All that he had said were words Nancy had longed to hear.
Still, she was hesitant to reach out to him because what if he later decided that they were far too different people and committing to his word was too difficult? The Duchess was unsure if her heart could handle the disappointment that would follow.
Before her mind was made up, a bark caught her attention. She turned in time to see Dash run towards them, after managing to slip away from Anne somehow. The puppy stood up on his hind legs, placing his fore paws on Richard’s legs, wagging his tail sadly with a whine.
Richard sighed, but instead of brushing the dog away, he bent down and scooped him up into his arms.
“No matter how big you get, you’ll always be little at heart, I believe,” she heard him say softly, his voice full of fondness.
This image of him contrasted greatly with the man she had married, who had wanted nothing to do with the dog when she had first adopted him. Richard had changed so much since then, and he was willing to do much more for her.
“Change is a powerful thing,”her father had told her once. “As long as the chance is given for it, there is a likelihood it would bring marvelous things.”
Her father would want her to take a chance at happiness and so would Richard’s brother.
But there was still one more thing to discuss.
“What about the matter of children?” she asked.
Richard sighed.
“I did not want children because… I feared I would turn out as horrible as my father was. He was… needlessly cruel. Physically and verbally. He said William and I were useless to him, mere blemishes upon his life—unwanted and pointless.”
His words took her back to the carriage ride after their wedding when he had told her he had no intention of having an heir. She recalled how practiced his words sounded, how it seemed as though the ideal had been repeated consistently to him until it was all he believed in.
“He hated me the most. William was his heir, the slightly more useful one. I was a mere spare, the second born. The one who took his wife away from him. He resented me from the moment I was born. And I worry that I might still harbor some of his darkness. That I might take out my own pain and anger on my own children. And no child deserves that,” Richard concluded with a shake of his head.
Nancy shifted closer to his side, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.
“You are nothing like your father. That much is evident in the fears that you harbor. Only a man who wishes to be better than his past sets it as an example of a life he doesn’t want. You are so kind, Richard. So thoughtful and generous. You are so adored by your staff, by Dash.”
She smiled at him sweetly, combing his hair with her fingers.
“By me. You will not turn out to be anything like him. I know you won’t. So do not let your worries keep you from living your life.”
Richard inhaled shakily, leaning into her touch slightly as he said, “Thank you for understanding. I promise to you that I will not let my father’s cruelty get the best of me anymore. I want to start my life with you. And children should be a part of it.”
Nancy felt herself smile at that.
“All right. I will forgive you if you promise to commit to our marriage properly,” she began, looking him in the eyes. “I do not want us to have unnecessary fights that we could get around by talking with each other. I understand that you have fears, but so do I. I will never judge you nor make light of your concerns. If you come to me, we can discuss whatever ails you and come up with a solution together as husband and wife.”
Richard nodded intently, holding onto Dash tightly with one arm, and he reached out for Nancy, declaring earnestly, “I promise to do all that and more. Please come home with me, Nancy. I… I love you. And I do not want to live without you.”
He loved her?
Tears filled her eyes, and she wasted no time stepping into his embrace, looking up at his face as she said, “I love you too, Richard. So much.”
“Oh. Thank God,” he muttered in relief as he leaned forward and claimed her lips in a gentle kiss.
Nancy felt her heart melt, all the darkness and pain that had resided within fading away, replaced with warmth that flooded her body and mind.
He pulled away moments later, only to press a kiss to her nose and her cheek then another to her lips again.
“I love you,” he repeated. “And I will spend the rest of my life doing so.”
Nancy giggled, resting her head on his shoulder with a sigh of contentment. “I look forward to it, husband.”
* * *
