The Rake's Redemption

by Sherrill Bodine

  Tonight Dominic did not look toward his mother’s chamber, but instead turned to his brother’s room. Then, as now, voices could be heard from behind the wooden doors.

  But this time, there was no drunk madman shoving the doors open with such force they shook on their hinges. This time it was Dominic who pushed them wide.

  Time ceased to exist, for the door to the past stood open before him.

  Two people were in the center of the bedchamber. His brother, shirtless, his trousers half-unbuttoned, his face rigid, an expression upon it Dominic had never seen before. And his mother, her unbound hair falling about her shoulders, kneeling before him, her wet cheek pressed tightly against his thighs. Her hands feverishly stroking the taut muscles of his chest and stomach as she pleaded, “Do not leave me, my darling. I have waited so long for you.”

  His father screaming, “You slut! You have soiled all of us! Dominic! Jules! All of us! But no more!” The gunfire, the screams, and then, the sudden quiet.

  This was the room that held the living well of his torment. All the dark waters of his grief rose and moved to flow over him until in complete surrender, Dominic closed his eyes.

  When he opened them two people stood in the center of the bedchamber. His brother, an expression on his face Dominic had never seen before. And Juliana, embracing him, her unbound hair falling about her shoulders, her cheek wet with tears.

  He shook his head in denial. He knew what he saw wasn’t right. His Juliana would never stoop to this. Out of the quiet a voice spoke.

  “You thought you saw something quite different, did you not, mon frère?”

  Dominic lifted his head to face Jules, and Juliana stepped away from him. By an incredible force of will, she hid her shaking hands in the folds of her gown and stood apart from the brothers, for in this she had no part.

  “What are you saying, Jules?” Low and filled with pain, Dominic’s voice echoed through the stillness.

  “You thought you saw a lover’s embrace.” Jules looked at him and Dominic paled, and then slowly colored. “You thought you saw our mother … and me … in a lover’s embrace, didn’t you, Dominic?”

  Dominic’s eyes widened and the bones of his face seemed to sharpen. “She was kneeling in front of you, like a lover. Begging you not to leave her. Father saw it, too. That is why he could bear it no longer.”

  “I was leaving the Towers to take up residence in Greece. You know that. That is why she was begging me not to leave her,” Jules said wearily. “Your father saw only the nightmare his life with her had become. Think back, Dominic. You say I failed in trying to keep the worst from you … then remember how it was between them!”

  As memories crowded into Dominic’s mind, clouding the beauty of his eyes, Juliana could almost feel his agony. Jules must have seen it, too.

  “The course of misery they set for one another was forged only between them,” he continued, his voice softening. “We were only pawns. Until that night. Then we became their victims.” Jules straightened and walked forward until he stood directly before his brother. “Once you gave me my life. Now I return yours to your keeping. The taint belongs only to them. Believe me, and close this door forever.”

  Jules stepped back and turned to Juliana, lifting her trembling fingers, pressing them gently to his lips before walking from the bedchamber.

  She had to go to Dominic and offer her comfort. From halfway across the room she could see the jewels on his silk coat sparkle blindingly, showing that he was breathing like a fox bayed down by hounds. He had at some time pushed his hands through his fair hair, for wisps of it dampened his brow. He was as pale as the pristine white of his satin evening shirt. The only color showing in the light spilling onto him was the incredible blue of his eyes. He closed his lids and it was gone.

  At the gentle touch of loving fingers on his cheek, he opened his eyes to find his love, his life.

  “Juliana?” he asked wonderingly, in the voice she had come to love above all others. “I thought…”

  “Dominic, I am here,” she murmured softly.

  His eyes were clouded a blue she had never seen, but his mouth curved in understanding before he took her hand and held them. “You know what happened here ten years ago.”

  At her nod he looked away, his eyes moving slowly around the room. “I could believe anything of my mother, and my father. Although I loved them in spite of their faults, as a child will. But Jules … he taught me to ride, you know … and hunt. I, I worshiped him. When I thought Jules was like them, something snapped inside me. Perhaps if I’d been older I could have dealt with the pain. And the guilt that I stood here and let it happen—that I could not, somehow, save … my mother or my father.” At last his eyes rested on her face. “At eighteen the only life that seemed open to me was the one I’ve lived. Because of the actions of that foolish boy, I am considered beyond redemption by the ton.”

  “Is that why the Duke of Monmouth wishes you to take your place in the House of Lords?” she asked gently, sure now that she would allow nothing, and no one, especially ghosts from the past, to stand in her way of happiness.

  He did smile then. “Some of the worst reprobates in the ton sit in the House of Lords.” He tightened his grip on her fingers. “You know of what I speak. The stories are mostly true. My former mistresses litter every social event. The whispers, the gossip, it is not what a man should bring to you.”

  Pulling her hands from his grasp, she twirled away from him, going to the fireplace to carefully consider the answer that would put his doubts to rest forever.

  “The ton will soon have something new to gossip about. Something that will make them forget the wicked marquis,” she stated firmly, turning to face him.

  “Juliana, what…?”

  “What am I planning, is that what you are asking, my lord?” Lifting her chin, she folded her arms firmly across her breasts. “They will be gossiping about how I am shamelessly pursuing the Marquis of Aubrey. I shall be relentless.”

  She paused as he took several steps closer to her. She would not retreat. “And if you should run away to the Continent, I shall follow you. That scandal shall put your exploits to shame.”

  He stood so close to her now that she had only to reach out her hand to touch him. But she did not.

  “You would do this,” he said gently.

  “For our love I would forsake my pride … my heritage … everything. Won’t you?”

  Suddenly his eyes cleared, the brilliance startling her. He held back one moment longer before sliding his fingers into her hair; then he bent his head and sought her mouth as a man parched by sun seeks water.

  “Someone do something!” shrieked Lady Grenville as she dashed into the formal salon where the house party had regathered for a late night game of whist. “Dominic and Juliana are in the upstairs hallway and they are kissing as if they will never stop!”

  “I am sure they will stop, Mama. In fifty years or so,” Charlotte said calmly.

  Sophia could watch the emotions chase themselves across Eugenia Grenville’s face until her mouth puckered in a pout.

  “But that’s not fair!” she wailed. “Sophia has Rodney, and now Juliana has Dominic. You don’t have anyone!”

  “You are wrong, Mama. I shall have George.”

  Only Rodney’s quick action saved Sophia’s wineglass from shattering on the floor. Lady Grenville’s mouth fell open.

  “George?”

  “Yes, Mama. I’ve always wanted George you know. I thought it best to humor you about my Season. I’ve had it, so now I can go home.”

  She bowed deeply to the duke and duchess before getting a firm grip on her mother’s arm. “I think we should excuse ourselves, Mama. This is now a family party. Oh, Papa, I’m sorry, I almost forgot you were here. Come along, both of you. We must pack.”

  “Bu
t, Charlotte,” her mother asked, an anxious note in her voice. “Does George want you?”

  “He will, Mama. He will.”

  As the Grenvilles filed out, the Duchess of Culter turned to Sophia and asked, “Goodness, is the chit serious?”

  Sophia smiled, feeling extremely pleased with the whole world. Mrs. Forbes did have the eye! Not even in her brightest dreams had she thought to find such happiness for all of them.

  “Sophia, did you hear me?”

  “Of course, Charlotte is serious, Your Grace. She never says anything she doesn’t mean!”

  Epilogue

  “I can’t believe it! Twins!” Her Grace, the Duchess of Culter, murmured for the fiftieth time as her husband helped her into their traveling coach.

  “Yes, dear. A boy and a girl.” The duke patted her hand and then turned to take his leave of the couple standing close together on the stone steps. Placing a kiss on Juliana’s cheek, he smiled.

  “Take care of yourself, don’t let Dominic push you to do too much. We wouldn’t leave you, but I am sure Rodney needs us desperately. When last I saw him, he was getting thinner as your aunt got plumper.”

  “Juliana,” the duchess stuck her head out of the carriage window, “remember to take a nap every afternoon. We shall return long before your lying-in. My goodness, Sophia gave birth to twins!” she repeated, falling back on the seat.

  Dominic’s arm tightened around Juliana and she laughed. “Yes, Your Grace, I shall take care of myself. Give Sophia my love and tell her I look forward to seeing all four of them as soon as she can travel.”

  An hour later, dutifully, Juliana was in bed. She was snuggled in the depths of the great canopied, carved wonder Dominic had ordered from France. And he was there beside her.

  He pulled her tightly against his chest so that she could feel the steady beat of his heart under her cheek.

  “Are you tired, love?”

  Juliana laughed. “I don’t think what we’ve been doing is exactly what the doctor had in mind when he told me to lie down every day.”

  Dominic’s finger gently urged her chin up. His cornflower blue eyes searched hers; they still had the power to make her breathless. “Should we stop?”

  “No! I refuse to be deprived of my pleasure. It will be months yet before I become so ungainly that you will no longer wish to share my bed.”

  “That will never happen!” Rolling onto his back, he drew her gently on top of him.

  “Am I not too heavy for you?” She frowned, for her stomach did protrude and her breasts had become swollen.

  “No … I love it … I love you,” he murmured, brushing her lips gently with his own. Suddenly his magnificent eyes widened. “My God, what was that?”

  Juliana laughed again; life was so good. “That was your son kicking.”

  “Or my daughter … or, God help us … both!” His voice was warm with love. “Whatever will we do if we have twins?”

  Juliana tangled his thick golden curls in her fingers and bent to kiss him. “Very simple, my darling, we shall all live happily ever after.”

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