hesitancy and self consciousness from before.

In its place was only pure love and adoration.

The pair spent far longer than would have been considered proper standing in the foyer kissing before Mary came around the corner.

"Oh!" she gasped. "I'm sorry to interrupt the two of you, I just wanted to ask when you would like to have dinner."

"Yes, of course," Rebecca stepped back, doing her best to ignore the way William's shoulders shook with laughter. "I can go change now. Thank you or asking."

"Are you sure? there's no rush. I would be more than happy to wait for you in your room."

"Give us a moment then she'll be right up," he cut in, regaining his composure.

"Thank you, your grace," she did a quick curtsy then all but ran off.

William started to laugh again as soon as Mary was out of ear shot.

"William!" Rebecca flushed. "You shouldn't laugh about such things. We gave the poor girl quite the scare."

He moved to pull her back into his arms. "I'm sure she will be fine in a moment. It isn't like we were doing anything improper. We are married after all."

"I don't think that makes kissing in the hall any more proper."

"Very well then, I will let you got for now, but we should continue this conversation later. How does after dinner sound?"

Rebecca laughed, as she stepped away. "I would hardly call what happened a conversation."

"That doesn't mean that there is nothing to continue."

She shook her head. "I need to go dress for dinner. I will see you shortly."

She shot William one last look before making her way back to her room.

The second she had stepped inside, Mary was on her.

"It looks like you and Duke Danton have gotten close," she teases.

Rebecca flushed. "Well, it's only natural if we have. We are married after all."

"Forgive me if that came out as anything other than incredibly happy for you. From what I have heard, I have gathered that you did not chose this match so it makes me happy to see it working out so well for you." She smiled, leaning in like she was about to tell a secret. "And I hope than means that my position as your lady's maid is secure."

"I don't think I could have anyone else at this point," Rebecca said with a laugh. "I should thank you."

"Thank me? Whatever for?"

"For looking after me so well."

"I never did anything any good lady's maid would do."

Rebecca shook her head. "You went a long way to making me feel at home here. It meant a lot."

"I'm glad I could help. Now, let's get you dressed for dinner. We wouldn't want to keep Duke Danton waiting, now would we?" she smiled.

It was strange, the words sounded like something Dorothy would have said as a snide remark, but when Mary said it, it didn't sound like that at all. It was teasing, gentle, almost affectionate.

Rebecca smiled. "No, I suppose we shouldn't.