Epilogue
Two months later
The study of Lord Lucien Ashcroft Westley, Earl of Ashcroft
Mayfair, England
Three reformed Rakehells of Mayfair lounged in the richly appointed study of the Earl of Ashcroft.
Tendrils of cigar smoke curled around them, forming delicate clouds that hung in the air, mixing with the sounds of low laughter and the soft clinking of crystal glasses that reflected the flickering light from the roaring fireplace.
Lucien, leaning forward across the polished surface of his heavy oak desk, extinguished his cigar on an elegant crystal salver. “We really should join our wives in the library,” he suggested, a hint of amusement in his voice as he glanced at the door.
Wylder chuckled softly. “If we linger any longer, Emily may very well come storming in here herself. She’s quite the determined little thing,” he replied, a fond smile creeping across his face at the thought of his spirited wife.
Simon, taking a measured sip of brandy, leaned back in his chair with exasperated humor dancing in his eyes as he regarded his brother-in-law. “You’ve had no luck in taming my dear sister, have you?” he remarked, shaking his head slightly.
“No, and hopefully I never will.” Wylder’s demeanor was one of complete contentment, his grin unrepentant. “Though I will never stop trying, of course.” Turning more somber, he asked, “What news is there of Lord Grant?”
“An unexpected turn of events,” Simon remarked slowly. He’d been reluctant to bring up the subject, but it couldn’t be helped now. “I received the news yesterday that the man is dead.”
Lucien’s eyes widened in apparent disbelief. “Dead? While imprisoned at Newgate, no less, and awaiting trial in the House of Lords? Why on earth did you not tell us sooner, Simon?” His voice rose, a mixture of shock and urgency. “What was the manner of his demise?”
“I’m not entirely sure of the specifics,” Simon replied, frowning as he stared into the remains of the brandy in his glass, watching the dark liquid swirl. “All I know is that he fell ill a week ago, and by the time a physician was summoned, it was already too late. He was dead.”
Silence enveloped the room for several moments.
Finally, Simon spoke again, his voice low but firm.
“To say I am relieved by this development is an understatement. The thought of that trial loomed over us like a thunder cloud, and it would have been unbearably difficult on Penelope. I’ve not yet informed her parents of Grant’s death.
They were shocked by the man’s actions and vowed they had no knowledge of his larcenous intentions.
For all their greedy avarice, I find myself believing Lord and Lady True in the matter.
Regardless, I still intend on limiting their contact with my wife unless she decides otherwise. ”
Wylder, leaning back in his chair, reflected on Simon’s statement with a fierce look in his gray eyes.
“There was a time when threats like the one you faced with Lord Grant were handled swiftly and decisively. I, for one, would have gladly offered my assistance in eliminating the man.” His tone betrayed a hint of nostalgia for a more brutal, straightforward code of honor.
Simon met the gaze of his two closest friends, his expression a mixture of gratitude and resolve.
“In truth, I wanted to kill him that very afternoon. Every bone in my body craved revenge; I envisioned prolonging his suffering in the most bloodthirsty manner I could conceive. But I couldn’t do it.
I could not subject Penelope to that sort of nightmare.
The last thing she needed was another horror to bear. ”
It remained unspoken, but Simon harbored a deeply personal reason for his restraint that day by the stream.
He wanted to preserve the serene beauty of the small clearing, not wishing to mar it with bloodshed.
Controlling his darker instincts was a moral victory, and the day after the attack, he honored his promise to Penelope.
They returned to the tranquil spot, intent on forging new, joyful memories.
He was shocked when his beloved wife insisted that he bind her to one of the sturdy trees that stood watch over the clearing.
Her eyes had darkened as she encouraged him to use the crop on her flesh.
Her demands were a thrilling mix of challenge and yearning, urging Simon to embrace the darker side of their shared passion.
With every plea, she willingly surrendered to his dominant nature, her cries of pleasure echoing in the stillness of the woods as he took what he desired, both tender and fierce in his possession.
Afterward, in the aftermath of their primal encounter, Simon enveloped Penelope in his arms, showering her with kisses that conveyed the depth of his adoration.
He whispered promises and vows, reaffirming his love for her, each word imbued with sincerity.
The two of them then slipped into the cool, clear waters of the stream, where he taught her how to float and showed her the joy of splashing at the water’s edge just for the sake of it.
Later, they collapsed together on a blanket laid out in the tall grass, the world around them fading away as they shared dreams and plans for the future.
They made love again, a slow, tender dance that sealed their bond.
And after, Simon brushed away her tears as they trickled down her cheeks.
He held her close, overwhelmed by the love they had forged despite it all.
It was a perfect day, one that would linger in their memories for an eternity.
“I’m genuinely glad that the ordeal has come to an end, Simon,” Lucien said, with a sympathetic smile. “Now you and your brave Penelope can focus on each other without the weight of that burden. You can truly embrace all that life has to offer together.”
Wylder raised his glass high, the crystal shimmering in the light. “To your marriage, my friend. May it be a source of endless joy.”
“Indeed, to each of us and our beautiful wives,” Lucien echoed, rising from his desk.
“To contentment,” Simon added as he joined the two men.
He clinked his glass against theirs. “And most importantly,” he declared solemnly, “to us. Three reformed, fortunate rakehells who fell in love, proving that even the wildest hearts can find true happiness.” Letting out a sigh, he grinned.
“And as loath as I am to admit the pair of you were right about everything, I’ve never known such joy.
Penelope is my love. She is everything to me. ”
He marveled at how they had both changed since the day they became man and wife.
He no longer desired the life of a rakehell, and the shy, timid creature Penelope had once been had melted away to reveal a woman confident in herself and her position as Countess of Camden.
The love between them had strengthened them both, and Simon could not envision ever being without Penelope.
The marriage that had begun in the most scandalous manner had truly blossomed into a love affair.
“It was simply a matter of time before you tumbled headfirst into love,” Lucien said with a pleased grin.
“It is the most wonderous, exasperating, beautiful thing in the world, is it not?” Wylder mused, his silver gaze warm as he considered his brother-in-law. “Gentlemen, let us drink to our wives. They are truly the fairest in all of England!”
As the men raised their glasses to their lips, the heavy oak door to Lucien’s study swung open with a soft creak, ushering in a wave of feminine laughter that filled the room with warmth.
“We grew weary of waiting for the three of you,” Charlotte announced, her eyes sparkling as she glided into the room with Emily and Penelope following closely behind.
Without hesitation, she approached her husband, an alluring smile gracing her lips.
Lucien wrapped an arm around her waist, murmuring something in her ear that made Charlotte’s smile melt into a sweet giggle.
Emily, feigning indignation, tossed her dark hair.
She pouted prettily as Wylder quickly made his way to her.
“I was waiting for you to return as you owed me a kiss and a favor, Wylder. Do you remember that you promised to teach Penelope and Charlotte how to play billiards?” Reaching up, she affectionately brushed a lock of his hair from his brow.
Her hand drifted down to rest on his chest, and Wylder wrapped his fingers around it, lifting it to his lips and brushing a lingering kiss along the back of it.
“A scandalous endeavor indeed,” Wylder replied with a mischievous grin for his wife.
“Not as scandalous as three rakehell wives playing the ’Change and making investments without their husbands being apprised of their actions.
It’s not nearly as scandalous as that. However, if Lucien and Simon are in agreement, I am more than happy to share a few tricks of the game with each of our lovely wives. ”
Wylder was teasing the three women, of course, but his words carried their truth.
Simon’s chest swelled with pride as his gaze settled on Penelope as she approached him.
His wife was a genius when it came to selecting investments that nearly always returned a hefty profit, and with his own propensity for numbers, the two of them had begun collaborating on various projects.
Those moments spent with her were among Simon’s favorites.
He found himself at a distinct advantage when they spread all the reports across the heavy oak table in the library.
His attention was always snagged by the way her teeth worried her bottom lip, how she tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear while tapping a pencil, deep in thought.
He could not concentrate on sums, reports, profits, and losses when her beauty was so captivating.
She exuded a radiant light that brightened the room, rendering him speechless every time.
Drawing her close, Simon lifted Penelope’s chin with a forefinger so he could stare down into her eyes.
“I missed you, little mouse,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. The way her cheeks flushed a delicate shade of pink was utterly enchanting.
“We’ve only been apart for an hour, husband,” she replied softly, the corners of her mouth lifting with a ghost of a smile.
“That is far too long,” Simon whispered, a chuckle escaping him at her bemused expression. “If it were up to me, we would be at home, cocooned in our bed, indulging in distractions far more pleasurable than a boring game of billiards.”
“You are insatiable, my lord,” Penelope purred, a mischievous glint sparking in her deep-green eyes.
“Only for you, wife,” he replied in a raspy voice. “I am mad for you. Completely and wholeheartedly obsessed and in love.”
Rising onto her tiptoes, Penelope pressed a warm, lingering kiss to Simon’s lips that sent a shiver of delight through him.
“And I am madly in love with you, husband. But what if you should grow weary of me?” she teased, knowing what his answer would be.
“What if you decide you no longer love me as I love you?”
“That will never happen. You have my love for a lifetime, and even beyond that,” Simon promised, kissing the tip of Penelope’s nose in a gesture filled with tenderness. “And as a reformed rakehell, that is a vow I shall never break.”
She laughed softly, snuggling closer to him. “I don’t believe I shall ever tire of hearing you say such lovely things.”
Dipping his head, Simon whispered in her ear, “If you allow me to take you home in the next few moments, I promise to say other things. Things that will make you blush and desperate for me to fill you.”
Sucking in a breath of arousal, Penelope tilted her head so she could gauge the seriousness of his statement. “What of our friends? Do you think they will miss us if we leave this very moment?”
Simon chuckled. “They will understand. Knowing Wylder and Lucien as well as I do, they will welcome the excuse to retire to their own bedrooms with their wives. So, shall we say our goodbyes and thank Lucien and Charlotte for a wonderful evening?”
Penelope blushed, a sure indication that she was in complete agreement with her husband. “I can learn how to play billiards another night.”
Simon’s laugh was soft and knowing. His gaze locked with Lucien’s and Wylder’s, a flash of understanding passing between the three men in that intimate moment.
Surrounded by laughter, love, and camaraderie, the world outside faded away, leaving the bonds of friendship that could not be broken.
The treasures they had gained, the women they had fallen in love with, made every heartbreak, indignity, betrayal, and mistake well worth the pain.
It was only six months ago that three rakehells made foolish vows to remain single forever.
They fought so hard to retain their bachelor status, to drink and carouse at will, with no care for responsibility or for the future.
That defiance was all for naught.
Because in the end, each man was reformed by the undying, faithful, and true love of a woman. Each one of them redeemed by it. And more importantly, each man was saved by it.
A future filled with love and family, perhaps even children, stretched before them, and Simon found his heart swelling with gratitude.
How very lucky he was that Penelope True had scurried into his life.
How fortunate that she loved him despite his cruel and selfish nature, choosing to give him a chance when he did not deserve it.
Simon pulled his wife closer, dropping a kiss to her bare shoulder with a seductive murmur that promised many pleasures to come. “Let’s go home, mouse.”
“Yes, my lord,” Penelope whispered with a grin.
Simon laughed out loud at that, knowing full well that his wife was attempting to provoke him and doing a damn fine job at it.
It was a good day to be a former Mayfair Rakehell. And it was even better to enjoy it as a Mayfair husband.
The End