A Second Chance for the Broken Duke Bonus Scene

"Mother"

Lady Elizabeth looked up when Anthony came to the door. He was now six years old and talked more than they wanted him to. It was amusing to think they had been so happy when he first started talking. Now, they could not get him to quiet down.

He was extremely smart. Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of

Thornwall expected him to be very successful. The Duke of Thornwall had mentioned several times that he had absolutely no worries about what would happen after he passed. Anthony Hickson would make an excellent master of the castle.

"Yes, my dear," she said softly, setting aside her embroidery. She held out her arms and he came to her. She pulled him into a hug and kissed his soft cheek. "What do you need?"

"I just wanted to tell you I love you," the boy said.

Lady Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears. "And I love you, my son."

"Will you tell me the story about you and Father again? I do so love to hear it."

Lady Elizabeth giggled on the inside but tried to hide it from the boy. He made her tell him the story of how Father had saved Mother nearly every day.

"Are you sure you want to hear it again?" she asked. "You know it by heart now. Why, I do believe you could tell it to me!"

Anthony chuckled. "I like the way you tell it, Mother. Everything you felt while you were trapped in the room comes through in your voice. I like it."

"All right. But I will have to tell you a shortened version because we are expecting company. You cannot tell Father, as it is a surprise for him."

"Who is coming, Mother?" Anthony asked.

"You will see. It will be a surprise for you, too."

"Will Lillia be down here?"

Lady Elizabeth raised her eyebrows curiously. "Do you want your sister down here?"

Anthony chuckled again. Lady Elizabeth always marvelled at how such a small child could make such an adult sound. "Whenever people come to visit, they are always happy to see Lillia. You do not mind her being down here, do you? It brightens the mood of everyone in the room."

Lady Elizabeth wondered how she would feel when Lillia started talking. If she was anything like her brother, Lady Elizabeth would have no more quiet days left. Until her children married.

"I will have her brought down. I do believe you are right about that. She is a joy to everyone she meets."

"That is because she is beautiful." Anthony pulled himself up so he could sit on his mother's lap. He would soon be too big for that and Lady Elizabeth wanted him on her lap for as long as she could.

She hoped to soon have another child, as Lillia was almost two years old. She would want another baby to sit on her lap when Lillia was also too big.

For now, she held Anthony close to her bosom, smelling the berries in his hair. The Duke of Thornwall had remembered the berry his first love had used for her hair. With Lady Elizabeth's permission, he purchased some and now the entire family used it when they cleaned themselves. "Yes," she murmured. "She is beautiful."

"When will they be here, Mother?"

"I am expecting them in the next hour."

"I will go up and get her now."

Anthony pulled away from her. She laughed.

"What about your story?"

Anthony laughed with her. "I have heard it before, Mother. I could probably recite it to you."

Lady Elizabeth's laughter continued as she watched her little boy scamper from the room. He would be back quickly, a nanny with Lillia in tow. She would not be surprised if Anthony was carrying the little girl. He had inherited his father's height and strength.

For being so small, Anthony packed a powerful punch. Which she had inadvertently found out by accident while playing with him.

Alone again, Lady Elizabeth did not feel like going back to her embroidery. She stood up and went to the window, anxious for her visitors to arrive.

When the door opened, she expected it to be Anthony, returning with his sister. But it was the Duke of Thornwall.

He poked his head in the door and looked at her. "Are you feeling well, my dear?"

She smiled at him. "I am. Should I not be?"

"You seem somewhat anxious. You are staring through the window. Is everything all right in the courtyard?"

"Yes, all is well. I am just looking out at this beautiful day."

"Would you like to go for a walk around the courtyard?"

Lady Elizabeth looked out at the people bustling around in front of the castle. She thought about whether or not she wanted to be outside when her visitors arrived. At least she would be with the Duke of Thornwall. It was a surprise for him.

She turned back to him. "Yes, we should go for a walk, my lord. I am restless. It will do me some good."

The Duke of Thornwall held out his hand towards her. She walked to him and took it, smiling at him warmly. His hand felt so comfortable in hers. He was nothing like the harsh, bitter man she had met when she first arrived. That was all just a distant memory now.

"Have I ever told you how sorry I am about my behaviour when I arrived here six years ago to help Aggie recover from her accident?" she asked quietly as they walked out into the courtyard.

"You have," the Duke of Thornwall laughed softly as he answered. "Many times, in fact."

"Allow me to do so once more. I cannot believe you did not make me leave immediately. You should not have been subjected to my immaturity."

The Duke of Thornwall shook his head. "It is forgotten, my love."

FOR THE DUKE OF THORNWALL, IT WAS NOT COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN. HE did not want to forget. The way Lady Elizabeth behaved was a part of who she was then and who she was now. He loved her for everything she was and any mood she happened to be in.

He held on to her arm as they walked, nodding and smiling at the people in the courtyard. He lifted his face and let the sun shine on it, closing his eyes. It was truly a beautiful day.

He heard the sound of someone approaching, rumbling over the arched bridge that led to the courtyard. He stopped walking and stared as a coach came through the large doorway. He raised his eyebrows, chills running up and down his body.

He looked down at Lady Elizabeth. He was going to ask if she was expecting someone, but the look on her face told him she definitely was and he was meant to be surprised by it. She looked terribly pleased with herself.

"Lady Elizabeth," he said slowly, drawing out her name. She bit her bottom lip, her grin spreading wider. "What have you done?"

Lady Elizabeth giggled. "Nothing you would object to, my lord, I promise you."

The two of them walked back to the front of the castle to await the visitors.

"Oh," the Duke of Thornwall said in a low voice. "I see what you have done." He grinned down at her. "And I do not have an objection. None at all."

They waited at the bottom of the entrance steps while Lady Agatha exited the coach. She threw her arms out wide and grabbed Lady Elizabeth, pulling her into a hug.

"It has been too long since I have seen you, Lizzie!" she cried out, not caring who saw her hugging her friend. Once she was over her initial shock, Lady Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Lady Agatha and hugged her back.

"Oh, Aggie. You are looking so well! Look at you! You are going to have another baby!"

Lady Elizabeth put one hand on her friend's stomach. She looked over her shoulder at the Duke of Thornwall. "Look, my lord!"

"I see!" The Duke of Thornwall's smile was wide. He looked up as Lady Agatha's husband, the Duke of Westminster, stepped down from the coach.

"My lord!" The Duke of Westminster called out with a smile. "Good to see you, ol' chap."

"You too. Come, come, we must get inside so we can have some refreshments and talk for a while. I am tired out, so it is time to get off my feet."

Lady Elizabeth laughed. "You are too young to be tired after a short stroll through the courtyard, my love," she said.

Lady Elizabeth and Lady Agatha stayed back as the men went into the castle. They waited by the coach while the governess departed the coach with Lady Agatha's first child in her arms. The baby was just a year old but was small for her size. They had feared for her life when she was born, but the girl was strong and fought for every day of her life.

At a year, she was the size of a seven-month-old but seemed strong and healthy, despite her tiny stature.

"When she starts running, it is going to scare the townspeople," Lady Elizabeth said as the three women followed the men into the castle.

Lady Agatha laughed. "What can you mean?"

"She is so small. They will think she is a very early learner. It will be quite an impressive sight."

The group gathered in the parlour to sit with drinks and snacks.

After some conversation, Lady Elizabeth moved to one of the windows to look out at the bright sky. Lady Agatha and her husband played with Anthony, Lillie and their tiny little girl.

"Look how Anthony is with Deborah." She heard her husband's voice and turned to look. Anthony was playing very gently with the two little girls, cautioning Lillie so she would not be too rough with the other girl. Lillie was of normal size, and being two, it made her quite a lot bigger than tiny Deborah. "They are beautiful together. Anthony is so good with them."

The Duke of Thornwall put his arm around her shoulders and they gazed at the children for a few moments before he turned his head to look down at her.

"I am a proud father. I am a proud husband. I never thought my life would be like this. Not after losing Sophia." The Duke of Thornwall felt no pain now when he mentioned the first love of his life.

Lady Elizabeth was graceful in her concern about that subject. He remembered Sophia on her birthday and on the anniversary of what would have been their wedding. It was the least he could do to honour her memory.

Lady Elizabeth and the Duke of Thornwall gazed warmly at each other.

"I love you, my dear," the Duke of Thornwall said softly. "I am glad you looked past my exterior to what was underneath. I would not have captured your heart if you had not done that."

"I could not help it. It was as though God told me I needed to. I could not resist the thought of you. I would not have been happy with any other man."

"I am glad to hear you say that, my lady. I love you dearly."

"And I love you, my lord. Only you. For the rest of my life."