Page 30 of The Duke’s Ultimatum (Unrelenting Lords #1)

EPILOGUE

E leanor and Charlotte stood in the vestibule waiting for the priest’s cue to start walking. Eleanor couldn’t help but steel glances down the aisle towards Derek. When she looked back to her mother, she found Charlotte staring at her in a peculiar way.

“What is it? Did I mess my hair?” Her hand came up to pat the curls that were precariously pinned around her head.

Charlotte shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.

“Mama, what is it?” Eleanor reached out and grabbed her mother’s hand.

Charlotte pulled away, embarrassed. “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just…” Charlotte sighed and brought her hand up to caress Eleanor’s cheek. “This is how I envisioned your wedding day. You look so relaxed and happy. It’s like this was always meant to be.”

Eleanor smiled. “I feel that way.” She glanced back down towards the altar of her church where Derek was laughing with Sarah and William. Everyone seemed so relaxed and excited, a far cry from Eleanor’s last wedding.

“I miss Papa with every breath, but if he… well, then Derek wouldn’t have come and…” Eleanor brought her hand up to cover her eyes. “Oh, I’m being terribly inappropriate, aren’t I?”

Charlotte lowered Eleanor’s hands. “There’s no reason for an apology, love. I know you miss your father and would do anything to have him back with us, but I know what you are saying. There was a silver lining to your father’s passing.” Charlotte leaned in. “And to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if the old fool didn’t have his hand in this. You know how much he had to be in control of things. He wanted the best for his girls, and he would’ve wanted someone like Derek for you.”

Eleanor’s heart twinged at the thought of her father and Derek meeting. They would have gotten along smashingly. Unfortunately, one needed to leave for the other to come. She sighed. Such is life.

“Now enough of this melancholy. Your father definitely would not have wanted this.” Charlotte tilted her head and took her daughter’s appearance. “There is nothing I can do, you are already the image of the quintessential bride, and you can’t fix perfection.”

Heat bloomed across Eleanor’s cheeks. “Thank you, Mama.”

The slight cough from the front of the church caught their attention.

“Seems they’re ready for us.” Charlotte extended her arm for Eleanor to take.

“You don’t have to walk me down the aisle if you don’t want to. You could take your seat with Sarah and Beatrice.”

Charlotte shook her head and wiped a stray tear that fell. “Your father would have wanted me to be a part of this somehow. He knew how much I wanted this for you.”

Eleanor slipped her hand through her mother’s arm. “Well then, shall we?”

Her mother nodded, and they began their walk down the aisle.

“Thank goodness you and Derek held it at our church. The thought of walking down a long aisle again almost made me reconsider,” Charlotte whispered to Eleanor’s giggle.

Unlike her last walk down the aisle, Eleanor’s focus was on one man and one man only. Earlier in the day, Charlotte prompted her to look at the congregation as they walked down. She told Eleanor to nod and smile and acknowledge those who came out in support after the falling out with the Viscount, but Eleanor couldn’t drag her eyes away from the man waiting for her.

Derek. Her Duke.

He was standing in his best suit that accentuated his long, muscular legs and athletic build. His coat hugged his shoulders, and his hair curled over the collar just the way she liked it. His dark blue eyes were like beacons leading her home.

Whereas at her last wedding she had to physically manipulate her legs to carry her, now they seemed as if they couldn’t move fast enough.

What seemed like ages were only a few moments, but she was finally at the altar, standing with Derek.

“Eleanor.” Derek’s voice held reverie and warmth. “You look,” his eyes raced over her, “absolutely breathtaking.”

Eleanor couldn’t contain her smile. “Your Grace. I’m glad to see you’re not late.”

“This is the most important deal of my life. I would’ve slept here if William would have let me.”

Eleanor laughed and flicked her gaze over to where William sat, cleaning his spectacles with his handkerchief.

“I appreciate the thought, Your Grace.”

Derek leaned in. “What did I tell you about calling me by my name?”

Eleanor smirked and leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Derek.”

Derek’s pupils dilated, and his body shook. “Hmmm, if you’re going to say it like that, perhaps we should stick with ‘Your Grace’ until we are alone.”

Eleanor blushed. The fact that she so greatly affected a man like Derek never ceased to amaze her and she hoped it never would.

The priest shifted his weight.

The couple both turned towards the altar.

“Are we ready to begin?”

Derek looked at Eleanor. “We’ve been ready.”

Eleanor and Derek stood in the entrance way of the Graynor estate. The wedding feast just concluded, and she just wished her mother and sisters a good night before they climbed into their carriages. Derek had surprised the women with a new home for her sisters and mother shortly before their wedding.

Eleanor no longer had to worry about the future of her family. And while Sarah was dead set on finding a husband, be it Byron or someone else, during her first season, there was no rush to do so. If she wanted to take her time to find a true match, she was free to do so. That knowledge alone helped Eleanor sleep at night. The man wishing the staff a good night was the other reason.

“I can’t believe my sisters and mother no longer live here. It feels so empty without them.”

Derek walked up behind Eleanor and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Well, we can always bring some more people into the home if you’d like.”

Eleanor’s brows furrowed. “What, you mean like more staff? You still have Jeffries, and Mary is perfect for me.”

Eleanor looked down the hallway. The staff were much more relaxed without her mother here terrorizing them about the lengths of curtains or the perfect placement of furniture. Madden went with her mother and sisters, and she had to admit, she was going to miss the spindly old man.

Derek laughed against her ear. “No, I mean like little people. Small people.”

Eleanor turned in his arms. “You mean children?”

Derek squinted. “Is that what they’re called?”

Eleanor laughed as she brought her arms around his neck. “Children. I think that sounds lovely, Your Grace.”

Derek raised his eyebrow. “Eleanor.”

She tilted her head in confusion before understanding brightened her eyes. She made a big deal of clearing her throat. “I think that sounds lovely, Derek.”

Eleanor watched Derek’s eyes darken, and her knees actually trembled under her skirts. “That is definitely one way to bring a child into this world, Eleanor,” Derek growled as he slipped an arm under her legs to sweep her up into his arms.

“Oh!” A startled cry fell from Eleanor’s lips. “Put me down, Derek, I can walk. My legs aren’t broken.”

Derek shook his head. “Sorry, I like you in my arms. Plus, this is faster.”

“Faster for what?” Eleanor could barely get the words out when Derek bounded up the steps with Eleanor in his arms.

“My goodness, Derek! Put me down!” Her giggles negated any seriousness she was trying to convey.

“The only time I will put you down is when we get to our bed,” Derek said as he walked to their doorway. The man barely broke a sweat with that feat.

Heat began to pool in her core, and her body took on the itchy feeling she got whenever she needed to remove clothing. It was a feeling that happened around her husband often.

Husband.

Eleanor nearly squealed when she thought of the word. Not only was she was married but to Derek, no less. Someone who valued her thoughts and opinions on the world and worshipped her body in the bedroom.

Derek carried her into their bedroom and kicked the door closed with his foot. He walked over to the bed and tossed her onto it, evoking a squeal of delight from Eleanor.

“Well, wife, how many children would you like?”

Eleanor’s eyes widened before pretending to think about it—although, her thought process kept getting interrupted as she watched her husband disrobe in front of her. The sight of his muscles stretching the material as he worked the buttons on his shirt made her mouth salivate.

“Eleanor.” He stopped his ministrations causing her to pout. “You’re not answering me.”

“You’re distracting me!”

Derek shrugged. “Oh, then shall I stop?”

Eleanor sat up and reached out a hand. “No! I’ll think. What was the question? Oh right. How many children do I want?”

Derek finished disrobing, and Eleanor had to lie on her back or else her eyes would wander, and then she’d definitely become distracted.

“What if I said I want as many as we can get.”

Derek began by pulling off her shoes and rolling down her stockings. He cocked his head to the side. “I think we can make that happen. After all, practicing making the children is the best part. So, if you want a lot, I guess we better get practicing.”

His hands reached up, settled on the delicate lace that laid over her dress, and yanked it down, sending buttons flying.

“Derek!”

“What? It’s faster this way” His voice husky and low as his eyes roamed over his wife’s naked body.

“My mother bought me that dress. She’s going to want to see me in it again. What will I tell her?”

Derek lowered his head to one of her breasts and sucked the pink nipple into his mouth.

Eleanor moaned as she ran her fingers through his silky black strands and arched underneath him.

“I’ll buy you another one. I’ll buy you ten more just like it. Just don’t wear it when we’re about to practice. It had too many buttons. I don’t like buttons.”

Eleanor’s breath was coming out in little huffs. “Noted.”

Derek’s tongue continued to do deliciously wicked and salacious things to Eleanor’s body as she writhed underneath him.

She found herself chanting, “More, more, more,” without realizing it.

“My wife is a bossy one,” Derek said with a devilish grin.

She opened one eye to peer down at him.

Derek settled in between her legs. “I’m not arguing. I have no problem with you telling me what you want, in fact I encourage it. Do with me what you wish; I am here for you and you only.”

Love and excitement burst through her body. She felt as if she were on fire. Eleanor reached up and dragged Derek’s head down for a passionate kiss. “I will never tire of this.”

Derek rubbed his nose against hers. “Nor will I. Now, what do you say? Want to get started on child number one of many?”

Eleanor giggled. “I’ve been ready.”

The End?