Chapter 18

Rey awoke slowly. Dimly aware of arms surrounding her, she curled into the warm embrace until a chuckle fully roused her. Cracking her eyes open, Rey looked up to find Ben looking down at her, his lips upturned.

She blushed, but returned his smile.

Ben raised a hand to tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear.

"I trust you slept well?" he asked softly.

Rey nodded, feeling suddenly shy. Something significant had changed between them the night before and in the light of the morning the shift in their relationship felt very fragile. Rey pushed herself up and kissed Ben quickly.

"I slept very well," she said. "I trust you are well rested as well, sir?"

Ben's expression remained neutral but his eyes danced as he said, "No. I'm afraid I slept rather poorly."

Rey pulled back, raising her eyebrows. "Poorly?"

Ben nodded solemnly, running his hand through her hair. "I rather felt as if everything was but a dream and upon wakening, I would find myself alone once more."

Rey's heart squeezed at Ben's admission. Sitting up, she grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles.

"I have no doubt that there will be many occasions in the future in which we quarrel and I banish you from my bed," Rey smiled as she spoke, "but rest assured that it is not this day. I am very much here and very much in love with you."

Ben stared at her a moment, his eyes switching between both of hers, before he curled his other hand around her nape and pulled her into a passionate kiss.

Later, Rey stood at the window, as was her habit. Though it was very late in the morning, she was still in her nightclothes. She bit her lip as she wondered if Beatrice was knew why she remained in bed as long as she had and felt her cheeks grow warm at the thought.

Ben walked up behind her, placing his hands on both of her shoulders and pulling her back against him. She sighed happily as they both stood, looking out at the landscape before them. Rey could scarcely believe how much her life had changed in such a scant few months. Had she been told beforehand that she would marry, and fall in love with, a Duke, she would have laughed at the ridiculous notion. That she was mistress of such a grand estate still felt laughable, and yet, she had also begun to feel at home here.

Breaking the silence, Rey turned her head to look up at Ben.

"I would like to ask Mr. Smith if he would be willing to act as manager of my charity store."

Ben looked down at her, a slightly dazed look on his face.

Rey pressed her lips together to hide her smile. "Sir? Did you hear me?"

Ben blinked rapidly, his ears going pink. "I'm afraid I rather lost myself." He cleared his throat. "I believe you said you would like Mr. Smith as manager?"

Rey nodded. "I know he has been educated, so he is able to keep numbers for me, and I believe it would be grateful for the employment. His salary there would allow Rose and him to live comfortably when they start a family. And since they would still be in our employ, they could remain living in their current cottage, provided their family does not grow too quickly. Rose was the first and only lady in the town to entreat my friendship, despite all the rumors and scandal surrounding my history. As well, she has been a dear friend to me. I should like to repay their kindness."

Ben bent down to place a kiss on Rey's forehead. "If that is what you think best, then by all means. I'd certainly prefer you work with someone we both know rather than hiring someone off the street."

Rey smiled fully then. "It's settled then."

The corners of Ben's mouth curved upwards, the closest to a smile Rey had seen on her husband.

His gaze went unfocused again, and Rey wondered where his mind was going. She turned fully around, reaching a hand up to cup his cheek, standing on tiptoe, and pressing her lips against his. When she pulled away, he blinked rapidly at her.

"Where do you keep going to?" Rey asked, looking between both his eyes.

Ben took a deep breath and then sighed. "I am trying to discern how I was fortunate enough to ever have my love returned."

Rey's heart squeezed once more at his admission. She grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckle.

"You deserve love," she said, watching as he pressed his lips together. She kissed another knuckle. "Everyone deserves to have their love returned." She looked at him solemnly. "You deserve a wife who does not constantly assume your intentions are bad."

Ben swallowed thickly. Rey drew his hand up, pressing it against her cheek, her own hand covering his. "We both deserve to be happy."

The moment hung between them as they stared at one another. Rey hoped her expression conveyed the depth of her remorse for misjudging him, as well as the love she now harbored for him. Though their love felt new and fragile, Rey had hope that, with time, they would both come to fully trust one another with their hearts.

As if Ben has heard her thoughts, he said softly, "I promise that I will, to the best of my ability, never take for granted what you have given me. Your heart will be safe with me."

Rey's breath caught. "And yours will be safe with me. I promise."

The moment broke as Ben crushed his mouth to hers.

As they descended the stairs towards the dining room to eat a very late breakfast, Rey could not help but notice the servants glancing at the pair of them. Rey had her hand tucked securely in Ben's arm, his hand covering hers. She felt somewhat unsettled at the thought of being the subject of gossip. Though the house felt like home, and she was beginning to find her footing as a Duchess, the idea of so many people being privy to the goings-on in her marriage was still a foreign concept.

As they sat next to one another, Ben buttering his toast as Rey added cream and sugar to her tea, Ben spoke. "My parents are going to dine with us this evening."

Rey paused in stirring her cup. "They are?" She searched Ben's face, trying to discern his feelings on the matter. "It shall be nice to see them under better circumstances," she finally said, carefully.

Ben looked at Rey closely. "I plan to give them the Skywalker estate."

Rey's eyebrows rose in shock. "Are you? Can you do that?"

Ben set his knife down, taking a bite of the toast. "Not officially. And even were I to do so, the home would default back to myself upon my father's death. Nor, do they have the means to purchase the estate outright. However, I have no wish to live there and I do not wish for them to reside with us here. Instead I will rent it to them for a modest price."

Rey tamped down the sudden urge to laugh. "You plan to charge your parents rent?"

Ben shrugged. "It won't be much. The estate makes a fair wage on its own, so I have no real need for a high rent. My mother will not accept the charity if I suggest they live there for free."

Rey frowned, confused. "Is that not what they have been doing thus far?"

Ben shook his head. "My mother insisted on paying rent to my uncle."

Rey chewed her lip as she considered this. "I see."

Ben set his toast back down and turned towards her. "I am telling you this now because I am hoping you will agree with me." He seemed to be watching closely for her reaction. "If you would prefer to live at the Skywalker estate, however, I would agree to it."

Rey considered the offer, her heart flipping at his wanting to make her happy. "I think," she said slowly, "that I prefer to live here." She smiled as Ben exhaled in relief. "Despite how overwhelming it was at first, I've recently realized I've come to think of this enormous house as my home."

"I am glad to hear it," Ben replied, looking relieved.

Rey smiled at Ben, the corners of his lips turning up in response. Eventually they returned to their breakfast, eating in companionable silence.

That evening, after supper, Princess Leia and Han joined Ben and Rey in the drawing room. Ben and Han were playing a game of chess, apparently something they had done on occasion in Ben's youth. Rey and Leia sat on the other side of the room, sipping at tea.

Leia gave Rey an appraising look. "You look different, my dear."

Rey took a sip of her tea, her cheeks warming. "Do I? In what way?"

Leia looked over at Ben and then back at Rey. "You seem happier than last I saw you."

Rey noticed Leia's shoulders tense, her knuckles turning white as she held her cup. The last they had seen one another had been the day of Luke passing. Leia had been unable to attend the funeral, having the inability to make it through the service without crying.

Rey wished she could ease Leia's suffer, though she did not know how she might help. Instead she responded to Leia's statement. "Ben and I, we…" Rey took a deep breath, finding it difficult to adequately verbalize their newly disovered love. "We have resolved our differences." Leia's eyes brightened as Rey continued, though she knew one did not often speak of such things. "I am quite in love your son, ma'am, and he has admitted the same to me."

Leia set her cup down quickly, reaching over to grab Rey's hands. "This is simply wonderful news! I am so glad to hear it."

Rey's heart felt full to bursting at Leia's excitement. "Truly?"

Leia nodded. "How can I not be? You have brought so much good to this family. Were it not for you, Ben would never have been there to allow Luke to say his piece. Because of you, our family is beginning to mend what was broken. You were there at Luke's bedside, though you did not even know him, you were there for me when I needed it. It is all a mother could wish for, to have such a thoughtful and caring daughter-in-law, to have a son find true happiness in his marriage. Though we have not always agreed, I have only ever wanted Ben to be happy, and I have not seen him this happy since he was a small boy. It is entirely due to your influence upon him."

Rey quickly swiped at the sudden tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry. How silly of me to cry at such a thing." Taking a deep breath, Rey smiled at Leia. "I too have been blessed with wonderful in-laws. Though you would have had every reason to dislike me, not being an even match for your son, you have treated me with nothing but acceptance. I appreciate it. Truly."

Leia patted her hand and then let go, picking up her tea.

With a sly look in her eyes, Leia said, "When can I expect my first grandchild?"

After his parents left for the evening, Ben escorted Rey up the stairs to her room once more. As they passed by his door, Rey wondered aloud, "Are we to keep separate bedrooms going forward?"

Ben glanced quickly at her as he led her to the settee by the window in her bedroom.

"Would you prefer it?" he asked, sitting next to her, his arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side. Rey closed her eyes, inhaling the scent of his cologne.

"I had not thought much of it, truth be told." Rey opened her eyes and tilted her head up to see Ben's expression. He seemed to be watching her carefully. "I would certainly not be opposed to sharing my bed with you," she said shyly.

Ben leaned down to brush his lips against hers. "Nor I." Leaning back he continued. "It is common for married couples in the peerage to keep separate bedrooms. Perhaps we could officially keep separate bedrooms, but sleep in the same bed every night?"

Rey smiled. "I would like that very much."

"Then it's settled," Ben said.

Rey leaned closer, resting her head on Ben's chest as they both sat quietly, Rey ruminating on all the changes the past twenty-four hours had brought. She could still scarcely believe that Ben had loved her all this time. She also felt privileged to have received such a change in fortune. It seemed impossible that she was a duchess, had a large fortune at her disposal, was allowed an education, and most importantly, that she had found love in her marriage, something she had not even considered.

She thought back to Leia's question regarding grandchildren. Rey had spluttered out a response, letting Leia know she and Ben had not yet discussed it. Leia had apologized for startling her.

"Ben?" Rey asked, a slight catch in her voice. Though she was married, she was still young, and the prospect of motherhood seemed quite daunting, but she did hope for a family one day. She wanted to look at him, but found herself feeling curiously vulnerable about Ben's answer. "Your mother asked me when she could expect a family."

Rey felt Ben tense, his fingers digging into her arm. There was silence, Rey closing her eyes as she waited for Ben to say something.

"How did you respond?" He asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"I told her we had not discussed the issue." Rey began fidgeting, wringing her hands together. "I-I know that you will require an heir, of course."

Ben lifted his arm from her shoulders, leaning back and studying her. Rey fought to stop fidgeting.

"Yes, that's true," he said. After a prolonged moment of silence Ben continued. "You are still young."

Rey nodded, her eyes lowered. "Yes."

Another prolonged moment of silence passed before Ben reached over, placing his finger under her chin and tilting her head up.

Before he could speak, however, Rey blurted, "Do you wish for a large family?"

Ben blinked, surprised etched on his face. Rey felt her cheeks warm, and cleared her throat as she continued. "I-it was only me. I spent a rather large part of my childhood dreaming of having my parents back, of having brothers and sisters." Ben did not respond, so she continued. "I don't know if you felt the same, but I would rather enjoy having a large family, to fill this enormous house with the sound of laughing children."

Ben stared at her long enough for dread to begin filling Rey. Perhaps he did not want children. Perhaps he only wanted to provide an heir. Not everyone enjoyed children.

Suddenly, taking Rey completely by surprise, Ben smiled. A true smile. It lit up his face and Rey blinked as she realized he had dimples.

"I share your sentiments." He cupped her face, gazing down at her. "I do not want you to feel obligated to provide me with many children, but I can think of nothing I'd love more than to have a large family." His expression turned serious then. "I never want a child of ours to suffer the same loneliness we both felt. To never feel the harsh sting of rejection from his parents."

Rey placed her hand over his. "We'll make sure it never happens."

Ben's thumb brushed along Rey's cheek as they looked back at each other with love.

"I hope to show you every day how much I love you," Ben said. "I never want you to feel unwanted or unloved." His gaze grew intense. "Never doubt my affections for you."

The corner of Rey's mouth curved upwards as she nodded. "I promise. I will never doubt your affections provided you never doubt mine."

Ben's eyes grew heated as he leaned closer, shaking his head. "I will never doubt your affections."

Ben continued to lean towards her, his thumb brushing against her lips now, his face mere inches from her own.

"Then we will remain happy all of our days," Rey whispered.

Ben nodded slightly, his lips brushing against hers. "We will remain happy."

Rey smiled against Ben's lips as he pressed them more firmly against hers.

Neither of them would ever be unloved again.

A/N: Thank you guys so so much for reading. This has really been such an amazing experience. I am planning a companion fic to this one, which I'll be posting immediately after this one. It will be a collection of scenes from Ben's POV as well as some additional scenes Rey was not present for. It won't be exactly a cohesive fic like this one, but will hopefully add some additional depth to this story. Head on over to my profile to find it. It's entitled A Scandalous Decision. :)