Page 86 of The Marquess Who Loved her Scars
“Ruthie, come. Lord Bronwyn is not giving me a fair chance at all at winning. Won’t you join me? We shall team up against them and together we will surely beat them.”
Jack grinned, stemming his hands on his hips. “Is that so? And what, pray, shall be the winner's reward? For, if you ask Lord Rotham, when we play there is always a wager of some sort.”
“A wager, you say?” Lady Sophia said with a grin. Again, Kenneth was struck by how different she was, now that she no longer lived under the presumption that he would marry her one day.
“Kenneth?” Ruth looked at him, her head tilted to one side. “What do you say? Is it a fair wager?”
He’d missed the subject matter completely and helplessly looked for assistance from Jack who simply grinned and placed a hand on his friend’s back.
“I should say so, now come - let us play before it gets dark. Or before our parents chase us from the court with their demands to make use of their property for themselves.”
Kenneth leaned forward toward his wife. “What is it I have just agreed to?”
She giggled, a hand in front of her mouth.
“That you would hold a ball, at Goldclaw Manor.”
He shuddered. “A ball? We do not host balls.”
She shrugged. “Perhaps we ought to.”
In the afternoon sun, her cheeks glowed, and her eyes twinkled. She was beautiful - inside and out. Kenneth could not remember the last time he’d been conscious of her scar. It was there, of course, but he never took notice of it anymore. Neither did Jack, nor most of their household members.
Ruth did not often venture out of the safety of their estate and the estate of Lord Caster, so to have her suggest they hold a ball was something he’d never expected to hear cross her lips.
“You wish to hold a ball?”
She shrugged. “I do not wish to, but if Sophia and I win this game, you may have no choice.” She grew serious. “I think it is time I ventured out into the world more. Not London, perhaps. But maybe we can invite some of the lords and ladies in the area, the ones who know will be accepting and kind enough not to reduce me to the terrible nickname your cousin is spreading all across the country in his quest for revenge.”
Kenneth shuddered at the mention of his cousin’s actions but admired her bravery at wanting to face the world.
“If it is your wish, then we will have a ball. If I win or lose. Do you know how much I admire you? Your courage, your convictions, your forgiving heart?”
“Faith, Kenneth. It is all because of you. You are my strength when I need it, just as I am yours. Now, I believe our counterparts are waiting for us.”
Kenneth looked over his shoulder and spotted his friend and sister-in-law standing together, eyes peeled in their direction.
He leaned forward and kissed Ruth on the forehead, placing his hand on her stomach.
“Before we join them, allow me to tell you how blessed you make me feel. And I will be all the more blessed come spring and our child is born. Thank you, Ruth. For everything.”
He leaned forward and to the hooting and hollering of his friend Jack, he kissed his wife as his heart leaped with happiness.
The End…?