Page 20 of A Wicked Business (Wicked Sons #10)

Epilogue

Dear diary,

I believe we are safe for now, but I wake most nights with bad dreams, terrified I will hear a fist hammering on the door and that horrid man demanding I honour my father’s debt.

How can it be honourable for him to ask me to sacrifice myself and dishonourable for me to deny him? Oh, Papa, why did you do this to us? We were so happy before, why did you spoil everything?

――Excerpt of an entry from Caroline ‘Caro’ Merrivale to her diary.

21 st September 1850, Keston House, Grosvenor Square, London.

“How happy they look,” Belinda said, sniffing. She laughed as she looked down to see both her father and her husband on either side of her were holding out handkerchiefs.

“We came prepared,” Felix said gravely.

Belinda smiled fondly at them both. “Keep yours for later, I shall no doubt need it,” she told Felix, before thanking her father and taking his to dab at her eyes.

Doris looked wonderful in a glorious creation of cream satin with a shimmering gold net overdress that Belinda had gifted her. She had also loaned her pearls to Doris and sent her new maid to do her hair. The young woman was a friend of Doris’ and full of life. Belinda had liked her at once, and whilst she would miss not seeing Doris every day, she thought they would go along very nicely. After all, now she had a husband, she did not have half so much time to spend chatting with her maid. Felix was just as energetic as she had believed him to be and her mornings were busy indeed until he left for work, leaving her in a state of dazed happiness from which she had not emerged since their honeymoon began.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

The groom got little chance as Doris took her new husband’s face in her hands and planted a smacking kiss on him. Charles Kirby looked a little dazed but entirely pleased with himself as the happy couple walked back down the aisle. Belinda pelted them with rice as Doris laughed and ran to hug her.

“Oh, Belle, my little lamb! I’m so happy. Am I dreaming?”

“No, darling, and no one ever deserved to be happier. Congratulations!” Belinda exclaimed, finding herself crying with joyful tears again. “And to you, Mr Kirby.”

“Oh, call me Charles, my lady,” he said, beaming at her.

“Only if you call me Belinda, or Belle,” she replied firmly. “I feel like we are practically family.”

“Well, you will be seeing a good deal of Charles, love, for he is as necessary to me as my right hand,” Felix told her frankly. “Which reminds me, Charles, what do you think of Lewes?”

“Lewes, sir?” Charles asked, somewhat baffled.

Belinda clutched her husband’s arm, knowing what was coming and beside herself with excitement to see their reaction.

“Yes, Lewes. It’s a seaside village in East Sussex,” Felix explained, his green eyes alight with merriment.

“Well, yes, I know it, and I think it’s a grand little place, sir. Very pretty,” Charles said, though he still looked confused.

“I agree, and close to London too,” Felix said thoughtfully.

“Oh, do stop teasing them, Felix. I shall tell them if you don’t!” Belinda scolded him.

Felix laughed and shook his head. “Oh, all right. We’ve bought a house there. It’s a lovely place, on the edge of the village with beautiful grounds. But the property also owns a substantial cottage, in the centre of the village. It has a view of the sea and a sizeable garden, perfect for a growing family.”

Doris and Charles gazed at him, looking as if they hardly dared breathe.

“Well, I can’t have my right hand living in that poky little flat in town when I’m in the country half the year, now, can I?” Felix said, grinning. “It’s our wedding present to you both, for being such wonderful friends to us.”

Doris gave an ear-splitting shriek and launched herself at Felix, almost knocking him flat. “Oh! Oh, Mr Knight! Oh, Belle, that’s… that’s…”

Much to everyone’s astonishment, she burst into tears.

“Ah, there, there, love,” Charles said, holding her tightly as she sobbed. “She’s been very emotional of late,” he said, looking a little bewildered.

Felix’s eyebrows went up, but he said nothing.

“I don’t know how to thank you, sir,” Charles said, looking rather emotional himself.

“There’s no need, Charles. We’re just glad to know you’ll be close by,” Felix replied. “Now, take that wife of yours away and enjoy your honeymoon. I shall expect you back to work and fighting fit on the first of October.”

“I’ll be there, sir. I won’t let you down.”

Belinda hugged a tearful Doris and kissed Charles’ cheek, which made him blush, and they waved the newlyweds off on their honeymoon.

“Charles has rented a cottage in Brighton,” Belinda said, leaning into Felix with a sigh.

“I know. It belongs to a friend of mine. I got him a good deal,” he said smugly.

“How lucky they are to have their honeymoon ahead of them,” Belinda said wistfully. “Ours was utterly delightful. Quite, quite perfect.”

Felix hid a smile. “I rather think they’ve been enjoying their honeymoon for some time already.”

Belinda looked up at him in surprise. “Whatever do you—oh!” she exclaimed. “Oh, my! Naughty Doris,” she said with a laugh.

Felix grinned at her. “I bet you anything you like they’ll announce a happy event due next spring before the year is out.”

Belinda gazed at him in wonder. “You can’t possibly know that.”

Felix shrugged. “Too scared to take the bet, love?” he teased.

“Certainly not. What will you wager?”

Felix shrugged. “My heart and soul?” Belinda scoffed. “I already have those!”

Felix laughed and pulled her into his arms, gazing down at her. “So you do,” he said softly, loving the way her eyes grew dark, and her breath quickened as she pressed closer against him.

“Let’s go back to Claridge’s,” she said, her voice urgent.

“I thought we were driving back to Lewes?” he quizzed her, not about to argue but wanting to see her reaction.

“Bother Lewes. I can’t wait that long. We’ll go home in the morning. I want another honeymoon tonight,” she told him, the determination in her voice letting him know her mind was made up.

“You are the bossiest woman on earth,” he reproved, leaning down and kissing her nose.

“I am,” she agreed. “And you love it.”

“I do,” he said with a sigh. “You troublesome creature.”

“We can have another honeymoon, then?”

Felix laughed at that and took her hand, hurrying her back to the carriage. “Darling Belle, that is something you never need doubt. Just say the word.”

“Honeymoon,” she murmured as he helped her into the carriage, and Felix found as ever, she was impossible to refuse.