London, England

Summer 1816

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Lettie wiped the dusty rag across her forehead, causing her shoulder-length golden brown locks to fall into her eyes. Huffing, she tilted her head to send the strand back where it belonged. Not that things ever stayed where they belonged, at least not for Lettie.

“Allow me to help you.” Daniel hurried across the room and righted the chair she’d been cleaning of dust and grime from years of disuse. “I told you to rest…and this is what you do?”

Correction, nothing stayed where they belonged but Daniel.

He’d followed through on every promise he’d made to her—and more which hadn’t been spoken aloud that night in her bedchambers.

He’d been her rock, her footing when she sensed her mind slipping, her anchor when the waves threatened to wash her away, and through it all, he’d only loved her more, lavished more attention on her, and held her ever closer.

“I am with child, Daniel,” she scolded. “I am not helpless or so advanced I will expire from a bit of hard work.”

She softened the rebuff with a smile.

Lettie smiled all the time now and laughed with no remorse.

Odd how she’d lived for so many years without either, and now they came out of nowhere, overtaking her without warning. She awoke smiling, brushed her hair holding back a giggle as he demanded to assist her, and outright chuckled at Daniel’s silly antics.

As she’d suspected, her parents were not willing to hand over her dowry to be used at Lettie’s discretion; however, they’d readily agreed to a betrothal and spring wedding for her and Daniel. The deed was no sooner completed and her dowry given into Daniel’s safekeeping than the funds were transferred into an account in only her name, as well as another healthy portion of funds. More funds than Lettie could conceive of means to dispose of.

Yet not a fortnight had passed, and Lettie had established a plan—with her husband’s help.

Focus and purpose, as well as Daniel’s unconditional love and support, were slowly but surely helping to heal her mind. He’d been right about that, though very wrong about another thing.

She was not his only hope…Daniel had been her only hope.

“Just sit down, I will finish in here.” He pushed the chair she’d been working on behind her, and she sat.

It did feel heavenly to be off her feet, but there was so much more to do.

“Daniel, please, Deloris and her children will be here before the sun sets.” She leaned forward in the chair, setting the palm of her hand against her growing belly, a barely noticeable flutter greeted her. “The children will need beds, and Deloris will need a warm, quiet room.”

“Do not fret.” Daniel glanced around the room. “We only have this space to worry about.”

“Whatever are you saying?” Lettie sighed. “I haven’t even begun on the children’s room. I need to spread their new coverlets, fold the clothes we’ve collected for them, and stack their school books on their shelf.”

They’d worked tirelessly since locating and purchasing Hope Manor to ready the rooms and create a welcoming environment for other women who’d lost their husbands to war. Any family was welcome to stay until they could properly care for themselves.

“It is all done.”

“What do you mean, it is all done?” Her brow arched in question. “I have spent all morning in here.”

“You were so focused you didn’t hear me working in the next room?” he asked.

“I suppose I was working rather hard,” Lettie conceded, glancing around the room that had slowly taken form. It had once been a salon of sorts, but now would house a woman in need. She may need silence or prefer to be surrounded by activity—whatever her individual needs, they would be met as best as Lettie could arrange.

“As you always do, my heart.” He knelt before her, so much like another special night that had changed their entire future, merging their courses into one path. “Another reason I love you.” He placed a quick kiss to her cheek as running footsteps sounded in the hall. “Oh, no, they’ve found us!”

Lettie swatted at his shoulder but accepted his offered hand to stand. She’d no more gained her feet when a little boy skidded across the threshold, bouncing with excitement.

“Is it time? Is it time?” his tiny voice screeched to the clap of his hands.

“Almost, my boy.” Daniel moved across the room, ruffling the boy’s mop of auburn hair as he passed. He collected the freshly laundered lilac blanket and moved to spread it across the bed.

“Deloris and her sons will be here before you know it, Owen.” Lettie laughed as the boy hopped from one foot to the other. “Why are you so excited?”

“I’m the only boy here,” he retorted, setting his hands on his tiny waist. “All these girls…they are trying my patience.”

Daniel chortled, and Lettie turned a glare in his direction before smiling back at Owen. “It is certainly difficult being the only man in the house, I can see that.”

“What about me?” Daniel called, his frown making Lettie laugh.

“You don’t live here, your grace.” Owen shook his head as if the weight of the entire household rested on him. “Anyways, it will be nice to have some boys to play marbles with or to play tricks on the girls.”

Lettie and Daniel laughed. With only three families in residence at Hope Manor, Owen being the only boy, he was seriously outnumbered.

“Owen!” a woman shouted from down the corridor. “You get back here and finish your schoolwork. And for heaven’s sake, leave the duke and duchess alone.”

Owen winked and rushed back toward the door, stopping for one last word. “I do hope they hurry. This arithmetic and reciting are getting on my last nerve.”

Daniel moved up behind Lettie, settling his arms around her waist and pulling her close. “Do you think our child will be so precocious?”

“With parents like us, Charlie is destined to be either a rascal or a hellion,” she mumbled as he pressed his lips to her neck.

His mouth halted, and she felt him pull away. “Charlie?”

“Oh, I’ve meant to speak with you on the matter. I have selected a name.”

“But what if we have a girl?” he asked.

“Charlie will still suit. It is a strong name, perfect for either a boy or a girl.” The decision had been an easy one, far simpler than many she’d been pressed to make previously. “Are you upset?”

He spun her around in his arms, so quick her head swam, first from the sudden movement and then from the look of complete adoration and affection in his eyes.

Daniel had promised her a second chance at life, but she’d never dreamt she’d truly grasp hold of a second chance at love.

“My dear wife, I could not be any less upset.” He bent slightly and caught her below the knees, lifting her into his arms. She nestled against his chest with a sigh. “Now, it is rest for you…and Charlie.”

“But our new guests will be here shortly,” she argued.

“Not for several hours.” He pulled her tighter to him. “Just enough time to return home, sleep, and be back at Hope Manor refreshed and ready to greet our guests.”

Daniel had been so kind since she’d concocted her harebrained idea for Hope Manor; a place for women and children to come while they healed from the loss of a loved one without fear of mounting debt, empty bellies, or hearths lacking coal.

“I suppose the least I can do is return home and rest, especially after you arranged the children’s room.” She laughed coyly. “I think perhaps you need a nap as much as I.”

“It is not a nap I’m looking forward to.” He waggled his brows, leaving no doubt in her mind that their afternoon of rest would likely not include sleep. “Now, I grow weak with exhaustion. Let us be off.”

“I am ever at your command, your grace.”

They both laughed. His unrestrained deep chuckle and her light giggle, as they both knew well and good it was Daniel who would always be at her command.

And that pleased them both greatly.

With Daniel at her side, the nightmares did not overtake her sleep as often, but when they did, he was there to kiss her awake and banish the horrors. Ever at her side and in her heart.

Thankfully, her mind had embraced his love, as well.