Chapter Seventeen
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Magdalene watched Daunt examine De Terris Fabulosis. Carefully, he turned pages to expose a map of the world as it was known in the time of de’ Medici. “Exquisite,” he whispered.
“See here?” she said. “Remnants of the original binding.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Daunt, I’m still shaking,” she said.
He turned more pages, with her looking over his shoulder. As with the other two they’d found hidden in the vases, the writing was meticulous, the illustrations beautiful and colorful. “Directions for finding El Dorado.” He turned more pages. “An illustration of the Fountain of Youth. The island of Amazons.”
“It’s beautiful, but Daunt, we have sent Mr. Rivett away.”
Gently, he closed Fabulosis. He knew exactly what she was getting at, she knew that immediately. “Twenty pounds is by no means fair compensation for a treasure such as this.”
“No, sir. It is not.”
“I’ll have my secretary send him a suitable sum.”
“It’s only fair.” Tears burned in her eyes.
“Consider it done. What is it?” he asked. “What’s made you so sad?”
“De Terris Fabulosis was in Italy all this time.”
He cupped a hand around the back of her neck and brought her close. “Indeed it was.”
“Oh, Daunt.” She clung to him.
“Vindication is sweet, my love. I, for one, look forward to announcing how and where we located it. Don’t cry. Please do not cry.”
“I am not crying.”
He used the side of his finger to wipe away her tears. “Of course not.” Slowly, he closed the cover of Fabulosis. “I wish Angus had lived to see this day.”
She pressed against him, trembling inside. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
He patted her back, and she melted against him. “If not for your efforts,” he said, “we might not have even one Duke, let alone three.”
“We would have this one. Mr. Rivett said several people told him you were looking for Fabulosis. You have been looking for the book for years.”
“I thought the more who knew, the better the chance the volume might come to light.”
“All this time, you too were attempting to clear Angus’s name.”
“But of course.”
She gripped the lapels of his coat. “Professor Peebles’s retirement is fast approaching. How soon must you leave for London?”
“Today,” he said.
“Professor Peebles will be so pleased.” She did not want him to leave her, but she had no choice in that. “Give him my regards, won’t you? Then come back and tell me everything. What he said when he saw them. His expression. Everything.”
“I shall.” He ran a hand along the edges of the binding. “Three Dukes,” he said. “And they are spectacular.”
“Kiss me again, Daunt. One more time.”
His smile broadened. “Of course, my darling.”
He did exactly that, and this kiss was less tender and a bit rougher, more an expression of his need this time. She threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately.
Their kiss rocked her to her soul. Daunt had broken her open and changed her forever. He’d pulled her from despair and shown her how to live again, how to love again.
“With you,” he said when they parted, “it’s always my first kiss.”
“For me, as well.”
“My heart pounds every time you’re in my arms. It’s a wonder you put up with such boyish ways from me.”
She was transformed. No potion, no seduction had wrought this change in her. “Oh, Daunt, what have you done to me?”
His eyebrows drew together. “Kissed you witless?”
“Is there a love potion in De Motibus?”
“There is.”
“And have we the required ingredients?”
He laughed. “What if we did?”
She pressed a hand to her heart. “If we do, would you consider taking it?”
He shook his head, then slowly, his amusement faded. “Say that again.”
“Would you take the potion?”
“Why, Magdalene?”
She sat on the nearest chair in a boneless heap. “You said you were in love with someone else. I knew your heart was not available, and now—” She made a helpless gesture. “I apologize. I should never have asked.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “No,” he said. “I would not drink the potion.”
“No. No, of course not. It’s just …”
“Just?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you.” She took a steadying breath. “I know you are in love with someone. Please. Do not let this come between us.”
“For such an intelligent woman, you have come to a remarkably wrong conclusion.” He brought her to her feet and took her head between his hands. “You are the woman I love. I have loved you for years. For years. I’ve waited for you, lived in fear you’d love someone else and—”
She could hardly get her mind around the idea, but there it was, growing in her. “You love me?”
“I have been saying as much since I came here. Magdalene, I love you madly. I admire you. I respect you. I adore you. You are the only woman I want by my side.”
Her eyes opened wide, and she let out a laugh. “Oh my heavens, Daunt.” She threw her arms around him. “Daunt, say that again.”
“I love you. We do not need any potion, my love, for I already adore you.”
“Again, say that again.”
“I love you with all my heart and soul.” He lightly gripped her upper arms. “I’ll love Ned too. I’ll be the best possible father to him.”
She pressed her hands to his chest. “I’ll love your son too. Never fear that.”
“When I am done in London, and Peebles has been presented with our Dukes, I’ll call on your father. I’m quite sure His Grace will want settlements to properly protect you.”
“Yes, yes, yes, Daunt.”
“As soon as we may, for I tell you, I am looking forward to a lifetime of first kisses.”
“You shall have them, my love,” she said, her heart overflowing. “As many as you want.”