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Rebecca flushed. “Well, it’s only natural if we have. We are married after all.”

“Forgive me if that came out as anything other than incredibly happy for you. From what I have heard, I have gathered that you did not chose this match so it makes me happy to see it working out so well for you.” She smiled, leaning in like she was about to tell a secret. “And I hope than means that my position as your lady’s maid is secure.”

“I don’t think I could have anyone else at this point,” Rebecca said with a laugh. “I should thank you.”

“Thank me? Whatever for?”

“For looking after me so well.”

“I never did anything any good lady’s maid would do.”

Rebecca shook her head. “You went a long way to making me feel at home here. It meant a lot.”

“I’m glad I could help. Now, let’s get you dressed for dinner. We wouldn’t want to keep Duke Danton waiting, now would we?” she smiled.

It was strange, the words sounded like something Dorothy would have said as a snide remark, but when Mary said it, it didn’t sound like that at all. It was teasing, gentle, almost affectionate.

Rebecca smiled. “No, I suppose we shouldn’t.

EPILOGUE

SIX MONTHS LATER

After that, Rebecca and William grew even closer. Without her family hanging over them, it was easy for the love between them to grow and flourish.

Much like the time they spent to each other after the confrontation over his family paintings so long ago, the couple spent time together several times a day. They started most mornings with a walk, went their separate ways for a bit, took lunch together in the library most days of the week then depending on how much work William had to do that day either spent the time until dinner together or went their separate ways until that evening.

They even shared a room in the evening.

Occasionally, they held small dinner parties for their close friends, usually just Patrick, his wife, Penelope and her mother. Penelope regularly encouraged her to host something larger but the thought gave Rebecca far too much anxiety to ever properly consider the notion.

In a similar vein, though the pair often received invitations, but they had never actually attended any of the events.

The pair preferred to spend most of their time home, just the two of them.

That wasn’t to say they never went out.

At least once a week, the pair would go for a walk in the park and occasionally hop over to some of the shops.

But they did take care never to go too close to the duck pond.

Every time they got close to it, Rebecca could feel her heart pound and panic wash over her. All she could think about was what could have happened if William hadn’t found her and stopped Solomon the day her father tried to take her.

One day, as the pond came into view in the distance, Rebecca chewed on her lip.

“Is something wrong?” William asked.

“I was just thinking.”

“About what?”

“If you hadn’t shown up in the park that day, what could have happened.”

“Fortunately, we don’t need to worry about that, because I was able to get to you in time.”

“But if you hadn’t, if he had taken me, what would you have done?”

The second the words were out of her mouth, Rebecca regretted it. How could she ask him such a thing? What was she even hoping to hear?