Page 105 of Secluded with the Rogue

Epilogue

December 24, 1821

Armestead Hall

North of Watford

Hertfordshire, England

E dward grinned at his wife of nearly two years as she entered the drawing room. Since they’d married in this very room on Old Year’s Day two years before, his life had changed exponentially. And even now he was still amazed by it.

“Are the children asleep?” His son, born in September of 1820 looked like him but had the temperance of Kitty, of all people, while his daughter, born in August of this year, favored Nancy and was more like him.

And he dearly adored them both.

“They are.” The smile she bestowed upon him never failed to light him up inside. When she drifted close to his position, he tugged her down onto his lap, and she came willingly enough. “They are both looking forward to playing in the snow tomorrow… or so I’d like to imagine since they are still too young to fully understand what snow is.”

“I’ll be certain to take them out at some point after breakfast. They can play with Kitty’s daughter.”

Nancy nodded. “To say nothing of your growing brood of nephew and nieces.”

“There is that.” His sisters were constantly reproducing. Then he nuzzled the crook of her neck. “I might be biased, but I think our two are quite smart.”

“I agree.” For a few moments, he indulged in kissing her before pulling away. “When I tell you that my life essentially began anew the day you accepted my marriage proposal, I am not lying. Every day that I wake, I thank whatever deity is listening that I had a second chance with you.”

“We’ve had a good life. You are a wonderful husband and an even better father.” A trace of tears welled in her eyes. “Even to Harry. In fact, you brought him out of his confusion and anger from his own father’s death.”

“All I did was relate to him, told him everything would come out right in the end.” The opportunity to counsel her son from her previous marriage—now a fifteen-year-old young man—had helped him to grow as a person as well. “He will do well as the newest Viscount Havelock when he’s of age.”

“Because of you.” When she nibbled at his ear lobe, Edward nearly launched off the sofa. “I adore the man you are, Armestead, and I share your gratitude that life brought us back together.” She peered at him with a soft smile. “These past two years have made me so incredibly happy. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”

“I am of the same thought.” He held her closer because he could. “Ah, Nancy, you are everything I have ever wanted in a wife, a partner, and this night?” Emotions clogged his throat. “This night was already sacred, but it is a second time because I finally won you.” His voice broke. “To finally live.”

She hugged him close. “We no longer live in the past, Edward, and with each step we move into the future, which is better every time we look.”

“Thanks to you, to our children, to Kitty.” Without her inviting Nancy to that house party, none of this would have been possible.

“And to you, for never wanting to settle for anything less than love.”

“Which I truly believe I had that night you first rejected me… but we were both afraid.” He rested his forehead against hers. “How stupid we were.”

“How clever we are now.” The long case clock in the corridor chimed the midnight hour. When she smiled, his world tilted as it always did with her. “Happy Christmas, Armestead.”

“Happy Christmas, Nancy. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Were there any better words? Never would he tire of hearing them. And, God willing, he wouldn’t for a very long time indeed.

The End