As the hour passed and they each shared more about their lives, Emma had to force her eyes to remain open. Lucas must have noticed, for he placed his cup on a nearby table and stood. “You should go to bed,” he said. Emma went to protest, but he forestalled her with a raise of his hand. “No, I see how weary you are. Walburg and I will remain here to keep guard, just in case Miggs decides to return. The man was never very intelligent.”
Emma sighed. “Very well. I suppose I would feel better knowing someone is here to protect me.” She raised up on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“There is no need to thank me,” Lucas replied. “It is the least I can do.”
She smiled at him before heading up the stairs to the small room in which she lived. The night had begun with her filled with fear, but now it ended in love. And for the first time in over a year, she fell asleep with a smile on her lips and her heart at ease.
***
The following morning, Emma woke to bright sunlight peeking through the tiny cracks between the stones in the walls. She poured water from the pitcher and washed her face and teeth and then donned one of her old dresses. The gown she wore the night before lay in a heap in the corner, and later she would see it burned. For now, however, she had other issues she had to manage.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs, the duke stood beside what was left of the broken door. When he turned toward her, she giggled.
“And what makes you laugh this early in the morning?” he asked with clear amusement.
She could not help but stare at how her father’s shirt clung to his muscular torso, and her stomach tightened in a strange way. Her laughter was gone, now replaced with some other new sensation, one she had never experienced before. However, it was not unpleasant in any way.
“Nothing,” she said in a hoarse whisper. When he approached, her throat seemed to tighten further.
“Nothing, you say?” he said, his voice husky. Then he leaned down and kissed her. This time, there was an urgency behind it, and she trembled in his embrace.
When the kiss ended, she was left breathless, and as her head rested against his chest, she listened to the quick pounding of his heart that matched her own. “I often wondered what it would be like to be in your arms.”
He chuckled. “Do you enjoy it?”
“I do.” She looked up at him and laughed. “You are smiling again.”
“I suppose a man does that when he is happily in love. Did you not say my name shall be the Duke of Smiles?”
She laughed again. “I said no such thing! I believe that was you who made such a statement.” She traced the angle of his jaw. “I believe it is a wonderful name. Although, I must admit that the Duke of Storms has his place in this world.”
“Oh?” Lucas asked in a shocked tone. “I thought he was to be put to rest.”
“If he had not arrived last night, I am unsure what would have happened. There are extreme circumstances when he is appropriate.”
“As long as I control it, correct?”
She nodded. “Indeed.”
“Well, I look forward to working on that control,” he said. “With your help, of course.”
Emma smiled. “It would be my honor.”
“What is this?”
They both turned to see Stephen in the doorway, his hands on his hips and a frown on his face. “I should’ve known! Duke or no, I’ll not let you hurt Miss Emma anymore!” He raised his fist, but Emma stepped between him and Lucas.
“It is all right,” she said as she placed a hand on his arm. “I am safe, I promise.”
He glanced at the broken door and then glared at Lucas. “Are you sure? He hasn’t hurt you or something, has he? Look at the door!” He frowned again. “I’m not scared of him, you know!”
“I realize you are not,” Emma replied, stifling a giggle. “This was all because of the baron.” She indicated the door with her hand. “If it was not for Lucas…I mean His Grace, then I am unsure what would have happened.”
“The baron? You mean Lord Miggs?” The man’s frown deepened. “Just you wait ‘til I see him!” He pushed a fist into his opposite palm and then shook his head as if to clear it. “I’m glad you’re safe, Miss Emma.”
“As am I,” Emma replied and then raised her eyebrows at him with expectation.
He gave a heavy sigh and bowed. “I’m sorry for threatening you, Your Grace. Please forgive me.”
Lucas smiled. “There is no need to apologize. In fact, I am the one who owes you an apology.”
“Beg your pardon?” Stephen asked in shock.
Lucas nodded. “When you came to my home, you spoke of treasuring the friendship I had with Emma. I was a fool to not understand the wisdom of your words.”
“Wisdom?” Stephen echoed with a scratch to his head. “That’s kind of you to say, Your Grace, but I can’t read nor write a lick. I think that makes me the fool.”
“No, you are not a fool. You are a gentleman of the highest order, one who, just as a moment ago, is willing to take a stand for what is right. Thank you for sharing such knowledge. You are an example to many.”
Stephen’s cheeks reddened, and he stuttered his thanks as a man peeked into the doorway.
“We’ve the door you called for, Your Grace,” he said.
“Wonderful,” Lucas replied. “Go on then; we will stay out of your way.”
It did not take the man long to install the new door and remove the old, and while he worked, Lucas pulled Stephen aside to chat some more.
Emma walked over to the desk where her father once sat and ran her fingers over the rough old wood. “I did it, Father,” she whispered. “I found my happiness by securing the greatest account of all times. My heart.”
Epilogue
Time passed as quickly as the clouds that raced across the sky, and Emma smiled as she thought about all that had transpired over the past year. Her business was growing, and Stephen took pride in each account he secured.
The previous week, she had hired a man from London to keep the books, a man by the name of Mr. Sykes, who came highly recommended and deemed trustworthy. Stephen had taken the old room upstairs and continued to do odd jobs for the office. Emma was pleased that Mr. Sykes and Stephen got on well, for that had been one requirement she refused to ignore. As she had promised, Stephen had a place in the office for as long as he liked, and Lucas had agreed wholeheartedly.
Now, she stood in the grand ballroom of Bonehedge Estate. She looked at the small contingency of wedding guests and was pleased to see they each wore a broad smile. Their laughter filled the room, but that of Lucas outshone them all. He stood with a group of friends, including Ingrid.
The viscountess had apologized to Emma after learning what Lord Miggs had done. They had become close after that, and Emma now understood why Lucas kept the woman as such a dear friend. She had a kind heart beneath that haughty shell, and Emma believed herself lucky to have earned the woman’s friendship. Although, it was Ingrid who said the same about Emma.
Lucas looked over at Emma and smiled. He said a few words to those with him and then walked over to stand beside her. “Do you realize that you are the most beautiful bride in all of England?” he asked as he kissed her cheek.
“And you are by far the most handsome of grooms,” she replied. He offered his arm, which she took without hesitation. However, when he walked down the path away from the party, she gave him a questioning look. “The guests?”
“They have plenty to keep them occupied,” he said with a secretive smile. “We are allowed a few moments of privacy, do you not agree?”
“Oh, very much so,” she answered with a giggle.
They continued down the path until they came to a stop at the fence that looked over the rolling hills beyond the garden, once again green with the summer weather.
“I never knew such happiness could exist until I met you,” he said before turning his gaze to her. “I look forward to our many years ahead.”
“As do I,” Emma said.
His arms wrapped around her and drew her in, and they kissed with a passion that Emma thought would never be quenched. When the kiss ended, they turned and looked out across the hills once more, Emma glad for the moment to catch her breath.
And there they stood, together, arm in arm, their silence speaking louder than their voices. For that was the beauty of love. Love was in a whispered word or a willing ear to listen, that was true. However, it was also in the smile shared between two people, for her husband was now a man of smiles and patience, and the storm that once clouded their lives was gone, replaced by the sun that now shone above them.
And Emma knew it would always be so. Forever.
Author's Note
Much like most Regency authors, Jennifer Monroe fell in love with historical novels of dashing dukes and women wishing to be swept off their feet. She believes that no matter how well a romance story is written, love must be the driving force behind the characters.
Born in France to parents who worked for the United Nations, she found herself traveling the world, until she settled down in New York whilst attending University. As she completed her degree in literature studies, she met and married her loving husband and they soon had two wonderful daughters. She chose to stay home and raise her children, and it was not long before she began to wonder about the novels she loved as a young adult and began to reread some of her favorites. This led her to reading newer authors and eventually to try her hand at writing the stories that bounced around in her head for many years.
The Defiant Brides Series
The Duke’s Wager
The Spinster’s Secret
The Duchess Remembers
The Earl’s Mission
Duke of Thorns
OR
The Defiant Brides Series Box Set! Get it HERE!
Secrets of Scarlett Hall
Whispers of Light
Echoes of the Heart
If you love Regency that has heart, as well as characters who are fun and distinct, then she invites you to escape with her into her world. If you would like to drop her a line or join her exclusive newsletter, just enter the link below into your browser.
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