The Forbidden Innocent (18 page)

Ashley spun round and stared at him. ‘Why… yes.’

‘And some sort of gold necklace?’

It was the one with the beautiful pearls he had ordered for their wedding day. ‘Yes!’

Trying not to dare to hope, she made an appointment for them at a top London eye hospital—where, under the care of a brilliant ophthalmologist, Jack’s eyesight began to improve until he gradually recovered the sight in one eye. He would never be able to take up flying—or to read the small print of a book without adequate lighting—but he could see enough to gaze at their first son and to see that he had inherited his father’s brilliant black eyes.

Ashley was pregnant with their second child when the work at Blackwood was finally completed and the house restored to a glorious and welcoming state. But they never moved into it—because Jack had felt uneasy about the project. Lazy pillow talk had allowed them to discuss the subject at length and he told her that he wanted to turn the house into a respite home for the blind, and
for those who cared for them. That he wanted to create a garden for the senses—composed of fragrant herbs and flowers with scented bowers in which to sit and listen to birdsong. The Ivy House was plenty big enough for their growing family and they could always build on if they needed extra space. He wanted Blackwood to become a haven—a warm and welcoming place which could provide comfort and hope for those who needed it.

A family from London’s East End had left that very morning and the little six-year-old girl whose mother had been blind since birth had left behind a small pot of lily-of-the-valley she’d picked as a thank-you gift. Ashley buried her nose in the fragrant little bell-shaped flowers and felt a great wave of gratitude for all that they had.

It was quiet and peaceful in the vast hallway now that everyone had gone. She remembered the first time she had seen that hall and how intimidating it had seemed. And she remembered the first time that Jack had led her upstairs to his bed—and how darkly powerful and compelling he had seemed. He still was—her endlessly fascinating partner—her tender and imaginative lover.

They had experienced many trials and tribulations during their time together—but hadn’t those trials tested them and made them stronger? Hadn’t they helped forge a bond between them which only death could break?

She glanced up to see him walking into the hall to join her, a soft smile curving the edges of his lips as he looked at her and Ashley gave an instinctive little shiver.
All these years down the line and her life with him still felt like a honeymoon.

His voice broke into her thoughts. ‘And what are you smiling about so enigmatically, Ashley Marchant?’ he questioned.

She touched her fingers to his raven hair, then trailed them down to the edges of those sensual lips. ‘Oh, I was just agreeing with whoever it was who wrote “love conquers all”.’

‘Virgil,’ he remarked as he pulled her into his arms and pushed the hair back from her face just before he began to kiss her—his beloved wife. ‘It was Virgil.’

He felt the clench of his heart and a deep sense of gratitude for he knew that he was the most fortunate of men. Jack had fought and won many battles in his life—but his marriage to Ashley was his greatest victory of all.