Bless her, Georgina thought.
“There’s some morning tea for you just through those doors into the adjoining sitting room. The master insisted you get it straight away.” Jane pointed. “If you’d like to go in there and have it now, I’ll just prepare the bath for you.”
Bless him, Georgina thought.
Having arrived into a steaming bath, Georgina washed her body and thought she might need to pinch herself. Two days. Everything had turned in just the past two days. Two days ago she cared little of life, having nothing to live for or look forward to, feeling broken and useless and a burden.
But then Jeremy came for her. He’d changed the whole landscape. He had walked right back into her world and told her that he wanted her and that he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. He’d taken her out of the hell in which she had been trapped and offered to her a life. A real life. A life she wanted. And something worth fighting for.
Sitting in the warm water, she also realized how much she had changed in those same two days. She had gone from being a frightened little mouse that had to be convinced to accept an honorable man, to a very awakened and aware woman of just how blessed she was in her husband. There was no denying it. She had won a rare prize with Jeremy. And she would hold on to him with everything she had.
* * * *
“Success! I have found the breakfast room. I wasn’t confident I’d make my way here. Thankfully Mrs. Richards happened by and directed me. I hope I haven’t made you wait a very long time.”
Jeremy jumped up and helped to seat her at her place. He leaned in at her neck with his soft lips and nuzzled right below her ear. “I assure you the wait was very worth it. You look superb. That green is excellent on you.”
“Thank you.” She looked him over, appreciating his dark-blue waistcoat over a fine white shirt. He wore his clothes very well. “You look quite well rigged-out yourself.”
“I have been quite productive actually. I wrote a letter to the grandparents and shared the happy news of you.” He smiled and his blue eyes turned smoky. “Can’t wait for the reply I’ll be getting.” He winked at her. “The sun is out. And since the day is dry, I thought we might have a walk after we get you fed. I could show you the grounds, and then we can take to the sea path and bring a blanket for sitting on the sand.”
“Sounds perfect, Jeremy.”
“Now for some food. What’s appealing to you, eggs, bacon, porridge, toast, a bun? Cook is wickedly skilled, and eggs are a particular specialty of hers. You must try some of everything.” He took up her plate to serve her, and in its place he set down a velvet black box.
“What is this?” She picked up the box.
“A gift, for you. Open it.”
She lifted the lid to reveal a pair of pearl drop earrings set with diamonds. “Jeremy, these are outstanding! So lovely and elegant.” She reached out to clasp his hand.
He took her hand to his lips and kissed. “I am pleased you like them. I think they’ll go well with your mother’s pearls, don’t you?”
“I do. They are so beautiful and unique in design. Thank you for such a precious gift. You are spoiling me.” She locked on to his eyes. “I feel as if I’m in a dream and you—all of this—cannot be real, cannot be happening to—”
“It’s real.” He nodded his head and took her chin in his hand. “You are what are beautiful and unique. Last night, with you, was the precious gift, and like those pearls, rare and treasured, but far above all other things.”
They held each other’s eyes for the longest time. When Jeremy finally spoke, the words were important, and precious, and valued above all other words. And what made them even dearer was that they were the same words she needed to say to him.
“Georgina, you hold my whole heart now. You know that, don’t you? You make everything bright and good. I want to experience joy together and learn every secret part of you.” He leaned in to kiss her lips. “My dearest lover—my only lover.”
His declaration thrilled her, but she knew that last part couldn’t be true. Jeremy had been with women before, as sure as the sun rose in the east and set in the west.
“I see your puzzled look, sweetheart. I think you don’t believe me.”
“Well, it’s just that—you must have—there’ve been women you have—” she said haltingly, biting her bottom lip. Thinking of Jeremy with other women was not something she wished to ponder.
“I speak the truth, Georgina. I am many things, and several of my traits are less than desirable. But one thing I am not is a liar. I’ve had women before, yes, but never a lover.”
“No?” she asked, hardly able to contain the joy she felt at knowing her husband might actually have deep feelings for her.
“Not before you, my Gina. Not even close.”
“Oh, Jeremy, you fill my heart until it overflows.” She cupped his cheek.
He spoke solemnly. “I have never known the deepness of emotion you cause in me, and it even frightens me a little, but still, I find I must ask the question.”
“What question?”