Epilogue
“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Alegria,” William said, taking off his cap and smiling. “May I introduce Miss Sarah to you?”
“Pleased, to make your acquaintance,” Sarah said, stammering gently as she dropped into a sweet curtsey.
Alice couldn’t help but smile at her deferential manner.
“I am Jacob Cooney’s daughter. Thank you ever so much for the honey you sent for my Grandad.
It helped soothe his throat and cure his cough. ”
“Oh, of course,” Alice said, smiling. She had been sending care packages to the elderly in the village recently.
She wanted to relieve the families still awaiting jobs at the factory of some of the burden of caring for them.
Thankfully, they would not have to wait much longer.
The fair was not only a celebration of the harvest. It also heralded the reopening of Marco’s factory the next day.
“It is lovely that you are stepping out with William. We are very fond of him.”
At her words, William blushed deeply but looked delighted and puffed up his chest. Since his part in Alice's rescue from Hackman, he had become her biggest supporter in the community surrounding Fitzroy manor. William had thrived in his position as Marco’s assistant, and Alice looked forward to the day when he would start his only family.
She was incredibly thankful that her father’s money, which had caused her so much pain, went back into the community Hackman had desecrated.
“I am too,” Sarah said, with a sweet boldness that captured Alice’s heart. William again blushed violently but could not look more proud of himself.
“Where are you employed, Sarah?” Alice asked. She felt Marco looking at her with amusement as if he knew exactly what she would say next.
“I take in washing, my lady,” Sarah said, her eyes shining hopefully.
“Come to Fitzroy Manor tomorrow,” Alice said kindly. “Ask for my lady’s maid. Her name is Beth. I think we might have a place for you.”
“Oh, thank you so much, my lady!” Sarah blushed and squeezed William’s arm, barely concealing her glee at her brighter prospects as the two young lovers retreated.
“You are too soft for your own good,” Marco chuckled. “You are determined to employ every girl you meet."
“I remember how it was to be one of those girls,” Alice said, looking around fondly. “We shall always ensure every one of our neighbors has food to eat and work to do."
“Indeed we shall,” Marco smiled at her proudly. “Now, Mrs. Alegria, might I interest you in a tour of the new factory before it opens?”
“I would be delighted,” Alice said, happy to walk on her husband’s arm in the sunshine as they strolled across the fields to the factory.
They had familiarized themselves with every part of their land since their marriage.
They spent most of their time at Fitzroy Manor since it was so large, and Marco had let out his own property nearby for extra revenue.
He had steadfastly refused to take even a pound of her dowry for his business.
Still, he had happily supported Alice as she poured her money into supporting the local farms and things that needed attention on the Fitzroy estate.
She had plans to build a school for the village children and happily talked about it as they approached the rebuilt factory.
“Here we go,” Marco said quietly, guiding her through the new building to his office. He drew in a breath as they walked around inside, his hand brushing across the surface of the massive desk inside it.
“This is where Thomas sustained his injuries,” Marco said quietly.
“His loss was so tragic,” Alice said gently. They had talked about it in the past, yet it did not stop it from being a painful memory. “I cannot be more sorry for what happened to you all that day.”
“It was not your fault. I do not even blame your father so much anymore,” Marco said, kissing her hand softly, his lips lingering against her ring. “I understand he may not have been a good man, but his biggest failing was that he allowed himself to be manipulated by Hackman.”
“That is the trouble with these grand titles; they make people think they are invincible and infallible,” Alice replied. “In the end, he was betrayed by someone he trusted because he could not see past the man's bloodline. Because he did not listen to my mother.”
“That will never happen to us,” Marco said. “I shall always listen to you, dear wife.”
“That would be most sensible,” Alice joked, taking her husband’s hand. Marco looked around wistfully.
“I will never be able to be in this room without thinking of Thomas and his last moments," he whispered roughly. Alice’s heart ached with the burden of his loss.
“It is right to think of him, remember him, and be grateful for all the work he did for you, for his friendship,” Alice said gently. “But maybe you should think of happier things too.”
“Such as what?” Marco frowned. Alice smiled and leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss against his lips.
“I think we should make a happier memory here,” she whispered, and Marco’s eyes lit up with desire. He quickly closed the door behind them.
“I think that is an excellent idea,” he chuckled.
Marco walked his wife backward until they reached the broad new desk.
“I think you should take a seat,” Marco whispered, lifting her up.
Gasping when he deposited her on the hard surface, Alice recovered quickly and locked her ankles around his thighs, keeping him as close as possible.
He could hear her pleas for more in the way she opened and softened beneath his hands.
He had mapped every inch of her body since their wedding night.
He was fluent in the movements and touches that caused her the most pleasure.
She was his in a way no one else could be, and the fire of their desire consumed them both.
While he devoured her mouth in a scorching kiss, Marco started unfastening her dress with sure, calculated flicks of his fingers.
He knew every hook and pin and button because he took it as his solemn duty to disrobe his wife nightly.
When she protested that she had a lady's maid for such tasks, he told her it was his honor to do it, but it was also his pleasure.
Alice moaned as her clothing loosened and twisted her fingers in Marco's hair, tugging in a way that drove him mad.
He had never imagined the cold woman he first met could be so wanton.
He had taken her in every imaginable place and way they could think of, and he still could not get enough of her body.
He drew her gown down and off her arms, letting it sit at her waist while he untied her stays.
Then he pulled her to her feet and pushed everything, including her shift, to the floor, kicking the pile aside as he sat her back on the desk.
He kissed his way down to the swell of her exposed breast and lingered there.
“Are you teasing me, Marco?” Alice murmured as he hovered just above the spot she wanted him to touch.
“Always,” Marco said fervently, for it was his greatest pleasure.
Taking his time to torture her, he moved his mouth back up to her ear, then moved down again, pausing to sink his teeth into her shoulder.
She yelped and wiggled against him, feeling his arousal through his trousers.
Marco had been delighted to learn that his wife enjoyed the brief pain of his bites and had made sure to nip at her most sensitive parts regularly.
He reached the swell of her breast again and nibbled lightly.
She writhed and silently begged him to take the mound into his mouth.
He teased her for a moment more before pulling her hard nipple into his mouth and sucking.
“Marco!” His shaft hardened even further whenever she said his name in that breathy chant.
He sucked and licked first one nipple, then the other as she asked for more.
When her grip on his hair tightened to the point of pain, he pulled away.
He smiled down at her as she licked her lips.
"Was there something else you wanted, my dear?
" he asked. He loved to tease her into speaking her desires.
Hearing the words from her mouth aroused him to a frenzy.
“Yes, you rogue,” Alice said breathlessly. “I want more.”
“Oh, I can give you more,” Marco whispered against the puckered skin of her nipple, giving it a long lick. “You just need to tell me what that is.”
Alice growled at him and pressed his mouth more firmly to her breast. He chuckled and suckled her again. She started tugging on his jacket buttons and shoved the coat off his shoulders when she had them undone.
Marco came off her nipple with a pop. "Would you like me to take this off?
" At her affirmative answer, he stood back and shrugged it off.
He stilled after tossing the jacket to the floor, arrested by her heavenly beauty.
She was always lovely, but she was stunning at this moment.
She sat on his desk; her body gilded in the warm glow of the sunlight streaming through the window at her back.
She was clad only in white stockings with lacey blue garters.
She was leaning back on her hands, and her thighs were parted, giving him a perfect view of the red curls between her legs, shielding the core he knew was already wet and ready for him.
His gaze moved up to her soft belly, then her plump breasts, the peaks still stiff and pink from his mouth.
He took in the red bite mark on her shoulder with satisfaction before looking at her swollen lips and then into her lust-filled eyes.
Eyes that told him without a word that she was his and always would be.
“You are flawless,” he muttered, glad to have this moment with her to eradicate past memories. “You are the most beautiful creature ever made.”
"And you are my mate. Now undress," she commanded. "I want to see your body too."