Epilogue
THREE MONTHS LATER
“Mama!” Tilly called out as she ran toward Edith with a bundle of daisies in her hand.
Edith was sitting on the picnic blanket under a small grove of trees and smiled warmly at her.
“Be careful, Tilly,” she cautioned as the girl crashed onto the blanket.
By now, it was the end of summer, three months since Laurence’s apology at Richmond Estate. The temperatures were dropping, and while most of the ton was still focused on the Season, the Thornwaite family had been more insular.
Laurence had been preoccupied with showing Edith and Tilly that he was serious in his attempts at earning their forgiveness.
Tilly’s chambers were now more akin to a toy chest than sleeping quarters, although her favorite toy was still her first doll.
Laurence had also been doting on Edith and assisting her with her charity work.
All of it led up to that day, when the weather was right. Laurence had been the one to suggest they go for a picnic. As much as his enthusiasm to leave the townhouse had been a surprise, it wasn’t unwelcome.
Tilly held up the flowers with obvious pride and waved them at Edith.
“That’s wonderful, Tilly,” Edith praised. “But we shouldn’t pull out too many flowers, or there won’t be any for anyone else.”
“But, but…” Tilly pouted a little. “Papa said he would show me how to make a daisy chain.”
“I can do that without you pulling out all the daisies in Hyde Park,” Laurence quipped as he arrived with the basket of food. His smile was warm and genuine—everything Edith had missed during their separation.
“Papa!” Tilly cried out, scrambling up to hug his leg.
“Whoa!” He laughed as she nearly knocked him over. “Be careful, Tilly.”
“Show me how to do it!” Tilly demanded. “Show me! Show me!”
“Once you have sat down, young lady!” Laurence chided gently.
Tilly giggled and sat with crossed legs on the blanket, beaming at her parents.
Laurence sat down, putting down the basket of food.
He pulled out savory pies for each of them.
Edith smiled and took one, then watched Laurence show Tilly how to wrap the long daisy stems around each other, forming a long chain stuffed with flowers.
Tilly was smiling and giggling the whole time as she followed her father’s careful instructions.
Edith watched them, carefully eating her food. Laurence wasn’t the cold man she had first married. He was now softer, kinder to her and Tilly. The servants had noticed the changes too. Abigail, who was bringing drinks from the carriage, hadn’t stopped smiling since the family returned.
“Is that him?” someone nearby asked. It was clear they were trying, and failing, to be quiet.
Edith glanced over her shoulder to see two ladies talking behind their fans.
“Yes, I believe so,” the other lady replied.
Edith tensed, praying Laurence wouldn’t hear them, thinking the worst.
“That is the man who punched Lord Hargrove?” the first lady asked.
Edith pursed her lips to stop herself from laughing.
“Indeed.” The second lady nodded gravely. “Good on him. Someone had to handle that snake of a man, eventually.”
Edith turned back to her family, her shoulders shaking as she held in her laughter.
Laurence looked up and raised an eyebrow. “What has made you so amused, my love?” he asked.
“I heard someone talking,” she replied. “It seems you’re now more well-known for the incident with Lord Hargrove than your scars.”
Laurence grinned. “Well, that’s good to know. And I do think that more misfortune may be coming his way.”
“Really?” Edith’s eyebrows flew up.
“Indeed.” Laurence nodded. “I heard that his deal on some houses in the East End went sour.”
“Oh my,” Edith gasped. “Any idea why?”
“Some say that he did not have the funds to wrap up the deal,” Laurence replied.
Edith bit her cheek to stop herself from laughing. “I am sure that will not reflect well within the peerage,” she said.
“Indeed. Last I heard, he is starting to lose a few friends,” Laurence added.
“Well, we already don’t plan to invite him to another event.” Edith shrugged.
Laurence nodded with a chuckle.
“Papaaaa…” Tilly pouted, looking up at him. “I’m stuck.”
Laurence’s expression softened.
“Let me have a look,” he said, inspecting the daisy chain. “Ah, you’re so close! You just twisted these ones the wrong way.”
“Oh…” Tilly murmured, taking the daisy chain back.
Edith beamed as she watched them working together. Tilly’s little hands worked diligently to fix her mistakes, and eventually, she had a chain of daisies.
“It’s a flower crown!” she squealed.
“Well done.” Edith beamed.
“It’s for Mama,” Tilly said, placing it on Edith’s head.
Edith’s heart melted. She adjusted the flower crown. “It’s beautiful, Tilly.”
The little girl’s smile widened.
“You did so well,” Laurence praised, hugging her tightly. He kissed the top of her head and then looked at Edith. “Do you think it’s time to tell her?”
“Tell me what?” Tilly asked, looking between them.
“Tilly,” Laurence began gently. “There’s something we need to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” Tilly asked. Her expression shifted, suddenly looking very anxious.
Laurence stroked her back, trying to soothe her.
“Do you know that the Duchess of Richmond has been growing a baby?” Edith asked.
Tilly nodded. “Yes, she keeps getting bigger and bigger,” she mumbled.
“Tilly…” Laurence chuckled. “That is not how you refer to a lady in Her Grace’s condition.”
“It’s still true.” Tilly pouted.
“In any event,” Edith piped up, “how would you feel if we told you that I was going to grow a baby?”
Tilly’s eyes widened. “I could have a baby brother or sister?!” she shrieked.
“Yes.” Edith beamed. “You could. And they could be here in spring.”
“In spring…” Tilly echoed, her eyes filled with wonder. “And I could play games with them?”
“When they’re a little older, yes,” Edith said warmly.
“And we could take them to the duck pond on Richmond Estate?” Tilly asked.
“And to the village near the castle, and to church,” Laurence added.
Tilly giggled and wriggled with excitement. “Yes! Yes! Have a baby!” she demanded.
Edith snorted, and several people around them turned to look.
“Tilly,” Laurence chided gently. “You can’t just shout that out.”
“Why not?” Tilly asked. “I want you to have a baby.”
“The process of making a baby is very private,” Edith explained.
Tilly nodded. “And… have you done it already?” she whispered.
Edith giggled and nodded. “Yes, Tilly. I’m pregnant.”
Tilly giggled, then leapt from Laurence’s arms into Edith’s and buried her head in Edith’s shoulder. “A baby!” she squealed.
After a moment, she pulled back, a small frown forming on her face.
“What’s wrong?” Laurence asked.
“Babies take a lot of work, don’t they?” Tilly asked. “And they cry a lot?”
Edith nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“But…” Tilly shifted in her seat. “What if you’re so busy with the baby that you… forget about me?”
Edith and Laurence shared a look, their hearts breaking at her fear. They both pulled her into a hug.
“We could never forget about you, Tilly,” Edith promised softly.
“You’re our daughter, our special girl. We will love you and your sibling, and we will never forget about you,” Laurence said.
Tilly nodded, hugging them back. “Promise?” she whispered.
“We promise,” Edith and Laurence said in unison.
Tilly’s smile returned. “All right, thank you.”
“And do you know what happens to very special daughters?” Laurence asked, grinning.
Tilly looked curious and shook her head.
Edith could see Laurence’s eyes glinting with mischief.
“They get chased… by daddy monsters!” he growled, tickling Tilly.
The little girl squealed with glee, wriggled free of their embrace, and sprinted away from the picnic blanket. Laurence rose and gave chase as she ran around the trees and plants.
“Be careful!” Edith called after them, laughing at the sight.
She never thought that she would get to this stage with her family, watching them run and laugh. It was everything she had ever wanted.
She was struck by a sudden memory, one she had long forgotten, of her running through her family’s gardens and her father chasing her. She had been laughing and squealing like Tilly was doing now.
Her eyes filled with happy tears at the good memory, before seeing it repeat with Tilly and Laurence.
She wiped her eyes just as Laurence caught the little girl, taking her into his arms and spinning her around. Tilly laughed loudly. Laurence carried her back to the blanket.
“It looks like I won,” he teased as he sat down with her.
“Indeed, it does.” Edith chuckled.
“And do you know what daddy monsters do when they catch their little girls?” Laurence asked.
“No?” Tilly giggled.
“They eat them!” Laurence roared.
“Nooo!” Tilly squealed.
“I have heard daddy monsters can be given pie so they don’t eat little girls.” Edith grinned.
Tilly giggled and squirmed out of Laurence’s arms. She took a pie out of the basket and pushed it into his mouth.
“Tilly!” Laurence gasped, pushing the pie from his face.
“Eat it!” Tilly giggled.
“Fine, fine,” Laurence relented, taking the pie from her.
“You cheeky girl,” Edith teased.
“We really should teach her better manners,” Laurence declared somberly.
“I already have good manners,” Tilly said, taking out a pie for Edith.
“Oh, really?” Edith grinned, taking it from her.
“I am!” Tilly laughed.
Edith pulled her into a tight hug.
The little family ate together on the blanket, talking and laughing for the rest of the afternoon. By the time they had to go home, Tilly was already yawning.
“I think someone needs to go to bed,” Edith intoned.
“I’m not tired,” Tilly protested.
“I don’t think so,” Laurence said as he held her hand and walked her to the carriage.
Tilly pouted, but by the time they were back at the castle, she was asleep in Laurence’s lap.
As they stepped out, Edith scooped Tilly into her arms and carried her to her chambers. She tucked the little girl in and kissed her forehead.
“Sleep well,” she whispered, before tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door behind her.
She walked back down the hallway toward hers and Laurence’s chambers.
As soon as she stepped inside, Laurence pulled her close. He kissed her deeply, his large hand sliding into her hair. She moaned into the kiss and wrapped her arms around him. He lifted her and placed her on the bed.
“I still have much making up to do,” he purred, breaking their kiss. His lips moved to her neck, his hands already working on her dress.
“Is that going to be your excuse every time you want to take your pregnant wife to bed?” She giggled.
“Well, it is a very good excuse.” He smirked.
“It is,” she sighed. “And I am never going to say no to you making amends to me.”
He chuckled and pushed up her dress, kissing up her thighs as he so often loved to do.
“You deserve so much more than I can give,” he moaned as his mouth met her folds.
She whimpered, and her hands found their way to his hair.
“But I’ll take what you can give,” she gasped.
He shivered, and his tongue pressed into her, making her thighs clamp around his head.
“I still know where you love to be touched,” he teased as he licked her sensitive bundle of nerves.
“You’re the only man who does,” she moaned.
She watched as his eyes darkened with possessiveness. She adored that look. It made her feel wanted. Desired. Needed. Like she was the only thing keeping him breathing. Like he would do anything for her.
His tongue pressed in again, and she cried out in pleasure. It went deeper, pressing against the spots that made her see stars. She felt her walls clench around his tongue and knew she was getting close to her release.
And then he pulled back.
She let out a needy whine as he sat on his heels.
He grinned at her. “Patience,” he cooed.
“I feel like I’ve been patient enough with you,” she huffed.
He chuckled and stood up before pulling off his breeches. His hand went to his length, stroking it earnestly. She swallowed hard as she watched him put on a show for her.
“Are you going to do this with or without your dress on?” he asked teasingly.
She suddenly scrambled to pull off her clothes, making him laugh.
“Don’t you want me to be eager?” she asked as her petticoat came off.
“Now, whatever gave you that idea?” he drawled, walking to the edge of the bed as he pulled off his waistcoat.
“You laughed at me,” she pointed out, helping him with his buttons.
He rolled his eyes. “I did not mean to be rude,” he said, pushing her onto the bed. “It still amuses me how you can be so serious running your charity. And yet, when we end up in bed together, you forget all propriety.”
“I did not think my husband would want propriety with me,” she quipped.
“I suppose not,” he said, kissing her neck.
She moaned, sinking into the mattress. Slowly but surely, he pushed his length into her. She gasped, the feeling of fullness stealing her breath. He groaned and started moving inside her.
“I love you,” he panted.
“I love you too,” she moaned.
He gripped her hips, pushing into her more deeply while keeping the same rhythm.
“More,” she whimpered.
He chuckled. “More? But I thought you would take whatever I could give.”
“And I know you can give me more,” she said. “So give me more.”
He grinned and kissed her neck again. He opened his mouth, his teeth grazing her skin. She gasped as he lightly bit her neck and thrust into her faster. She cried out in pleasure, her back arching off the bed.
He groaned. “Better?” he asked against her skin.
“Much,” she breathed.
He grinned and bit the junction between her shoulder and neck. His hand moved from her hip, and he pressed his thumb against her sensitive bud.
“Oh!” she cried out as his thumb circled the bundle of nerves. “Laurence, I’m going to…”
“Do it,” he panted. “Let me feel your pleasure, Edith.”
Her eyes rolled back, and she cried out as pleasure washed over her. She felt her walls spasm and coat his length in her arousal.
Laurence moaned, and a few more thrusts later, he joined her, falling into ecstasy. She whimpered as his seed filled her.
He pulled back and looked down at her, his eyes shining with adoration. “You are perfect,” he murmured, moving to cuddle her.
“I could say the same to you,” she said, pressing into him.
“I am far from perfect,” he mumbled.
“But you are the perfect man for me,” she whispered tenderly.
His expression softened, and he kissed her forehead.
They stayed tangled in the sheets, sleeping peacefully through the night.
Edith knew she would never tire of him.
The End?