Page 31 of A Duke to Restore her Memory

Newquay Hall. One year later

“Do not drop the basket,” implored Christina to her husband, who was swinging the wicker basket in his right hand. “Mrs Sollock and Cook prepared it with such care! We will lose all our luncheon if you are not careful, Sebastian.”

“I promise I will pick it all up if that happens,” said Sebastian, grinning at her like a naughty child who had just been caught with his finger in the honey pot. “Or I will go back to the house and fetch more food for our picnic. I promise I will not let you or any of our guests starve to death, wife.”

Christina laughed despite herself. She never could stay mad with him for too long. They always ended up laughing together. The past year had been filled with such laughter and wonder. The very best year of her life.

He pulled her towards him, kissing her softly. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?” he whispered to her, nuzzling her neck. “Have I told you how much I absolutely adore you?”

“Only ten times a day.” Christina laughed breathlessly, her heart overflowing. “Only twenty times.”

They gazed at each other, lost in each other’s eyes. But at that moment, they heard shouts. They turned, grinning, as their picnic guests walked towards them over the lawn.

Christina noticed Lydia wearing a new blue muslin gown that suited her figure to a tee and beaming widely. Daniel and Frances were hand in hand, as always. Well, they were still newlyweds, after all, having married only two months ago.

Christina’s heart flipped over as she watched them all. They were all so close now, as thick as thieves, doing everything together. Like this picnic on the top of the hill overlooking the sea to celebrate the first day of spring.

“Hurry up!” called Sebastian, grinning at them. “My wife is scolding me that we are about to lose the food. We need to eat it before I swing the basket too wide and drop it all.”

The others caught up to them, the sound of laughter and chatter filling the air as they walked through the gardens, cutting across in front of the gazebo before they left the estate, climbing the hill.

The sun was shining brightly, and Christina saw the first tight buds of spring starting to blossom on the trees, waiting to burst forth, pink, white, and peach, as well as wild irises and daffodils, their petals waving like flags in the wind.

They were puffing by the time they reached the top of the hill. Sebastian unrolled the picnic rugs, spreading them on the ground beneath a weeping willow tree, with the most uninterrupted view of the sea. They sat down, opened the basket, and were soon feasting upon sandwiches, ginger sponge cake, and iced tea.

After they were replete with food, Sebastian, Daniel, and Frances decided to take a walk. Christina, who was feeling a little tired, decided to stay behind, as did Lydia, who said she would keep her company.

Christina laid back, gazing at the sea, drinking in the view. It always took her breath away, and she imagined it always would.

The district around Newquay Hall was more beautiful than anywhere on this earth. It really was God’s own country, as Sebastian always said.

She turned, gazing at her sister-in-law. Lydia really was glowing … and Christina thought she knew why. She thought it might have something to do with a certain ginger-haired gentleman who had been calling on her sister-in-law quite a lot lately.

“How is Lord Giles these days?” she asked abruptly, clearly taking Lydia by surprise, for her sister-in-law’s eyes widened, and her cheeks turned pink.

“Why, he is well enough,” replied Lydia, looking embarrassed. There was an awkward pause. “He is a good, kind man. I enjoy his company enormously.”

“And he clearly enjoys your company as well,” said Christina, smiling at her. “Do I hear the chiming of wedding bells soon?”

Lydia’s colour deepened. She waved a dismissive hand in the air, laughing.

But she looked pleased, nonetheless. Christina knew that she had hit a nail on the head. Her sister-in-law really did like Lord Giles. She hoped that the relationship progressed – Lydia deserved love and her own home and family, at long last.

Christina shook her head incredulously. She would never have believed that she and Lydia could be so close, but once her sister-in-law decided to accept her, nothing seemed to stop her.

Frances had once told Christina that Lydia’s loyalty was fierce, and it seemed it was true. They were such firm friends that Lydia watched over her like a hawk, as well as Sebastian.

“I have something to tell you,” said Lydia suddenly, her face turning solemn. “I thought I would tell you first … before telling Sebastian.” She hesitated. “Walter Hester has avoided criminal charges against him for what he did at the mines, on condition he sell his mines in this district and leave it entirely. He and his family are moving to London next week.”

A shadow passed over Christina like a cloud had passed over the sun. The business with Hester had been dragging on for most of the past year and had caused Sebastian much angst.

She wasn’t sure how he was going to take this news, but she suddenly knew she was glad it was over and done with for good. Now, they could move on with their lives, once and for all, and put all the unpleasantness behind them for good.

She took a deep breath. Sebastian must put the saga of Hester behind him, just like she had put Lord Powell behind her.

The disgraced earl had fled the country after a scandal had emerged regarding his conduct with her, and she was fervently glad. He had been unredeemable … just like Hester. She knew it was hard for her husband to reconcile. But it was getting better, day by day.

At that moment, Sebastian and the others walked back towards them.

Christina’s heart filled with love as it always did when she saw her husband again, even after a short absence. It was as if she were struck by lightning and falling in love over and over again. Every single day.

Her hand strayed to her belly. Soon, it would no longer be just the two of them. She hadn’t told him yet – she had just found out herself. It was still very early days.

But the new life growing within her symbolized change and renewal, just like the beginning of spring and Hester and Powell leaving their lives once and for all.

Their eyes met and locked. She felt the frisson between them, as always. Slowly, she smiled. She would tell him the happy news tonight.

But for the moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the world … as it had always been between them. And somehow, she knew it always would.

It had been fate that had brought them together. It had always been meant to be. She knew it from the bottom of her heart.

THE END