Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“ I should have known better than to invite you out on this excursion.”

Samuel grinned over his shoulder at Aaron, looking far too pleased with himself as he led the way to the establishment of “the most respectable jeweler in London.” According to him at least.

“I haven’t even done anything yet, dear friend.”

“The expression on your face is vexing enough,” Aaron sighed.

Aaron had meant what he said about wanting to charm Selina again, this time to make her fall in love with him outside the pressure of a childish challenge.

He wanted to woo her properly, to make her feel as special as he saw her.

And because he wanted everything to go seamlessly, he enlisted the help of his friend to pick out a gift for Selina — because he simply couldn’t wait until they were married before spoiling her.

Samuel had been all too happy to offer up his assistance. He had been sending knowing smirks to Aaron since they entered the carriage.

“I wish you would simply say what is on your mind and let us move on to other subjects. You are clearly on the verge of bursting with your thoughts,” Aaron prompted, eager to move on.

“You worry too much. I am merely thinking of how best to congratulate you on your engagement. I’d like to say that Nora and I were surprised to receive the news, but we actually had a wager on how long it would take you to propose to her.” Samuel grinned, his impish pride irritating Aaron much less than the prospect of his friends knowing his thoughts to this extent.

“You bet on how long it would take me to propose? How did you even —”

“The way you looked at her, friend. The eyes never lie. Every time you sought her out under the guise of looking after her — because you were her guardian — there was an undercurrent of something more. Not at first, but eventually, you could never seem to settle if she wasn’t in your line of sight. Even then, you looked as though your world was about to cave in on itself if she wasn’t arguing with you. It was only a matter of time after that.” Samuel shrugged, making a turn down a street.

That… was certainly enlightening. It was also quite disgraceful that he couldn’t find it in himself to refute Samuel’s words.

Samuel seemed to realize that, and he came to an abrupt stop.

“There is no need to be embarrassed —”

“I am not. I’m… I am simply marveling over the fact that I have been under her thumb for longer than I, myself, realized. Not that I mind, though,” Aaron said quickly, suddenly overcome with longing for his wife-to-be. “I am thankful I came to my senses in time. I can’t imagine how I would have lived if I had lost her as a result of my hesitation.”

Samuel regarded him momentarily then smiled and remarked, “Happiness looks good on you, Crauford. I hope you never lose it.”

The honesty was surprising but appreciated, nonetheless.

“As do I, Bancroft.”

Samuel gestured to their right, drawing Aaron’s attention to the fact that they had stopped in front of a store.

“We’re here.”

The store carried an air of elegance, each surface gleaming beneath the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the windows. Ahead, Aaron could spot sparkling jewels affixed upon intricate designs and patterns of precious metals, coming together to form gorgeous accessories.

A man who appeared well into his fifties approached them with a pleased smile, bowing slightly.

“Your Grace! How lovely it is to see you again! Tell me, did Her Grace like her gift?”

Samuel nodded with a chuckle. “She utterly adored it. I nearly feared she would never take it off.”

“I’m pleased to hear that, Your Grace. There is no better reward than the review of a satisfied customer.” The man shifted his gaze to Aaron. “You have brought a friend with you this time.”

“Ah, yes,” Samuel gestured to Aaron. “This is Aaron Bolton, Duke of Crauford, and a close friend of mine.” Then he gestured forward, “Aaron, this is Mr. William Smithers, the owner of this fine establishment.”

“It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace,” William bowed quickly.

“Likewise. My friend has nothing but the deepest respect for your craftmanship, it seems. I do hope that you will be able to provide me with a similar level of satisfaction for my own plight,” Aaron implored calmly.

“We will certainly try, Your Grace. Are you looking for something for yourself or a family member, perhaps?” William questioned.

“My wife.”

“Your wife-to-be,” Samuel corrected, mirth making his eyes shine.

Aaron caught his mistake far too late and sighed in resignation. “Yes. My fiancée. I wish to give her a gift, something to let her know that I truly do love her and to serve as proof that I am looking forward to the days we have ahead of us.”

“That sounds wonderful, Your Grace. I am sure we’ll find the perfect item to convey your sincere thoughts and feelings. Do you have anything specific in mind?”

There in lay the problem. Aaron was not sure what the best item for Selina would be, and he needed to pay more attention to the accessories she wore to determine which she preferred above all.

“Not particularly.”

“That is fine. Do you perhaps know her favourite color? Or would you want to procure something in your favourite color?”

Aaron frowned, noting for a moment that he had seen Selina in different dresses of different colors, and she looked beautiful in all of them. However, as of this moment, he needed something definite to base a choice, so his gift would be as genuine as he intended.

Sensing his dilemma, William smiled at him reassuringly.

“Perhaps you should look around for a bit, Your Grace. We have so many beautiful pieces. One or several are sure to inspire you.”

Aaron nodded and began to roam around the store, his gaze studying the jewelry arranged within showcases and shelves made of glass. Whether they were embellished with rubies or made of carefully structured gold, they all sparkled beneath the lights. Still, Aaron could not imagine Selina liking any of them.

Not because they weren’t pretty but because she did not seem like the sort of woman who cared for such extravagant displays of wealth.

In many ways, Selina had been a source of firsts for him. The first woman to infuriate him so greatly. The first woman to seize so much of his attention. The first woman he had ever loved — and his last.

Aaron wanted her to understand that he loved her until his dying breath.

“I also wish to pick out something for my wife,” Aaron heard Samuel say distantly. “You see, she won a bet, and I would like to ensure she is greatly rewarded.”

Rolling his eyes, Aaron walked past a display of emeralds, only to walk backward as his eyes caught something glinting in a corner.

It was a necklace, a simple silver chain with a silver setting shaped like a small teardrop that housed an emerald. Almost immediately, Aaron recalled Selina’s fiery green eyes as she delivered a fearless rebuttal to him, the way they lit up when she was happy, how they glimmered with unshed tears as she shivered with pleasure.

There was no doubt about it. This was made for the love of his life.

“Mr. Smithers, I believe I have found a suitable item worthy of my fiancée.”

Selina had not expected the Duke to call upon her suddenly.

She had devoted her time to planning their wedding as Aaron had told her to make it as grand as she wished. But she had expressed that she did not need an elegant ceremony or anything other than the man she loved.

Still, he insisted that she make it as special for herself as she wished, and his thoughtfulness only amplified how much she loved him.

And so, with her time mostly consumed by sorting out details for their wedding and visits to the modiste — while still caring for her father’s health — she had not had time to see the Duke in a few days. He, too, had been rather occupied with some affairs, but he had sent her a lovely bouquet of flowers that had stolen the air in her lungs.

Just as the yearning for him had become unbearable, her father had sent for her, saying she had a visitor. And there he was — the man she would soon be married to, smiling at her as though she held his world in her hands.

“Aaro — I mean, Your Grace. Good afternoon,” she curtsied quickly.

“Shouldn’t we abandon the formalities now?” Aaron teased, approaching her.

Selina glanced at her father uncertainly, only to see him leaving the drawing room with a satisfied grin.

“I-I still cannot believe that this is real,” she confessed in a whisper. “Every day feels like a dream, and I find myself wondering if this is truly my life.”

Aaron gently took hold of her hand, raising it to his lips while keeping his gaze fixed on hers.

“Grant me the honor of your company this afternoon, and I will show you that every bit of this is real. I have already procured your father’s permission which leaves your agreement.”

“Is this a part of your ploy to woo me again?” Selina asked as her cheeks filled with heat.

“Is it working?” he questioned back with a cheeky smile.

She squinted at him. “Perhaps. I do not suppose you will tell me where we are going?”

“No, darling. That would ruin the surprise.”

The term of endearment erased her thoughts for a moment, and she found herself muttering something about getting her maid to fetch her cloak and changing her shoes before slipping out of his grasp. As she left the room, his laughter escorted her out, and she realized with startling clarity that she wouldn’t mind if that was the only sound she would hear for the rest of her life.

A few minutes later, she returned to meet her husband-to-be in the foyer, and he led them out to his carriage, gently helping her inside before settling down beside her. The coach man assisted her maid, Elise, and she sat facing them, almost immediately averting her gaze nervously once she had greeted the Duke.

“How are you?” Aaron asked as the carriage began to move. “I apologize for my absence lately. I have been putting my affairs in order because I will be taking a full month off for our honeymoon. It is best to ensure there are no loose strings left so that nothing will interrupt our time together.”

“Are you sure you wish to take off that much time?” Selina queried with a giggle.

“Well, I personally would have liked to have you all to myself for much longer. If you have any complaints about the length of the duration —”

“No, Aaron,” she smiled, slipping her hand into his. “A month sounds perfect. I cannot wait until I can be constantly by your side.”

“Neither can I,” he replied, glancing in the direction of her maid, smirking as he noticed she had fallen asleep.

Quickly, he pulled Selina closer as he stole a kiss, his hands keeping her flush against his chest as his lips moved over hers hungrily. Selina preened with a blush when he pulled away, and she rested her head on his shoulder, contentment filling her heart.

For the rest of the carriage ride, they talked about mundane things, conferring about matters regarding their wedding, and the easy flow of conversation between them carried a promise of warmth in their future.

Eventually, they arrived at a mansion, and Aaron helped her down, quickly ushering her inside and out of the cold.

“Where are we?” Selina queried as he took off her cloak and handed it to a butler.

“One of my properties in this area. It has been undergoing some renovations, and I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to bring you here. It is not too far from your home — much closer than mine is, in any case — and as such, we can stay here with our children on vacation and easily visit your father.”

Aaron spoke so casually as if his words were to have been expected.

When he noticed her silence, he turned to her with a frown.

“Is… is it not to your liking? It is an old house, but it does have a lot of charm and warmth. And when the renovations are complete —”

“No, Aaron,” she shook her head with a smile, willing herself not to cry. “I haven’t seen much of the house yet, but I am sure it is lovely. But I — I did not expect that you would have given this much thought to our future. I’m so happy.”

His expression softened, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her head gently against his chest.

“You are my future, Selina. And I am quite serious about you. As it stands, there is no one in the world that means as much to me as you do. Hence, why I would want nothing more than to bring you joy, every chance I get. I love you with every fiber of my being, Selina,” Aaron spoke softly, stroking her hair.

“I love you too, Aaron. So much,” she replied, nuzzling into his chest.

“I would hope so,” he teased, kissing the crown of her head. “Now, let me show you around our house.”

Selina nodded and clung to his arm as he led her down the hallway, giving her a tour of the space. It was a beautiful house, and his intentions made it easy to imagine little children running down the halls and high-pitched, excited giggles bouncing off the walls.

The prospect of having a family with him filled her with excitement and longing, and she prayed their love would continue to grow large enough to contain all that awaited them on their journey.

After minutes of exploring the house, he brought her into what appeared to be the sunroom. A blanket had been spread on the floor, and it held delicious-looking pastries and wine, and a fire in the fireplace kept the space nice and warm.

“What’s this?” Selina smiled at her husband-to-be as he helped her settle onto the blanket, grinning as she noticed the food consisted of all her favorites. “How did you know I liked fruit tarts?”

“You underestimate just how serious I was about watching over you in the Bancroft estate. It wasn’t hard to find out what you liked because you had a tendency to always stick to that thing. If there were salted crackers at tea, that was all you would eat. Strawberry cupcakes at brunch? Hardly anything else would be on your plate.” Aaron shrugged, sitting down by her side. “I hope it is not too strange — having a picnic indoors. The weather is much too cold now for any sort of outdoor activity. Additionally, the windows in this room give a perfect view of the frozen lake outside.”

He was right; there was a frozen lake that could easily be seen, even as they were seated on the floor. It seemed to shimmer and sparkle, lending a magical atmosphere to the view.

Aaron frowned suddenly then he turned to Elise who was standing awkwardly by the door.

“It seems I did not gather enough blankets for Lady Selina. Would you fetch an extra one? There is a linen closet just down the hall.”

Elise glanced at Selina, momentarily looking reluctant, but then she did what she was asked, bowing before she left. “Yes, Your Grace.”

When the door shut behind her, Selina looked up at her fiancé with a glint of suspicion in her eyes.

“Did you try to send Elise away on purpose?”

“I do not know what you mean, darling. But I just remembered — the linen closet is on the other side of the house. I’m sure the butler will assist her in locating it. Whenever she finds him.” Aaron grinned.

“Cheeky,” she teased, her expression morphing to portray gentle adoration as she assured him, accepting the glass of wine he offered her, “This is quite lovely. I like it a lot.”

“Thank goodness, because… I want you to be happy, Selina. I want you to feel loved. Even as I have only just learned that I am capable of love. And I do worry about my ability to treat you like you deserve. Before I met you, I only lived for my duty. I couldn’t imagine a life that wasn’t crafted by my hands or blood and sweat. All I’d wanted was to prove that I was a man worthy of all that I had received — more than just by my name.

“But with you, none of that matters. Because you are everything I need and more. With you, I am more than my title, more than my past. I might not know how to do everything right as of now. I might not know the perfect way to love you like you have dreamed of, but I give you my word that I will try. I will learn how to show you just how much you mean to me. You are my life now, Selina, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Heat filled Selina’s cheeks at his words, and her heart beat faster.

“Aaron,” she gasped, reaching for his hand. “You are already so perfect, my love. I don’t… I have never felt so loved — so seen before in my life. All you have done so far has made me feel safe, has assured me that we are meant to be. You are much better than anything I could have dreamed of, Aaron. And I love you for that.”

Aaron gently turned her hand and kissed her wrist, just as he had done that afternoon in Thalia’s drawing room, his gaze softer this time as he stared at her.

“I have something for you. An early wedding gift if you will.”

Selina watched as he procured a red velvet box from his coat pocket. Slowly, he held it out to her, and she accepted it with both hands, feeling strangely eager and nervous about viewing its contents.

Carefully, she opened the box, a quiet gasp escaping her lips at the sight of the emerald necklace sitting atop a plush velvet cushion.

“Aaron…” She looked up at him with watery eyes. “… I don’t know what to say… Can you help me put it on?”

“Of course,” Aaron responded softly, reaching out to pluck the jewelry out of the box.

Selina turned around so her back faced him, holding her hair up, so he could easily clasp it around her neck, shivering as he pressed a kiss to the nape.

She turned to face him with words of gratitude at the tip of her tongue, faltering at the dark look in his eyes. His hand came up to her face, and he caressed her cheek down the slope of her neck, murmuring softly, “Beautiful. Do you like it?”

“I do,” she said, just as soft, her cheeks heating up as she lowered her gaze in awe to the precious pendant that hung from her neck. “I really do. Thank you, Aaron.”

He grinned, leaning down to mutter against her lips.

“Anything for my wife.”