Epilogue
“Ooooh!” Several—seven to be exact—voices cooed just as Dermont lifted his petit four to Honoria’s lips. Not letting them, or Dermont’s scowl, deter her, she sealed her lips around his fingers and took the delicious treat in her mouth.
“We are so happy for you,” gushed Celeste. “Just look at you two.” She pointed back and forth between the two.
“And did you hear about the new addition to the family, Dermont?” Rosamund asked teasingly.
Honoria felt his gaze drop to her stomach and then fly back to her face. “Are you—”
“Oh no, not that,” she laughed nervously.
Rosamund explained with a smile tugging on her lips. “Phoebe is now the proud mother of two ferrets. She acquired Byron after they locked up Lord Tolfolk.”
“Good riddance,” Dermont muttered.
“Yes. And through it all you got yourself a duke, Honoria. It looks like our plan worked better than we thought,” Georgiana smirked.
“Plan?” Dermont eyed the sisters.
“Yes. Well, you know…the plan to paint your portrait,” she explained just as Celeste whipped out a small paper from her pocket. A paper about the size of—
“No!” She coughed. “Oh…um…” She stood quickly to cover Celeste and the miniature.
“What’s that?” Dermont asked, gesturing toward the very last thing she ever wanted him to see.
“It’s a portrait of—” Georgiana started.
“Of no one. Nothing. It’s not important. It’s just a silly little thing…” But her voice was drowned out as Celeste handed the miniature to Dermont.
“Celeste,” Honoria hissed.
“What?” She shrugged. “It’s a…precious keepsake for you two.”
Just then, a footman entered carrying a tray directly to Celeste. Trembling fingers grazed the envelope. “Is this…for me?” Everyone knew it was but held their breath. “Is it my turn next?”
Honoria nodded and spoke in a solemn tone, “When Charles was done with his task, I received the same thing.”
“I think I’ll take this and read it alone,” her voice was barely above a whisper.
“Of course. You can come to us when you’re ready,” Honoria said, giving her a quick embrace. The other sisters each hugged her or gave her arm a quick squeeze before she left.
When Honoria turned back to Dermont, color suffused her cheeks.
After a low whistle, he looked up at her. “Are you telling me that you painted this before we made love?” Dermont held up the miniature.
Georgiana cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should leave these two alone?”
“We should definitely stay,” Penelope, the youngest, said too eagerly.
“Let’s go,” Eugenia said, putting her arm around Penelope. “You’ll learn soon enough.”
Once the room had cleared out, Dermont gave Honoria a small smirk. “So…you painted this. Of me?”
“It’s not…” But really, who was she kidding? It looked almost exactly like him with his dark hair and regal blue eyes. “Yes. I suppose it is you.”
“You did a remarkable job, considering you hadn’t seen everything.”
“Yes, well, I apparently have a magnificent imagination. Though I might have to make some adjustments.”
“I’ll pose for you anytime, my darling. On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“Those portraits don’t go in a gallery.”
“Just my own personal gallery.”
“Deal.”
And they sealed their agreement with a kiss.
***