Chapter 33

CHAPTER 33

" I can't believe we are going out for the entire day when there is so much to plan," Christine said.

The coach bumped up and down as they rode down the cobbled London streets.

"I have hired the very best in London, and all of the staff of the estate have been employed to help," the Duke replied. "Besides, I promised that I would spend some time with you, and if we continue to delay because of unexpected events, then we might never spend any time together."

"Do you really think our life will be like that?" Christine asked.

"I have no idea, but if our marriage so far is anything to go by, I expect that we are in for a lot of adventures."

Christine smiled as she looked out of the window. There was a lot of happiness in her heart with a wedding in only a few days, and she liked the sound of adventures with the Duke. If their time was filled with excitement, she would not have to think about how she had fallen in love with him.

It felt like she was falling down a steep hill, and she continued to roll head over heels again and again. When she had a chance to look toward the bottom of the hill, it got farther and farther away until she could not see it at times, and she continued to fall.

Christine felt a warm sensation in her lap and almost laughed when she saw the Duke take her hand. She squeezed his hand tight, clinging onto him.

Perhaps I can pretend he is in love with me. He acts as a man should with his wife, and if I pretend, then I can be happy.

Christine knew it would be a pretend life, but it would still be better than most lives.

"I still can't believe it," Christine said. "Adeline and Lord St. Vincent will make a fine couple, and I hope they will come to love each other in time."

"There is no doubt he loves her," Theodore said.

"There is no doubt," Christine muttered.

"How about Adeline?" the Duke asked. "I believe you know her better than I do, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Will she grow to love him?"

"I can't speak to that," Christine admitted. "She likes the Baron, there is no doubt about that, and he will treat her well, but love is unpredictable. I hope she falls in love with him."

If she falls in love with him, then it gives me hope that someday, you will fall in love with me.

"It was a big risk for her to tell him what happened to her," the Duke said. "She would have driven off almost any man, but more than that, it would surely have come out if he had been driven off. Even the most honest and trustworthy men can reveal secrets."

"Are you trying to justify your opinion on the matter?" Christine asked, squeezing her husband's hand. "You wanted her to trap him into marriage while she wanted to tell him everything. I was in full agreement with Adeline, and look how it turned out."

"I wanted her to be married, and she is getting married," Theodore stated.

"Oh, my goodness!" Christine let go of his hand and laughed joyously. She swiveled in the bench of the coat and faced Theodore, who looked straight ahead and gave nothing away. "Can you please just admit once and for all that I am right, and you were completely wrong?"

"Everything worked out for the best," the Duke said.

Christine burst out laughing and almost rolled off the seat in her amusement. "I am waiting!" Christine sang. "Admit to me that you were wrong about the whole thing and that I should be the one to make the important decisions in the future."

"Why must we decide who was right and who was wrong?" the Duke asked, still staring straight ahead. "We are having a wonderful day together, and there is no need to discuss anything that happened in the past."

Christine laughed again, and she noticed that the Duke was about to join in.

"Perhaps I should take over any business you are engaged in," Christine stated. "That might be for the best."

The Duke suddenly grabbed Christine and pulled her onto his lap. She let out an excited gasp and then a squeal. Before she could argue her point more, the Duke pressed his lips to hers. She still wanted to argue about being right, but she became lost in the kiss.

Perhaps it was the upcoming wedding or what Lord St. Vincent was doing for Adeline or even what Theodore had done to Lord Shelvey, but her love had changed. Her love had been rooted in her lust and emotions, needing to be with the Duke, but the more she was around their now-growing family, the deeper and wider her love became.

Instead of her love being a drawing of a rose on a piece of paper, it was a rose garden planted across rolling hills. Roses popped up at different times and in different places. They grew to different heights at different elevations, and the seeds sprinkled to grow again and again with her heart as the gardener to tend to them.

"Mmm," Christine moaned as they came apart.

She did not move from his lap, placing her head on his shoulder.

A sweet embrace between two people who love each other. If I tell myself that enough, then I can make myself believe it.

"Would you really have gotten someone to marry Adeline and tricked them into believing they were the father?" Christine asked.

"I know you did not agree with it, and I understand it is morally wrong, but I would do anything for Adeline. She is the only one I have left now."

Christine looked up and kissed the Duke on the chin. "That is not true. You have your mother still."

"She might never return from the countryside."

"Adeline and the Baron will start a family, and you will have nieces and nephews." Christine hoped he might talk about starting a family.

"She will soon leave the estate," the Duke observed.

"You have me," Christine added. "I am not going anywhere, and I will always be with you."

"Yes, I have you," the Duke said affectionately. He kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. "I like having you."

He loves me, and that is all I need to tell myself.

"Ah, we are here," the Duke said. "Our first stop of the day."

They had shared a luxurious breakfast together back at the manor of crumpets, French pastries, potted game, eggs, and preserved fruits. The first stop on their day out was a tour of the British Museum.

Christine seated herself back on the bench before the door was opened. The Duke exited the coach first before he offered his hand to help Christine out.

Montagu House looked splendid in the early afternoon sun. The stonework was bathed in gold, making the exterior as interesting to look at as the artifacts contained within.

Christine took the Duke's arm, and they entered the museum together.

"Welcome, Your Grace," the curator said as they stepped inside. He did not personally meet everyone who came to the museum, but he had the time to be there to greet the Duke. "I hope your visit will be entertaining and enlightening. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call for me. We have staff all around the building, and they will be happy to fetch me should you need any specific information."

"Thank you," the Duke told him. "I am sure we will be fine by ourselves, but I appreciate that you are willing to accommodate us."

Theodore shook the curator's hand, and then he and Christine toured the museum.

Christine hadn't been before, but she knew she would be back. There was so much to see that one visit was not nearly enough. She wished she had brought a notebook, so she could record everything she saw, but it only meant she would get to see everything again.

They viewed Greek and Roman artifacts: busts and sculptures and marbles. There was an entire section dedicated to Egyptian Antiquities, including mummies and ancient statues. It was not only that the pieces were so old but that they portrayed a time and culture that was so different from their own.

Then there was the natural history with a grand selection of fossils and animal specimens, a rich collection of manuscripts and books, including many important English literary works, and coins and medals from far and wide.

"One day, we will be a part of history, just as all of this is," Christine noted.

"What will they say about us?" the Duke asked.

"I am sure they will say nothing about us," Christine said with a smile. "We are not as important as we think we are as individuals or even families. Apart from some of the books in there, there is no mention of any one person. England, however, will be represented in the museums of the future. What will they say about us as a nation? I don't know."

"We shall have to do something special," the Duke suggested. "Not England, but us. That is how you get into a museum, isn't it?"

"I suppose," Christine replied.

"We will do something wonderful with our lives, and people will remember our family for hundreds of years."

Family?

Christine was pretending, but she could not pretend with that. She could not pretend they had a family, and she could not pretend the Duke had meant anything other than the two of them. Perhaps their nieces and nephews.

"What will we do to be remembered for the rest of time?" Christine asked.

"I am sure we will think of something," the Duke replied. "Just looked at the things that have happened to us so far."

"When I look at our life together, I wonder if some boredom is not the right thing for us," Christine suggested. "What might we do that will echo through time? What if it is something awful?"

"Boredom?" the Duke asked. "No, that is not for us, unfortunately. And awful? No, that is not for us either. We will do something exciting and good, and I have no idea what that will be, but I know it will be brilliant because you will be a part of it. Now, come, we have a lot more to do. This is only the beginning."

"I love what you have planned for us," Christine said. "You did not have to spend so much time with me, but I am glad you have. And it stuns me how much thought and time you have put into planning the day. I have enjoyed it all so far, and I will enjoy the rest of it. Thank you for working so hard."

It really is a wonderful day, and if we continue to have wonderful days, I can love this man without needing his love in return. I can accept that life.

"I put a lot of thought into today, but it is for me, too. I am having a wonderful time with you, Christine. I am reaping all of the benefits, too."

Christine smiled and took her husband's hand again, walking with him back to the coach to drive to their next location.

The next stop was a private area of Regency Park just for Christine and Theodore. The staff who were not completely embroiled in wedding planning had brought baskets of food and picnic blankets for them, and the Duke and Duchess enjoyed rich cheeses and meats, along with a little red wine. They visited a patisserie for tarts after and then took a stroll along the Thames.

After, they perused Bond Street, not trying on any of the clothes as they were short on time but looking for matching outfits for the wedding that they could come back and try on when they had more time, then, it was a stop for supper in a private room of a restaurant prepared by a personal chef, and then the theater.

"I might sleep for a week after this," Christine commented.

"No sleeping for you," the Duke replied. "Perhaps after the wedding, you can sleep for a week, but I cannot allow it before then."

"No, I suppose you are right," Christine moaned.

The buzz of the theater helped to perk her back up after the lavish supper, and she took a glass of sherry from the Duke to drink before the first act. They had gone to see The School for Scandal , a satire about the upper class.

"Your Grace!"

Theodore and Christie both turned to find Lord and Lady Hammersmith before them. Lady Hammersmith had a glint in her eye as if she knew a secret which was often the case. She seemed only to deal with secrets and gossip.

"Lord Hammersmith," the Duke said, "it is fine to see you again."

"You too, Your Grace. You too," the Lord said. "Terrible business about Lord Shelvey."

Christine's eyes shot to Lady Hammersmith, who was eager to say something.

"Oh?" the Duke asked. "What business is that?"

"He told us everything, of course," Lady Hammersmith stated.