Chapter Twenty-Two

Jane had never seen Lord Landsdowne in a more domestic situation. Sitting next to Thomas and Mr. Brown, Thomas’s tutor, a crackling fire in the background, he was surrounded by the greenery and mistletoe that decorated the sitting room for the Christmas season. Of course, he was arguing with Mr. Brown about Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, but still.

In fact, Jane was bemused by the entire situation, the room that was filled with people visiting the estate until after Twelfth Night. Lord and Lady Templeton were present, with their daughter. Her father, Lord Langley, was there as well. That had been a surprise. Silvie was there, too, and Herr Bohm, of course, who had become more of the family than a bodyguard.

And then there was the newest addition, Katherine, who rested in her father’s arms despite the nurse who hovered nearby. Katherine was why Jane’s father was there, why the Templetons had come as well, a baby being sufficient reason to bring this rather motley family together.

The only one still missing was Giana, Gerard’s plans to retrieve her during a post-wedding trip to the Italian peninsula postponed by Napoleon’s escape from Elba and the renewal of conflict on the continent. Traveling alone, he could easily have avoided the battlefields, but he had wished neither to leave a pregnant Jane nor to endanger his sister. After Twelfth Night, now that Jane, Katherine and Thomas were settled at the new estate, and with Silvie staying until his return, he would go.

“My turn, Alandale,” Langley said, reaching for Katherine. Her father took great pleasure in calling Gerard by his new title, as if it were balm for having to earlier accept a match he felt was beneath the family.

The new title was a significant source of Jane’s bemusement, as well. Not only because she and Gerard had decided not to pursue the barony, but also because she had only just begun to accustom herself to the name Mrs. Badeau when she had had to adjust to answering to Lady Alandale. Nonetheless, Lady Alandale she now was. Only two weeks after marrying and beginning to settle down at Gerard’s newly purchased estate, Anche had arrived, a dour look upon his face. With Napoleon escaped, he was desperate for information, and Gerard just happened to have some of use, as well as contacts with whom he could put Anche in touch. Eight months later the barony had been awarded.

Had Landsdowne been involved behind the scenes, pulling strings he had been reluctant to pull before? Jane couldn’t say. All she knew was that ever since changing his mind about assisting Gerard, Landsdowne had taken a great deal of interest in his grandson, insisting on introducing him to his closest friends.

While some acquaintances had remained sticklers and Jane had received fewer invitations for a while, Landsdowne’s approval had certainly helped ease the awkward transition into a somewhat scandalous married life. At the same time, being married had afforded Jane a freedom to pursue intellectual interests she had not previously. Those circles, the ones she most valued, were even more welcoming than before.

“Careful,” Gerard said as he gently transferred the bundled infant.

Langley shot him a baleful look before he turned his doting eye back on his granddaughter. “What a pretty Kate you are. With any luck you’ll grow up to be as intelligent as your mother, as well.”

Jane stiffened at the words, the overheard compliment that her father had never given to her directly. She hated that she felt some small pleasure at them. After all this time, she should hardly care what her father thought. Yet, she still did.

“Come, Jane,” Gerard said softly, stretching a hand out to her. “Let’s take a stroll out on the balcony and look at the stars.”

She pulled her thick cashmere shawl tightly around her shoulders and followed him outside into the cold December night. He pulled her into his side, his arm around her waist, and they stood close together, breath frosty in the air. The moon was a sliver and she could barely discern the outline of trees that delineated the garden from the woods beyond.

“Did you ever imagine—” She stopped, because of course he hadn’t. How could either of them have imagined such a gathering as the one tonight? His grip tightened. He turned her and she looked up into his face. The moonlight reflected on his eyes and she studied them, marveling at the change a year had wrought, the lack of shadows in his gaze.

“For once I agree with your father. You are beautiful and intelligent, and now the mother of our child.” He broke off and she thought his eyes glistened. “Thank you,” he whispered. “For Kate, for your love, for life.”

Tears stung her eyes, and her heart was too full to speak. Instead, she lifted her face to his. Her lips to his, to the kiss that was everything she needed and more. To the love she had never truly imagined possible but now was theirs.