Page 23 of The Duke’s Absolutely Fantastic Fling (The Notorious Briarwoods #15)
Scotland
A few years later
T eague did not know how he hadn’t thought of his solution when he’d first determined to marry Josephine.
After all, Ellie longed to be with her family in Scotland and England.
Josephine longed to be with her family in London too but also loved Scotland.
It should have been clear to him what needed to be done even before that fateful day his brothers had made him realize he had to go to London to ask Josephine to marry him at that Briarwood ball.
But humans were often fools and full of foibles and unable to see what was necessary, even if it was right before their face.
He was only grateful that he had realized in time; in time to help Josephine feel secure and loved; in time too, that his sister, Ellie, could go back and forth with ease and that their families could blend and unite.
The Briarwoods were masters at this.
They had already folded in several families. He, for one, was shocked and quite pleased to find that he spent a month on the Isle of Wight now with another family who also loved books and had married into the Briarwood clan.
Teague loved traveling about the countryside, seeing new sights, and learning the histories of places he never would have seen otherwise. Many great ducal families already did this, going from great house to great house all year long.
Though he had more than one house, he had not done so, having loved his particular home in the Highlands so very dearly. But he found that a life of always learning and discovery was far better than a life lived in a palace that could become a prison if one wasn’t careful.
The production of Twelfth Night , their favorite of all the plays, was going to take place in but a few moments. He was, of course, playing Duke Orsino, and Josephine was playing Viola.
It was one of the rare times when she chose to act for an audience. She was quite good at it. Here, with family and a few local visitors, she did not need to be wary of a large audience observing her.
Here, she let everyone see exactly how beautiful and wonderful and clever she was.
In his opinion, the whole family was beautiful, wonderful, and clever, and he was grateful to be a part of it.
At present, a great many of the Briarwoods were sitting in the audience. If he leaned just the right way, he could see the dowager duchess, surrounded by her youngest grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The small people gazed at her adoringly, as if she had all the answers to this strange and mysterious world.
He rather thought she did.
A smile tugged at his lips. For he was quite proud that he could offer them a refuge too.
Because Teague truly believed that when the Briarwoods came to Scotland, whatever ills were in their heart from the great woes in the world, were healed here.
Healed by walking some of the most stunning earth in the world.
And in putting on their yearly production underneath the Scottish skies.
The sun was slowly sinking into a purple hue beyond the hills.
As they waited to make their first entrance together, his wife turned to him and mouthed, I love you .
She was dressed in boy’s breeches, just as the character Viola needed to be.
She looked fully alive, content, and she gently touched the swell of her stomach that was easily hidden by her costume. Only the family knew for now.
But in several months, she would be a mother, and he would be a father.
Another soul would join their merry revels.
Then just as Josephine winked at him and made her entrance onto the stage that was constructed every year, his heart swelled. For it was clear that with this family, anything and everything, especially love, was always possible.
The End