Page 79 of The Perks of Being a Duke

Jonathan looked up at Mr. Hammonds, then Mr. Hammonds signaled someone outside the door. Two chairs were brought for Celeste’s parents. For a moment there was an awkward silence, then the nursemaid brought Jonny back into the room.

The baby was carefully passed from one adult to another until he began to fuss. “He’s hungry,” said Celeste’s mother, giving a pointed look at her husband.

Celeste looked up at Jonathan, and he smiled back at her. “I think the ladies would like some time alone together,” he said to his father-in-law. “Could I invite you to my study for a celebratory brandy?”

“Of course,” said Mr. Singer.

They strolled down the hall to the Duke’s study. As usual, the large table was littered with papers of all sorts. Among them was a neat drawing of a little building.

“I have something to show you,” the Duke said as he poured two fingers of brandy into a snifter for his father in law. “This is the first sketch for an idea I recently had.”

“Oh?” Mr. Singer looked at it carefully.

“Yes. I think it is high time we have a school. Do you think your wife would be interested in teaching there? Perhaps not all the classes. We have others who can also teach, but perhaps beginning reading and writing and even a little French.”

“I think she might, but since I prize domestic bliss, I will ask her before answering that question.”

“A prudent answer. So let me ask you another question. Would you be interested in working on it? Again, not the whole thing, but spending time with the other men who will also lend their talents to making it handsome building, secure against the weather and a pleasant place to gather.

“Your Grace, I would be honored,” said Mr. Singer. “I was not sure how it would be to have a Duke as a son-in-law, but I believe my daughter chose very well.”

“Thank you, Mr. Singer. And I believe that you and your wife have done a wonderful job raising a lovely, intelligent, caring woman. I am a very lucky man.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Celeste and her mother cooed over the baby. “What a fine man, your Duke is,” Mrs. Singer said. “I was not sure how it would be having a peer as a son-in-law. But he is as natural and genuine as any man. You are a very lucky woman.”

“I know, Mama. If I were you, however, I would not judge all peers by Jonathan. He is by far gentler and nobler, and yet more humble than any other. He is the finest man I have ever met, aside from my father.”

“Your father would be proud to hear you say that. But I’ll not tell him that you are comparing him to a Duke. There would be no living with him.

* * *

When Celeste’s parents had gone back to their cottage in the village, Jonathan came to her room and sat a while with her and the baby. When the baby was fed and sleepy, the nursemaid came and took him away to tuck up in his cradle.

Jonathan carefully lay down next to Celeste, and cradled her in his arms. She snuggled up to him, and they quietly cuddled together.

“This is perfection,” Jonathan said.

“It is,” Celeste agreed. “Well, almost. It will be even better in a few weeks.”

“So it will,” Jonathan replied. “So it will.”

And they lay looking through the big window, watching the stars come out one by one until they fell asleep.

The End?