Lady Ines Scandalous Hobby-Chapter 164 - Hundred And Sixty Four

The last fiddle had been played. The last candle in the grand ballroom had been snuffed out. The Hamilton mansion, which had vibrated with laughter and music for hours, finally settled into a heavy, contented silence.

The guests had all departed or retired to their rooms. The servants, exhausted but smiling, had cleared away the glasses and blown out the lamps in the hallway.

Ines stood in her bedroom. She had changed out of her magnificent wedding dress. The heavy cream silk was carefully draped over a chair, looking like a ghost of the joyous day.

Now, she wore a simple white nightgown made of soft cotton. Her hair was loose, falling down her back in waves, freed from the pins and the jasmine flowers.

She looked at the door.

Technically, she should be asleep. The carriage for Carleton was leaving at dawn, and dawn was not far away.

But she couldn’t sleep. Her heart was still dancing the waltz.

She opened her door quietly. The hallway was dark, lit only by the pale squares of moonlight on the floor.

Ines tiptoed onto the runner. She moved silently, like a shadow. She was heading for the guest room at the end of the hall.

She smiled to herself as she walked. She remembered the conversation with Rowan just an hour ago.

Carcel had been prepared to leave. He had kissed her hand and said he would return in the morning to collect her for the journey. He wanted to respect the rules of her brother’s house.

But Ines had refused.

She had stood at the bottom of the stairs, holding Rowan’s arm.

"It is just for a night, Rowan," Ines had pleaded. "He doesn’t have to go all the way to his townhouse just to come back in four hours."

Rowan had frowned, crossing his arms over his massive chest. "It is improper, Ines. You are under my roof."

"We are married now!" Ines had argued, whining slightly in a way she hadn’t done since she was twelve. "I am now his wife. I’m a Duchess. It is not inappropriate or anything. We have said our vows. We have signed the papers. Technically, It’s like a couple visiting a relative."

Rowan had looked at her. Then he looked at Carcel, who was standing by the door looking hopeful but trying to remain dignified.

Rowan had sighed, throwing his hands up. "Fine. But if I hear any noise, I am coming in with a sword."

Ines giggled at the memory. Rowan was all bark and no bite.

She reached the door of the guest room. She hesitated for a second, her hand hovering over the brass knob. A flutter of nervousness hit her. This was her husband. There was nothing wrong In what she’s doing.

She turned the knob.

She opened the door of the guest room and peeped her head in.

"Carcel?" she whispered.

The room was dark. The fire in the hearth had died down to glowing red embers. The only light came from the moonlight that streamed through the open balcony doors.

Ines entered, closing the door slightly behind her to keep the draft out.

She walked to the bed. It was a large, four-poster bed with heavy velvet curtains.

It was empty.

The sheets were smooth and undisturbed. The pillows were fluffed. No one had slept there.

Ines frowned and thought to herself, Where did he go to? Did he leave after all? Did Rowan kick him out when I wasn’t looking?

Panic flared in her chest for a brief second.

Then, she saw movement.

A figure was standing at the balcony. The curtains were blowing gently in the night breeze. The silhouette was tall and broad-shouldered, leaning against the stone railing, looking out at the garden.

It was Carcel.

Ines let out a soft breath of relief. She walked across the room. Her bare feet made no sound on the plush rug.

She stepped out onto the balcony. The night air was cool, smelling of damp earth and the distant scent of the river.

Carcel didn’t hear her. He was deep in thought, staring up at the moon.

Ines stepped close to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. She pressed her cheek against his back. She could feel the heat of his body through his thin white shirt.

Carcel stiffened for a fraction of a second, startled. Then, he recognized her touch. He relaxed instantly.

He covered her hands, which were clasped over his stomach, with his own large hands. He didn’t turn around yet. He just held her there, anchoring her to him.

For a long moment, they stood like that. The silence was comfortable. It wasn’t the awkward silence of strangers, but the peaceful silence of two people who belonged together.

Slowly, Carcel released her hands from his waist. He turned around.

Ines looked up at him. His hair was messy, ruffled by the wind. His eyes were dark and intense in the moonlight.

He brought her hands up to his lips. He kissed her knuckles, then her palms, lingering on the sensitive skin.

"You can’t sleep either, right?" She asked softly.

Carcel stopped kissing her hand. He raised his head up. He looked at her face, tracing her features with his eyes.

"Hm," he hummed, a low sound in his chest. "No. I cannot."

He looked back out at the moon.

"It still feels like I’m dreaming," Carcel confessed. His voice was raw. "I have spent so many years alone, Ines. I have spent so many years fighting battles. To be here... with you..."

He shook his head slightly.

"I’m afraid if I sleep, I’ll wake up in my tent in the middle of a war, and find out it was all a dream. I am afraid I will wake up and you won’t be close to me and we would become strangers again."

Ines felt a pang of sadness for the lonely man he had been. She realized that while she had been fighting social battles, he had been fighting real ones. He wasn’t used to happiness. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Ines stepped closer. She eliminated the space between them. She hugged him tight, burying her face in his chest.

"It’s not a dream, Carcel," Ines said firmly into his shirt. "I am real. I am warm. Pinch me if you must."

She squeezed him.

"You are finally mine," she whispered.

She raised her head to look at him. Her eyes were fierce and loving.

"All mine."

Carcel looked down at her. The fear in his eyes began to fade, replaced by a warm glow.

He smiled. It was a beautiful, genuine smile.

"All yours," he agreed. "And I am quite happy about that."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Ines broke the hug gently. She turned to look at the scenery. From this balcony, you could see the sprawling gardens of the Hamilton estate, bathed in silver light. It was peaceful.

She took a deep breath, taking in the breeze. She thought about tomorrow. She thought about Carleton.

"Tell me about home," Ines said. "Tell me who awaits us."

She paused, a thought occurring to her.

"How is Aunt Rowena?" Ines asked. "You mentioned her in your letters. Is she troublesome like my Aunt Eleonora? Does she really care about social expectations?"

Carcel laughed softly. He moved behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against his chest. He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"No," Carcel murmured. "Aunt Rowena is not like Aunt Eleonora. She does not care about any of that."

He hugged her from behind, inhaling her scent. She smelled of soap and the faint, lingering sweetness of jasmine.

"Aunt Rowena is sweet," Carcel explained. "Just like her sister, my mother. They were very close."

His voice grew quieter, taking on a somber tone.

"She has had a hard life, Ines. She became a widow two years after her marriage. Her husband died of a fever. And then... her only son, my cousin Nelson, died years later in a riding accident."

Ines gasped softly. "Oh, Carcel. That is terrible."

"It broke her heart," Carcel said. "She was left all alone in the world. When my mother died, Rowena came to Carleton. She took care of me. She poured all the love she had left into me."

Ines rested her hand on his arm, comforting him.

"She raised me until I got into the army," Carcel continued. "That was the hardest time for her. She was terrified."

He tightened his hold on Ines slightly.

"She even protested," Carcel recalled. "She stood in front of the gate and blocked my horse. She was crying. She said if I die, the Anderson line goes with me. She said she couldn’t bear to bury another son."

Ines could imagine the scene. The grieving woman trying to save the last person she loved.

"What did you do?" Ines asked.

"I got off my horse," Carcel said. "I hugged her. I assured her I would be careful. I promised to be back. And I kept that promise."

Ines leaned her head back against his shoulder.

"She loves you so much," Ines replied. "She sounds like a wonderful woman."

"She does," Carcel said. "She is the heart of Carleton. She keeps the house warm." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

He turned his head slightly, brushing his nose against Ines’s ear.

"And she will love you too," Carcel whispered. "More than me, I’m afraid. She has always wanted a daughter. She has been knitting things for you since I sent the first letter saying I was engaged."

Ines smiled. "Knitting?"

"Scarves. Blankets. Hats for tea pots," Carcel chuckled. "She is very excited. When I came home a month ago, I was shocked to see the gifts she had prepared for you."

He chuckled, then kissed her neck. It was a soft, warm touch that sent a shiver down Ines’s spine.

"She will see how you make me happy," Carcel murmured against her skin. "And for that alone, she will adore you."

Ines closed her eyes, feeling the breeze, the moonlight, and the love of her husband. She wasn’t nervous of Carleton anymore. She wasn’t afraid of the new aunt. She was just ready to go home.