Epilogue
Thornwycke Hall
Somerset, England
A LIGHT SNOW fell and the air had a wintery nip to it as Tulip eagerly awaited their guests for the yuletide feast she and Alex were hosting for their friends, neighbors, her Hester family and several members of the Farthingale family who had made the trip to Thornwycke Hall to celebrate with them.
Alex had insisted they splurge on the finest beeswax candles, a full orchestra, French champagne, Viennese desserts, and a six course meal fashioned by the incomparable Mrs. Crabbe.
It was an extravagance, but one Alex insisted they could afford.
They probably couldn’t, but Tulip was not going to question him about it because Alex needed this celebration.
It was his way of moving on from a past filled with sorrows and regrets.
This night would create new memories he could ponder with joy in later years.
It was also his way of restoring pride to the Davenport title.
As for her, Tulip had never felt happier because she was surrounded by loved ones. Rupert, Marigold and Leo, and Dillie and Ian were here with them to represent the Farthingale clan.
Thornwycke Hall had been decorated with boughs of holly, sprigs of ivy, and strategically placed mistletoe along the halls and over the doorways.
Alex had assisted her in putting up the mistletoe and testing each out by kissing her with glorious heat under each one, much to the delight of their staff who thought it quite refreshing to have a Davenport duke who loved his wife and was faithful to her.
Tulip lost count of how many balls of mistletoe she had put up.
All in the line of duty, of course.
She loved the devouring way Alex kissed her after each one was set in its proper place. Honestly, this man was as hot as molten lava and could set fire to the place with his scorching kisses.
They now stood together by the entrance of their grand home to receive their guests as they arrived. Alex looked divine in his formal attire, the black of his coat bringing out his gorgeous, dark eyes and irresistibly masculine physique.
Tulip had sewn herself a gown of deepest blue velvet trimmed throughout with silver threads. It was a magnificent Farthingale fabric, of course.
“You look beautiful, love,” Alex whispered, lightly brushing her neck with his lips. “I’d rather devour you than feast on the repast Mrs. Crabbe has prepared.”
She smiled up at him. “I love you, Alex.”
Her Farthingale family stood beside her on the receiving line, and she was so proud to introduce them to her Burnham friends and family.
They were greeted warmly and in return had warm welcomes for the magistrate and his wife, the doctor and his wife and daughters, her Aunt Perty and Uncle William, and scads of Hester relatives who had arrived with them.
There were country squires, a neighboring viscount, several baronets, and other local gentry eager to make their acquaintance.
Tulip had also invited the local shopkeepers, bankers, the local bookshop owner, and the Davenport farmers.
All were welcome and Tulip greeted everyone with gracious enthusiasm.
However, her heart was happiest upon seeing Mr. Carver and Mrs. Granger arrive. They had recently married, just as she had predicted, so their long-suffering housekeeper was now to be known as Mrs. Carver. Both had continued in their roles at Thornwycke and the house ran smoothly because of it.
Tulip nudged her husband.
“What, love?”
“They look so happy, Alex,” she whispered.
He grinned. “Yes, it is obvious. I am delighted for them.”
“So am I. But I wonder…” She began to scan the crowd.
“Who are you looking for now?”
“No one in particular. However, I think there could be several matches made here tonight. Love is in the air. Don’t you feel it?”
“Sure,” he said with a shrug and a smile.
“It is,” Tulip insisted. “Do you see the way Dougal is eyeing the doctor’s daughter? Oh, but she is so shy. We ought to give them a nudge.”
Alex eyed the pair and laughed as Dougal started toward the girl. “I don’t think he needs a nudge. If anything, he needs a leash to restrain him. I recognize that wolf look. Mine. She is mine to love and protect. I am claiming her. Poor fellow, he’ll be married by next yuletide.”
Tulip laughed. “Oh, that is wonderful. Let’s see who else we–”
“How about we set aside the matchmaking for now. Dance with me, love. I’m sure everyone is eager to have the entertainment start. I’ve instructed the orchestra to lead off with a waltz.”
“Perfect, that is an excellent way to get Dougal and the doctor’s daughter together. Not to mention other young couples who might not otherwise approach each other. I hope someone asks Miss Keane, the lovely bookshop owner, to dance. Oh, look! Uncle Rupert is walking toward her.”
“Marvelous. However, I was thinking quite selfishly of myself because it has been far too long since I’ve held you in my arms. At least three minutes.” He led her onto the dance floor and drew her into his arms. “There, much better.”
They twirled once around the dance floor, and then Alex motioned for everyone to join them.
Marigold was delightful and bubbly as she drew her often serious and reserved Leo out to waltz with her.
Dillie did the same with Ian who adored his wife too much to ever deny her anything.
This.
This is what she now had with Alex, this deep commitment to their union and their growing bonds of love.
As the dance floor began to fill, Alex drew her closer.
Tulip realized he was now in full, protective wolf position. “When were you going to tell me, love?” he asked, staring at her stomach.
She looked up at him and let out a soft breath. “Oh, you guessed! I was going to surprise you with the news tonight. I think I am with child. How did you know?”
He placed his cheek against hers and slowed their pace as they danced off to the side in a small circle of their own.
“Sweetheart, I know every inch of your body. Does it not follow that I would notice the slightest changes? The tenderness of your breasts. The way they seemed fuller in the cup of my hands. That was the most obvious sign. I probably realized your condition before you did.”
Her eyes widened. “Why did you not say anything to me?”
He cast her a wry smile. “Because it was your secret to share. I just did not expect you to take so long about it.”
“It is not even three months yet.” But she knew that she ought to have told him sooner. Why hadn’t she? Did he feel hurt by it? “I only began to suspect a few weeks ago. I should have mentioned it then, but I was scared.”
He frowned. “Scared? Why?”
“Not scared, exactly. I’ve heard the first three months are the most delicate and anything can happen. I was afraid to disappoint you if I turned out to be wrong…or if something had gone wrong.”
“Oh, love. You could never disappoint me. Don’t you think I would want to be by your side, especially if anything went wrong? I would never want you to endure the pain or sadness on your own. Tulip, I am here to love and support you.”
“I know.” She smiled up at him. “Truly, Alex. I know that you will always be there for me. I’m sorry I did not confide in you sooner.”
He shook his head. “No apology necessary. I could have said something to you, as well. It is a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?”
She laughed. “Yes! I was raised by two very loving families, the Hesters and the Farthingales. Oh, just look at them all enjoying themselves here with us. Isn’t it a dream come true? But to now be about to start our own little Davenport dynasty…it is quite daunting for me.”
“Same for me, but we’ll figure it out together.”
She thought of his unhappy upbringing and the sorrow both his parents had endured. How could he not be worried about raising their sons and daughters when his examples were the hedonistic Davenport dukes?
“My children will have you as their mother, so I am not all that worried,” Alex said when she asked him about it.
He guided her in another slow twirl.
She looked up at him with bountiful love shining in her eyes. “Truly?”
“Who better than you to give them the love they deserve? Who better to raise them with their heads on straight and their hearts filled with compassion? Most of all, who better than you to show me how to be a good parent to them?”
“You were London’s top investigator. I think you are smart enough to figure out how to raise a child.”
“Need I remind you? Davenport, here. Look how my predecessors turned out? Look how Harold Havers and his idiot brothers, Neddy and Barton turned out?”
“True, but look how you turned out? Completely marvelous and admirable. And do not grimace, because I am being completely objective about it.”
“Says the wife who looks at me with magic in her eyes. If we are to be completely honest about this, since this suddenly appears to be your favorite word…it is your influence that is going to matter most to our children.”
“We both will matter. In loving each other and being good to each other, we will set a proper example for our wayward offspring.”
“Being good to each other,” he repeated with a pensive nod. “You make it easy for me, Tulip. Nothing brings me greater joy than to make you happy.”
“You do the same for me. I love you so much, Alex.”
The snow had stopped, leaving only the slightest dusting of powdery white on the torch-lit terrace that was empty because of the chill to the air. Alex twirled her out there, and drew her closer so that he could wrap her in his jacket. “I won’t keep you out here long, my love. It’s too cold.”
It wasn’t all that cold.
Just a bit of a nip to the air.
He kissed her with the heat of their first kiss in Lady Fullerton’s garden, the one that had started it all and led to this moment.
One night.
One kiss.
And the hope for a thousand more.
“I love you, Tulip,” he whispered, his lips warm against her ear.
“I love you so much, Alex.” She heard laughter and animated chatter coming from inside, and the music continued to play. Everyone seemed to be in the merry spirit of their party. But what mattered most to her were these new memories created for Alex.
Happy ones.
Tulip looked forward to a lifetime of joy and irresistible kisses from him.
THE END