Chapter 38

Author's note:

We grow closed to the end of our journey.... Nah, I'm not going all dramatic, there is only a couple of chapters left, please enjoy.

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Dermont ushered the servants in quickly. He did not want to intrude on their morning but Dominic's orders were to have a breakfast and wash cloth ready for the couple. They placed the food onto the table and Dermont laid out their clothing before shooing everyone out.

He gently shut the door and wished them a happy marriage before returning to the kitchen.

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It was after noon when Dominic and Jacqueline woke up. Beforehand they both lay snoring gently. Dominic laying on his back with his hair brushing on Jacqueline's hair whilst Jacqueline lay on her chest, her hair covering Dominic's face.

If it wasn't for the tweeting of the birds and the laughing of the court below, they probably wouldn't of risen till later. Both with aching muscles from heavy sleep which had been induced.

They both opened their eyes at the same time with a yawn."Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, Madam." He yawned."I hope you have had a good sleep."

Jacqueline yawned and moved her hair out of Dominic's face. He chuckled and moved his hair off his back. They both shot up and the friendless of their actions and looked at each other bursting into a fit of laughter.

Dominic got out of his bed. Only clothed in his undergarments he quickly put on his shirt and hose before pouring two glasses of wine. He turned back and offered her a glass. She quickly got out of bed, still wrapped in the silk bed sheets and took the glass.

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome." He began cutting the bread and poured jam onto it. Grabbing his pocket knife he sliced the pear and sliced it into four. He took the mini plates and gave them an equal share of food to break their fast. He made two slices of bread and jam, sliced pears and cold meat.

"We will need to discuss what happened yest-"

There was a knock at the door and Dominic paused and went to the door."My lord,"

A servant bowed and handed him the parchment. A red ribbon tied scroll was given and Dominic shut the door.

"It's from Rome," He opened it and watched as Jacqueline slid a pear into her mouth. Chewing slowly as his words

His eyes quickly scanned over it and he sighed in selfish relief."He is not granting us the divorce."

Jacqueline did not pale or cry as he expected but instead got up and slowly removed the letter from his finger tips. She read it with equal interest as he had just done and then threw it into the flame."We will not discuss it again."

The letter cackled and it slowly turned to ash, crumbling till it continued roaring again.

He nodded and took his plate of food to the balcony. She understood. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts and she gave him that privacy so she could change. She slid into the laid out dress.

It was the palest baby blue. The sleeves made in a lighter shade, it made Jacqueline look almost childlike. If it wasn't for the cleavage it showed and the waist enhancement of the design, she would of felt like a child. There was a necklace, a sliver one and Jacqueline put it on. Slipping into the flat shoes, she covered her upper half with a darker cloak. She freed her hair and used one golden band to style it. It pushed her dark long hair backwards and she allowed a few tendrils to frame her face.

She knocked on the balcony door and Dominic turned around. He was done thinking now, and he looked at the woman in front of him with content."You look wonderful,"

"Thank you, my lord."

He walked back into the room and slipped on his proper clothing. A starched white shirt covered his muscular chest. His hose and doublet were the darkest blue but along with the golden jewels and smile on his face, he matched his wife completely.

"What do you think?" He twirled around with a smile.

She smiled shyly. "Handsome, my lord."

"Perfect, ma cherie." He grinned further."Will you do me in the honour, of taking this lonely vagabond on a picnic Jacqueline?"

She nodded."Yes, my lord."

He felt empty when she called him that."Please call me Dominic,"

She felt like it was an order. But she felt ready to comply, just this once."Well hurry up Dominic, it will grow windy and I want to see the afternoon sun."

Dominic was startled at his wife's childlike attitude but found, he liked it. And he smiled."Oui, Ma cherie."

She laughed. "Why do you call me that?"

"It suits you, like your simple clothing. It defines you, for me. You have always been a wonderful woman Jacqueline, it is I as a husband who have neglected you,"

She smiled and took his hand. "You are the kindest man I have ever met,"

Dominic frowned. "You do not need to compliment me,"

"Now Dominic," She opened the door and they shut it down, ignoring the leering questions of Jacqueline's supposedly lost virtue. "When I met you, you were a boy and had so much control you did not know what to do with it,"

"You sound so sure wife,"

"I am sure, lord husband," She dipped her head demurely, wishing this dress was not so tight and she would not be clearly looking at her breast if her eyes did not look up at Dominic. "That's why you hit me, you use to think it was your way of controlling me,"

Dominic was silent and opened the door for her, they were now walking on the pathway towards the gates, that lead out of the castle. "I do not appreciate judgment on my characters from others,"

"I'm not judging you sir," She spoke softly. "I have no right to judge you,"

"Good,"

They had now walked to the gates and Joseph, seeing them had come with Alice to see if Jacqueline had not been beaten. "Good morning, my lord."

"Me and the countess will be going out, for a walk. We will return by nightfall but have two horses sent to Lord Wilson's town home, we will ride back,"

"Yes, my lord," Joseph and Alice glanced back and Jacqueline before hurrying away.

"We are going to Lord Wilson?"

"I owe him an apology," Dominic said simply. "And I would love to treat you today, as we cannot go on our honeymoon right now,"

She nodded but kept her eyes down, waiting for the gates to open before looking up again. "I've always had people judging me, I don't want you to as well,"

"I won't, my lord," Jacqueline repiled, his voice was trembling and he was shaking slightly.

"Thank you," He squeezed her hand. "I know I may seem ruthless, but its how I've always been. I haven't seen much brighter that I could aspire to, it will take time for me to love you,"

"Yes, I suppose so," She focused on the road and watched as dogs ran past them animatedly. Her dress swishing in the road, the dust slightly collecting on the hems. "But love is not something to be learnt, it is something that you find."

"So if I feel like I cannot bear to see you in pain again, all I want to do to you is to love you and I know that you are the woman I want, is that love?"

Jacqueline turned to his face. He was serious. His blue eyes were on her face, and his soft cheek was blushing. "Yes, I think so,"

"Then I'll never go crazy, I'll never be the boy that you were sold to. I'll be the man who is going to look after you and keep you safe and loved."

Jacqueline smiled and touched his cheek. "Then I accept all protection, for there is no man who is stronger than the man who loves me. The man who I may love,"

"You may love me?" She nodded slowly.

"You are Dominic to me, it will take time but you will see the physical affection I can give to you. The first time I saw you, when I was presented to you I couldn't wait to get to know you- find more about my husband,"

Dominic swallowed, nobody wanted to know more about him. He was the soilder, Francis' lap dog and a little broken boy. But not with her, he made her feel like a warrior. A French seducer.

"And I cannot wait to find out more about my lady wife," He looked at her eyes which were glued on two men walking out of a tavern.

"William!" She called. "Anthony!"

The two men looked up and Dominic recognised them. William walked up with his companion and whispered something into his ear before they bowed low.

Dominic and Jacqueline repiled in kind before they smiled at each other. "My lord,"

"Father, sir," He inclined his head at Anthony who bowed again. He looked at Jacqueline, who was very much trying to hold her inner desire, Dominic could see her eyes were fully green and watching the men. "We can visit Wilson another day, you could have a day with them,"

"Really?"

"Yes, I have some errands and I need to talk to my men," He touched her hair. "I did not want to return to work so soon, but it gives you a chance to have some alone time."

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome," He offered the men a drink back at the castle, and then he knew he would leave.

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Dominic entered the parlour. He looked as Jacqueline quietly conversing with her brother. Their heads far apart but their hands clasped together as they whispered. He loathed the priest. He had almost ruined his day, however he would be civil.

He had promised Jacqueline her independence, and that included her visitors. Now he wished he was closer to William.

Dominic looked at his messy desk, irritated that he had spent quite a while speaking to Francis on the king's wardrobe when he desperately needed to sort out his affairs.

"Father DeWhite,"

"My lord, DeFleur,"

William rose politely and bowed low before kissing his sister on the cheek and walking to the door."Father,"

"What?"

"Please join me for port tomorrow evening, before dinner."

William looked at the man that had replaced him and nodded his head."I wish you both a good evening." He waited for the servant to shut the door and he left.

"I-I'm sorry William scorns me. It must be difficult for you."

Jacqueline looked at her ring. She twisted it sadly, tears gently dripping down her face as reality sunk in. Who she had truly married. She had married a man she knew nothing about and who only wanted to own her for her body.

Dominic's heart ached and he fumbled in his pocket. He took a deep breath and quietly stepped forward, bringing the box that Francis had given to him before he met her. He bent down on one knee not able to look into her eyes and slowly slipped off the ring. He threw it to the ground and opened the box.

This was his ring. This was her's. Two rings, sliver bands lay side by side. They had a deep blue stone set in the middle and sparkled as pretty as her eyes. He took the feminine ring out of the box and gently placed it on her finger.

"I think it suits your eyes." He said before getting up.

"Thank you,"

He breathed and turned away, she caught his arm."What about you?"

She didn't wait for a response and grabbed his left hand. Holding his hand she nimbly put on his ring and closed the box.

He threw the box away and smiled at her."We could go for a walk. We haven't had the chance to do so."

"Yes, well it wasn't my fault." She said bitterly.

"I know. It's mine. I treated you like a child, behind and not by my side. A wife's role is to obey and cherish but it's also the duty of her husband to obey and cherish her. If it is your wish I would like to take you outside for a walk."

She sat silently on the chair hesitant to accept his attention."Please,"

She nodded and took his elbow. A guard came to Dominic's side."We will be in the woods. Have some guards escort us."

"Yes, my lord." The guard replied.

"And have a shawl brought for the Countess."

"Yes, my lord." The guard was dismissed and Dominic walked with Jacqueline outside.

It was a crisp evening. The chatter of the servants and their curses could be heard. The nobles were inside and only the faint trot of the horses could be heard as they withdrew from their outside sports to go into the warmth.

The castle loomed over the couple and lanterns flckefed giving the blue castle a scarier effect."Why are we going to the woods?"

"I thought to take you to the shore, however I wasn't sure if..." He trailed off not wanting to continue and upset her.

"It doesn't matter. I wish to go to the shore." She concluded and he nodded. The guard chased them with a shawl and gave it to Dominic.

He stopped walking and gently placed it around Jacqueline's neck and covered her upper half. It was a thick fur and it would warm her thoroughly."I'm not cold, sir."

"You will have a chill."

She sighed."I'm not a child, as you said, you have been treating me like one but I'm not. And I would prefer to walk without a fur."

"And I would prefer if you would listen to what I said, instead of always arguing."

"I have my own mind."

"I never said you didn't."

"But you treat me as if I do not. You have to get a shawl for the defenceless, barbaric countess without asking her. You have to tell her where she is to go because you don't want to traumatize her pretty little head."

Dominic was slient."I was trying."

She said nothing and they continued their walk in silence. The guards sensed the tension between their master and mistress and moved as awkwardly as they did. They walked by the shore as Jacqueline requested. Past the little grove which had saved her, past the large grey rocks which she had fallen into. Past the crashing waves which could of swallowed her.

"We will return now."

"Yes, my lord."

The guards turned back as Jacqueline and Dominic did until Dominic spoke again."I was trying to be a romantic. In those journals you read. Not the scientific ones. He pressed a shawl around her body, to show her he wants to protect her and wants to make her feel warm inside and out. Even with all the riches he wants to prove his worth, because even the richest man could be lonely."

Jacqueline looked at him, unsure what to say."I'm surprised you read the book."

"I suppose you should. I haven't showed you that positive of me."

She nodded in agreement and the guards silently nudged each other. Dominic swirled around."Is there a problem?"

The guards quickly answered. "No, my lord."

"Good, I wish to hurry back to the castle, I cannot stand this weather." He looked at the rain clouds forming.

"Yes, my lord."

"Why would you offer me a walk if you hate the weather? We could of easily walked around the castle, it's a magnificent building."

"Yes. But I have locked you in there and I know you like the fresh air."

Jacqueline looked at the ring and realised. This wasn't going to be the perfect marriage with flower filled days and dancing underneath the stars no matter how she wished it could be. But maybe she didn't want it to be.

Maybe she wanted her husband to give her some reason to want to throttle him, but some reason which she could not hide the little smile inside. Maybe she wanted a marriage where there were differences and the mutual understanding meant that the differences did not set them apart but made them stronger. And they both knew if, but understood it.

She knew communication was important, that was the flaw in the marriage in the first place."I'm sorry for my outburst,"

He shrugged. Inside he was shaking, he hadn't felt so in tune with someone. Someone who was not always calm and perfect, that had faults and bursts of anger like he did. Someone who had interests which we're simple enough yet did so much for them that only their other half could understand.

"I'm sorry for mine. I guess we are just both prone to it."

"Yes,"

Dominic looked at her small form. She was still cold, and the thick fur was not doing much."A hug?"

She grinned and accepted it. He enveloped her body and shook. She gripped tightly onto him and he kissed her forehead. They just stayed hugging each other for a while. It was so comfortable, so right, they both thought.

They had forgiven each other. They were going to look to the future, see the good in each other. There were problems, but Dominic and Jacqueline felt like they could do it. It was an arranged marriage, but they both felt so comfortable with each other.

Dominic looked down at his wife. She was his wife. She was with him, and he loved her for it. She accepted the horrible man that he was, and he swore that he would become the man she deserved.

Jacqueline, was half asleep. She felt like she was dreaming, it felt so good. She knew she wanted to be with Dominic, Lord Dominic DeFleur. She was glad she had forgiven him, because now she would begin to see the brighter side in men. The brighter side in life.