Page 104 of His Stolen Duchess
Lysander pulled her in again, dropping a gentle kiss on her lips. “I love you, Georgina.”
It was almost too much for her. If she had been standing, her legs would have turned to jelly, and she would have collapsed. She swayed a little as she sat on the grass, gazing into his eyes. He held her head, staring back at her.
“It’s time to go home,” Lysander said softly. “Together.”
Epilogue
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Lysander picked up Henry and tossed him into the lake. He screamed out in pleasure as his body flew through the air, followed by a large splash, and erupted from the water with a high-pitched laugh.
“Me next!” Colin shouted.
“No, I’m next. Please, Uncle Lysander!”
“Don’t worry, I plan on throwing you both into the lake,” he told them.
All of Georgina’s sisters were there with their husbands and children, along with Francis and Thomas, who were family to Lysander. He might have lost a brother when he was ten, but he had gained one in Thomas.
I should tell him that. He needs to know how much he means to me.
He and Georgina were hosting a house party, and it was a joy to share his private lake with everyone. The gazebo was being put to good use by those who wished to shelter within it. One of those people was Francis, who already had a belly full of whisky and looked out at his growing family with a deep sense of satisfaction.
Lysander caught Ambrose’s attention as he walked past to get more drinks for himself and Emily. “Don’t forget about the whist game later tonight. It’s our turn to destroy the other two.”
Ambrose diverted his walk to get closer to Lysander, and he patted him warmly on the shoulder. “I’ve been looking forward to it all week. Vincent paid me a visit on Monday, and he wouldn’t stop talking about how he and Oliver were going to destroy us. I can’t wait to wipe the smile from his face.”
“I do love these friendly games,” Lysander laughed.
Ambrose continued on his way, and Lysander turned back to the two boys. “All right, which one of you is first?” He didn’t wait for them to argue about it and chased after them, grabbing the first nephew he could lay his hands on and tossing him into the lake before quickly grabbing the second and doing the same.
“I’m next! I’m next!”
Lysander laughed before turning around—he knew that voice. When he turned around, he laughed even more to see Thomas standing with a wide smile on his face and a glass of cognac in his hand.
“Don’t tempt me,” Lysander warned.
“Ah, maybe later.” Thomas took a step forward and hugged Lysander.
“It’s good to see you, old chap,” Lysander said. “This is a family affair, and you are family. I hope you know that.”
“You… um…” Thomas grinned tightly.
Thomas’s loss of words almost made Lysander tear up.
“I wanted to talk to you alone,” Thomas said.
“If anyone else approaches, I’ll toss them into the lake. What do you need to talk about?”
Thomas looked around to make sure no one could overhear them. “Lady Eastbeck. There have been some developments.”
“Has she returned?” Lysander asked.
“No, I don’t think she would dare after you spoke to her, and that goes doubly now after what’s happened. She will be talked about by thetonfor a long time. I don’t believe she will be able to show her face around here again. Your threats worked to make her leave, and now, she’s gone for good.”
“And?” Lysander asked. “What has happened?”
“Apparently, her husband found out where she had gone, and he went over to France to confront her. Well, I say confront her—he went over there to divorce her after finding out she had shacked up with another man. From what I hear, she claimed for the past three months to be suffering from hysteria and had to stay in a sunnier climate to cure it. The poor sod was sending her money every week, and she was using that money to fund her lifestyle with Lord Abbington.”
