Tea with Austen (Romance Café Collection #38)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Walter

I’d never believed I would fall in love with a man from the titled class.

A lord.

A viscount.

A future earl.

My man.

As I sat in our bedroom, awaiting his return, I smiled to myself.

Kenneth availed himself of Marcus, a competent steward. Our cook, Martha, also fancied herself the housekeeper, and she ran everything alongside Marcus.

Anna the server and Dennis the footman had chosen to join us and were now married. Dennis had been upgraded to butler and quite enjoyed keeping out the riffraff—better known as Robert Ferrars.

Dear Robert. In the year since Kenneth and I had moved to this townhouse, Lucy Ferrars had borne Robert yet another daughter. Robert spent even less time in their home and, apparently, even his mother was tiring of him. His sister, Fannie, had yet to forgive him for marrying Lucy and so she never visited him.

Interestingly, Kenneth had reached out to Edward Ferrars. I had wondered how my man would find friendship with a clergyman, but the two had struck up a correspondence. Edward and Elinor had a wonderful daughter, and their lives were simple in the country.

Quite the opposite of chaotic London living.

Edward secured us an invitation to visit Colonel Brandon and his lovely wife Marianne and their two children.

His estate, Delaford, was very pretty in the late summer and, Kenneth, wanting to get away from London, looked forward to the visit.

I wasn’t certain about imposing, but apparently the Brandons enjoyed company.

Kenneth hoped to spend some time discussing liturgy with Edward.

I hoped to spend time walking the grounds. Unobtrusively, of course. As a valet, I was to be part of the furniture.

But furniture could be moved once in a while.

The sound of the door opening below had me setting aside my book of Shakespeare’s sonnets, rising, and straightening my shirt.

Moments later, Kenneth burst through the door. He grinned.

I returned the grin.

“Catherine is to be married.”

I helped him remove his waistcoat. “So soon? She is barely eighteen.”

“She has met the most-eligible bachelor. And the wonderful news is, he’s from Lancashire.”

For a moment, I was at a loss. “Oh. Isn’t that the north of England? Northwest?”

“Yes, my dear man, it is.”

I unbuttoned his shirt. “Will they spend much of their time in London?”

Kenneth shook his head. “No. Lord Pemberton’s lands are grand, and his estate vast. He’s required to stay there most of the year. He only came to London for the season. Now he’s acquired a wife, he intends to return forthwith.”

“Your mother will miss your sister.” I put his shirt and jacket in the closet.

He laughed. “It’s all an act, my dear. Catherine and Mother cannot stand each other. I’ll swear that is why Catherine chose Pemberton and why Mother is happy to marry her off to such a man.”

“And what kind of man is he?” I returned to take the stockings and breeches.

Kenneth cocked his head. “I find him very affable, friendly, and genial. Why he could not find an eligible wife up north is beyond me.”

“Perhaps he wanted someone from outside of his circle?” I tried to avoid thinking of my man, fully naked, as I arranged his clothes. “Sometimes one does want something…new.”

He tackled me from behind, catching me unaware. “You were something new to me. Now you are something dear.” He nipped my shoulder. “I think Catherine has made a good match—and she did it on her own. Which I think will give her the confidence to be a good wife. She is well-educated, intelligent, and shrewish. All the things a man could wish for in a wife.”

I snagged Kenneth’s bollocks and squeezed.

He yelped.

“I will thank you to speak well of women. Not all are like John Willoughby’s wife. Or Lucy Ferrars.” I glared at him. “I think you will do yourself a disservice if you speak like that to Edward Ferrars or Colonel Brandon. I do believe they are smitten with their wives.”

Kenneth considered. “Yes, I have heard good things about both women.” He kissed my nose. “You are right, of course. Just because I dislike my sister—and several other women of my acquaintance—doesn’t mean they are all bad.”

“Both Anna and Martha are good women. ”

“True.” He eyed me. “And it’s good of you to ensure everyone in the household is taken care of.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “I am simply ensuring you are a good lord and master. You have a name to live up to.”

“Ah yes, Stanhope.” He grinned. “I forgot to tell you that Lucinda is pregnant again.”

“James’s wife?”

“Yes. And I hope she bears another son so the lineage will be secure and I won’t ever have to worry about the family name.”

I hoped so as well. Life could be precarious. Children died. Tragedies happened. I wished all the blessings upon Lucinda, James, and however many children they had. As well as Catherine, Pemberton, and any offspring they might be blessed with.

“Oh, I went by the apothecary today.” Kenneth began to unbutton my shirt.

I swatted his hands away. “Yes, my Lord.”

“He suggested a different oil. This one…tingles…”

Well, life would never be boring with my man.

My Lord.

My love.

With that, we headed to bed.