Epilogue
“Very well, gentlemen, you may be seated.” Judge Hanover nodded to everyone as he took a seat before everyone. “A decision had been made.”
Tension radiated through the room as everyone followed suit, sitting down on the various benches within the courtroom. There were hardly ten people gathered together but there was enough squeaking to make it feel like the room was full.
Dominic blinked rapidly to brush the sleep out of his eyes.
He was exhausted. There was no other way to say it. He was tired and he needed his sleep. But the last week had caught him by the hand to drag him all about.
“Is everyone present?” Hanover inquired of the bailiff.
The bailiff nodded without saying anything.
Although Dominic had thought he was well educated in the court of law for their nation, there was apparently much to learn. The matter of the tragic death of William Ashbourne required more party members than he had hoped to face.
But there were plenty else who had wanted to get their fingers into the case. The first solicitor, Mr. Stanley, went so far as to go to the press about the details. What everyone had hoped to keep private had spiraled out of their grasp all too quickly and succinctly.
New solicitors were brought in. Then another judge, and half of Scotland Yard.
I’m only relieved not all are present today. I have no interest in dealing with their questions and stares all over again. Nasty business. I’m only relieved that Verity didn’t insist on attending.
Not that it had stopped her from asking.
Every day, she came by the magistrate office to inquire of her brother.
While Dominic had greeted her twice more, she had also had the opportunity to meet the judge, two Runners, and even see her brother who had accepted a private cell.
Every comfort had been seen to there, which Dominic paid without thinking.
Anything to put this matter behind us. When I asked Cassian to step forward, I admit I had not anticipated what that might look like. But now… It is better to no longer be a secret. We were burdened long enough.
The gavel knocked thrice.
Dominic blinked and refocused his vision. After sparing a glance at Cassian––ruffled but clean and looking grim––he faced the judge and waited with the rest of them for the final verdict.
“I can attest to the final decision that this will not be going further through the courts,” Hanover announced. “What has happened is over, and there is no reason to draw this out. Once the verdict is read aloud, all parties must accept it.”
The room hushed. Several people moved forward.
What do I tell Verity if they do take Cassian to prison? Blast it, if it’s decided for the noose…
“In the case of the Ashbourne family, I find Lord Ashbourne not guilty.” Hanover looked at the viscount.
“It was an unfortunate incident. Your remorse had been made clear over the recent days. Your time behind bars will satisfy any punishment, along with your efforts to restore the wealth of those left destitute by your relation’s schemes. ”
That had been quite the surprise for Dominic to hear.
He’d found new respect for Cassian to find how dedicated his brother-in-law had grown over the past couple of months to helping the victims of his uncle’s plans.
An entire accounting book had been brought when Cassian turned himself over, along with a few pieces of evidence, that showcased who was involved and how much.
Fortunes couldn’t be replaced but debts could still be paid.
Leaning back in his chair, Dominic realized it was all over.
All the tightness in his muscles gave way.
He relaxed on the bench. Looking over to Cassian, he wasn’t particularly surprised to see little relief on the man’s face.
The viscount blamed himself still. His standoffish and rude manners were a defense, protection, albeit poorly founded in Dominic’s mind.
“All other points of the case are dismissed. Everyone is free to take their leave. This case is closed. Good day,” Hanover added and departed.
Then everyone was free to take their leave.
Several people moved to greet Cassian, congratulating him and wishing him well. It seemed best that Dominic do the same. He waited close by for the crowd to thin before it was just the two of them standing around the benches.
“Well, it’s over.” Cassian fiddled with his pocket watch. He looked at Dominic with a reluctant smile. “I suppose I should have considered doing this several months ago, eh? Would have saved some trouble.”
“Perhaps. Or perhaps it was for the best.” He thought of Verity and wondered how she would react with the news. “You should go home. Tell your family. They’ve been worried sick, I’m sure.”
Grimacing, Cassian gave a short nod. “I’m certain of it.
I’m only relieved they all stayed away. If anything went wrong, I wouldn’t…
I wouldn’t want them to see,” he said. His hand circled his other wrist as they both thought of the iron cuffs that could have dragged him from this room.
“I must thank you again for your support.”
“You have thanked me enough. I’m only glad to not have any family trapped in prison. Shall we be on our way?”
“Yes, please.” Cassian was visibly relieved as they departed the room. They said little on their way out the door. There, Dominic hailed his carriage and both men climbed inside. “Stuffy thing you’ve got here. What, did you know I would walk away a free man?”
He tugged at the curtains as they started rolling. “I hoped.”
“Well, thank you.” The man grimaced. “I can’t seem to stop saying that to you.”
With a short nod, Dominic found he had little to say himself. The ride went in silence as they finally reached the Ashbourne residence. He let Cassian out. And then he started to close the door.
“Wait.” Cassian put his hand out. “Aren’t you coming in?”
“This is a moment for your family. I wouldn’t like to intrude.”
“But you are family.”
Dominic hesitated for a minute before he shook his head. “Not today. Go inside, Cassian. Your family needs you and I suspect you need them. Take care of yourself.”
When he tugged again, Cassian grudgingly let go. He gave a graceful nod before stepping out of the street. The viscount watched a moment longer and then turned to leave, while Dominic took to the road in his carriage.
He couldn’t bear the thought of going inside to see Verity. Not when she had made it so clear she didn’t want to be with him.
Falling back into the cushions, he sighed.
He supposed he would need to fund her a separate residence.
There wasn’t a chance in the world he could endure living in the same house without seeing her and talking to her.
Or maybe he would go out to the country instead.
It had been a while since he spent an extended period of time in his country seat.
It was a quiet house when Dominic returned. Nothing had changed, he supposed, and yet everything had.
He entered his study. This was where he spent his time most frequently, and it usually brought him comfort. At least, some comfort.
Papers filled the room as there was always work to do. Dominic sank down into his chair with a sigh. Though he needed the distraction, he wasn’t particularly thrilled about it. Rubbing his face, he decided to rest his eyes for a short while. Just a moment…
A loud sound jerked him awake.
The room was darker. Night had settled in.
Caught off guard, Dominic look around quickly before focusing on the light drifting in through the black.
He would have typically assumed a servant and yet he swore he could smell the sweet scent of lilacs.
His heartbeat picked up as he struggled to straighten up with an air of respectability.
A candelabra moved closer through the room to reveal Verity’s face in a golden glow.
“Is this a dream?” Dominic felt the need to ask.
As the candles were set on the desk, Verity shook her head. “Does it feel like one?”
His gaze settled on the way she bit her lower lip. “Somewhat.”
“Well it’s not. I… I came back.”
Not daring to rise lest the movement spooked her from the room, he gave a slow nod. “I can see that. Are you well?”
“Yes.” There was an audible swallow and then he felt her looking him over. Surely he was wrinkled and unkempt by now. The week had worn on him heavily. “Cassian has come home. A matter of self-defense, they said.”
That and there was no body.
When he said nothing, Verity tentatively stepped around the desk to come a little closer.
It took all his strength to remain where he was.
For a lady who craved space, demanded it even, she was closing the distance between them.
Even after all that had stood in their way.
He watched her and waited, knowing their lives were in her hands.
“Why?”
The question was too vast for Dominic to know how to give her whatever it was she desired. “Why what?”
“Why…” She licked her lips. Half her face was cast in shadow now that she had left the candlesticks behind.
He couldn’t look away. “You could have ignored me. Even sent me away. You could have forced me to stop writing, to stop doing anything… You’ve had so many opportunities.
And yet you’ve never walked away. Not until now. Why?”
As she stood above him like a benevolent angel, Dominic searched her gaze carefully. Seconds ticked by as he gathered his thoughts.
“I already told you. I will not make demands of you. I trust you, Verity, to do what is right. All I wish is that I had trusted you sooner so I focused less on protecting you than giving you the truth that you always deserved. It was a lesson I learned too late,” he added quietly.
“You talk like it was so simple.”
That garnered a scoff. He finally rose to his feet to focus his gaze on her. There was a gentleness in her eyes that he didn’t recall seeing of late. “Simple? Nothing has been simple. Not with you.”
Her brow furrowed. “I was only making a statement. I meant no harm.”
“And you have not caused any harm. You’ve only upended my entire way of living,” he added wryly. “It was also to help keep distance between us. But you continued to bridge that gap over and over. You changed all the plans I had for us.”
Bewilderment crossed her face. “I did?”
“Nothing has been simple with you, Verity. If it were simple, I could keep you out of my thoughts. Out of my dreams. It would be easier to live every day without you for company instead of whatever you want of our marriage now.”
Inhaling deeply, Verity took a step back and faltered. She raised a hand to her lips as though she was thinking of something. Then she met his gaze again. “It was what I wanted… But I never asked what you did.”
“No.” The hoarseness of his voice surprised them both.
She closed the distance between them again. Lilacs. He took in a breath and wondered if the scent would haunt him through his dreams. “Dominic,” Verity whispered, “What is it you want?”
“I want this. I don’t want the distance. I haven’t wanted it for a long time,” he found himself unable to hold back the truth. “You’ve made it impossible to treat this union like it is empty or can be managed. I was a fool to ever try.”
“Yes, you did try to control the marriage a little at the beginning. And now it would seem I am trying to do the same.” Verity shook her head. “Perhaps we have both been fools.”
His eyes scoured her face for clues, for the only way to touch her without scaring her off. He searched the crinkles around her eyes and the curve of her lips. “Perhaps we could be fools together.”
“Oh?”
“If you leave again, I won’t stop you. You can have your own house, your own household, your own everything far as you like from me. But I will not pretend any longer that it doesn’t matter to me.”
His heart got caught in his throat and Dominic tried to force it back down. It was a useless little organ most of the time. Always telling him things he didn’t want to hear. But lately, it seemed to him he should pay more attention and now he was here.
No performance and no avarice. Nothing but the biggest risk he had ever dared to take. All because of her.
“I suppose I could leave. Build my own life. Pretend none of this ever happened. Live where I don’t have to worry about control or demands or false protection.
” He waited for her to leave, but she didn’t.
“I think I would rather build a life, however, with someone who will help me face the truth and the consequences when the time comes. Someone who will make mistakes and grow alongside me. I… I would really like that someone to be you.”
A choice. It was the most layered choice Dominic would ever have in his life. Often as a boy he had options between pain or misery. Growing up, it became duty over pleasure. And now…
I can choose my future, one that we both desire. Finally, something not built on obligations or arrangements.
“You,” Dominic said even as he reached for her. “I choose you every time.”
“Dominic,” Verity whispered in delight.
She could say no more. While he wrapped his arms around her, determined to never to lose her again, Dominic bowed his head to seal his promise with a kiss. Their lips met in a kiss that threatened to undo him from head to toe.
It was exactly where he had always wanted to be.
The End?