Page 40 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke (Marriage by Midnight #2)
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
S unlight dappled the road as it passed through the canopy of trees above. Birds trilled and flitted. The carriage rattled over the dirt road through Epping Forest.
“I think I envy Harry and Elsie, and their life here,” Emma sighed, “it seems so idyllic.”
“They are certainly untroubled by the ton out here. But then, the fact that Harry is believed dead also helps with that,” Damien replied.
“Soon we will be untroubled by it too. Is there such a thing as a ton in Boston, do you think?” Emma asked.
She sat next to him in the carriage. His wounds were healed, though he still needed the aid of a cane to walk. He enjoyed the feel of her body leaning against his as the carriage turned corners. Her scent filled the small space.
“I think there is a ton wherever there is wealth and power. But in Boston, we will not have to participate. We need not care about reputation or Regents or names. We will make our own fortune and be answerable to no one but ourselves,” Damien replied.
“I should like that. It will be a shame to see Redmane sold and leave our new family behind. But I think a fresh start would do us the world of good,” Emma beamed, “I think Papa would have approved too. He was quite the adventurer in his youth, you know.”
She was perfect for him. Always finding the bright lining in all the little predicaments they were met with, ever since the accidental burning of Wapping. For that’s what they were, little, now that no secrets remained between them and everything was tackled as husband and wife, as it ought to have been from the beginning.
Damien smiled in return. “He will be looking down on all of you, and rather satisfied I should think. Charles has become quite the lord of the manor, a very respectable Earl of Eastwick. Josie has married well to a brave man in Sir Thomas Donovan...”
“And Rosie runs rings around the London literary scene with her articles,” Emma finished. “They are convinced there is a brilliant young male writer of whom they know nothing. They all disagree as to who he is and where he comes from but all agree that his prose is excellent. She is loving the merry dance she is leading them!”
Damien chuckled. “Quite the merry dance.”
The carriage came to a halt and, looking out of the window, Damien saw that they had reached a modest cottage with white walls and a thatched roof. It was set back from the road beyond a winding path and behind a well-tended garden.
“I had forgotten how delightful this little house is. We used to come here with Mother when we were boys,” Damien recalled wistfully.
Harry appeared at the door, life bringing back color to his cheeks, though he walked with a cane, mirroring his brother. Elsie appeared beside him, flowers in her hair and a radiant glow on her face. Greetings between the two couples were warm and heartfelt. Elsie and Harry led Emma and Damien to the rear garden where tea was laid out on a large table of slate and wrought iron. After tea, Harry went into the house and returned with a sheaf of papers, an ink pot, and pen.
“To business so that we can enjoy the sunshine and the garden for the rest of the afternoon,” he said, brusquely, “this is my renunciation of the title of Duke and the name Fitzgerald. As you can see it is signed, witnessed, and notarized. It is official and legal. I am now Harold Potter, taking the name of my guardian angel and... I hope... soon-to-be wife.”
Elsie grinned, clasping Harry's hands in hers.
“Of course I will, though I never get tired of you asking.”
Damien nodded slowly.
“We had discussed it. I would never have required it of you had you changed your mind. I would give up the Dukedom in a heartbeat if you asked it of me.”
“Would you?” Harry asked, raising a quizzical brow, “I have wondered. You are both young and capable of so much with the start a title can give. I consider you so much more worthy of it than I, brother.”
“Damien and I have decided to leave to Boston after Redmane Manor is sold. Begin a new life as Americans,” Emma put in.
“Don't,” Harry replied, leaning forward in his chair, “you will see that I have retained a small amount of my inheritance as an allowance on which Elsie and I will be able to live comfortably. The rest has been signed over to you. It is already done, so spare me the megrims, you two. My bankers have been informed. They do not know that their client is Harold Fitzgerald of Redmane Manor, of course. Merely that I was left money by our... great father.”
He grimaced over the last word. Damien chuckled.
“You will keep all of the proceeds of the sale of Redmane Manor on the condition that the two of you remain in England. Make a new life for yourselves here where there is family that loves you both. Friends. Do some good with the wealth that comes from the last of our father's property. Erase his memory. Please?”
Damien did not know what to say. He felt Emma take his hand, squeeze it. He looked at her and saw the answer in her eyes.
She would have followed me across the world but she does not want to leave her home, her family. My family now. I was once an orphan with a ghost for a brother. Now, I have flesh and blood brothers and sisters, a wife, and a child on the way. And Harry has a woman of his own. We began our lives in fear but will live the rest of them in love.
“You… have left me no choice but to accept, brother. Yes. Boston can wait. We will stay. A toast...” he raised his cup of tea, followed by the others, “...to new beginnings.”
Emma pressed her palms flat against his cheeks, then kissed him squarely. “New beginnings,” she whispered.
The End?