A Defiant Liaison

XXXII

"Find love. Find love with all of your heart. And once found, love will find you. It will break away the unbreakable, and make anew." Anthony Liccione

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XXXII.

"Peter," cooed a soft voice. "Peter, wake up. We are returned."

Peter stirred from his groggy slumber. Certainly, it was the first decent sleep that he had managed to get in what felt like a year. His eyes fluttered open. His head had been resting against the window of the carriage, and he could see the familiar grounds of the Ashwood estate passing them by as the carriage travelled swiftly towards the house.

There was frost on the grass, or a light dusting of snow. The clouds were low, and rain seemed inevitable, but Peter had never been more glad to see the miserable winter weather of Hertfordshire.

Peter's head turned back to Belle, as she was sitting beside him. He could see the warmth, the excitement, and indeed, the relief in her golden eyes. He needed to stop starring at her. Peter had made a terrible habit of it over the last five days on their journey home, but he had not been able to help it. His eyes, with a mind of their own, searched for her. And when they found her, he felt a remarkable sense of wonder. And love. Indisputably.

Peter did not think that he would ever be able to fully comprehend just how brave Belle was, the same as he was certain she would never be able to fully comprehend just how remarkable he thought she was. Though he knew more than most, he knew that there were some atrocities that Belle kept buried deep within her for her own sake and protection. For her to smile as she was, despite the suffering she had endured, kept him in awe of her. Peter was quite certain that he would spend his life trying to deserve Belle Desjardins.

"Perhaps it will be a white Christmas this year," Adam observed looking out the window.

It was hard to believe that it was only a mere two days before Christmas, and that they had all been away for over a month.

The carriage came to a stop before the grand steps of Ashwood House, and the driver and footman jumped down to open the door and let down the step. Adam climbed out first, and he assisted Belle down. Alex and Peter followed, stepping out into the chilly morning air.

Peter watched as Belle's chin lifted as she took in the sight of the great house, as though she was looking upon it for the first time. He stepped beside her, offering her his arm. "Are you glad to be home?"

"I am glad that you are with me," she replied peacefully as she threaded her arm through his.

The Duke's unannounced return quickly sent the servants into a frenzy, for usually there would be a reception planned to greet him or a member of his family. As it was not yet ten in the morning, the house was not yet fully awake.

This was a fact that did not at all bother Adam. He was quick to ascend the stairs to head towards the bedroom he shared with Grace, as was Alex when he learned that Susanna had been staying in her old room during his absence.

Peter and Belle were very quickly standing alone in the grand foyer of Ashwood House.

"It's going to be alright now, isn't it?" There was a beautiful innocence in the tone of Belle's voice as she asked the question. It was the voice of a woman who hoped, something that she would have scarce been able to do before.

"Yes," Peter promised her, as visions of the plans that he had begun making trickled back into his mind. "Everything is going to be alright now."

"Belle!"

Both Peter and Belle's heads turned towards the first-floor landing, where a woman in a white nightdress had suddenly appeared. Susanna had flown onto the landing, her golden hair still fixed in rags. Alex soon appeared behind her, wearing a bemused expression.