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“Yes, Eveline. We shall have a honeymoon and anything else that you want,” he promised as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

The moment their lips met, all of Eveline’s worries melted away, and she could not help but smile.

The world could be crashing around them, and she would not have a care in the world. She was in the arms of her husband. All was well with the world.

“It would behoove you to return to the house before you get sick,” a familiar voice called.

Eveline broke the kiss for a moment.

It was her father, stepping out of his carriage.

“What is happening here?” he asked, looking from Eveline to William and then Ava and Stella, who were standing at the front door, dabbing at their wet eyes.

EPILOGUE

“Shall we?” William asked, holding his hand out to his wife.

Eveline took his hand and graciously alighted from the carriage, stepping into the vast estate of the Earl of Essex, where a lavish ball was being held.

“Have I told you yet that you look absolutely ravishing?” William asked, a flirtatious smile on his face.

Eveline blushed. “Perhaps a thousand times already.”

“That is nearly not enough,” William remarked. “I must try harder.”

Eveline laughed. “You cut a fine figure yourself,” she offered.

Her husband’s face immediately lit up with a smile.

She was not lying. His broad shoulders filled up his well-tailored green coat, which did nothing to hide his muscular figure. Just a glance at his face made her swallow nervously.

Despite the fact that he was her husband, he still made her incredibly nervous.

His face was striking, and his scars only added to his mysterious facade, yet Eveline knew that behind the rigid, masculine figure was a man who was not afraid to cherish her.

“We should go into the hall before you catch a cold,” William urged, tugging on her arm.

At the entrance, Lord and Lady Essex greeted them with a flourish, and it was not until another couple came along that they were able to escape.

“I am not certain I could ever get used to having people be so excessive in their greetings,” Eveline complained.

“That is because the Earl wants me to support his bill at the next Parliament session,” William explained.

As it was with every ball, important dignitaries continued to accost him.

Eveline was, therefore, relieved when someone tugged on her arm and she found it was her sister, Ava, closely followed by Lily.

“We have been looking for you,” Ava said to her.

“I told Ava about the dinner you promised to throw at your castle, and now she cannot speak of anything else.”

“Wait till Stella finds out about it,” Ava snorted.

“About the dinner, we might…” Eveline was about to announce their plans to her friend when another voice she recognized interrupted them

“Mayfield!”

It was Magnus, and he was approaching them with his sister in tow.