“Yes.” Wilhelmina nodded against James’s chest. “George was my friend. When he learned of my situation he begged me to tell him who’d caused it so he could seek vengeance, but I refused.”
He hugged her closer. “You didn’t want him to challenge a duke.”
“I couldn’t risk the consequence.” She sat back and wiped at her eyes while James tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears. Without saying anything, he offered her a handkerchief so she could blow her nose. “When George offered to save me from being branded a whore and the child I carried from being labeled a bastard, I accepted. As wrong as it was to trap him, to deny him the chance of falling in love and having the family he deserved, I married him.”
“He came to your rescue,” James murmured while stroking one hand over her hair.
“Which is why I had to come to his when the woman he loved became pregnant.” Feeling drained, she blew out a heavy breath. “How could I force illegitimacy on his child when he’d ensured that mine would not bear that burden?”
James shook his head. Then, without a word, he leaned in and kissed her – a slow caress that brought fresh tears to her eyes. Resting his forehead against hers he said, “You are the most remarkable woman I know, Mina. Who else would have given up their position as you did in order to help a friend? No one could have acted more selflessly than you or with more integrity.”
She blinked away tears while letting his words of support sink in. “You should know that George and I never consummated our wedding. We were like brother and sister, James, so hopping into bed together seemed wrong. And after my only experience in that area, I wasn’t eager to welcome any man’s touch again until I met you.”
He hugged her to him. “I only wish the scoundrel who hurt you were still alive so I could kill him for what he did.”
A humorless laugh echoed through her. “There’s still his son to contend with. Lord help me if he doesn’t need to be put in his place as much as his father.”
James took a deep breath and sat back. “I agree. The thrashing I gave him clearly wasn’t enough. Beyond wanting to make an example of him, I’d like him to give you a public apology too.”
As grateful as she was to him for wanting to champion her, she was keenly aware that there was more to be said. She braced herself for the next piece of information she had to impart. “Before we start climbing that hill, there’s something else you should know.”
“Tell me,” he said when she hesitated.
She took a deep breath and tried to relax in spite of her growing concern. Although she was confident James would support Michael and Cynthia getting married now, his initial reaction toward them forming an attachment gave Wilhelmina pause. It had after all been the source of her disagreement with him, and the prospect of stirring that up again made her wary. Knowing she had little choice if she were to do the right thing, she took a deep breath and dived in head first. “Cynthia is carrying Michael’s child.”
“I…” James stared at Wilhelmina. “I didn’t think she could…I mean…how?”
“In the usual manner, I suspect.” She frowned and bit her lip while studying him. She wanted him to be pleased but he still looked too shocked for her to tell if he might be.
He blinked and seemed to focus on her. “Michael will be overjoyed by this news.”
“And you?” She held her breath in anxious anticipation of what he might say.
“I have had a great deal of time to reevaluate how I feel.” He wove their fingers together, and she sighed, releasing some of the tension. “It was wrong of me to deny my son the chance he had to marry for love. Truth is I let my own bad experience interfere with my judgment.”
“James, you were only trying to do what was best for him – to protect him and guide him.”
“Yes, but in the end the choice should have been his. He and Cynthia are both of age. They’re old enough to make their own decisions without me ruining everything just because I had a grudge against you.”
“Your reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong, James. Michael will still risk his reputation if I become his mother-in-law.” Concern filled her even as she longed for him to disregard his own. “Are you certain you can accept that?”
“If it’s what he wants.” He raised her hand to his lips for a kiss, then suddenly laughed. “I imagine the scandal will be much worse when you and I also marry, because then he’ll in effect be wed to his sister.”
Wilhelmina’s mouth fell open. Too afraid to utter one word in case he’d spoken in haste and the comment carried no weight, she stared at James until she suddenly thought to ask, “Would such a thing even be legal?”
“They’re not blood relations and neither are we. And in case you’re wondering, that was not an official proposal.” He drew her closer and kissed her until she was breathless. Smiling against her lips he told her, “I can do better than that, and I plan to. For now, however, I think we have a few things to sort out.”
“I need to get back to Cynthia. The pregnancy is making her poorly so although she was sleeping when I left, I’d like to make sure I’m there when she wakes.”
“Understood.” He got up, pulled her to her feet, and gave her another quick kiss. “I’ll notify Michael. Perhaps the two of us can stop by Cynthia’s home tomorrow?”
“I think that would be lovely.”
“And then, once we’ve made sure they’re on their way to the altar, we’ll deal with Cloverfield.”
Wilhelmina groaned. “I’d nearly forgotten him.”
James’s expression hardened. “I certainly haven’t, and I don’t intend to do so either until he has been thoroughly punished for his slight against you.”
Appreciating James’s need to defend her, Wilhelmina chose not to argue, for although she was wary of crossing a duke more than necessary, she knew James needed this victory. Especially after what she’d just told him.
Nervous trepidation sent Michael’s heart racing before he and his father arrived at Cynthia’s home. The news he’d received this morning was joyous indeed, but he almost wished he’d not been informed until after he’d asked Cynthia to marry him. Now he feared she’d think he was only doing so out of obligation. He worried she might reject him.
Mrs. Lawson led the way upstairs and toward her daughter’s bedchamber door. Michael’s stomach shifted, making him slightly queasy as he waited for her to announce his arrival.
“Please,” Mrs. Lawson said. She gestured for him to follow her into the room.
Taking a deep steadying breath, Michael advanced, instinctively searching the dimmed space until he met Cynthia’s gaze. A smile lit up her face the moment his gaze met hers, banishing all concern.
“I’ll wait downstairs with your father,” Mrs. Lawson said. She closed the door as she slipped from the room.
“You came,” Cynthia said. Her eyes shone brighter than usual.
“Of course I did,” Michael said. He crossed to the bed and bent to kiss her brow. Straightening, he took her hand and perched himself on the edge of her mattress. “I even brought roses, but your mother warned the scent might upset you, so I left them downstairs in the parlor.”