Page 64 of Captured By the Cold Duke
Thomas’s heart was in his throat. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying… I think you were your father’s legitimate son. He hates you because of his insecurities about himself and his inability to produce an heir. But your mother was faithful. And you are your father’s trueborn son.”
Thomas laughed. He couldn’t help it. It was all too perfect.
“Well, that’s good to know,” he said, shrugging. “But honestly, I no longer care.” He reached out again and touched her cheek, and they both smiled radiantly at each other. “Nor does it matter if I’m his trueborn son, because in all the ways that matter, I am nothing like him, and I never will be. From now on, you are my family, Cherie. You, and all the many, many children we have.”
And he kissed her again. Hopefully, he thought, as she kissed him back, the doctor wouldn’t arrivetoosoon.
Epilogue
“It’s quite amusing to me that the duke was reluctant to have a single heir, only to end up with two!” Minerva said, looking down at the two baby boys that were asleep in the cradle and shaking her head. “Now that’s what I call irony!”
“Technically, it isn’t two heirs,” Samantha pointed out. “It’s an heir and a spare.”
“Don’t call little Edward a spare!” Cassandra gasped. “He’s far, far more important than that!”
“It’s not an insult,” Samantha said. “He’s still a boy, and he’ll grow up with far more rights and claim to the family title than any girl would!”
“Samantha, now isn’t the time for making an impassioned speech about the plight of women,” Cassandra lectured. “We’re here to meet the twins and gush over them as aunts should! Andof course, to support Cherie during this tremendous change. Not lament the sad fate of the world!”
All three ladies looked over to where Cherie was resting in the rocking chair, watching them coo and bicker over her babies. She laughed as she took in their looks of concern.
“Oh, please, give impassioned speeches on the plight of women!” she said. “Those two are going to need to hear them, lest they grow up to be chauvinists like our dear Lord Rochford.”
“Do not even speak that name in front of them!” Cassandra exclaimed, but Samantha rolled her eyes.
“I like your thinking,” she said, grinning at Cherie. “We will thoroughly educate them so that by the time they’re grown and looking for wives of their own, they will have the highest respect for women.”
Cherie immediately felt a shock of dread go through her. “Okay,don’tspeak about them growing up and getting married!” she exclaimed, half-laughing. “They’re so small and perfect and I never want them to grow up and move away and start families of their own.”
“Oh dear, are you going to be one ofthosemothers, are you?” Thomas had just entered the nursery, and all the ladies immediately began to talk at once, congratulating him and lavishing praise on the little lordlings.
“Gareth is so sweet already!”
“And Edward already has his mother’s stubborn spirit!”
“They’re so perfectly healthy and strong!”
“Theodora will love them,” Cassandra said this last line, referring to her daughter, who had been born six months previously. “I know the three of them will be best of friends,” she said, smiling brightly.
“I have no doubt about it,” Thomas said. “And I appreciate all of you coming to see us so soon after the birth. Cherie was threatening to go to all of you if you didn’t come here!”
“Cherie!” Cassandra looked at her sharply. “You must convalesce! You have just had two babies!”
“I know, but I was bored,” Cherie complained. “And I’ve been convalescing for nine months. I’m ready to do something else!”
Cassandra and Thomas both looked disapproving, but Minerva lit up.
“Why don’t I throw a party for you?” she suggested. “To welcome the twins!”
“I don’t know…” Cherie shared a glance with her husband. They had promised each other a long time ago that they wouldn’t letMinerva throw them a party. She was famously the worst party planner of thetonand somehow had never discovered it about herself. “A party might be a bit much. I really shouldn’t over-exert myself.”
Cassandra hid a smile behind her hand, and Cherie had to work hard not to laugh. Cassie was one of the original members of their wallflower group to declare she’d never let Minerva plan her another party.
“Hmm, what about a board game night?” Samantha suggested. “We haven’t done one of those in ages! And it would allow you to stay here in your home and rest, but you’d still be able to have a little fun—outside of the babies, of course.”
“Yes, since it’s been so much fun taking care of them,” Cherie said, rolling her eyes.
