He brushed a kiss to her forehead. “With this kiss I banish all bad memories from the house on Mount Street.”
His lips touched a spot to the left of her eye. “With this kiss I banish all memories of the house in Soho.”
His lips clung for a longer moment to her cheek. “With this kiss I banish all other memories that haunt you.”
A butterfly kiss to the corner of her mouth. “With this kiss I remind you of all the good experiences that have made you the woman you are today.”
He moved ever so slightly until his lips were matched with hers. “And with this kiss I pledge that I am yours, and only yours, for as long as we both shall live.”
Quite some time later, Darius untangled himself from the love of his life, placed his hands on her shoulders, and announced, “I fear there is one more vow, my Jewel.”
Amber eyes wide, Juliana stared at him. They had been breathing in each other’s souls. Surely he understood that this time—
“When I wake tomorrow, you will be by my side. And each and every morrow after that.”
Well, of course she would.
Juliana froze. When had it happened? Certainly not in some thunderbolt of revelation. Nor in any recognizable Almighty absolution. Yet somehow the voices of her friends, the ever-nagging voice of her common sense, and love—that great eraser of all that had gone before—had finally triumphed. The miracle had happened—her guilt, her hurt, not forgotten but assuaged. Making life tolerable. No! Far more than that. A tiny pinpoint of light blossomed into a panoply of hope. She could do this, she really could. Together, she and Darius would make life a thing of joy.
Juliana slid her arms around his neck. Finally, finally, she could say it. “You have healed me, Darius. You and Cecy, Belle, Holly, Fetch and Nick. The bewildered girl, the damaged woman has been made whole. Made strong. There is no past, just the future. Where you go, I go. We are one.”
Darius pulled her tight against him, his pounding heart echoing in her ear, booming in triumph. The future, once was thought an impossible goal, now at long last stretched out before them, a future they would meet side by side, as was always meant to be.
Epilogue
Two years later
They were all there at the townhouse on Park Lane which Darius Wolfe had purchased for his bride. Belle, Gabriel and their two children, Cecilia and Nick with their much-adored daughter and Cecy’s belly currently almost as large as Holly’s when she’d had the twins—who were also noisily present with their younger brother and sister. Even Captain Royce Kincade was there, now firmly settled in London and running his fast-growing shipping company. Nor had Marcus Black and his Cathy been forgotten.
As for Juliana and Darius . . . both gazed benignly at young Master Nicholas Wolfe, who toddled about the floor, creating havoc wherever he went. And today Juliana would admit to her friends that another young Wolfe was on the way. She had choked on a bark of laughter when Darius told her he planned to inform their friends that they were making up for lost time.
Oh yes, all too much lost time. But she no longer lingered on regrets. Life was too good to be wasted on regrets. Juliana lifted her glowing face to Darius and nodded.
“If I might have a moment . . .?” The adults, holding freshly poured glasses of champagne, quickly gave him their attention, but he was forced to pitch his voice above the continued exuberance of the children. “Please raise your glasses to second chances. We are living proof that happy endings can come out of pain and chaos. To second chances and new beginnings. To us.”
“To us.”
Darius’s hand closed firmly around hers. Juliana’s eyes misted as she murmured, “Amen.”
~ *** ~
About the Author:
Believing variety is the spice of life, I also write Regency historicals and lighter Regencies in the Jane Austen tradition, as well as Romantic Suspense and Mystery (please see the list below).
The Golden Beach (GB) books are not a classic series. Some have connected characters; others, only a connected setting, a very real Florida Gulfcoast resort and retirement community whose name has been changed because the residents would like to keep its uniqueness a deep, dark secret.
I am always delighted to hear from my readers. I can be contacted at [email protected]. My website is http://www.blairbancroft.com/. My blog: http://mosaicmoments.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @blairbancroft
Blair’s books currently online:
Regency Darkside novellas (in order)
Belle
Cecilia
Holly
Juliana
Regency Gothics
Brides of Falconfell
The Mists of Moorhead Manor
The Demons of Fenley Marsh
The Regency Warrior Series (in order)
The Sometime Bride
Tarleton’s Wife
O’Rourke’s Heiress
Rogue’s Destiny
Other Regencies & Historicals
Lady of the Lock
The Courtesan’s Letters
The Temporary Earl
The Harem Bride
A Season for Love
A Gamble on Love
Lady Silence
Steeplechase
Mistletoe Moment (Christmas novella)
The Last Surprise (Christmas novella)
The Captive Heiress (Medieval)
Airborne - The Hanover Restoration (Steampunk)
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
Florida Wild (Orlando)
Death by Marriage (GB)
Orange Blossoms & Mayhem
Shadowed Paradise (GB)
Paradise Burning (GB)
The Art of Evil (Ringling Museum)
Limbo Man (International Thriller)
Contemporary Romance
Florida Knight (GB)
Love at Your Own Risk (Cape Cod)
Juliana Page 13