Epilogue
The screams and cursing had long since faded to tears of wonder, and now there was silence.
Cash lay in his grand bed—the one he’d shared with Athena these last twelve months, the one the maids had just finished fussing over—and stared down at his wife and newborn son.
Although the midwife had objected, he’d insisted on being at her side throughout the entire ordeal.
After all, a year with Athena as his duchess had taught him doing what was expected wasn’t always doing what was right.
The charity she’d started—to help unmarried mothers find safe work and childcare for their children—was growing in popularity, and his own investments had grown since he’d made connections with the Oliphant clan.
No, what was expected wasn’t always the right thing, and Athena had taught him the path to happiness lay in standing up for what you knew was right.
And although it had been the most terrifying, disgustingly wonderful few hours of his life, Cash had known, in this case, doing what was right meant being by Athena’s side.
“You did it, love,” he whispered, one fingertip caressing the infant’s soft cheek where he suckled, half-asleep, at Athena’s breast.
She sent him an exhausted, indulgent smile. “I cannae believe ye insisted on staying.”
“I can’t believe how strong your grip is,” he teased in return. “I thought you were going to twist my hand right off.”
“And I thought ye were going to cry when I started blaming my pain on ye!”
Cash winced as he shifted positions, making sure his arm, which he’d thrown around the pillows behind her head, wasn’t catching her unbound hair.
He vowed, as long as he lived, he would never forget the sight of her in her now-pristine nightgown and gorgeous red hair spilling around her shoulders, as she nursed their new son.
“Thank you for going through that,” he whispered fervently, his hand moving to cup the babe’s dark head. “Thank you for giving us another son.”
When he looked up, he saw the tears in her eyes as she gazed at him. Over the months of her pregnancy, he’d become used to his normally so-sure-of-herself wife’s mood swings, and he still hated to see her cry. This time though, she was smiling through her tears.
“Are ye certain ye are no’ disappointed in another lad?”
Cash had made no secret of his desire for a daughter, but he scoffed.
“How could I be? Callan and Matthew have another brother now. I suspect we’ll have to set up guards to ensure they don’t steal the babe from his cradle and carry him off to indoctrinate him in some kind of adventure.
Besides, I’ll just insist on a girl for the next one. ”
As her grin turned to a good-natured grimace, Cash reconsidered. “Although if you never want me to touch you again—as you claimed a few hours ago—I do understand.”
She chuckled lightly as she lifted her knees and removed the infant from her breast. He made a pitiful little mewling noise, his lips still working adorably, as she laid him against her thighs so they could stare down at him.
Athena nudged Cash with her shoulder. “Ye ken I love yer body, husband, and how ye can make me feel. But I think it will be a few months before I remember that, aye?”
“Aye,” he agreed with a chuckle, pulling his arm closer to her shoulder, and reaching out to stroke his new son’s open palm. The babe’s fingers tightened around his digit, and he smiled. “His hair is darker than I expected.”
“Mine was dark when I was a wee bairn,” she was quick to point out.
“Oh good.” He shot her a grin. “I was hoping for a little red-head.”
“He’s going to be just as mischievous as Callan, is he no’?”
Cash couldn’t seem to stop grinning. “And just as thoughtful as Matthew. The best of both of our lads in one.”
The new parents subsided into silence for another minute, studying the way the infant waved his hands about, almost in frustration. Cash tilted his head so it nudged her temple, and he felt her relax against him.
“Athena?”
She hummed softly, and he knew she was tired.
“Do you know what today is?”
He saw her blink, then nod. “Our first anniversary.”
Smart lass. “So? Will you tell me the name of Callan’s real father?”
She straightened in surprise, her eyes widening, as she turned slightly toward him. He saw the moment she remembered the question he’d asked her, that day while they were locked in their sons’ secret fort.
In the weeks leading up to their wedding—apparently, no matter what his wishes, a duke wasn’t allowed to hurry his own wedding—and in the year since, he hadn’t asked her again.
“Oh, Cash,” she whispered, her gaze softening. “Aye, I will tell ye.”
Even though he’d asked, he still hadn’t expected her to agree. “Really?”
Athena’s hand rose to cup his cheek, an awkward movement with the babe lying between them against her legs.
“Ye, Adolphus Merritt. Ye are Callan’s real father.”
His throat closed up, and he knew she was right, as always.
The man who had sired Callan could never love him a fraction of how much Cash loved the lad.
He was the one who’d taught Callan how to ride his pony.
He was the one the lad came to when he fell and needed a hug.
He was the one who sat in the nursery each evening and read fairy tales to his younger son, as Matthew studied his own books.
Cash was Callan’s real father, in the only way that mattered. Love.
“Thank you,” he whispered again, staring deep into his wife’s eyes. He captured her hand and pulled it toward his lips to press a kiss against her palm. “Thank you for giving me two more wonderful sons, Athena.”
“Oh, Cash.” Her eyes were clouding with tears again. “I love ye so much.”
“And I love you.” He settled her back against the pillows, this time, holding her more tightly. He cleared his throat and turned his attention back to the little lad on her lap. “Now, what about this young gentleman? What shall we call him?”
She was silent for a moment, stroking the babe’s cheek, before she inhaled, and said, “I was thinking…Darroch? It is an auld Scots word meaning oak tree.
“Darroch.” Slowly, his grin grew. “After our favorite swimming spot?”
“I thought it would be nice to acknowledge our new beginning.” Athena whispered. She glanced at him with a hesitant smile. “Where he—where we began.”
“And where you fell in love with a stuffy old duke.”
“Och, aye,” she countered sarcastically, with a great roll of her eyes. “The duke is boring. Now, the man…well, him I fell in love with.”
Chuckling, he tightened his hold on her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I love you, Athena Oliphant Merritt.”
She rested her temple against him. “And I love ye,” she whispered.
At that moment, there was a light knock on the door, and without waiting to be invited, it cracked open.
Two small, beloved faces peered around the edge. When they saw their parents lying in bed—awake and staring at them—the lads straightened up.
“The baby!” whooped Callan, before he attempted to launch himself across the room toward the bed.
But thank goodness his brother was faster.
Matthew reached Callan before he’d gone more than a few steps and wrapped his arm around his younger brother’s shoulders. “Shush! You must be calm and gentle.”
Together, the pair of them approached the bed at a more sedate pace, with identical expressions of wonder on their faces.
There were tears in Athena’s eyes, but she was smiling hugely, so Cash didn’t think the lads noticed; thank goodness, because the last few months had shown they hated it as much as their father did when Mama cried!
He helped her sit up and shift over, so Callan—who was clutching a wooden soldier in one fist—could climb up beside her. He snuggled up next to her as Matthew squeezed against him, both of them staring down at the baby in awe.
“It’s so tiny,” murmured Matthew.
“Can it play yet?” Callan waved the soldier. “Is it a lassie?”
Smiling through her tears, Athena gently propped the babe higher on her thighs. Cash reached around to support the infant’s head, and at that moment, his new son opened his eyes.
Logically, Cash knew the lad couldn’t see anything much past his nose, but he felt as if the infant was staring right into his soul. This babe, this tiny human he’d created with Athena…he would bind their family together, tying them together tighter than any knot.
And Adolphus Merritt, the Duke of Cashard, fell in love all over again.
“Lads,” whispered Athena to their sons, “I would like ye to meet Darroch Oliphant Merritt, yer new brother.”
As Callan and Matthew exclaimed in delight, and Athena showed them how to gently touch the infant’s hair and stroke his palm, Cash rested against the pillows and watched his family, his heart more full of love than he ever thought possible.
He knew the coming years might contain hardships and heartbreak, but as long as he was surrounded by this same love and joy, he could face anything.
Athena’s hand found his, even as she spoke to their sons. She squeezed it, and he squeezed it in return, and he knew this love would sustain him.
Forever.