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Epilogue

Chissington Hall,

Derbyshire, England

My Dear Collin,

Zeke and I are married. We said our vows in the Earl’s beautiful chapel at Chissington Hall yesterday afternoon.

Your absence was sorely missed—by me, at any rate.

I’m sure you can understand Zeke’s reticence after all that occurred.

I truly believe after some time has passed and you have shown yourself reformed of your previous bad habits, he will warm to you.

We are soon to go on honeymoon—Zeke, myself, and, at my insistence, the earl.

Zeke pressed for a tour of Europe, Paris in particular, thinking I would prefer not to travel so far from home.

He listened, you see, when I told him of our parents’ constant touring, and my desire to set down roots and have a warm, close-knit family.

The thing is, I now know home is not so much about where you are, but who you’re with.

As long as I’m with Zeke, Collin, I’m home.

I am so very fortunate. He does love me so much, Collin, almost as much as I do him.

He makes me very happy, happier than I ever knew I could be.

When I know you are settled and at peace in your life, my happiness will be complete.

As to where we are headed. Zeke has long expressed a keen interest in the American Pacific Railway, and I, having read many accounts of the beautiful, untamed landscape of the American west, decided that we should go there.

We leave in three days time. I shall expect your visit to Chissington Hall upon our return, at which time you can offer your felicitations in person.

By then, you should be well recovered from your injury and able to travel.

I shall write you many letters detailing our journey, dear Collin, and will keep you in my prayers until we meet again.

Your loving sister,

Kitty

Sitting at her escritoire, Kitty re-read the letter before folding the parchment in preparation for posting it.

Her heart still ached over the tumult her brother and grandfather’s deceptions had put her through, but she had forgiven both of them.

How could she not? She loved them both dearly, and, in the end, it was thanks to their shenanigans she wound up on the earl’s doorstep, and married to the man of her dreams.

A scratch sounded a moment before the antechamber door opened.

She glanced over her shoulder to see Zeke hovering in the doorway. As always, the sight of him stole her breath.

“Good morning, my lord. I thought you had meetings scheduled.”

The earl’s man of affairs had arrived early this morning to help Zeke and the earl with their arrangements for the oversight of the Claybourne estates in light of their upcoming extended holiday—namely she and Zeke’s honeymoon.

“Are you not pleased to see me, lady wife?” Zeke sauntered into the chamber, a cocksure grin on his face. He kicked the door shut with his booted foot.

Kitty twisted around on the wooden bench-seat. “Just surprised. I thought not to see you before we go out riding with Caden and Lord Randall later.”

He grunted and wandered toward the crackling hearth, dropping onto the nearby chaise.

“Is everything all right?” she asked.

He eyed her. “I couldn’t concentrate knowing you were up here, in the room adjoining mine, a room I can once and for all enter at will, with no one to censure me.” He waggled his brows at her and she laughed.

Only yesterday, her things had been relocated into the room connecting with Zeke’s suites. Last night, they had spent their first night of many to come together as man and wife.

His eyes lit on the letter she still held. “You wrote to your brother, informing him?”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry he couldn’t be here for our wedding, Kitty. Much as"—He cleared his throat—"as he’s not my favourite person, I know how much he means to you.”

She sent him a brilliant smile. “You gave me a choice. Wait ‘til Collin was well enough to travel or marry my knight and shining armor right away.”

“Come here.” He opened his arms and Kitty went to him without hesitation. He scooped her onto his lap.

“Sooner was certainly my preference. Sneaking to the conservatory or into your chamber late at night—"

"—And don't forget the secret garden," she murmured.

He barked out a laugh. "I could never forget that, darling." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Call me old fashioned. I like falling asleep and waking with you in my arms—and sharing a bed will make it so much easier to make a little tiger kitten to twist me around her pinky.”

“Or a little lion cub,” she said, tugging on a lock of his golden hair.

“And if all we ever do is practice making babies, I’ll still die a happy, happy man, my love. One tiger is really all a man needs.”

“Oh, Zeke, I do love you so.”

He crooked a finger under her chin. “I love you more, Kitty.” And in the brightly lit room, on a cool winter's day, sun pouring in through the windows, he proceeded to show her.

The End

Want more of the Claybourne clan? Don't miss If the Slipper Fits , book two of the Hidden Treasures Series. Read on for a sneak peek…