Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
Jane still found herself occasionally looking around her home in disbelief. Not because it was grand, though Sunderford House was certainly beautiful. Not because she had become a duchess, though that title still sometimes felt strange on her tongue.
She was amazed because after years of longing, she finally felt safe.
The house was filled with laughter that evening.
A dinner party had been arranged with the people closest to them, and Jane found herself standing near the fireplace with Lavinia, watching Ambrose tell a story that grew more ridiculous with every passing minute.
“I assure you,” Ambrose said, lifting his glass, “that I was entirely justified.”
“Your justification was that you were bored,” Hector replied from across the room.
Ambrose looked offended. “Boredom is a perfectly reasonable cause for action.”
“Not when the action involves climbing onto a fountain.”
“It was a very impressive fountain.”
Lavinia leaned toward Jane. “Your husband has somehow become more patient since marrying you.”
Jane smiled. “I believe that is because he has finally accepted that he cannot control everything.”
Hector glanced toward her. “I heard that.”
“I intended for you to.”
His mouth curved slightly. The sight still surprised her sometimes. Hector had always been serious. But now she knew the quiet smiles hidden beneath that exterior.
She knew the man who laughed when no one else was watching. The man who held her hand beneath the dinner table. The man who kissed her forehead before leaving each morning.
Lavinia squeezed Jane’s arm. “I must tell you something.”
Jane looked over. “That sounds dangerous.”
“The ton has found a new scandal.”
Jane sighed dramatically. “Already?”
“It appears Lady Fairbourne and her husband are having some sort of disagreement involving a cousin, a missing necklace, and a rather embarrassing carriage incident.”
Jane laughed. “I am delighted.”
Lavinia raised an eyebrow. “You are?”
“Absolutely. I am thrilled to no longer be the most interesting person in London.”
Her friend smiled. “Yesterday’s news?”
“Exactly.”
The conversation shifted naturally, and Jane glanced toward Hector.
“The trial is finally over,” she said.
Lavinia nodded. “Strachan?”
Jane’s expression softened. “Yes. He has been sentenced. He will never be able to harm anyone again.”
A quiet relief settled over the group. So much had happened because of that man. But now he was only a memory. A terrible one, granted, but no longer something that controlled their lives.
Hector approached then, placing a hand gently at Jane’s back. “Everything all right?”
Jane smiled. “Everything is perfect.”
His eyes softened. She had learned that Hector still sometimes worried. Still expected disaster. But he was learning, too. Learning that happiness did not have to disappear the moment he touched it.
Ambrose cleared his throat. “I believe we are all ignoring the most important announcement.”
Jane exchanged a look with Hector. They had not yet told everyone.
Lavinia immediately noticed. “Oh.” Her eyes widened. “Oh, no.”
Jane laughed. “What?”
“You have that look.”
“What look?”
“The look people have right before they reveal something life-changing.”
Ambrose grinned. “She is correct. It is the exact look Hector had when he proposed, except slightly less terrifying.”
Hector frowned. “I was not terrifying.”
“You threatened a man moments before announcing your engagement.”
“A reasonable man would have been intimidated.”
Jane shook her head, laughing. Then she looked around the room. At her mother. At Lavinia. At Ambrose. At Hector. And she realized there was no reason to wait.
“We have received word from the King.”
The room quieted. Hector reached for her hand.
“The petition was approved,” he said.
Jane smiled. “The title of Earl of Wynten has officially passed to Hector.”
Her mother’s eyes filled immediately. “Then...”
“Then our children will carry the title,” Jane finished.
Everyone understood. The weight of it. The kindness of it. The future that had once seemed impossible.
“And,” Hector added, looking at Jane with a tenderness that still made her heart race, “we have another announcement.”
Jane’s smile grew. “We are expecting a child.”
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Lavinia gasped. “Oh, Jane.”
Her friend immediately crossed the room and embraced her. Her mother began crying happily.
Ambrose raised his glass. “To the duke and duchess.”
Hector smiled. “To our child.”
The rest of the evening passed in warmth. There were stories. Laughter. Plans for the future.
For once, Jane did not feel like she was waiting for something terrible to happen. She simply enjoyed the moment.
When the last guest finally departed, the house became quiet again. Jane and Hector returned to the parlor. She sank onto the sofa, tired but happy.
“I think Ambrose ate enough food for three people.”
Hector sat beside her. “He usually does.”
She smiled.
A moment later, a footman entered. “Your Grace.”
He held out a letter. “For the Duchess.”
Jane frowned. “From whom?”
The footman hesitated. “The sender only wrote one word.”
Her fingers tightened around the envelope. “What word?”
“Foxglove.”
Her heart stopped.
Slowly, she opened it. Hector moved closer.
Jane read.
My dearest Jane,
We hope this letter finds you well. We have finally settled in Spain. For the first time ever, we are able to live without pretending to be anything other than ourselves.
We have heard of your marriage and could not be happier for you and the duke. We wish we could have stood beside you on that day.
Please know that we think of you often. We hope you will visit when you are able, and we promise to write as frequently as possible.
With love,
Colin and Evan.
Jane lowered the letter.
For a moment, she simply smiled. “They are happy.”
Hector nodded. “They deserve that.”
She rested her head against his shoulder. “We will visit them.”
“When?”
Jane smiled. “When we can introduce them to their niece or nephew.”
Hector kissed her temple. “I think they would like that.”
Later, when they finally went upstairs, Jane felt lighter than she had in a long time. The future no longer frightened her. It waited for them. Not perfectly. Not without challenges. But they would face everything together.
And when Hector held her close that night, she knew she had found something she had once thought impossible.
A home.
A family.
A love that did not ask her to sacrifice herself.
A love that simply asked her to stay.
Hours later, wrapped safely in his arms, Jane listened to his heartbeat.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered.
She smiled. “That I am very lucky.”
Hector tightened his arms around her. “No.”
She looked up. “We are.”
And Jane believed him completely.
The End?