Dare To Love (34 page)

Since Gwendolyn never had a real honeymoon,
Thomas whisked her off to Egypt to view the pyramids, to Africa to
encounter obscured wildlife and to South America to sample the best
melon and passion fruit she ever tasted. They kept her Great-Aunt’s
cottage for the summertime and decided not to sell Gisleham Manor
and restore it back to its original splendor; concluding to give it
to Mary for a wedding present, when she was old enough to marry of
course.

Moving into Wilderbrand was also an
experience. She had never managed a household that expansive
before, but she was up to the challenge. Thomas insisted that she
hire a governess for the children as well, but Gwendolyn was
adamant. She was used to raising her children without any help, but
after Thomas told her that they were expected to make appearances
and would be attending many social events as the Duke and Duchess
of Norwin, Gwendolyn gave in.

Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Norwin
, she would probably never be so incredulous over that title. To be
known officially as the “Duchess of Norwin”, oh heavens, so much
prestige and adulation walked hand-in-hand with nobility. She
remembered the first time she heard that heading being announced
when they were at a social function; everyone who’s everyone was in
attendance, even his Royal Highness. When Gwendolyn and Thomas were
formerly introduced all eyes turned to them and a sea of gasps was
heard throughout the great ballroom. Everyone knew that Thomas was
about to get married, but not to Gwendolyn. Did the Duke of Norwin
really marry his mistress? There were rumors flying around town
about his latest exploit, but then a handful of elder guests knew
the real truth, and that was what started the world of chitchat:
“Of course she looks familiar!” “Remember the Drummond’s of
Suffolkshire?” “Lady Mary Drummond?” “Gwendolyn was the daughter of
the Earl of Suffolkshire.” “Yes, the Earl that perished at sea.”
“So tragic, the whole family, lost.” “Lovely couple, we wish them
all the best.”

As the doctor took the thermometer out of her
mouth, Gwendolyn pinpointed a vase in the corner of the room filled
with pink roses. Pink always reminded her of one
person—Katrina.

After learning that Katrina married Henry and
gave birth to a daughter, Gwendolyn thought that would be the end
to her larking about. But no, Katrina made sure she was still in
Thomas’ area of interest. She would visit Henry on a daily basis,
making sure she bumped into Thomas every chance she got. It was
over, he would remind her, he married Gwendolyn, they were
extremely happy, but she never got the point. Thomas was so sick of
her following him around that he gave her an ultimatum. Either she
terminated her harassment or he would send Henry to America to
assist him with his new venture being developed there. Katrina
Barton was further distressed, she could not believe that Thomas
was no longer interested. Katrina was so far gone, she even showed
up unannounced at dinner one evening, crying and begging to see
Thomas. Gwendolyn should have been bothered, but she just felt
sorry for her. Thomas had no other choice but to send Henry to
America, and last Gwendolyn heard, Henry was doing well with the
new HCC in New York and Katrina gave birth to another daughter.

And the best part of all of this would be
Amy, Henry’s sister. She finally found the man of her
dreams…Charles McMillen. Oh yes, Gwendolyn was totally surprised
when she heard too. Disappointed that the bulls he purchased in
Scarborough failed, Charles went to Manchester to purchase two
additional males. Once there, he met and fell in love with a
beautiful brunette. Both utterly surprised with their mutual
acquaintances, they married three months later and now have two
sets of twins.

Gwendolyn continued to stare out the window
and watched the sun go down. Thomas would be home soon and she
could not wait to talk to him. They were going to have a family
supper that evening, with no guests; guests, meaning, no Devin
Hale. Oh, Gwendolyn loved Devin, how could she not? He was Thomas’
surrogate brother after all. He shared the same interests as her
husband, even the same humor. Devin was a good man, Gwendolyn
realized, she just wished he would find himself a wife. Gwendolyn
loved to toy with him occasionally, telling him that if he was not
careful he may just wake up in love. But he was still a rake
though, breaking hearts throughout London, but he always found the
time to come by and visit with the children. She could always tell
the misguided men apart from the selfish ones, by way of their
interest in the little things, like children. Devin loved playing
with the boys; Gwendolyn could always find him in the nursery
playing blocks with them, he even spent time with Mary, showing her
tricks on horseback and how to fight with a sword. Oh Gwendolyn
raised her eyebrow over that little hobby, but figured; maybe Mary
would need to know one day and allowed her lessons. He was not
really upset about his sister either, figured it was time to
concentrate on her husband and new family and what better
opportunity to have Katrina an ocean away from temptation.

Married life was wonderful. The first time
she experienced waking up in her husband’s arms was the last time
Gwendolyn ever cried. Releasing tears of joy was like diving into
their shared lake, inspirational and invigorating. No more looking
back, only looking forward; each day, a new beginning to create new
memories to share with her forever best friend.

Thomas finally arrived at sunset from a hard
day at work. Devin stayed late as well and the both of them tried
to figure out how to keep up with the American’s. Seems they were
building huge clipper ships, Windjammers, the Yanks were calling
them, and they were even challenging Britain to some kind of race.
Up the China coast and back, who could make it the quickest? Well,
Thomas was absolutely up for the challenge and he and Devin began
devising a plan for their expected victory.

After taking off his Carrick, Thomas roamed
around from room to room searching for his wife. Usually, Gwendolyn
was at the door receiving him with wide-open arms, but on this
night, she was not? He was wounded—he had not felt that sort of
pang in his heart for quite some time.

In the library, Thomas noticed Fitzwater
restocking his cigars in his cedar box on top of his desk.
“Fitzwater, where is the Duchess?”

“I believe she is upstairs, sir.”

“Upstairs? Why?”

“The doctor is examining her.”

“The doctor!” Thomas exclaimed. “Is she ill?
Why didn’t anyone send for me?” Thomas immediately stormed out of
the room and ran up the staircase. Constance was on her way down,
“What is wrong with her? Why didn’t anyone send me a note?”

Constance caressed his cheek, “Calm down Your
Grace, it is not that kind of sickness.”

Thomas searched her kind eyes and realized
what she was trying to imply. “Oh…I see, well, thank you
Constance.”

“You are very welcome, sir. And I am so happy
for you,” she smiled, while walking down the staircase. “So much
laughter in this dwelling now, it is such a warm feeling.”

Thomas stood idle watching Constance mumbling
to herself and then preceded up the stairs. When he reached the
main bedroom, Dr. Lynch was by Gwendolyn’s bedside.

“Oh Thomas, you are finally home!” Gwendolyn
replied, smiling with glee upon seeing him.

The doctor turned to look at Gwendolyn one
last time before he left, “Now remember what I said Duchess, the
time frame, it must be followed accordingly.”

Thomas shook hands with the doctor right
before his exit and then slowly emerged towards the bed. “What is
wrong, love? What does he mean by time frame?”

Gwendolyn blushed and patted the empty spot
next to her by the bed. “Come…come sit by me.”

Thomas immediately rushed to her side but
instead of sitting calmly by the edge like she asked, he grabbed
her into his arms and squeezed her tight. “Are we going to have
another baby?”

Gwendolyn wrapped her arms around his
shoulders and held him tight. “Yes.”

“Are you all right, love? Any fever? Is the
baby all right?”

Gwendolyn pulled apart from him and melted at
the sight of his concerned stare. “Yes, darling, everything is
fine. He just wants me to stay in bed for awhile, that’s all.”

“You do not seem to get so sick when you are
immobile, love, maybe that’s sound advice. I will have Fitzwater
send out the proper letters and cancel all future engagements for
the next few months.”

“Yes,” she added, looking down at her
lap.

“Something else is wrong, I can feel it,”
Thomas asked panicky. “Tell me.”

“Well, he says…that it is unnatural for a
woman my age to keep having children…that…that after this one, the
doctor suggested that we…” she paused, trying to find the right
words, “Discontinue from having them.”

“Discontinue? You mean…stop?”

“Yes.”

“You mean you and I…everything…bring to a
halt?”

“Yes.”

Refrain from touching his own wife? The woman
who sometimes brought him to his knees by her beauty from across a
room? Thomas’ whole body went on the defensive. “You are only
thirty-one Gwendolyn, why my mother was thirty-five when she had
me!”

“Really? How do you know that?”

“My father was a notorious rake, don’t you
know?” He sailed on, “My mother was a servant in his household;
Jordan was illegitimate the first few months of his life. She was
in her mid-twenties when my father married her.”

“I never knew that,” Gwendolyn pronounced in
awe, watching Thomas fidgeting in his seat.

“See, you learn something new every day,” he
quipped, leaning into her and kissing her on the forehead. “Oh
bloody hell…I won’t be able to follow through with it Gwendolyn; is
Dr. Lynch suggesting that we do not touch? If I cannot hold you in
my arms…I will go mad!”

Gwendolyn caressed his cheek, “The same goes
for me too. Why, just looking at you makes me want to pounce on
you.”

Thomas grinned and then kissed her softly on
her lips. Kissing her once was never enough. Oh God, he knew this
going to happen. Five children later and he could not stop handling
her. His lips found their way to her neck and Gwendolyn arched her
throat up to receive him.

“It is no wonder I’m with child again,”
Gwendolyn gushed, closing her eyes from his mouth nibbling on her
ear. “My husband is an insufferable insatiable man.”

Quickly, his passion for her inflamed and
they were immediately in each other’s arms. He was hotly bussing
her mouth; kneading her breasts through her bodice when the
rumbling sounds of stomping rounded down the hallway…then towards
the door…then through the door…then pounce on top of the bed!

Thomas and Gwendolyn split apart and were
besieged by mayhem. Thomas just barely opened up his arms to
receive Millicent, their three year old daughter who jumped into
his open embrace.

“Did sister put that crown of duck feathers
in your hair?” He asked, kissing her forehead. Grey-green eyes and
dark cherry hair, she looked exactly like Gwendolyn’s mother.
Nodding in agreement, she laid her head down on her father’s chest
and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

Gwendolyn tapped Thomas on the shoulder and
shook her head at him, “Do not let her do that, her teeth will get
crooked.”

Thomas gently pulled out her thumb then ran
his fingers through Millicent’s soft curls then eyed the raven
beauty making her regal entrance.

Mary came through the door holding Philip,
barely a year, followed on her heel, Nathaniel, five and Jordan,
four years of age.

“Father, Jordy keeps sticking his tongue out
at me,” Nathaniel glowered, crossing his arms into his chest.

“No I won’t, Nattie, stop whying,” Jordan
spat back at him.

“Yes you do, like this,” Nathaniel displayed,
sticking his own tongue down to his chin.

Briskly coming to the rescue, Thomas stepped
in between the two little boys, “Now men, we do not act like
savages in this household, we are gents of fashion. Now, go back to
the nursery and get ready for bed. I will be there in a moment to
tuck you in.”

Gwendolyn rolled her eyes and got out of bed.
“Oh Thomas, really, they’re too young to understand that low tone
of voice of yours when you are trying to get your point
across.”

“What low tone of voice?”

“That one,” she stated, pointing to his
throat and then leaning into to him for a softhearted kiss.

Mary now ambled over and plopped her body
onto a chair near the both of them. With a heavy sigh, she watched
her two brothers’ stick their tongues out at each other once again
before darting out of the room.

Thomas drew Millicent into him and kissed the
back of her head before setting her down as well. She too, shot off
and out of the room in a jiffy.

Gwendolyn walked over to her daughter’s side
and knelt at the base of her legs. At sixteen, Mary Hollinger was,
by far, an unparalleled stunning young maiden. With her father’s
coloring, she inherited her mother’s façade and many young
bachelors who asked about her daily eagerly anticipated her
come-out.