Chapter Thirteen

Dinah had tried to play the pianoforte and lose herself in the music, something Georgina and Mirella did with ease. She, however, was not the talent her two daughters were. Because of that, she failed in her mission to cease thinking about Drake Andrews. Everywhere she looked, something would remind her of the handsome sea captain that held her heart. She had eaten little and slept even less since she had last seen him.

"This has to stop," she told herself, determination filling her.

The Season was still in full swing. While she had made known she was out of town, which had prevented anyone from calling upon her, she would remedy that situation by attending tonight's ball. Ironically, it was being hosted by Lord and Lady Cowper. She wondered what the countess had shared about seeing her with Drake at Gunter's and decided it didn't matter. A month of the Season still remained, and Dinah would throw herself into the social swirl once again. While the house party she planned would honor Allegra and Lyric, it wouldn't hurt to invite a few gentlemen closer to her age. Perhaps they might help her to forget Drake.

She snorted at that thought. Nothing would ever cause her to forget the most magical week of her life.

Rising from the pianoforte, she decided to go to her room and allow her lady's maid to try out a few new hairstyles. Perhaps that would pull her from the rut she languished in.

As she crossed the room, the door flew open, causing her to halt in her tracks.

Drake...

Instantly, her heart pounded wildly. Worse, her core tightened, throbbing in anticipation of the intimate touches it knew because of him.

She clasped her hands, tightening them, trying to keep her wits about her, as she calmly asked, "Whatever are you doing here, Captain Andrews? If you have business to discuss, I am sure you can find Her Grace in her office."

He moved toward her in a slow, deliberate fashion. "My business is with you, Duchess," he said, his voice hoarse.

She wanted to flee. To avoid seeing and speaking with him. But her body betrayed her, and she remained rooted to the spot.

"We have no business," she said firmly, in a voice she used when her girls had been in a rare bit of trouble, her tone brokering no nonsense.

Drake reached her. His hands framed her face. Her body leaped at his touch, her breath jagged.

"I have been the greatest of fools, Dinah," he said. "I threw away two opportunities. One, to allow Her Grace to teach me all I would need to know in order to help her run Neptune Shipping. The other?"

His thumbs caressed her cheeks, and Dinah closed her eyes, relishing his touch. His warmth.

"I lost the chance to be with you. Truly be with you. Even married to you."

Instantly, her eyes opened as she sucked in a quick breath. Dinah stumbled back, not strong enough to hear him say such words to her.

For his part, Drake took a few steps forward, his hands taking her by the waist.

"You believed in me when I did not believe in myself, Dinah," he told her. "When Her Grace wished to make me captain of Vesta, I took strength—even comfort—from your belief in me. And you were right. I did have it within me to meet any challenges tossed my way. I am a good captain, Dinah. I know I could be a leader at Neptune Shipping."

He jerked her to him, their bodies colliding, stealing her breath.

"James convinced me that because of his ducal title, he holds sway over the people in your world. He told me about something he referred to as the cut direct."

Dinah gasped. The cut direct was always done publicly, effectively humiliating a person, ostracizing them and everyone in their family from Polite Society.

Drake smiled. "I see you know what I speak of. James loves his family, and that includes you. He would do anything for you and your girls, even use his influence to cast out anyone who dared to cross him. Or who gossiped about his family. As a duke, he said he can influence others and that he has made some powerful friends, as well. He promised me the girls would make excellent matches—love matches. That it would not matter if you and I wed because we would all fall under his protection."

Instinctively, she knew James would harness the power he had, even bring Polite Society to its knees, all to help her and her girls.

And allow her to find happiness with Drake...

"Can he do this, Dinah? Does James' title give him the influence he claims he possesses?"

"Yes," she said, her voice a whisper.

"Since James pledges to stand with us and see that your girls find lasting happiness, would you consider a future with me?"

Tears cascaded down her cheeks. "Yes," she said, her voice breaking.

"Will you marry me, Dinah? Will you put aside the hurt I have caused you and make me the happiest man alive?"

Through her tears, she smiled up at him. "Yes." She bit her lip. "I can hardly believe this is happening. It seems as if I am in a dream."

Drake smiled. "I have been merely existing since we parted, my life a living nightmare. Thank you for your forgiveness. I vow never to hurt you again, love. I will care for you. Cherish you. Love you. All the days of our lives. You and all the girls."

She threw her arms about his neck, bringing his mouth to hers. The kiss told her of the good man that he was and how he would always treasure her.

He broke it. "James told me of something called a special license. He said it would allow us to wed quickly, without waiting for the banns to be read."

"We can wait," she told him, knowing how expensive they could be and aware that she would have to consider that she wed a working man, albeit one who would help Sophie run a vast shipping empire.

"No, we can't," he told her. "Besides, James said it would be his gift to me, the brother of his heart. He has already sent word to Shadowcrest for everyone to come here for our wedding. He did not think you would wish to hold the ceremony there since your first marriage had taken place in its chapel."

She toyed with his hair. "You were that certain I would agree to wed you?"

"You had no choice, my dearest love. We were meant to write our love story for the ages."

Drake kissed her again, and Dinah knew from now on, all would be right.

*

Dinah watched asJames gave the gold wedding band to the clergyman performing the ceremony. He accepted it, resting it a moment on the Bible he held, and then handed it to Drake.

Her groom took her left hand and slid the ring onto Dinah's finger.

"With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen."

Another prayer began and as she closed her eyes, Dinah was grateful they wed in town and not in the chapel at Shadowcrest. She was no longer a Strong. She was now an Andrews, delighting in her new name.

The prayer concluded, and the clergyman told the assembled guests that the couple was now officially wed.

Drake bent, kissing her softly, his familiar lips against hers, giving her strength and bringing her a world of happiness.

She heard the applause around them and gazed about. Aunt Matty and Caleb had brought Mirella, Effie, Lyric, and Allegra up from Kent yesterday. Her girls had spent a few hours in Dinah's bedchamber last night, plying her with questions, assuring her how excited they were for her, telling her how radiant she was and how much they liked her choice of husband.

Dinah only wished Georgina and Pippa could have been here. Her marriage would be a surprise to both of them, but once they met Drake and saw how happy she was, she knew they would support her decision. She would write to both of them from Crestridge. After today's wedding breakfast, she and Drake were journeying to her small estate. He had been surprised she had her own country estate and was eager to see it.

Her new husband escorted her to the dining room, where Cook and Mrs. Powell had set up a buffet. Mirella told her she was composing a song as a wedding present, while Effie told Drake that teaching him to ride would be her present.

"Mama enjoys riding, so you will, too," her youngest daughter declared, causing everyone to laugh.

As they ate, Aunt Matty asked, "How long will you be in the country?"

"We will take a week at Crestridge," she said. "Then we will return to Shadowcrest. Sophie is composing a lengthy document of the most vital things Drake needs to know."

"Once we go over this document together, we will return to town," Drake added. "Dinah will stay a couple of weeks, and then she will go down to Shadowcrest to see to the house party."

"You will stay in town?" Allegra asked.

"For the first week of the party. I need to jump in, headfirst, and see to the running of Neptune Shipping since Sophie and James will be returning to the country today."

Dinah was grateful that Drake was finally using Sophie's given name. He had told the girls to call him Drake, but they seemed partial to calling him Captain, which he took in stride.

"After a week, my husband will travel to Shadowcrest and meet with Sophie regarding business. He will stay for the remainder of the house party, and then the two of us will return to town."

She had talked things over with the girls, explaining how most of her time would be spent in the city since that is where Drake's work was. James had persuaded them to take a set of rooms in the east wing, and so they would be living in the ducal townhouse a good portion of the year, visiting Shadowcrest and Crestridge whenever possible. Mirella and the twins were excited by the prospect of being in town more, while Effie said she would be perfectly content remaining at Shadowcrest for the most part. Dinah knew how much her youngest daughter loved the estate and her assortment of animals there. James and Sophie had agreed to keep an eye on Effie, as had Aunt Matty.

The wedding breakfast concluded, and Dinah said her goodbyes to everyone.

"Remember, I shall be at Shadowcrest soon," she reminded the twins. "I am already composing the guest list for your house party and will issue those invitations shortly."

She hugged and kissed everyone goodbye, with Mirella slipping her arm through Dinah's, walking her to the waiting carriage.

"Take care, Mama," she said. "Of yourself and the captain." Her daughter grinned. "We like him so very much. He is simply perfect for you."

"Thank you for saying so, Mirella," Drake said, joining them.

Mirella grinned at them. "I hope the two of you will give us at least another sister. Or perhaps a brother. James could use some male company in the family."

Dinah blushed at the thought, kissing Mirella goodbye and getting into the carriage.

Drake joined her and immediately asked, "Are you willing to have another child, love?"

"To be honest, I had not even thought of it. I am just so happy to have you. But surely, you might like to have one? I am not sure I can, Drake. I am three years shy of forty and would be two years shy when I gave birth. And that is if I conceived right away."

"You are in good health, but I will leave the decision to you, love."

She looked at him, seeing the love he held for her in his eyes. "I would like us to try for one. I hope that might be enough for you."

"It will be plenty. And if for some reason we aren't blessed in that fashion, I already have so many wonderful girls. Your girls are my girls, Dinah. I already love them as my own and can't wait to meet your twins."

He pulled her onto his lap, and she straddled him. "Hmm. This position looks familiar," she teased. "And we have yet to make love in a carriage, Husband. What do you say? Shall we try and make a babe on our way to Crestridge?"

Drake laughed heartily. "You are always full of good ideas."

Her husband kissed her, and Dinah knew there would be plenty of kisses—and plenty of love—in the years to come.