by Bree Wolf
Resting her head against Eleanor’s shoulder, Corinne sighed, “I never thought this was possible. I dreamt of it, but…” Again, she sighed before her eyes closed and her breathing evened.
All through the afternoon, they took turns sitting with Corinne. Nick, however, could not be persuaded to leave her side even for a moment. In the end, it was only Corinne’s gentle insistence that managed to sway him. “You need to eat and freshen up,” she said, her eyes holding his imploringly. “Don’t worry, I’m not alone, and you’ll be back in a moment.”
Gritting his teeth, Nick finally forced himself to leave the room, promising to be back within five minutes.
“He truly loves you,” Eleanor said smiling as she looked at Corinne. “How come you never mentioned him? I never knew that you…”
With an apologetic look in her pale green eyes, Corinne sighed. “I’m sorry, dear Eleanor. I know I should have. But it all happened so fast. The moment we met, we were in love. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was completely overwhelmed and…acted foolishly.” Swallowing, she glanced down at her belly before gritting her teeth as another contraction claimed her.
After a moment, she lay back, panting. “Although I hardly knew him, I was certain he was the one.” She drew in a deep breath. “And then when everything fell apart, I felt so foolish for believing that he could love me, for not seeing that he only wanted to…”
“But he didn’t,” Eleanor interjected. “He did love you, and he still does.”
Corinne smiled. “A part of me has trouble believing that. After all, I did before and paid for it dearly.”
“But now everything is different,” Eleanor insisted. “He truly wishes to marry you. You should have seen him before we came here. From what Henry told me, I gathered that he even feared for his life.”
Corinne gasped, fear in her eyes.
“He gave up…completely,” Eleanor said, hoping her words would put her cousin at ease, assuring her that Nick’s intentions had always been honourable. “It was as though without you, life didn’t matter to him any longer.”
For a long moment, Corinne remained quiet. Then she drew in a slow breath. “I know how that feels,” she whispered, the shadow of the past few months hanging over her head.
“Now, you can look toward the future,” Eleanor reminded her. “He never stopped loving you, and although you may not know one another that well yet, your love survived the separation forced on you. Believe me, adversity only makes true love stronger.”
Corinne smiled before her gaze darkened. “I only wish I knew who sent those letters. Do you think someone intentionally forced us apart?”
Eleanor shrugged, remembering the shocked look in Henry’s eyes the day they had set out to Halford House. He knew something, Eleanor was certain of it. Or at least, he suspected something.
Before Eleanor could reply though, the door flew open and a freshly shaved Nick waltzed in, tension resting on his face until his eyes fell on Corinne. Instantly, his features transformed and a deep smile curled up the corners of his mouth. “Are you all right?”
Returning his smile, Corinne nodded. “I’m fine,” she said, holding out her hand to him.
As Nick settled back into his spot by Corinne’s side, Eleanor took her leave, wanting to give them a moment alone together. After all, before long, there would be three of them.
***
Feeling exhaustion claw at his body, Henry forced his eyes to remain open as he leaned forward on his gelding, urging the tiring animal on. Beside him, his future brother-in-law looked about ready to drop from the saddle as well, dark circles under his eyes from lack of rest. The only one who appeared refreshed and fully awake was the priest they had dragged from his supper table a mere few minutes ago.
“It won’t be long now,” Arthur called over the wind as he cast a glance at the setting sun in the distance. “Halford House is only a short distance over that hill.”
Henry sighed, his fingers curling into his gelding’s mane as he felt his eyelids slide closed once more. Forcing them to open, he rubbed a hand over his face.
When the small manor house finally came in sight, Henry thought he would faint with relief. He could not recall the last time he had slept. Had they only set out for London a mere two days ago? He shook his head as they galloped up to the front door, pulling their horses to a stop at the last moment. It felt like weeks had passed.
Upon reaching London after riding through the night like maniacs and changing horses every few hours, Lord Stanhope had taken care of the special license while Henry had gone to see his brother Stephen.
Seeing the rather bored expression on his brother’s face upon hearing what had happened, Henry had not been able to hold himself back. His curled fist had landed squarely on Stephen’s jaw, sending him flying through the room. As pain had shot up his arm, Henry had turned and left, disbelief filling his heart and mind as his brother’s amused laughter had echoed to his ears from behind him.
However, he had not lingered. After all, time was of the essence, and the moment, Lord Stanhope had returned, they had swung themselves into the saddle again and started on their way back. He could only hope they were not too late.
How long did it take for a baby to be born? Henry wondered as they tossed the reins to the stable boys before rushing up the front steps and into the hall.
“You’ve returned,” Lord Stanhope’s wife exclaimed, hurrying toward him and embracing him warmly. “But you look awful,” she observed, her nose slightly scrunched in concern as she regarded her husband. “You need rest.”
Lord Stanhope nodded as he stepped forward, one arm still slung around his wife’s waist. “I couldn’t agree with you more, but first−”
The soft wail of a baby pierced the silence that hung over the house, and the three men froze, their eyes widening.
“The baby is born?” Henry stammered, his gaze shifting from Lord Stanhope’s equally shocked expression to take in the priest’s mild surprise before settling on Lord Stanhope’s wife for confirmation.
Nodding her head, she squeezed her husband’s hand. “Yes, a few hours ago.” A soft smile came to her face. “It’s a boy. He is perfect, and his parents are beyond happy.”
“You’re too late,” the dowager Lady Stanhope observed as she strode into the front hall, taking in her son’s appearance with one glance, a touch of concern coming to her stern eyes.
“What do we do now?” Henry asked, unable to believe that after everything they’d done to get back in time, all was lost, that his brother’s son would be a bastard.
And all because Stephen had−
“It doesn’t matter,” Lord Stanhope stated, his voice calm and determined as he looked at them. “If they marry today, no one need ever know that the baby was born first.” He held their gazes one by one. “Is that clear?”
As they all nodded, Henry exhaled a breath of relief until his gaze fell on the priest’s uncomfortable face. However, before he could say anything, Lord Stanhope ordered them upstairs, saying that he needed to speak to the priest alone for a few moments.
Following the two ladies up the stairs, Henry cast a glance over his shoulder and found Lord Stanhope in quiet conversation with the priest. For a moment Henry doubted if he would be able to convince the man, but the determined look in Lord Stanhope’s eyes told him everything he needed to know.
Stepping into the bedroom, Henry felt his heart skip a beat as he saw his brother’s transformed face, gazing down at Corinne, their little son now resting peacefully in her arms. The change in Nick’s appearance was so drastic, that for a moment, Henry merely stood and stared. Gone was the man who had downed his sorrows in alcohol, the man who only looked at the world with misery in his heart, the man who had given up hope.
Now, here before Henry was the brother he remembered. Joy dancing in his eyes, a large smile plastered on his face and an air of blissful happiness engulfing him. Only now, everything seemed magnified a thousand-fold.
At the sound of Eleanor’s voice, Henry dragged his gaze from his brother’s happy little family to search for the woman who brought the same joy to his heart that he knew Corinne brought to Nick’s. However, before he could savour the sight of her beautiful face, she had already flung herself into his arms, squeezing the air from his lungs as she held him tight.
“I missed you so,” she whispered, then pulled back and looked into his eyes, her own narrowing as she took in the exhaustion that he knew must be visible in every fibre of his being. “You need rest.”
Henry smiled. “I do,” he whispered, then on impulse brushed a gentle kiss on her lips. “However, we must see them married first.” In a few quick words, he explained what her brother had said, barely aware of Lady Stanhope’s disapproving gaze as it rested on him. Apparently, his quick kiss had not been quick enough!
A moment later, Lord Stanhope and the priest entered. A few quick words were spoken, and Eleanor rushed to Corinne’s side, whispering in her ear as the new mother glanced at the priest then up at the father of her child before she nodded, a deep smile on her face.
As the priest took his spot by the foot of the bed, the rest of them gathered around the new parents in a small circle, Henry took a step back and with a subtle nod toward the priest whispered to Lord Stanhope, “How did you convince him?”
Lord Stanhope merely shrugged. “I gave him an incentive.”
Henry frowned.
“Everyone has his price.”
“You paid him?”
Lord Stanhope shook his head, and Henry realised that the calm authority that radiated off this man was something very few people could ignore.
As Lord Stanhope turned to his wife and their eyes met, Henry held his hand out to Eleanor and pulled her into his arms. Together, they watched as the priest proclaimed Nick and Corinne husband and wife.
Chapter Thirteen − A Blessing Long Awaited
After offering their congratulations to the newlyweds, Eleanor drew Henry out of the room and down the corridor. Opening the door to her bedroom, she pulled him inside. “You need rest,” she said once more, unable to meet his gaze.
Glancing around, he stared at her. “This is your room.”
“It is,” she confirmed, raising her gaze and meeting his, a shy smile playing on her features. “You’ve been gone for two days, and after everything that happened, I don’t think I can sleep tonight unless I know you’re by my side.”
He drew in a deep breath before stepping toward her and gently taking her hands in his. Meeting her gaze, his own serious and without humour, he said, “I shall never leave your side. Not ever.” Then he blinked, and the tone in his voice changed, became lighter and teasing. “Tomorrow, I shall speak to your mother, and after that, you won’t be able to get rid of me no matter how hard you try.”
Eleanor laughed, feeling her heart dance with joy. No matter the hardship they had suffered, the future had never seemed more promising. “I’ll hold you to that,” she finally said. “No matter what.”
Henry nodded.
“No matter what?” Eleanor whispered to herself as a frown drew down her brows, and she remembered that there was still a question that needed an answer. Meeting his gaze once more, she swallowed. “Who sent those letters?” she asked, her heart skipping a beat as his gaze momentarily dropped from hers. “I know you know. I could see it in your eyes when we were in the carriage. It was something my mother said, wasn’t it? Something about the letter Corinne received?”
“It was,” Henry admitted, an apologetic expression in his eyes that for a moment Eleanor feared he would admit to having sent those letters. Then she shook her head though, knowing that Henry did not possess a single malicious bone in his body.
“Will you tell me?” Eleanor asked, seeing his reluctance to speak about it.
Henry took a deep breath, his hands tightening on hers. “It was my eldest brother Stephen.”
“What?” Unable to believe her ears, Eleanor stared at him. “But why? Why would he do such a thing? Why would he ruin his brother’s life? That is so cruel.”
Rolling his eyes, Henry snorted. “That is not how he sees it. In his mind, marriage is the worst fate that can befall a man as it robs him of his freedom. He actually thought he was doing Nick a favour, protecting him from the trap Corinne had set for him.”
For a moment, Eleanor closed her eyes, trying to absorb everything his words entailed. “That is truly sad,” she whispered, noting the touch of surprise that came to his face. “After all, it means he has never truly loved…or been loved.”
Henry sighed, “Or he has, but he lost that love.”
“Even then, it’s still sad,” Eleanor replied. “I do hope that he will one day meet a woman who will make him reconsider. But for now, I’m simply relieved that Corinne and Nick are reunited. Your brother is a completely different man than he was the day I first met him.”
Henry nodded, pure joy lighting up his eyes. “He’s truly changed. Your cousin made him a better man, a happier man.” Pulling her into his arms, he smiled. “As I am because of you.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Eleanor smiled up at him. “I feel the same way,” she whispered. “The world seems brighter, more cheerful when you’re around.” She drew in a deep breath. “I do love you, Henry, more than I can say.”
“I love you just the same,” he whispered before he lowered his head and his lips claimed hers, trying to communicate how he felt when words failed him.
Sinking into his embrace, Eleanor enjoyed the feel of his mouth on hers, and a part of her wished the priest had married them as well today. However, then she remembered the exhaustion she had seen in Henry’s eyes before and reluctantly pulled back. “You need sleep,” she whispered, brushing her fingers down his stubbled cheek. Then she took his hand and pulled him to the bed.
A frown came to his face as he followed her. “Do you think this is a good idea?”
Eleanor took a deep breath, “Can you just hold me? I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“Of course,” Henry said before a mischievous smile came to his face and he pulled her back into his arms. “Has it never occurred to you that I might be a threat to your virtue?”
Returning his smile, Eleanor shook her head. “Of course not. After all, you’re a true gentleman.”
Henry laughed, “God, I’m glad I’m too exhausted to prove you wrong.”
***
After having spent the night holding Eleanor in his arms, her soft body moulded to his, Henry felt more than a bit reluctant to leave her bedroom the next morning. However, he reminded himself that he still had not obtained Lady Stanhope’s blessing, and until the old crow had given him her word that he could marry her daughter, Henry’s heart and mind remained in an uproar, living in fear of the moment when Eleanor would be ripped from his life.
“Mother, please, may we speak to you?” Eleanor asked as they met Lady Stanhope in the parlour that morning.
“Can it not wait until after breakfast?”
“It cannot,” Henry said, hoping that the insistent tone in his voice would not irritate Eleanor’s mother to the point that she would refuse her consent out of spite. “It is very important to us that we settle this now.”
“Most unusual,” Lady Stanhope grumbled, seating herself in the armchair by the small fireplace. “Then speak. What is it you wish to discuss?”
Before Eleanor could open her mouth, Henry placed a gentle hand on hers. “Allow me,” he said, then turned to look at Lady Stanhope. “I apologise for the circumstances of this conversation. However, we cannot wait any longer. I do believe that you are aware that I am in love with your daughter and that I wish to marry her.”
Lady Stanhope inhaled a deep breath, and for a moment, Henry thought to see her eyes softening. Encouraged, he continued, “I apologise for the misery my eldest brother’s behaviour brought not only on your niece but also on my brother. It was a tragedy, but one with
a happy ending. I can only hope that you will not hold this against us and allow us to find our happily-ever-after as well.” He swallowed, his mind grasping for words as he feared nothing he said had truly convinced the lady sitting across from him. “While I cannot offer your daughter a title or a vast fortune, I assure you that I will spend the rest of my life ensuring her happiness. I will treat her with respect and kindness and always consider her my equal in every way.”
Glancing at Eleanor, he saw a deep smile on her face and tears glistening in her eyes as she gently squeezed his hand.
“Very well,” Lady Stanhope said, and Henry’s head snapped around. “You have my consent.” Staring at her in disbelief, Henry feared his heart had stopped, and he forced himself to take a deep breath.
“Thank you, Mother,” Eleanor beamed, rising to her feet and embracing her mother. Tears clung to her eyelashes as she met her mother’s gaze. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
A rather uncharacteristically wistful smile came to Lady Stanhope’s face. “I was young once, too,” she said, her gaze shifting to Henry. “However, I want you to know that I am not simply giving my consent because you compromised my daughter last night.”
Once again, Henry’s heart stopped and the blood froze in his veins.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Lady Stanhope chided, “and don’t ever believe I don’t know what goes on in my house.”
Glancing at Henry, Eleanor smiled. “Nothing happened, Mother. We just…slept.”
Lady Stanhope’s eyes narrowed as her gaze swept over her daughter’s face. “I see.” Then she turned her head to look at Henry, and for a moment, he thought to see a touch of approval in her eyes. “I admit that I misjudged you,” she finally said, regret in her voice as her gaze shifted back and forth between her daughter and him, “and I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.”
Taking Eleanor’s hands into hers, she smiled at her, an apologetic look in her eyes. “I only ever wanted you to be safe…and happy.” Lady Stanhope glanced at him. “And apparently, you need him to be both.”