The Gift of the Marquess by Darcy Burke

Author:Darcy Burke [Burke, Darcy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Darcy Burke Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“It’s good that it starting raining,” Gabriel said, thinking of the largely burned Shield’s End as he joined Poppy in bed that night. “What a day.”

She snuggled up beside him, laying her hand on his chest, as he sat against the headboard. “It felt like a week.”

Gabriel stroked his wife’s shoulder and back. “Bianca is all settled?”

“Yes, though I wonder if she will actually sleep. She’s rather worked up.”

“The fire or the wedding?”

“Both. I told her to focus on the latter. I don’t think that will be a trial.”

Gabriel smiled through his weariness. “They seem very happy.”

“They do.”

“It happened rather quickly, didn’t it?”

Poppy chuckled, her body vibrating against his. “That’s what I told her. She reminded me of something I told her after we became betrothed. Something to the effect of when it’s right, it’s right.”

He gazed down at the top of her dark head. Her curls were tamed into a plait for sleeping, but he knew from experience that he could unwind it in a trice. Perhaps he would if he wasn’t so bloody exhausted… “Is that how it was for us?”

She looked up at him, her lips curling into a heart-stopping smile. “Yes. Don’t you agree?”

“Right doesn’t adequately describe how I felt. To me, it was destiny.” Perhaps he wasn’t as exhausted as he thought.

She pressed a kiss to his chest, and though he wore a nightshirt, he felt the connection as if his flesh were bare to her. Sighing, she lowered her head to his chest. “Is Shield’s End completely destroyed then? It looked as though the newer wing survived.”

The addition made in the last century to the medieval-aged manor still stood, but Gabriel had to think it was greatly weakened. “I’m not sure it can remain without the support of the rest of the structure, particularly with the winter ahead of us.”

“I hope he’ll be able to rebuild soon. I’m glad Thornaby is paying for it.”

Gabriel snorted. “That’s the least he can do.” Upon learning the fire had been caused by a goat, which Thornaby and his friends had brought into the house as a prank on Buckleigh, Gabriel had wanted to force the man to make restitution. That he apparently didn’t have to be made to do the right thing was a small victory.

“Yes, after putting goats in the house. Bianca said they did that to Ash at Oxford and thought it would be amusing to repeat the prank.”

“Makes me glad I went to Cambridge.”

She glanced up at him. “No one stooped to such idiocy at Cambridge?”

Gabriel let out a sharp laugh. “Not that specifically. Perhaps I should have gone to Oxford. I would have stood up for Buckleigh if I’d been there.”

“Of course you would have. You’re the most thoughtful man I know.” She tipped her head back to look him in the eye once more. “Thank you for agreeing to stand up with Ash at the wedding.”

“It’s my honor. I’m just sorry your brother is being such a miserable pig.” He flinched. “Forgive my description.

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