Page 26 of Love, the Duke (Say I Do #3)
MAN’S PRACTICAL GUIDE TO APPREHENDING A THIEF
SIR BENTLY ASHTON ULLINGSWICK
The real thief isn’t usually your first suspect.
The midsummer sky was a beautiful dusky shade of blue, and the air so warm and velvety Ophelia hadn’t bothered to bring a wrap or gloves to match her cap-sleeved, lightweight cotton dress. The open-topped landau rumbled, waddled, and bumped along the terrain of Hurstbourne Estate with no road, trail, or ruts to follow. She didn’t even mind the tepid, breezeless air. Her short-brimmed straw hat and matching soft pink parasol protected her from the burning rays of the sun. But not even that heat could match the warmth that surrounded her when she sat close to Hurst.
They had left the manor house behind some time ago, and it was now out of sight as they headed up a gently rising grassy knoll. At the top of the rise, she saw a lush green valley below with a small pond off to one side and a large stand of forest trees on the other. Smaller sapling trees dotted the area near the water but not so many they obstructed the magnificent landscape of vistas and hardwoods in the distance.
“The view of your lands from here is stunning, Hurst.”
“It all belongs to the title, my love. I am merely a caretaker of it for as long as I am duke.”
“I know, but we could stop right here and enjoy our picnic and not go the rest of the way down. Not that I mind, but it’s so wonderful and peaceful to look at. Should we park here and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us?” she asked, excited about the idea.
Hurst chuckled. “We will, but not today.”
“All right,” she answered, a little disappointed as he continued to handle the horses with ease down the slope toward the pond. “Is that where we’re going to have our picnic?” she asked, pointing to a shady place near the water.
He turned to her and nodded as he put both leather ribbons in one hand and laid the other on her knee. She would never get tired of feeling the quickening sensations of his touch or being so close to Hurst with his body as warm as the sun that heated the back of her neck.
“My father and I didn’t come to Hurstbourne often. He and his uncle didn’t get along very well. But I remember coming to this place every time we were here.”
“I can see why you would want to. It’s a very tranquil setting. A quiet place to read or paint.”
“Or kiss?” he said with an inviting smile.
“Yes, of course,” she answered. “That too. And maybe even more than kisses.”
“I believe I had that in mind.”
“It feels very private and romantic here. Especially with the way the sunshine shimmers on top of the water. This was a lovely place for you to bring me on my first full day at Hurstbourne.”
“I was hoping you would approve,” he said, stopping the horses not far from the pond and under the shade of a group of small trees.
Hurst helped her down and reached into the back of the carriage, pulled out a blanket, and handed it to her. “You spread this while I get the hamper and fishing poles.”
“Fishing poles?” She gave him a delighted smile. “I didn’t see them.”
“Maybe the blanket was on top of them.”
She smiled again. “So you could surprise me?”
He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers in a soft, quick kiss. “The first of many while we are at the estate, I hope.”
“I like surprises and will look forward to more. So tell me, where should I spread this? Over there under the shade of that tree?” She pointed in the direction.
“You look perfect to me—I mean the spot looks perfect, so yes, that will be fine.”
Ophelia smoothed out the last wrinkle in the blanket as Hurst walked up with the poles and the basket.
While he made himself comfortable beside her and stretched out his legs, she took off her hat.
“Did I tell you Winston used to take me fishing when I was a little girl?”
“You told me your father gave him permission to teach you to swim, but I don’t believe you mentioned fishing.”
“I remember being furious when Maman said I was too old to go with him anymore, and that I must behave as a lady at all times.”
His gaze slowly whispered down her face. “When you are with me you don’t have to act as a lady at all times. It’s permissible to just be yourself.”
“Then perhaps we can go for a swim later.” She reached over and kissed his cheek.
“That was another of my surprises.” He answered her kiss with one to her, but it was on her lips and deeper and longer as they settled more comfortably onto the blanket.
“I haven’t been swimming in many years. Do you think I will remember how?”
“Doesn’t matter. I won’t leave your side either way.”
“I like your surprises, Hurst.”
“Winston saved my life before teaching me to swim. Unlike you, I jumped right into the water, not realizing how deep it was or how little I knew about keeping myself afloat.”
Her brows drew together in concern. “I’m glad he was there to help you. And he might have been the one who saved your life, but to him you were always his hero.”
“Me?” He glanced out over the water. “No. I didn’t do anything for him but teach him how to jump over a fence. He was the one who helped me to realize I didn’t have to turn out like my father.”
“You were his friend and gave him many happy memories. I know you moved on to others when you moved away, but Winston never did. He took his work for the church seriously and never allowed anything or anyone to distract him from it. I suppose we never know how we influence other people or what others see in us, but I think perhaps because he saw that you were a very fine lad, he knew you must be a good man.”
Hurst caressed her cheek. “And I’m sure he has many good friends where he is now.”
“I think so too.” She smiled. “How did you know to bring me fishing if you didn’t know I knew how to fish? Was teaching me going to be one of your surprises?”
“No,” he answered. “The fishing is for me.”
“Oh,” she said quietly, allowing a curious expression to settle over her features.
“Do you remember telling me to embrace my past rather than trying to erase it from my memory?”
She nodded.
“That’s what I am doing today. As I said, my father and I didn’t come out to Hurstbourne often, but one of the first things we’d always do was grab the fishing poles and come here. We never caught a lot of fish or even a big one. We laughed, talked, and always had a good time. He didn’t drink when we were here. His uncle didn’t want him to, and I liked that. When we were here, I loved him the most and felt he loved me. That’s a good memory and I wanted to share it with you.” Hurst picked up her hand and kissed it.
“I’m so glad you did. I love sharing all of your life,” she whispered.
“You helped me realize that watching debtors take everything we owned, a woman stealing from his pockets, and my own guilt of taking money to help us survive were never as bad as the good was good. Does that make sense?”
“Of course.” She squeezed his hand in hers as she held it against her heart. “I’m glad you realize that now.”
“So am I, my love.”
“I have something for you.” He reached into the basket and pulled out a small package of yellow silk held together with a black ribbon.
“What is this?”
“Another surprise. Something I wanted you to have.”
She quickly untied the ribbon, and it fell away from the wrapping. There were three dainty handkerchiefs folded so that she could see a small bee had been embroidered in the corner of each one.
“These are lovely, Hurst. Thank you.”
“I wanted you to have something to remind you of our wedding day, that you are mine, you can trust me, and I will always protect you.”
“Yes. I believe that. I think I’ve always known it in my heart and the reason I came to London looking for you.”
“But I wasn’t what you expected.”
A hushed chuckle passed her lips. “And I wasn’t what you expected.”
“We were both surprised,” he agreed.
Ophelia nodded. “It may not have been clear when I first went to see you, but I trusted you with my deepest secret.”
He leaned away from her and gave her a mock expression of disbelief. “You could have told me that at the time.”
“I thought I did.” She gave him a mock frown.
“I can’t be expected to remember everything you said that night. It was very difficult for me, being attracted to a lady in men’s clothing.”
“I thought gentlemen liked for ladies to be mysterious at times.”
“Not that mysterious, my darling, but I’m so glad you came to me.” He slid his hand around her neck to cup her nape. “I didn’t want to marry you until I loved you and I loved you the first time I saw you.”
Ophelia hugged him. “You did not. You didn’t even like me that first night. You railed at me and raised your voice to me.”
“Did I?” he questioned with a twinkle in his eyes. “I don’t remember.”
“You know you did.”
“I’m mending my ways. Besides, I stand by my belief that my true feelings were skewed only because you weren’t properly dressed. It didn’t keep me from being attracted to you and finally forcing myself to realize you were the one destined for me even though we were at odds with each other.”
She looked deeply into his eyes. “I believe that too. I love you and don’t want to ever live without you.”
Hurst pulled her into his warm embrace and kissed her with his cool lips and caressed her with his warm hands. “You don’t have to, my love.”
Ophelia thrilled to his touch.