Page 55 of My Ruthless Duke

“I am not very far along… and of course, there will be plenty of time left to figure things out…” Cordelia continued, speaking too quickly.

“Shh, Little Flower, I amthrilled,” Dorian said with a bright smile so wide that it made her heart ache. “You have made me the happiest man in the whole world… I was wrong about so many things. I want to leave the past behind me. And have a family with you. If you will have me.”

“You mean it?” Cordelia could hardly believe her ears; how lucky she felt.

Dorian nodded. “I am absolutely, wildly in love with you.”

“And I you, husband.” Cordelia beamed. “Take me home.”

Dorian stood and scooped her up into his arms, her head cradling against his chest. “I would love nothing more. Let me show you how much I missed you.”

Epilogue

Three Months Later

“Where is my brother?” Mary asked for the fifth time that morning as she paced back and forth in her bedroom. She was still in her undergarments with her hair half pinned up as she waffled between which earrings she wanted to wear. Mary’s wedding dress hung over the edge of her four-poster bed, ready and waiting for her if only she would stop pacing long enough to put it on.

Cordelia smiled kindly at her sister-in-law. “You asked him not to see you before the wedding. Remember?”

Mary nodded, her hands rubbing together anxiously. “What if he says something to Patrick? What if he scares him away?”

“That is just your cold feet talking, Mary. You and I both know that he would not do such a thing. I know he can be hard-headed, but he would not do anything to keep you from your happiness.”

“I do not have cold feet!” Mary protested.

“Perhaps I am mistaken.” Cordelia walked over to Mary, standing directly in her path and forcing her to stop pacing. “It would be only natural for you to feel apprehensive over this.”

Mary nodded. “I mean, the last time… the man who was supposed to marry me, he–”

“Mr. Hislop is not like that; he adores you. He is going to treat you properly, you and Georgie both. And if for any reason he does not,thenyou can allow your brother to lose his temper… or me,” Cordelia said with a grin.

“You cannot do anything; you are with child,” Mary countered, her brow arched.

“That is all the more reason that you ought not to anger me then, is it not? Would not wish to distress the baby,” Cordelia teased, her hands falling to the slight swell of her abdomen. It would still be a few months yet before she was truly starting to show. Every milestone the physician had warned her about thus far had only been exciting, and she could not deny that she was looking forward to all of them still yet to come. Mary had been an indispensable help so far with her pregnancy, and she only wanted to repay every bit of kindness shown to her.

“For now,” Mary sighed. “I am nervous.”

“I know.” Cordelia released Mary’s hands and moved to the wedding dress waiting for her. “I think it is time to put this on. Do you agree?”

Mary nodded, smiling softly. “I never thought that I would ever get married. I know that I shall be joined with him before God so very shortly, but it still feels so surreal.”

“I think Mr. Hislop came along right in time for you to have what you truly needed. You deserve a happy marriage with a man who truly loves and cares for you… that will treat you and Georgie well,” Cordelia assured her as she helped her friend into her wedding dress. Mary’s maid stepped forward to finish all of the buttons and laces, making sure that every part of the gown fit perfectly.

“I just do not wish for anything to go wrong. Georgie is so excited about having a new father figure in his life… what if I have allowed myself to move too quickly?”

Cordelia laughed. “You have not moved half as quickly as I did, so do not fret. Every couple will face their own challenges and strife, but I know that you are more than stubborn to work it all out.”

Mary grinned. “You are right about that. I will not have any qualms about expressing myself.”

The maid finished applying just the slightest hint of rouge to Mary’s cheekbones and finally, they were ready. “You said that Georgie was waiting downstairs with Dorian?”

“Yes. I am sure he has driven his uncle half insane by now.”

“Good. He should get used to a little madness, it is good practice for him and what is to come.”

Mary snorted a laugh. “I still cannot believe that I am going to be an aunt. That is something that I never thought would happen.I cannot tell you enough how happy I am for the two of you and how happy I am that all of the rest of this has been put behind us.”

“So, does this mean that you and Dorian have worked things out between you?”

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