once considered so dire had become insignificant in the face of all he had found with Clara and Andrew. Although he still could not fathom the extent of his mother’s betrayal, he now understood both the strength and fragility of love. He would do anything to protect it, to ensure that nothing ever again came between him and his family.
He wrapped his arm around Clara’s shoulders and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to the top of her head. She softened against him, one hand sliding over his back. For a moment, they watched Andrew as he began setting up the toys on the floor.
“Andrew, I’m going to talk to the housekeeper,” Clara said. “We’ll have supper in about an hour, I imagine.”
Andrew nodded. Clara gave Sebastian another smile before she headed toward the kitchen.
Sebastian crouched next to Andrew. He picked up a mechanical duck and set it waddling across the floor. He and Andrew both chuckled as the creature emitted a squeaky quack every step or two. Sebastian glanced at the boy.
“Would you like to continue your piano lessons while we’re here?” he asked.
Andrew nodded, his assent bringing a welcome warmth to Sebastian’s heart. After reviewing the charges against Fairfax, a judge had returned custody of Andrew to Clara and Sebastian, a situation that would be permanent as soon as the papers were drawn up.
“I want to make balloons again too,” Andrew said.
“And I’ll also show you how to make crystals using alum and hot water. Let’s see if we can upset the housekeeper here as successfully as we did Mrs. Danvers.”
Andrew grinned. Sebastian reached out to tousle the boy’s hair before he pushed to standing and went out to the garden. A fresh, cold wind swept through the trees. Sebastian breathed in the sea air, felt it swim through his veins and cleanse the dirt of the city from his lungs.
“It was once lovely,” Clara said from behind him. She reached out to pluck a weed from a flower bed.
“It still is. And we’ll restore it to its former glory.” Sebastian tucked a stray lock of hair back behind Clara’s ear. “Darius has promised to visit prior to his return to St. Petersburg. And after he and Granville finish constructing the cipher machine, which they ought to do soon now that they have Rushton’s patronage.”
“When is Lord Rushton scheduled to present it to the Home Office?”
“Next month. Darius is certain that the committee members will be highly impressed by the machine and Monsieur Dupree’s unbreakable code. And if the Home Office uses it to further the British efforts in the war, then such an attainment will greatly enhance Rushton’s political standing.”
“And further diminish the effects of my father’s disgrace upon the earldom,” Clara added, a shadow darkening her eyes.
“As Darius recently reminded me, the earldom is locked tight and secure,” Sebastian said. “And trust me when I say that people are already talking about your courage in the face of your father’s cruelty. Not to mention Andrew’s.”
“I can’t believe we have him back.”
“I can.” Sebastian brushed his lips across her temple. “Nothing would have stopped you from saving him. Nothing. You have no idea how strong you are. Not even I could withstand you.”
Clara smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yet I surrendered my heart to you.”
“And I will not return it.” He turned her toward him and lowered his head for a proper kiss, heat coursing through his blood at the touch of her soft lips. “But you are welcome to keep mine in exchange.”
“Gladly.”
Clara’s body arched against his, her arms sliding around his waist. Another gust of salt-fresh air glided in from the ocean, winding long strands of hair around Clara’s neck. Sebastian lifted his right hand and curved it around her nape.
Hope filled his veins alongside the realization that she had been right when she told him the core of his being would never change. He had just needed her to remind him how much joy there still was to be found in the world.
Although Rushton had settled Sebastian’s medical debts and begun investigating possible doctors and treatments that might be able to help with his infirmity, Sebastian knew he would never regain full use of his hand. The thought didn’t distress him nearly as much as it would have even a month ago, because so much more had filled the void of his loss.
And he was beginning to find his way back to music. He would find pleasure in teaching piano again.