Epilogue
Laura opened her eyes to find Nash at the open window, overlooking the lush gardens of the Ravenswood estate awakening to a new day. He took a sip of his morning tea, closed his eyes, and Laura heard a deep sigh.
It was a perfect day for her too. A new beginning.
And like no day she’d ever experienced…or hadn’t in a very long time.
Laura sat up, tucked a few pillows behind her back and made herself comfortable in their new bed.
Nash heard her and rushed to pour a cup of tea to bring to her. She set it aside immediately and pulled him back into bed, determined to be clear about her expectations for him. She kissed him soundly on the lips.
When she freed him, he settled himself at her side and smiled. “Good morning, my love.”
“Good morning,” she said, dropping another kiss on his cheek. “What are you doing up so early?”
He kissed her back. “I couldn’t sleep. I have spent half the night watching you instead.”
“And the other half making love to me,” she whispered, blushing at the memory of all they had done in the dark.
“Well, you did mention you wouldn’t mind another child. It’s my duty to pleasure you to make that happen.”
“All that is actually required is for you to take your pleasure with me ,” she reminded him.
“Where is the fun in that?” he said, and then he kissed her neck, her shoulder, and his hand rose to cup her breast. Slowly, he lowered her nightgown from her shoulder and continued dropping kisses along her bared skin. “I never wanted our nights to end.”
“It’s always been so unfair how easily you can excite me,” she whispered.
“The feeling has always been mutual. I resented having to leave you.”
“Mama?” Liam called suddenly, shocking her with his silent arrival at the door.
“To be continued, my sweet wife,” Nash promised as raised her nightgown back into place over her shoulder before he moved away. “Good morning, Liam.”
“Thomas is awake, too, and so is Isabelle,” Liam confessed, eyes wide. “She was awake before any of us. Will she always do that?”
“Probably.” Laura slipped from the bed and threw a robe over her nightgown. “We had best get her.”
Laura went to their daughter and changed her, then immediately put her down on the floor to play. The little girl went straight to Thomas and cried with happiness when she reached him. Laura backed toward the door, watching her children with pride.
Nash suddenly pulled her close, his arms enveloping her in a warm embrace. “Come back to bed. We’ll leave the door open.”
“Are you sure you can restrain yourself?” she teased.
“Of course, I can,” he whispered, kissing her forehead, her cheek, her throat. “I know I never said it enough before, but I love you. More than anything or anyone.”
Laura looked up at him, filled with happiness from his confession. “I love you too,” she whispered, cupping his face. “I’m so grateful that we found our way back to each other.”
“You’ll never be without me again,” Nash promised as he took her hand, leading her back to her bed, where he fussed with her blankets and brought her a fresh cup of tea. He went to stir the fire and toasted bread for each of them, too. She fell even more in love with him when he tried to feed her a bite of toast in bed, and they ended up laughing about it.
Life together was a brand new adventure and Laura couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
Algernon Sweet, Duke of Ravenswood, rubbed his hands together gleefully after he scurried away to the main part of the house, where he could not hear his brother’s family finally behaving like one.
He was born to be a matchmaker for his brothers. There was nothing more satisfying than knowing those he loved had found their match. He’d helped his cousin Amity reunite with her first love, kept out of Stratford’s way while he pursued his choice, and separated Nash from his children on purpose so that Jasper had a chance to prove himself to Sophie.
But he was most proud of his interference in Nash’s marriage. Forcing him and Laura under the same roof, making them talk to each other honestly, had given him great satisfaction. He just wished it hadn’t taken them almost all of the thirty days to get there.
The women of his family made their men so happy.
Now he was finally free to pursue his own agenda at last. To take a bride who would bear him a son and heir one day soon, he hoped.
His good mood died though.
His bride, his duchess, would not bring him the same joy as his brother’s happy marriages did for them. He would not be marrying for love, but for duty. Still, his way was clear at last.
He would arrange his own marriage when he returned to London in the new year and that would be that. The family would be settled and at peace. Such a thing had not been possible until now.
He startled as he heard two thumps on his right and turned quickly. A pair of dark eyes regarded him solemnly out of a wrinkled face. He forced a smile. “Aunt Violet, you’re up unexpectedly early today. I trust nothing is wrong?”
“Everything is wrong,” she complained, scowling. “We need to talk.”
Thank you reading SURRENDER BECOMES HER! I hope you enjoyed Nash and Laura’s rocky road to love and happiness.