Page 107 of Song of the Caged Duchess

“Oh, do I?”

“If you don’t, someone else will,” Caroline said seriously. “Esther’s very pretty.”

“Well, I’ll certainly take that under advisement,” Hugh said. “Thank you, Caroline. Your wisdom means a lot to me.”

“You’re teasing me,” Caroline said.

“Perhaps a bit,” Hugh acknowledged.

“We’ll see who has the last laugh when I beat you at chess,” Caroline said, settling in to play.

Esther accepted the teacup her maid handed to her and smiled her thanks. She watched happily as the gentleman she loved and the little sister she had fought to secure a future for played and talked happily.

Everything is going to be all right.

Caroline is going to have the future she deserves, and so am I.

The joy and relief she felt was absolutely overwhelming.

Epilogue

“So your mother has accepted him?” Esther asked disbelievingly. “She really hasn’t tried to argue?”

Eugenia beamed and clung to Charles’ arm. “I know,” she said. “It hardly seems believable. But it’s true. She did try to dissuade me at first, of course, but I made it clear that I wouldn’t hear a word against him.”

“Since then, she’s been downright welcoming,” Charles said affably.

Esther laughed. “Why do I find that difficult to believe?”

“All right,” Charles allowed. “Maybewelcomingis the wrong word.”

“She’s ignored him completely,” Eugenia said. “Which is still preferable to sending ugly looks his way whenever he’s in the room.”

“Yes, she simply acts as if I’m not here,” Charles said. “And you’re right, my love. It is an improvement.”

Esther laughed. “It does me good to see the two of you so happy,” she said. “Didn’t I always say you’d find love, Eugenia?”

“And didn’t I sayyouwould?” Eugenia countered. “Thank you for joining us tonight, Hugh.”

“Oh, believe me, the pleasure is entirely mine,” Hugh assured her. “I couldn’t ask for better company.”

Esther felt the same way. She was, frankly, amazed that she and Hugh had been permitted into Harcourt Manor again. She’d thought that her aunt would want nothing more to do with her as long as she lived.

Instead, Aunt Tabitha had been docile. While she hadn’t exactly embraced Esther when she had returned to London two weeks ago, she had treated her with perfect civility and allowed her to take up residence in the same room she had used earlier in the Season. Aunt Tabitha had then gone out of her way to avoid Esther, which had made it very easy for Esther and Eugenia to spend their evenings together gossiping about the gentlemen with whom they were involved.

“Can you believe the Season is over?” Eugenia asked. “Tonight’s ball was the last one. In so many ways, it feels as if it just started.”

Esther laughed. “I don’t feel that way at all,” she said. “I feel as if I’ve been through years of torment this Season, what with everything that’s happened. I’m surprised I made it to the end unscathed!”

“Not entirely unscathed,” Hugh said, his voice tightening almost imperceptibly.

Esther knew what he was thinking without having to ask. Just being in Aunt Tabitha’s home was difficult for him after seeing her strike Esther. He was still very angry about it. Esther found his concern deeply touching, but she also wished he wouldn’t trouble himself about it.

Aunt Tabitha was no match for me. Not in the long run.

She rested her hand atop his. “I’m fine,” she said quietly.

“I know,” he said. “I just—” He trailed off.