Page 22 of The Courtesan’s Protector (About An Earl #4)

EPILOGUE

L ater

They waited far longer to marry than Jane thought they would. Two months, to be exact, though for the entire time they lived together in his home above the boxing club, already bound by vows they’d spoken in each other’s arms. Her fears, though not fully quelled, eased with every kiss, every promise kept by them both, every bright moment of joy.

So when her wedding day came and she stood in the center of the boxing club, which had been cleared and decorated for their friends to gather and celebrate them, it all felt right. Real. True.

Across the room she watched Ripley… her husband …as he talked with Brentwood and his wife Marina and all three of his brothers. The two months had brought much change for them. All were members of the club now, they came regularly to box. Eventually they’d started to come upstairs for supper together. Bit by bit, a tenuous relationship had developed between the four men. Warm and perhaps one day close. She’d seen how much that meant to Ripley, how it filled in some of what he’d longed for as a lonely boy and her heart swelled with happiness for him.

Nora was also there, though she stood with the countesses, Esme, Marianne and Clarissa. She had been welcomed by them, of course, and it had eased her way a little in Society. Although, she didn’t seem to mind when people outside their circle were cool to her. She loved her husband and she had her group of friends.

Somehow that group included Jane. Like Ripley and his brothers, the two of them had come to know each other over time. Grow closer. Find their way back to each other.

Esme smiled at her before she said something to the others and slowly crossed to her. She linked arms with her and together they looked out over the rest.

“Do you find your life here less boring than the shop?” she asked.

Jane jerked her head toward her friend. Though they’d discussed it before she found Nora, Esme had never spoken of the shop since. She’d simply been joyful about Jane’s future with Ripley.

“Helping Ripley with the club? Working with the women, helping them train for bouts like I used to do with you? That…that’s right. I wake up every day thrilled to come downstairs and start my day.”

Esme put an arm around her. “Good. That’s all I ever wanted. You saved me, Jane. I wanted to do something for you. But what you really needed was him.”

The him in question turned toward them. Ripley’s gaze moved over her, sensually possessive and deeply loving in equal measure. A man who wanted her in every way. More importantly, who saw her in every way and loved each vision of her.

“Yes. I needed him,” she admitted. She smiled as he started across the room toward her, eyes locked on her with the same intensity he’d once sized up opponents in the ring.

“And now he’s yours,” Esme said with a little nudge. “And I assume none of us will be seeing you two for a while because I’m thinking this little honeymoon trip is going to last a while.”

“Are you talking about our honeymoon?” he asked as he reached them. “You’re right, Es, I think it will last a lifetime.”

Esme laughed and then turned away, heading back to her own husband and leaving them alone.

“Good day, wife,” Ripley said, and then gave a little shiver. “Oh, I like that.”

“Excellent,” Jane said as she wound her arms around his neck and drew him in for a kiss. “I like it better as the truth than a little lie we tell people to allow us to sleep in the same chamber."

“Speaking of that chamber, is it too soon to kick our friends out and take you upstairs?”

“I think two wicked scoundrels like us can figure out a way,” she said with a laugh before she kissed him again without any of the fears that had once gripped her. Only the joy of certainty in him and the love that bound them.