Page 26 of His Graceful Duchess (A Lady’s Vow #3)

EPILOGUE

One Month Later

“My, my. You are really giving the ladies of the ton some competition,”Penelope teased Isadora.

Her family had arrived at Giltenburg estate for a ball that Isadora was hosting. She had spent the last few weeks preparing for them, and it felt good to be acknowledged for all her hard work.

“There is simply no competition,” Evan said from behind Isadora, where he had just appeared with a glass of wine in his hand. He had not left her side all evening, being the perfect supportive husband. “We should make that much clear.”

“Ah, well, how can I argue with the Duke?” Penelope smiled.

Penelope had thanked Evan profusely after the kidnapping and ransom episode. Since then, the two had grown closer as well, their union transforming into a healthy sister-in-law and brother-in-law relationship. If anything, Evan was proving to be the older brother that Penelope had never had.

“Smart girl,” Evan nodded. “You must take after your sister.”

“Oh, of course,” Penelope grinned. “I owe her everything that is even slightly good about me.”

“Well, if you were truly smart,” Isadora started, pointedly, “you would utilize this ball to find yourself a great match.”

“Oh, I am not sure about that.” Penelope shook her head. “You know how I feel about balls now. I only agreed to come since you were hosting it.”

Isadora exchanged a worried glance with her husband. Now that everything had gotten settled in her own life, she wished for her sister to get the same happiness. Penelope, of course, was stubborn and had plans of her own.

“Don’t worry, darling,” Evan whispered in her ear. “It is not wise to push her on the matter. If the worst comes to the worst, then I shall find her a great match myself.”

“You with your rather colorful company?” Isadora teased.

“Oh, you know I am a reformed man ever since you have entered my life,” he winked.

Just then, Lord Morton approached them.

“Thank you for coming, Father,” Isadora said. Even though their relations were strained, Isadora knew that she had to at least give him respect.

George looked at her then. To Isadora’s surprise, his usual scowl softened into something resembling approval. He had arrived late, no doubt expecting to find fault in everything she had arranged.

But maybe this time there was nothing for him to criticize. Even the most seasoned hostesses of the ton cast her admiring glances as Isadora had made sure not to leave anything less than perfect.

“I would have regretted missing it,” George conceded, grumpily. “Did you arrange all of this on your own?”

Isadora wanted to say that she’d had help but then remembered the advice that Evan had given her so many times. That she must not shrink her own accomplishments.

“Yes, I did,” she conceded with a grin. “Do you like it?”

At that, Evan squeezed her waist slightly in approval.

George glanced around the room again, appearing to be what could only be described as reluctantly impressed.

“I have to say that you have outdone yourself,” he conceded. “This is the finest ball I have attended all Season. In fact, many of the guests have been singing your praises.”

Typical of him. He only saw the value of things when others pointed it out to him.

“I am sure that you must have been expecting otherwise,” Isadora replied.

A flicker of something almost like pride crossed his face.

“Perhaps not,” he admitted. “But I had my doubts as any father would.”

“Then I am pleased to have put them to rest,” she said, allowing the smallest hint of triumph to enter her tone.

George rubbed the back of his neck. “I suppose you have grown up now, and you are doing a rather good job at it.” He coughed, as though delivering a compliment was a difficult thing.

Penelope began to guffaw at his words but then quickly hid her laughter behind her fan before George could chide her.

“Now, I wish I could say the same for your sister here.” George caught her anyway. “Some growing up would do her well.”

“Oh, I would not worry about her, Father,” Isadora stepped up to defend Penelope. “She is growing up to be a remarkable woman but on her own timeline.”

“If that is what you believe, then I shall trust your judgment,” George said, and Isadora’s mouth nearly fell open in surprise. Never had she expected those words to come out of her father’s mouth.

“Glad that you’re finally seeing the value in the Duchess’ words,” Evan answered for her.

“You have fit into the role well.” The older man’s jaw ticked slightly. “I suppose you were always meant to be a duchess.

It was not quite an apology, nor was it the effusive praise she might have once longed for. But coming from her father?It was as close as she would ever get.

Isadora had proved her worth to him, finally. And with how well the ball was going, she had proved it to the ton as well. Both things were once things of which she had only dreamed.

But now that she had them, their value did not seem so grand. In fact, what mattered to her truly was that she had proven to herself that she was capable. And that her husband was by her side. Now that she had both of those things, she did not need any outside validation.

“Well, I am happy to hear that, Father.”

“No, no. The pleasure here is mine, Your Grace. ” George’s lips flickered upwards into a smile.

Evan was proud of Isadora. The constant smile on his face as he remained by her side was a testament to that.

As they moved away from George and Penelope to greet the other guests, Evan bent down to whisper in her ear.

“You have really outdone yourself, love.” He loved the slight blush that formed on her cheeks as he said the words.

“Only because you are by my side,” she replied. “We make a terrific team.”

“That we do. But this ball was entirely your undertaking alone.” He smiled. “Credit where credit is due. Even your father recognizes that.”

“Oh, can you believe it?” she laughed. “I think that it might’ve been the nicest thing he has ever said to me.”

Evan squeezed her waist gently. “Well, he’d better get used to behaving like this. I will not give him much of a choice otherwise.”

“Your Grace,” a voice called from his left. Evan turned his head to find Lord Kingsley. Noble—born and raised, Evan was surprised to see that he had shown.

“A fine event. The best of the Season, I daresay.” He stepped forward towards them.

Evan merely nodded. “My wife’s doing.”

“Indeed, and yet, I must say—your handling of the railway commission last month was rather impressive. Would you care to share your thoughts on the upcoming proposal?”

The question caught Evan off guard. Before, Kingsley had barely spoken to him unless forced to. Now, he was seeking his opinions?

And then another Lord joined him. “I was thinking the same,” said Lord Atwood. “Bravo, on your strategy regarding the tariff negotiations. I’d be curious to know how you anticipate the House of Lords reacting.”

The realization settled in slowly. They no longer saw him as an outsider clawing for respect. He was finally seen as one of them .

“We shall have to wait and see,” Evan replied curtly.

For years, he had fought for a place among them, only to realize tonight that he no longer needed their approval. His marriage to Isadora had helped him accomplish that goal, but in the process, he had discovered that it had never been that important all along.

“It is great to see you here,” Lord Kingsley continued. “And what a great opportunity to speak with you as well, considering how busy you are.”

“Yes, well.”

Evan realized that their chatter had already begun to irritate him.

He glanced over his shoulder to look at Isadora. She was smiling politely.

“I’m afraid,” he said, cutting off Lord Kingsley as he droned on about a possible business deal, “that I need to excuse myself for a moment. I need to speak with my wife.”

The gentlemen blinked, caught off guard.

“But shouldn’t we discuss the proposal? I believe you will find it to be quite lucrative,” the Lord replied.

“I’m afraid that it is going to have to wait,” Evan smirked and then guided Isadora away.

“Come,” he murmured.

She turned toward him, blinking in surprise. “Evan? Surely, we can speak later. Perhaps the Lord?—”

“I do not care what the Lord has to say,” Evan said, a gruffness to his voice. “I need you.”

“N—now?” Isadora was suddenly flushed.

“Always.”

He guided her away from the crowd, and upstairs to the balcony where they were finally alone and away from all of the noise.

“What is it that is so urgent that you shot down the Lord’s request to do business with you?” Isadora teased once they were there.

“Oh, the Lord can wait. In fact, I will make him wait,” Evan replied smoothly. “I think that is fair, considering how they have treated me all these years.”

“They did not see your value before,” Isadora said.

“No, they saw my value.” Evan rolled his eyes. “They just felt like they were too far above me to acknowledge it.”

“Well, the tides have shifted.” Isadora grinned. “They know better now, and your place in society can no longer be challenged.”

Evan nodded. It was a satisfying feeling, no doubt, but he had other things on his mind.

“Forget them,” he shrugged, taking her hand in his own. “We do not need to waste our time thinking about them tonight. Not when you are by my side.”

“You are being awfully romantic tonight,” Isadora said. “Is there something in the water?

Evan chuckled at that. “Did I tell you that I visited Nicholas and Violet?”

“Oh? I didn’t realize,” Isadora replied. “You should have taken me as well.”

“No, you were far too busy with preparations for the ball. I did not wish to disturb you,” Evan admitted. “Besides, it was unplanned. Nicholas summoned me—some matter about the estate. I arrived expecting to talk about business, but when I got there…”

Evan paused for a moment, steeling himself. The visit was something that he had been thinking about all evening.

“Well, I met their son.”

Isadora froze, looking up at him expectantly. Violet had given birth just a few months prior, a little boy that Isadora had been meaning to visit again, but Evan had never shown much interest before.

“What did you think?” Isadora asked finally, her voice quieter than before.

“He is rather adorable, is he not?” Evan ran a hand through his hair, shifting. “I got to hold him.”

Isadora’s eyes widened and then a smile spread across her face. “Then, I regret missing the occasion doubly so. I would have loved you see you interact with him”

“Well, perhaps we are going to have to visit them again,” Evan conceded softly. “Because I have not stopped thinking about it ever since.”

“That is quite surprising to me,” Isadora commented. “I never took you for one who would be interested in a baby.”

Evan could only smile in return.

“Yes, neither did I.”

For a moment, there was only silence between them—as though they were both trying to make sense of what this meant. Evan sucked in a sharp breath, wrapping his arm around Isadora to pull her closer.

“You know, I looked at Nicholas and Violet’s son, and I was not entirely gripped with fear as I had anticipated,” he murmured. “I found myself wondering instead.

“Wondering?” she echoed. A brief glimmer of hope flashed her face.

“What it would be like to have a child with you,” he admitted. “A little girl with your eyes. A boy with your smile.” His voice grew quieter. “What it would feel like to wake up and see them running through our halls.”

“Evan—”

Evan’s grip on her tightened slightly, his thumb brushing slow circles against her waist.

“I was so certain,” he continued, “that I would never want this. That I would never allow myself to want it.”

“Do you think you are changing your mind now?” The hope in her voice returned.

“Let us just say that I am considering it,” he smiled. “I know what kind of father I don’t want to be, and I know the mistakes I refuse to make. But beyond that, I never let myself imagine what it could be like, Isadora.”

“But you did when you met the child.”

“I thought about a child who had your wit, your stubbornness, your… kind heart.” His thumb brushed her cheek now. “I found myself wondering if?—”

“If what?” she breathed.

“If I could want it,” he admitted. “If I could be good at it.”

A tear slipped down Isadora’s cheek, and Evan immediately brushed it away.

“You would be,” she whispered.

“You cannot know that.”

“But I do ,” she insisted, reaching for his hand, and threading her fingers through his. “I have seen the way you care for those closest to you, Evan. If we had a child, it would never know what it’s like to be unwanted. You would make sure of it.”

He shook his head, laughing softly. “You put too much faith in me,” he murmured.

“No,” she corrected. “I put exactly the right amount of faith in you.”

Evan stared at her for a long moment, searching her face as though trying to find some flaw in her logic. Some way to prove her wrong. But there was nothing.

“I want this, Isadora,” he said finally, “I want us to have a child.”

“Are—are you certain of this?”

“I would never admit it to you if I was not.” He cupped her face. “If there is anyone I would take this journey with, it is you.”

A soft, broken sound escaped her throat, and then she kissed him. Fiercely and full of love. Evan responded instantly, his hands threading through her hair, pulling her closer.

When they finally broke apart, Isadora’s lips curved into a smile, her forehead resting against his.

“I love you.”

“Say it again.” Evan’s eyes darkened, his arms tightening around her.

“I love you,” she murmured, peppering little kisses across his face.

“And I love you, my heart.”

He felt Isadora shiver beside him. “I will come to you tonight,” she whispered.

“Then, my love,” he murmured against her ear, “I shall be waiting.”

The End?