Epilogue - The Following Year
“Finally,” Kate exclaimed as she and Sophie stood just inside the foyer at Blackwell House in London, preparing to greet their guests. “I finally get to host my ball.”
Sophie side-eyed her. “It was only delayed by one year.”
“Do you have any idea how much fashions can change in a season?” Kate demanded, a hand propped on her hip. “I had plans. I blame you. I could hardly throw my first official ball as the viscountess without you and Nicholas present.”
Flashing her a smile, Sophie said, “We appreciate you waiting. Besides, surely it’s better to do it this way, debuting two new couples as society hosts and hostesses.”
Kate tilted her head. “It will certainly make more of a splash, and it’s nice to do it together.”
“Good evening, wife.”
Sophie turned toward the stairwell, where Nicholas and Theodore were descending side by side. Her gaze skimmed right over Theodore and landed on Nicholas, who’d had new attire created for the occasion.
His pale green shirt made his complexion seem warmer and softened his harsher features, while the rich blue waistcoat matched the accents on Sophie’s gown and emphasized the breadth of his shoulders.
His hair was loose, glossy in the candlelight, and between that and the full beard…. Well, suffice it to say that she couldn’t wait to get her hands on him later.
“Nicholas.” She kissed him but dodged out of the way when he tried to grab her more firmly. The last thing she needed was for him to muss her before their guests arrived.
Beside him, Theodore was attired very differently—all in black, which drew attention to the harsh lines and angles of his face and made him appear paler than his brother.
With his clean-shaven jaw and neat, short hair, he and Nicholas were a study in contrast.
If one paid attention, the similarities were present in the shape of their faces, their matching sharp noses, and the color of their hair and eyes, but Nicholas’s eyes were crinkled at the corners, his mouth constantly on the verge of smiling and Theodore was much more contained.
They were clearly brothers, but Sophie doubted that anyone would identify them as twins.
Albert opened the front entrance, and a cool breeze whistled through, billowing Emma’s skirt as she stepped inside with Vaughan.
Close behind them were Lord and Lady Carlisle.
They must have shared a carriage—or perhaps they’d wanted to be supportive, so they’d been waiting outside for Albert to indicate that it was an acceptable time to approach.
Sophie bounced over and hugged Emma, who was looking around in wonder. Her sister smelled faintly of vanilla and something else sweet—like perhaps she’d eaten a piece of cake before departing Ashford House.
“You’ve outdone yourselves,” Emma declared, returning the embrace and then greeting Kate just as warmly.
“It was all Kate,” Sophie told her. “I just followed instructions.”
“Wait until you see the ballroom,” Nicholas added, bowing to her and then to Sophie’s parents. “Thank you all for coming. I hope you have a delightful evening.”
A maid appeared and offered them a tray of drinks.
Lady Carlisle helped herself to a glass of champagne with a satisfied little twist to her lips. She raised her glass. “To my daughters, all of whom are, thankfully, married—and decidedly better than I’d dared to hope.”
Sophie glanced at Emma and found her sister looking back, laughter dancing in her eyes.
“Best of luck,” Vaughan said, clasping first Theodore’s hand and then Nicholas’s. “There are others waiting outside, so we’ll see ourselves into the ballroom.”
They swept away—Lady Carlisle reaching back and snatching a second glass of champagne as they left.
Only seconds later, Amelia and Andrew wandered in, both slightly windblown and rosy in the cheeks.
“Can’t wait to see what you’ve done with the place,” Andrew declared to Kate, striding over and kissing her cheek. “I daresay you’ve had plenty of time to make preparations.”
Kate huffed. “You do realize I couldn’t use the same designs I was working on last season?”
Andrew just grinned, apparently unperturbed, and Sophie fought the urge to laugh. Poor Kate—no one was taking her woes seriously. Perhaps they would if it weren’t so obvious that she’d enjoyed the process.
Andrew stepped aside, taking Amelia with him, and Sophie noticed for the first time that they weren’t alone.
Lady Drake waited behind them, her arm tucked into a gentleman’s.
Sophie gasped and peered up at the man.
It was Colonel Moore.
“I believe you’ve met the colonel,” Andrew said, gesturing to him. “He’s accompanying Mother tonight.”
Sophie bit the inside of her lip to hold back an inappropriate grin.
That sly thing!
Kate had mentioned that Lady Drake had discussed the possibility of remarrying after her children were wed, but this was the first evidence Sophie had seen that she might be seriously considering it.
She and the colonel made a good-looking pair, and the fact the colonel was a few years younger than Lady Drake only impressed Sophie further.
“Welcome,” Kate said, handling the situation more smoothly than Sophie. Perhaps she’d already known. Although if that were the case, she’d neglected to share the very important gossip with her closest friend.
Shame on her.
“I’m delighted to be here.” Colonel Moore bowed deeply. “Thank you for the invitation, my lady.”
“You’re most welcome, Colonel. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”
The group moved onward, and just as Sophie prepared to scold her friend for not sharing this scandalous news with her, footsteps sounded on the stairs behind them.
The dowager viscountess was making her way down, dressed in a shade that tiptoed the line between purple and pink. She’d been making slow progress with easing out of her habit of wearing mourning colors.
She looked at the foursome who’d entered the ballroom and then at Nicholas and Theodore, who stood beside each other in a public social setting with the intention of garnering attention for the first time in their lives.
“Has anyone…?” She trailed off.
Sophie strode over and took her arm, ushering her to join them. “No one has said a word, Lady Blackwell. At least, not on the subject you’re thinking of. They’ve not even been spared a second glance.”
Lady Blackwell nodded, but the stiffness of her bearing didn’t ease. Despite the fact that she clearly expected the worst, she was present to support her sons and daughters-in-law for their first combined ball, and that meant something.
Albert brought Lord and Lady Wembley to greet them, and then Baron and Baroness Sylvestor, followed by the Duke and Duchess of Arundel, and on and on. A continuous parade of the most highly regarded members of the ton, here to support them—or just excited to have a new event to gossip about.
No one said anything about Nicholas and Theodore.
Sophie didn’t get the impression that anyone even paid them enough attention to wonder.
But why should they?
The ton didn’t know that Nicholas and Theodore had avoided being seen together in public settings for years. They’d done it so naturally, with their differing areas of enjoyment, that it hadn’t occurred to anyone that such behavior might be odd.
So they didn’t look now, and they didn’t question, and bit by bit, Lady Blackwell’s shoulders dropped until they were back where they ought to be rather than up around her ears.
By the time they’d welcomed all of their guests into their home, the dancing had already begun.
Nicholas winked at Sophie and offered her his hand. She took it, and he swept her through the crowd and onto the dance floor, where they joined the other dancers in a waltz.
As he guided her smoothly around their peers, her heart filled to bursting.
She couldn’t believe she’d gotten so lucky.
Not only did she have the love of the only man she’d ever wanted, but her life was so full of friends and family that she could hardly fathom it.
On the dance floor, Emma and Vaughan were swaying gracefully together, and Kate and Theodore were completely absorbed in each other.
Amelia and Andrew were chatting with Lady Drake and Colonel Moore near the musicians, and Lady Blackwell was sipping champagne with Lady Carlisle in the corner.
It was perfect.
She caught Nicholas’s gaze and smiled. “I love you.”
He spun her, but as she returned to his embrace, he dipped his head and kissed her. Right there, in the ballroom, where anyone could see.
His eyes twinkled as he raised his head and kept his hand on her lower back to support her. “I love you, too, my firebrand. Forever.”
THE END