Epilogue
“The parental affection is the first and greatest blessing you can enjoy.”
Dr. John Gregory, A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters
A FEW WEEKS LATER
Something woke Richard from his sleep. His thoughts foggy, he tried to take stock of his senses. He heard breathing, not from Sophia who lay sleeping to his right, but another presence. He lay still, scarcely daring to breathe and alert the intruder that he was conscious.
“Papa?” Richard’s heart skipped a beat in his chest when his son spoke almost directly into his left ear. He threw a hand over his chest, while he attempted to calm his pounding heart. The boy had frightened him out of his wits.
“Shhh … Mama is sleeping. I will come with you to talk.” Richard winced when he made to rise and realized he could not pull back the covers. “Ethan, wait for me in my rooms.”
The boy left his side, giving Richard the opportunity to search for his nightshirt.
He felt around in the dark and found the garment, pulling it close with relief.
However, when he attempted to put it on, he discovered he had merely found Sophia’s discarded night rail and was forced to keep feeling around.
The night rail would never fit over his broad chest.
Once he dressed, he loped carefully to his adjoining bedchamber to find Ethan sitting on the floor waiting for him. Closing the door gently behind him, he walked over and sank down beside his son.
“What is it, Ethan?”
“I was dreaming about Emma.”
“Your cousin?”
“I miss her. Is she well?”
“I do not know for certain, but I did obtain a grand new farm for your family, so I know Emma is now living in Somerset near Saunton Park. Johnson told me that there are fine gardens.”
Ethan smiled. “Emma likes gardening.”
“See, then she must be well. The weather is very pleasant in Somerset, and I am sure everyone in your family is happy with their new home. Johnson told me the library is well-stocked.”
His boy clapped his hands in joy. “Emma likes books.”
“Well, then, it stands to reason she is very happy. Shall we go steal some of Cook’s biscuits before I return you to your bed?”
Ethan shot to his feet. “She made York biscuits this afternoon, but she would not let me try them!”
“We will ferret them out.”
Thirty minutes later, Richard descended the stairs from the nursery, having had a word with the panicked Daisy and the new governess who had awoken to find Ethan missing from his bed.
Bleary from his interrupted sleep, he turned the corner to the corridor leading to the family bedrooms, only to knock into Perry on his way in.
They both panted heavily in the aftermath of the shock of encountering each other in the dark.
“Did you just get home?”
“I am a fully grown man. I do not need to account for my whereabouts, do I?” Perry reeked of wine and cigars.
“Calm yourself, brother. I was displaying interest.”
“The question is, Saunton, why are you prowling the halls at three in the morning?” his brother drawled with a sarcastic tone.
“Ethan woke me up. I just returned from the nursery.”
“The little terror woke you up again?”
“He did. He worries over his family that he left behind.”
“This is what comes of having children. And now you have another on the way. Soon there will be no peace left in this household.”
Richard smiled at the reminder that his countess was with child. “It is not so terrible. He is a clever boy.”
“He might be,” Perry begrudgingly admitted, “but he is also a cautionary tale. Since I learned about your son, I am being most fastidious in ensuring I do not wind up in a similar position. I have no wish for children of my own nor a wife.”
Richard mused on his brother’s words for a moment before responding.
Sophia had pointed out the path to what Perry needed, and Richard was paying mind to her advice.
She was correct in her assessment that Perry lacked purpose in his life, which was why as the head of this household, he planned to alter that.
It was why he had not permitted his brother to accompany Cecil Hayward to New Orleans the month before.
He needed his brother close to hand if he was to intercede in the direction of his younger brother’s path.
“You will change your mind, Perry. When you meet the right woman.”
With that, Richard turned away from his brother to rejoin his beautiful wife in bed.