Epilogue
Strandon Mansion, London
Four Weeks later…
The grand entrance hall of Strandon glittered as candlelight reflected off the crystal chandelier.
Nicole twirled about in a circle, admiring the rainbow of colors flickering over the bleach-white walls that were a stark reminder she was no longer in Scotland.
She missed her clan, but the man who was descending the stairs filled her with such joy that England was no longer enemy territory.
Servants bustled about her, preparing for the evening's dinner party.
It was her first official event as a duchess, and she was determined to make it a success.
"You're going to wear a hole in the carpet if you keep circling like that."
She turned to find Felix leaning against the handrail, a smile playing at his lips. Even after a month of marriage, the sight of him still made her heart skip a beat just like it had when she was seven.
"Doubtful. And for clarification, I’m supervising."
"Is that so? I think you're nervous."
"Bah. I’m not nervous in the least." She sighed. "Well, now that you mention it, mayhap I am a tad anxious. What if I make a mistake? What if the flowers are arranged all wrong or I say something inappropriate or—"
Felix crossed the foyer and pulled her into his arms. "You’re the Duchess of Strandon. No one shall dare criticize you, not that there is anything wrong. Everything looks perfect to me.” He pulled back and looked her over from head to toe. “Especially you."
"You would say that now that you're my husband."
"I say it because it's true." He kissed her forehead softly. "Besides, according to the wager book at Brooks, at least half the guests tonight shall be terrified of you."
“Afraid of me? Why?"
"Haven’t you read the gossip sheets of late? You're the lady who has reformed the Duke of Strandon. The woman who made the most notorious rake in London fall desperately in love. That's rather intimidating."
Nicole raised her gloved hand to cover her mouth as a giggle escaped her despite her nerves. "I didn't reform you. I merely... reminded you of who you really are."
"Ahh, but that is a secret between you and me." He pinched her chin and tilted her face up to his, but rather than leaning down to place a kiss upon her lips, he said, "Now stop your worrying. Tonight is going to be spectacular."
And it was.
The dinner party was a wonderful success, with guests praising the new Duchess of Strandon for her warmth and intelligence.
For once, she was enjoying the evening festivities and actively participating in discussions, but she was especially delighted when she caught Felix staring at her from across the room with such obvious pride and love that it made her blush.
It wasn’t until the gray streaks of dawn appeared that the last of the guests departed. Exhausted, Felix escorted Nicole up to her chambers, where he immediately dismissed her maid and helped her out of her gown himself, with deft fingers that could bring her to heights of ecstasy.
"You were magnificent tonight," he murmured against her neck.
"That’s an exaggeration if I ever heard one."
"Nicole…” He turned her to face him. “You were flawless," he repeated firmly. "Lady Pemberton and all the other matrons couldn't stop singing your praises. And Lord Hartwell said you were the most refreshing duchess he'd met in decades."
"He was being polite."
"He was being honest." Felix frowned down at her. "When are you going to accept that you're truly wonderful in every way?"
"When you stop being biased."
"Well, I guess the answer is never, then." He kissed her, slow and deep, as she’d patiently waited for him to do all night. His frown replaced with a devilish smile, he added, "I intend to be biased until the day I die."
The urgent rap at the door had Nicole scurrying behind Felix, who yelled, “Go away.”
Reginald’s baritone voice floated through the door. “Felix… I need your help!”
Her husband strode to the door, and Nicole slipped beneath the covers of the bed.
“What is it now?” Felix groaned as he opened the door.
A rumpled and flustered Reginald barged into the room.
“Beg your pardon, Nicky… but I need…” He turned and marched back to stand next to Felix, who was leaning against the door.
“Remember when you said you owed me a boon for pretending to be you while you…?” Her husband gave his twin a cutting glare, and Reginald paused.
“Well you know the time I’m referring to. I’m here to claim that favor.”
“Now?” Felix crossed his arms over his chest.
Och, how her husband set her heart racing at the simplest of gestures. Nicole blinked away, her sudden thoughts of throwing her brother-in-law out of the room and having her way with her husband. Nicole sat up, pulling the sheets up to her chin. “Ahem.”
The brothers immediately turned their attention to her.
If she hadn’t known them for years, she might have been intimidated by their ducal glares, but she wasn’t.
She settled her gaze upon Reginald. "Does this urgent matter have anything to do with the fact that you were pretending to be him so he could come to Scotland? "
Reginald's shoulders rolled forward.
“And when you say you need Felix’s help, are you asking him to trade places?”
Before she could complete her query, her husband interjected, “No. I’ll do anything… anything else you ask but that.”
“Husband, we should at least hear his reasoning for his request.” She’d been practicing infusing her tone with an edge of steel to it and was surprised to hear herself execute it perfectly for the first time on her husband.
Felix crossed the room to join her and sat upon the edge of the bed. “Very well, let’s hear it.”
“It’s been over a month now, and I’m still…” Reginald raked his fingers through his hair and began to pace in a circle.
Egad, was her brother-in-law in love? Anne was the first lady that came to mind. "Reggie, are you in love with a lady?"
Reginald stopped and looked at her. "I’m not certain. Possibly…”
Felix smiled and muttered under his breath for her ears only, “There is only one lady who is capable of setting Reg on edge like this.”
“Who?” she asked.
“The proper and pristine Lady Anne.”
Nicole leaned in and asked, “You approve of Lady Anne, do you not? She’s ever so lovely and extremely clever."
Reg responded before her husband could. "The woman is too good for me."
Obviously, she had not been as covert as she believed. Nicole frowned. Damn twins! The pair of them had no clue as to how much they each excelled. "Nonsense. You're a wonderful gentleman. Any woman would be lucky to have you."
"I’m a goddamn renowned rake, while she was the Diamond of her debut Season, the epitome of etiquette…"
"A spinster on the shelf by ton standards," Nicole interjected.
Before Reginald could respond, Felix stood and began ushering his brother toward the door. "Go and woo the woman, and don’t return until you have her agreement to wed.” Her husband shoved his brother out into the hall and closed the door.
“Are you not going to assist him in winning over Lady Anne?”
Felix stripped out of his clothes and was fully naked by the time he had reached the bed. “I’ve more important matters to attend to.”
Her cheeks were burning by the time Felix joined her in the bed. "That wasn’t very kind of you to throw Reg out like that."
"It was necessary. He's been pining after Lady Anne from afar for years. It's time he took responsibility for his feelings for the woman.”
"Like you did with me?"
"Exactly." He pulled her into his arms. "And look how well that turned out."
Nicole smiled up at him. "It did turn out rather well, didn't it?"
"Rather well? It turned out perfectly." He kissed her nose, then her cheek, and lingered over her mouth.
Nicole rebutted, “Not perfect, but slow-burning fires do last the longest.”
Her husband allowed her the last word and proceeded to show her that love was worth waiting for.