Epilogue
DECEMBER, 1831
Framlingwood,
Devonshire
Cassandra Welkirk, Countess Framlingwood, glanced up from her book at the discreet scratch at her sitting room door.
“Yes?” she called from her favorite spot, propped up on her chaise longue before the fire.
“I have the post, my lady,” Young Rutherford replied as he entered the room carrying a large tray. “And your tea.”
“Lovely,” she replied as she sat up and placed her book on the chaise beside her. “More post from the family, I hope?”
Rutherford placed the tray on the tea table next to the chaise and handed her a stack of letters whilst he poured her cup of tea. “I should think so. From London and Kent this time.” He added sugar and milk to the tea and handed her the cup. His brothers and father had elected to stay with the Grosvenor Street ladies and their husbands. Toplofty now ran the households with the help of two housekeepers and the remaining Cook and servants who had stayed. Little had changed in the five joined households save the periodic arrival of children and frequent visits by Cassandra and Derek.
“I hope they are all writing to say they will be here for Christmas,” Cassandra mused as she opened the first letter, a brief missive from Captain Atherton and Lady Honoria.
“I doubt his lordship will countenance you traveling up to London in your condition, my lady. Not to mention Mister Carrington-Bowles.”
Cassandra placed her palm against her swollen belly and smiled. “Lady Camilla says this one is a girl.”
“We’ll know soon, now won’t we?” Rutherford replied with a grin. “Would be nice to have a little girl running about to keep those two hellion boys in line.”
“And whose fault is it that those two boys are hellions?” Derek asked as he strolled into the room.
“Yours,” Cassandra and Young Rutherford said together. Rutherford poured Derek a cup of tea. Derek took the cup, bent down to kiss Cassandra, and sat down on the chaise beside her. She swatted his arse and gave him a shove.
“Off my book, sir.” She dragged her leather-bound tome from beneath him.
“Shame on me. That is a lovely volume. Ann Radcliffe, I presume?” Derek asked.
“Yes. A gift from a very handsome gentleman.” She plucked a small mince pie from the plate on the tea tray and offered Derek a bite. He bit into the treat and licked her fingers in the process.
“You two,” Rutherford said with a snort. “Can we have the third babe before you two begin working on the fourth?”
“Why haven’t I turned you out without a character?”
“Because you cannot find anyone else to take on those boys without a whip and a chair,” the footman declared. “I’m off to take them riding. Should I not return by dark, send Bow Street after me. He and his missus and the children are supposed to arrive at any moment.” He waved and quit the room.
“Thank God,” Derek said with an exaggerated sigh. “CB and Nathaniel have gone up for a nap. They and I have been entertaining Lionel and Eleander for hours. I’m exhausted.” He took her now empty teacup and his own and placed them on the tea table. Then he stretched out on the chaise and drew her down so she lay with her back against his muscled warm body.
“More post?” he asked as she let the opened letters fall to the floor.
“Yes. They’re all coming, Derek. All coming for Christmas.” She drew his arm around her so his hand rested against her belly.
“Lady Camilla will be over the moon,” he replied.
She, CB and Nathaniel had arrived a week ago with Dickie, Georgie, and CB and Nathaniel’s adopted twin daughters. CB had said they came at Lady Camilla’s insistence. However, Cassandra suspected Derek had asked the physician in all but name to come early to check her condition. She had delivered two healthy boys with little to no trouble at all, but each birth had been traumatic for Derek. His desire to keep everyone he loved safe had become less obsessive, but sometimes the old Derek crept into his mind.
“I am over the moon. I love when everyone is together, especially for Christmas. I missed Lily and Ari last year when they were awaiting their daughter’s birth.”
“Well, they will be here in a day or two with young William and little Cassandra. Along with everyone else. Do you realize there will be more than twenty running, screaming, crying children in residence here for Christmas?” Derek tried to sound put-upon, but she knew him too well. He adored having their friends who had become family and all of their children around him. The lonely Boy Earl was lonely no more.
“Gabrielle and Will and Margot and John have seven little ones between them. This will be their first Christmas without their mother.” Cassandra stood up suddenly. “Everything must be perfect for them. Poor dears.” She sniffled in spite of herself. The sudden weepiness was the worst part of carrying a child by far. She didn’t have time to weep. “I need to—” She sat back down on the chaise with a huff. Derek had snatched her down by the back of her dress. He leaned back and caught the bell pull by its long tassel and tugged. He sat up beside her.
“You need to remember, Countess, that you have a veritable army of servants in this house who live to serve you. The way they dote on you is ridiculous.” He picked up the notebook and pencil that were her constant companions and had been since the day they met. “Write down everything you want done, and I will see to it.”
“You?”
“The least I can do for someone who has kept me safe all these years.”
“I’ve kept you safe?” She gazed at him half amused and completely in love.
“You’re a better shot than I, and you keep a pistol and a dagger in the bedside table on your side of the bed. What do I have to worry about save not making you angry enough to use one of those on me?”
She framed his face in her hands and kissed him. He quickly turned her kiss into an erotic seduction with his tongue and lips teasing her and his thumbs brushing her tender nipples through her gown. She moaned and threaded her fingers through his hair. The sound of horses and carriages in the distance made them pause. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and toward her sitting room. The doors slammed open and a tall, gangly youth stumbled into the room.
“They’re here,” Dickie gasped. He slammed the doors and spread his arms across them as if to hold them against an invading army.
“Who is here?” Cassandra said, as she shoved to her feet once more.
“All of them! King George save us. The entire family is here!”
Derek stretched out on the chaise with his hands behind his head. “You count on King George. I’ll count on Lady Cassandra to save me every day for the rest of my life.”
She turned and gazed down at the amazing man who had saved her life, changed her life, and made her life whole.
“I love you, my glorious Cassandra,” he said softly.
“And I love you, Derek Welkirk, more than words can ever say.” She smiled sweetly and took his hand. “Now move your arse. Our family is here!” She dragged him laughing off the chaise, past an outraged Dickie and into the fray that was Christmas with those she loved.
Thank you so much for reading the final episode in our “5 Pearls for the Earl” Series.