Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

"N ancy," Richard breathed. "Good afternoon."

He was relieved that she had eventually chosen to give him a chance to speak to her, but now that she was before him, he was not sure where to begin.

The Duke had been haunted by the words he had said to her already, but gaining clarity and realizing that she had been an innocent bystander caught in the crosshairs of his messy family made him feel even worse.

A part of him wondered if Nancy would be better off without him, and away from the pain and eventual humiliation spurred by being a Harrington. But the truth was, there was a selfish side of him that did not, under any circumstances, wish to give her up.

"I understand that you are upset with me. You have every right to be," he started with a shaky inhale. "It seemed as though I did not trust you enough at the time to have taken your words as the truth, but… for me, it was more than that. I believed what was published in that sheet because I did not see myself as a person worthy of you."

He noticed her frown as he said so and his mind recalled her kind words during their time together.

"My past is tainted, and I was told several times during my childhood that I would never amount to anything," he went on, "And no matter how far I ran, I could never seem to outrun those words. But that wasn't your burden to bear, and it was unfair of me to dismiss you like that without properly talking with you about the issue."

After that, he told her about Mr. Aldridge's visit, as well as everything that happened between him and his uncle.

Nancy remained quiet while he spoke, her face a blank sheet that made him nervous, unable to tell if she was listening to him or merely waiting for him to be done so that she could dismiss him and state that she had no intention to return with him.

Richard nearly relented and gave up, not wanting to cause her any more discomfort, but a voice in the back of his head that sounded suspiciously like his brother's urged him to continue, telling him to remain firm and to fight for what he wanted.

And at that moment, all he desired was Nancy.

"…I expect that it should all be dealt with soon," he said after he finished explaining his uncle's ploys to separate them.

Hopefully, that would ease her heart.

Hesitantly, he stepped closer to her, relieved when she did not back away from him. "Talking with my uncle showed me that while I also claimed to despise my father, I had adopted his way of life," he admitted.

"I had let his opinions of me govern my life, even long after his death. I do not want that to be the case, not if I want to be your husband,"

He inhaled once before he continued.

"And I do, Nancy. I am sorry for not believing you and holding your words above all else. You are my wife, and I was supposed to protect you and side with you during that time, and I failed to do so."

"I know it won't happen in a day, but I promise to become a man worthy of you and your affection. I will work hard to change all my bad habits and unsavory traits. Though, I might like to have an occasional drink in my study, especially if you would join me for one."

He smiled a little, moving even closer to her.

It took a lot of self-restraint not to reach for her, but he did not want to cross any boundaries and undo whatever grace he had obtained from her already.

Inhaling deeply, he finally said, "You make me want to be a better man, not a perfect one. And for you, I am willing to try everything I can. Please, forgive me, Nancy."

* * *

All that he had said were words Nancy had longed to hear.

Still, she was hesitant to reach out to him because what if he later decided that they were far too different people and committing to his word was too difficult? The Duchess was unsure if her heart could handle the disappointment that would follow.

Before her mind was made up, a bark caught her attention. She turned in time to see Dash run towards them, after managing to slip away from Anne somehow. The puppy stood up on his hind legs, placing his fore paws on Richard's legs, wagging his tail sadly with a whine.

Richard sighed, but instead of brushing the dog away, he bent down and scooped him up into his arms.

"No matter how big you get, you'll always be little at heart, I believe," she heard him say softly, his voice full of fondness.

This image of him contrasted greatly with the man she had married, who had wanted nothing to do with the dog when she had first adopted him. Richard had changed so much since then, and he was willing to do much more for her.

" Change is a powerful thing," her father had told her once. " As long as the chance is given for it, there is a likelihood it would bring marvelous things. "

Her father would want her to take a chance at happiness and so would Richard's brother.

But there was still one more thing to discuss.

"What about the matter of children?" she asked.

Richard sighed.

"I did not want children because… I feared I would turn out as horrible as my father was. He was… needlessly cruel. Physically and verbally. He said William and I were useless to him, mere blemishes upon his life—unwanted and pointless."

His words took her back to the carriage ride after their wedding when he had told her he had no intention of having an heir. She recalled how practiced his words sounded, how it seemed as though the ideal had been repeated consistently to him until it was all he believed in.

"He hated me the most. William was his heir, the slightly more useful one. I was a mere spare, the second born. The one who took his wife away from him. He resented me from the moment I was born. And I worry that I might still harbor some of his darkness. That I might take out my own pain and anger on my own children. And no child deserves that," Richard concluded with a shake of his head.

Nancy shifted closer to his side, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

"You are nothing like your father. That much is evident in the fears that you harbor. Only a man who wishes to be better than his past sets it as an example of a life he doesn't want. You are so kind, Richard. So thoughtful and generous. You are so adored by your staff, by Dash."

She smiled at him sweetly, combing his hair with her fingers.

"By me. You will not turn out to be anything like him. I know you won't. So do not let your worries keep you from living your life."

Richard inhaled shakily, leaning into her touch slightly as he said, "Thank you for understanding. I promise to you that I will not let my father's cruelty get the best of me anymore. I want to start my life with you. And children should be a part of it."

Nancy felt herself smile at that.

"All right. I will forgive you if you promise to commit to our marriage properly," she began, looking him in the eyes. "I do not want us to have unnecessary fights that we could get around by talking with each other. I understand that you have fears, but so do I. I will never judge you nor make light of your concerns. If you come to me, we can discuss whatever ails you and come up with a solution together as husband and wife."

Richard nodded intently, holding onto Dash tightly with one arm, and he reached out for Nancy, declaring earnestly, "I promise to do all that and more. Please come home with me, Nancy. I… I love you. And I do not want to live without you."

He loved her?

Tears filled her eyes, and she wasted no time stepping into his embrace, looking up at his face as she said, "I love you too, Richard. So much."

"Oh. Thank God," he muttered in relief as he leaned forward and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss.

Nancy felt her heart melt, all the darkness and pain that had resided within fading away, replaced with warmth that flooded her body and mind.

He pulled away moments later, only to press a kiss to her nose and her cheek then another to her lips again.

"I love you," he repeated. "And I will spend the rest of my life doing so."

Nancy giggled, resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh of contentment. "I look forward to it, husband."

* * *

"I am glad you were able to reach a resolution, my dear." Georgiana smiled, glancing away from her daughter for a moment to nod at her son-in-law.

"I should have said this earlier, when you both had just gotten married, and I am sorry I didn't. I hope you are happy together for years to come. And I hope your home is blessed with joy, love, and laughter."

"Thank you, Mama," Richard said, feeling a little bashful suddenly. "It is your home too. Please feel free to visit whenever you like."

"Oh, can we? I would love to play with Dash some more!" Anne pleaded.

"Anne, that's not?—"

"Why not?" Richard beamed down at the girl, gently cutting the Dowager Marchioness off. "You are welcome to visit us whenever you like. I'm sure Dash would be thrilled to see you. And… we are due to have a meal together as a family. Our doors are always open."

Georgiana smiled, greatly touched, and she nodded. "Thank you, Your Grace. We greatly appreciate that."

Paula walked into the foyer then, bowing slightly before she announced, "We are all set, Your Graces."

Richard nodded then turned to his wife, who had not left his side since they had reconciled, his heart tinged with adoration as he asked, "Are you ready to return?"

Nancy smiled up at him, and he felt himself fall in love with her all over again.

"I am."

* * *

The carriage ride back to Wexford Castle reminded Nancy of the day she had gotten married to Richard. She recalled the uncertainty of everything that lay ahead of her, how worried she had felt about being required to make a life with the man who had sat in front of her, unwilling to even look right at her.

Today, things were different. He sat by her side, held onto her hand the entire way back home, and pointed out different landscapes throughout their journey, explaining their significance.

Nancy felt hopelessly endeared by him, and she was full of hope for their future.

He had kept her close even after their arrival to the castle, only shifting his attention away from her long enough to tell Mrs. Silverstone to rehire Mr. Aldridge.

"Dash still has much to learn," Richard said, his point proven as they watched Dash dart around the castle, clearly happy to be back to the home he knew. "And my wife's youngest sister would love to meet him and learn from him as well."

Mrs. Silverstone beamed at them, brimming with happiness as she replied, "Of course, Your Grace. I will send word to him right away."

Richard took Nancy to his room after that. He pulled her close as he kissed her deeply, stealing the breath from her lungs.

Nancy clung to him desperately, feeling the flames of desire ignite within her as his tongue danced with hers passionately.

"I want to hold you," he whispered over her skin, peppering her neck with fleeting kisses. "I want to sear every detail of you in my mind and heart."

"You can," she gasped as he bit a sensitive spot on her neck, soothing the bite with his tongue moments later. "I am yours to hold. To have. Forever."

He led them to the bed, sitting on it and lifting her onto his lap, somehow managing to ensure that his lips remained pressed to hers, kissing every thought out of her mind.

"I won't let you leave," he said firmly, holding her face in his hands so delicately as though she were a flower. "Never again."

Nancy smiled down at him and used her grip on his hair to tilt his face up then kissed him slowly and sweetly.

"Then you'll have to make sure I'll never want to leave," she mumbled quietly.

Richard grinned wolfishly, tugging her dress open and pulling it off her in one fluid motion, startling her because she had not even realized that he had undone her buttons.

"That can be arranged," he promised, undoing the knots that held her corset together.

Soon, that was discarded as well, and he moved her to lie on the bed while he loomed over her, so effortlessly handsome even with the ravenous look on his face. As he kissed her deeply, his hands roamed over her body, one of them trailing up her thigh, sneaking beneath her chemise to reach her already damp center.

Nancy moaned his name as he slipped a finger inside her, brought to the precipice of pleasure with a few strokes. His other hand was on her breast, kneading and tweaking her stiff nipple while his lips nipped and sucked at her skin and left marks of his love.

"You are so beautiful, always," Richard said to her quietly, pulling away momentarily to undo the buttons of his trousers and free himself from them then taking a few seconds to appreciate her flushed skin and the way her hair shone against the pillow.

"So breathtaking. All mine."

"All yours," she echoed, her words tapering off into a moan as he thrust into her, and her lungs lost their ability to retain air in them.

She had barely adjusted to the feeling of fullness when he began to move, thrusting in and out of her intently. Her hands found purchase on his shoulders, holding onto him tightly as he thrust deeply into her, filling her completely. He kept a bruising hold on her hips, using his grip as leverage to sheathe himself inside her over and over again until she was spewing pleas mindlessly.

His lips soon found hers, stealing every sound she made before it could reach the air, guiding them closer and closer to the pleasure they sought and soon found, pressed together.

All Nancy knew then was her release, and his, shuddering as he gasped against her jaw, filling her with his seed.

"Mine," he softly said, nuzzling her neck. "My wife, my Nancy."

Nancy wrapped her arms around him, relishing the contentment within her bones as well as the fullness of her heart, sighing deeply.

"All yours," she agreed. "Yours, forever."