Epilogue
London.
Josephine startled awake. She jumped and her heart raced before the arm slung over her waist tightened, snuggling her closer to the naked body behind her.
Michael.
His nearness calmed her racing heart even as it sparked every other sense to life.
She arched her back, pressing her bare bottom into the hard length of him.
He was clearly more awake than he let on.
The slide of his stiff member between her curves drew a low, rough sound from his throat as his leg insinuated between hers in silent demand.
His lips found her neck just as a series of loud bangs echoed through the house. Ah! That must have been what woke them. Behind her, Michael groaned and rolled away.
She turned to look at him as he arose from the bed, gloriously naked.
The light was still too dim to see him clearly, but his silhouette, lovingly outlined by the faint glow that spilled along the edges of the curtains, made her mouth water and her womanly place throb with need.
She pressed her thighs together to ease the ache, now that relief would have to be postponed.
Her brain, still befuddled by sleep and passion, attempted to make sense of the situation.
More loud banging and steps shuffling along the corridor outside their room. Michael swore softly and snatched up his trousers from the chair where he had dumped them last night, shoving his legs through. Josephine sat in bed.
“What is going on?” Her voice was husky from sleep.
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out. It must be important to disturb us at this hour.”
“What time is it?”
“Judging by the amount of light outside, I would say it’s not six in the morning yet,” he said as he punched his arms through the sleeves of his shirt and threw a dressing robe over it.
He came to her and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
“Stay right here. I’ll deal with whatever it is quickly and return to our bed. Then we can resume where we left off.”
His voice had lowered on the last sentence. The intimate sound curling around her heart and liquifying her center. But… no way was she going to stay in bed passively while he went and dealt with the issue by himself.
“Wait, I’ll go with you.” She jumped from the bed as naked as he had been, for they seldom wore clothes to bed anymore. Why bother when they wouldn’t stay on for long?
But Michael shook his head. “Stay here. There could be trouble afoot. I don’t want you to walk into a dangerous situation.”
With that, he walked out of the room. She heard him conferring with someone outside in the hallway, probably the butler, before she ran into her dressing room to get dressed.
A memory of another time when she had intruded on a late-night visit, with disastrous results, froze her in place for a moment.
For the millionth time she wished she had stayed in her room that night when she had barged in on her brother being beaten by the Pasha and his men, setting off a chain of events that tore her away from Michael and landed her prisoner in the harem for twelve long years.
Fear wanted to make her stay hidden. Out of sight. But if there was trouble afoot, she should face it next to Michael.
There was no time to dress in proper clothes, and she would never manage on her own, but she donned her unused nightgown and threw a heavy dressing robe over it.
This would do. She was covered from neck to toes.
Besides, she would proceed with caution and stay out of sight until she assessed the situation.
She was descending the stairs when she heard a feminine voice in the drawing room, followed by Michael’s deeper timbre.
Inching closer, she was able to distinguish words and identify the voice.
“Sorry to intrude, Your Grace. But the matter is urgent, and I didn’t know where else to go.”
“You did well coming here. I’ll go fetch Josephine.”
She needed no more encouragement to enter.
Michael and Alice turned as she opened the door.
“Oh, it seems there’s no need to fetch my wife. She followed me, after all.”
Her cheeks warmed at his gentle reproach that she hadn’t waited, as he’d told her to.
“I wouldn’t have barged in if I hadn’t recognized Alice’s voice,” she explained. “But when I did, I wondered if there was trouble at the Ladies’ Lair.”
That’s what they had called the charity house where they housed women and children in need of help.
Michael came around and threw an arm around her shoulders, giving her a half hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
“I’ll leave you ladies to talk among yourselves.” He caught her eye, and every trace of teasing had vanished from his expression. “Please, don’t do anything rash. Or at least inform me before you do it.”
She stood on tiptoes to give him a quick peck on his lips. “I promise.”
“I’ll be in my study.”
With that, he exited the room, closing the door behind him.
“Alice,” she said, walking toward her friend, with her hands outstretched. “What is the matter? Are you in trouble?”
Alice shook her head. “I’m fine. But there’s someone, or rather, two someones in need of urgent help.”
She motioned to the sofa behind her and, for the first time, Josephine noticed a big basket lying there. She walked towards it, wariness and anticipation slithering down her spine. Lifting the woven top off, she peered inside and gasped.
“Babies!” There were two babies lying in a nest of soft blankets. Their eyes were closed, and they were so still that for an anguished moment she feared… but no. The blanket moved softly with their breathing. They were sleeping.
“Yes,” Alice confirmed. “Twins. A boy and a girl. They were born a few hours ago, but unfortunately, their mother didn’t survive.”
“Oh, dear god.” Josephine brought a hand to her chest. Longing to cradle them in her arms, but afraid to hurt them. “They are so tiny.”
Alice nodded. “I would have taken them to the Lady’s Lair, but I was there yesterday and there was a touch of influenza going around.
Several women and many of the children are under the weather.
Nothing serious, but as small and defenseless as these babies are, I didn’t want to risk them catching it. ”
“You were right in bringing them here. They need a wet nurse urgently,” Josephine said as she ran to the bell and rang for help.
“I didn’t know where else to go. Abigail and Hannah are in the country. And so is Esther.”
Josephine knew why Abigail was in the country—she had just given birth.
A boy, she’d written with evident pride.
The heir they needed. Josephine was genuinely happy for her, even if a quiet ache stirred beneath the joy.
Esther and Elizabeth had gone to stay with her, helping however they could.
Hannah wasn’t due for several more months, but Brentworth had taken her away from town as well, eager to care for her through the rest of her pregnancy.
They might have gone to their country estate, like the others, if not for pressing matters in Parliament.
Major legislative issues were being discussed, a prorogation had been issued, and Michael was needed in town.
Not that it made much difference; it was not like she was, or was likely to be, in a delicate condition.
A small pang tugged at her, one she quickly buried.
It was becoming easier, this quiet ache.
One day, soon, she would hear talk of babies and blessings and feel nothing at all.
The housekeeper entered the room at that moment, and Josephine sprung into action.
“Mrs. Pritchard, we need to find a wet nurse, preferably two, as soon as possible. Do you or any of the maids know of anyone? If not, please send a footman to the Servant’s Registry, and another to the Foundling Hospital.
We need a wet nurse here within the hour. ”
If the housekeeper thought to wonder why Josephine needed a wet nurse, she was too well trained to question it.
“I will enquire immediately, Your Grace.” She bowed and left, her legs carrying her as fast as she could without looking undignified.
With that urgent matter attended, Josephine turned to Alice, who was tucking the blanket around the sleeping babies.
“Thank you for taking them in,” Alice said softly, running a finger along one downy cheek. “I would have taken care of them, but I’m in the middle of a mission. Besides, my life is not conducive to raising a family.”
And yet, it was obvious her friend craved it. There was yearning in her voice and her eyes. A feeling that was all too familiar.
“Forgive me for meddling, but have you thought about maybe retiring from your work? Perhaps marrying and having children of your own?” She didn’t want to pry into her friend’s life, but she didn’t seem satisfied with her current lot.
If there was something she could do to repay her all her kindness after Alice helped free her from the harem…
“I’m already married,” Alice said.
Josephine’s eyes must have reflected her shock because she added with a twisted half smile. “But I’m estranged from my husband, so marital bliss and motherhood are unlikely to be in my future.”
Oh, that put a completely different light on her friend’s affairs. “Is your husband cruel? Did he abuse you? Is that why you are estranged?” She was being unbelievably forward, but genuine concern for her friend compelled her.
“Oh no, nothing like that,” Alice rushed to reassure her. “He’s a good man. We married for love and for a while we were blissfully happy together. But then our lives changed, and our paths diverged.”
So much sadness colored her friend’s tone. Josephine reached out her hand. “I’m so sorry Alice. Is there no possibility of reconciliation? It sounds as if you still love him, and you admitted he’s a good man.”
But Alice shook her head. “He’s attempting to divorce me.”
Josephine gasped. Divorce was such a drastic step. Granted only in cases of adultery. She could not believe Alice would do that.