Epilogue
Eight days later…
“Are you ready, my lady?”
Astara turned from the mirror and glanced at her ladies’ maid. It was so surreal to be referred to as anything but Miss Smith after years of hearing nothing but the same, but she supposed she would not have to hear that much longer as she would soon be addressed as “Your Grace.”
She had never thought it possible that she would ever truly live to know her family, or that she would discover a love so abiding and true that Knox had been willing to give up everything at a moment’s notice to spend the rest of his life at her side.
Once Lord Arkham and his cohort had been handed over to the authorities, Knox had surprised her by revealing two things—one, that he had handed in his resignation to the Lion’s Watch, claiming that it had served him well over the years when he had been struggling to find purchase, but now that he had her, he had no further need or desire for intrigue.
Second, and likely the most shocking revelation of all, was that it had been confirmed from papers that had been shoved into the archives of the orphanage, written by the baby farmer who had written a statement, that Astara was, in fact, the missing daughter of the Marquess of Vale.
She had been taken to the orphanage in the hopes that someday, she might be reconciled with her family but knowing it was not safe for her to take the babe back home.
She had broken down in tears, not only because such a long wait was finally at an end, but because she’d met the marquess and realized that he was a man of honor. When the revelation was announced to the marquess, more than a few tears had been shed from both sides.
“I think I knew it from the moment you walked in the door,” he had said to her, his focus continuing to roam over her face. “It was too similar not to be true.”
Because of her newfound “lady” status, there was no longer any impediment for her to accept a duke’s hand.
The marquess was overjoyed, of course. Society was also quite forgiving.
Knox had let it be known that Astara had reentered society to ferret out her dishonorable, traitor brother, knowing that he could not resist the allure of someone he had wanted disposed of long ago.
It was a variation of the truth but one that was received with much empathy.
Lord Vale was a respected member of society, and when the story of his long-awaited search had been revealed, invitations began to pour in to welcome Lady Astara to every society event.
She smiled to herself, wondering what the reaction might be once they learned she had married the Duke of Hampton in a quiet, intimate ceremony at the Marquess of Vale’s townhouse—her father.
She clutched her stomach, attempting in vain to calm its fluttering with nerves, but added a pleasant smile on her face that was not forced.
She truly was happy and content for likely the first time in her life.
She had the love of two men at her side as she exchanged vows in front of the vicar, the look in Knox’s eyes filling her with so much love it threatened to pour out of her eyes as emotional tears.
There might still be an ongoing war with Napoleon on the continent, but today truly was the best day ever.