Page 41 of An Enchanting Kiss (Captivating Kisses #5)

R upert went to his study, finally ready to write the letter he had promised to send over a year ago.

His commanding officer had requested that Rupert write to him and let him know how he fared in civilian life.

He seated himself at his desk and placed a fresh piece of paper in front of him.

Dipping his quill into the inkwell, he began to write.

Dear Lieutenant-General Bond—

I hope this letter will find you since I know the British army is constantly on the march. Unfortunately, your prediction of the war widening proved to be true.

What the bloody hell was Bonaparte thinking, deposing the Spanish king and putting his own brother on the throne?

At least his actions have resulted in giving England a strong ally in Spain.

I hope you are part of this Peninsular campaign and that you find Wellesley to be the man to lead us to victory.

My brother’s health had deteriorated rapidly by the time I reached London last year, and so I claimed the title after his death and have been Viscount Cressley for over a year now.

I discovered Perceval had sired a child, and so I became an instant father figure to my five-year-old niece.

Celia is a delight, and we took to one another instantly.

Crestbrook, my country estate, thrives, as well.

I also can report to you that I am now a husband and father in my own right. I wed one of the daughters of the Duke of Millbrooke. Lia (short for Cornelia) is the light of my life and my reason for living. I never knew romantic love before meeting my Lia, but I experience it abundantly every day.

Two weeks ago, my darling gave birth to twins.

Mary is the elder by six minutes, and she has her mother’s auburn hair and sweet spirit.

Edward, our son, has a headful of dark hair, and both children have their mother’s deep blue eyes.

They are good babes and rarely cry—unless they are hungry.

The pair of them can be louder than a cannon attack, demanding to be fed, when hunger pangs strike them.

I appreciate the life I have now and am filled with a deep contentment.

Thank you for encouraging me to go home and face my responsibilities here.

I pray every night for your safety and hope the tide of war will turn, with Bonaparte being defeated.

If this war ever does end, I hope you might consider visiting us at Crestbrook.

Sincerely,

Former Major Rupert Cummings,

Viscount Cressley

He folded and addressed the letter before properly sealing it, wondering how long it would take to find its way to Bond. His commanding officer had greatly influenced him, and Rupert hoped the lieutenant-general would not lose his life during this war.

Leaving his study, he gave the note to a footman and asked that it be posted. He knew it would first go to London and then be sent on from there. Wellesley was gaining ground in Spain, and a majority of British troops were being located there in what was being termed the Peninsular War.

Rupert shook off his sudden gloom, relieved he was no longer in the military. He headed upstairs to the nursery, where he knew he would find Lia. As expected, she sat in one of the two rockers in the room, holding a babe in each arm .

Leaning down, he kissed her cheek. “May I steal a bundle of joy from you?”

She smiled up at him. “You most certainly can.”

He eased Mary from her arms and took a seat in the second rocker.

Lia had insisted on having two placed in the nursery since she sometimes came up and rocked one of the twins while the nursemaid rocked the other.

Rupert found himself coming to the nursery often.

Just as he and his wife couldn’t seem to get enough of one another, they were the same about their babes.

As he gently rocked, he looked down at his firstborn daughter. She studied him with innocent eyes.

“Shall I sing to you, Mary?” he asked, and then he softly began singing a lullaby which Lia had taught him. She joined in, their voices blending together, and at the end, he said, “Mary is fast asleep.”

“So is Edward.”

Lia rose and placed him down for a nap, and Rupert settled Mary in the crib next to her brother.

He had thought they would sleep separately, but his wife said that she and Tia had slept together from the beginning, and she wanted their twins to do the same until they grew a bit older.

He watched now as the pair gravitated toward one another in sleep, Edward putting a protective hand over his sister’s.

He slipped an arm about his wife’s waist, and they watched their babes for a few minutes.

“Who knew my favorite thing in the world would be to watch them sleep?” Lia mused.

Smiling, he kissed the top of her head. “Well, I have always enjoyed watching you sleep. It is the same with Mary and Edward.”

She leaned into him. “I never knew my heart could hold so much love.”

Rupert lifted her chin and gave his wife a soft, sweet kiss.

“Shall we go downstairs? It is almost time for tea. Remember, your aunt and cousins are coming over from Traywick Manor. ”

“Yes, let us go down to the drawing room. But wait. Just one more minute,” she said, gazing down at their sleeping twins.

“I will always wait with you, love. I want you forever by my side.” He kissed her softly. “You complete me, Lia. I am whole because of you. Celia. The twins.”

“I love you, Rupert. So very, very much.”

They remained, watching over their children, and he knew they would continue to grow in love every day which came their way.