Page 90 of A Bride for the Icy Duke
“Indeed, there will.” He hesitated, looking down at her list again. There was no more need for it; if its purpose had been to seduce him into wanting to stay, she had more than succeeded. Yet… it seemed a shame to dispose of itentirely. “May I add something?”
For a moment, she merely blinked. Her lips parted, and then she nodded. “Of course.”
He strode back to the writing desk and found her pen, dipping it into the ink and writing, as elegantly as he could, the final item. One, that he hoped, would take them quite some time to complete.
“What is it?” she asked as he walked back to the bed.
“One item.” He held it up for her perusal. At the bottom, he had writtenSpend the rest of our lives together. “Do you think we could achieve it?”
A smile bloomed across her lips. The grief had not disappeared entirely, but time would heal what his apologies and adoration could not, and he marveled a little at his certainty—when before he had been certain of nothing at all!
“I think…” she whispered, taking his hand and bringing it to her lips, “I would very much like to try,husband of mine.”
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
Lydia placed a hand on her belly, the slight curve there. Alexander didn’t yet know she was with child; she would tell him soon, but she knew he would immediately become overprotective, wanting to wrap her up in silk and wool.
She wanted at least one lasthurrah.
They glided arm-in-arm through Lady Penelope Granford’s ballroom. Her old friend had married the Earl of Granford a month prior, and was celebrating the match with a grand ball.
When it was over, Lydia and Alexander would take the long trip back to York and Halston Manor, but she enjoyed having the option of visiting their townhouse in London. She especially enjoyed appearing at events on Alexander’s arm as the Duchess of Halston.
“I rather like my new title,” she murmured for his ears alone as they surveyed the room.
“Oh?”
“Yes. Don’t you think it suits me perfectly?”
“I think anything of mine suits you perfectly.” He led her to the center of the room. “Would you like to dance with me,Your Grace?”
“I would be delighted to, husband.” She smiled as he brought her hand to his mouth, eyes glinting wickedly.
No matter. She had wicked plans of her own.
Seduce him—she now rather thought she had a knack for it—then take him home and reveal the existence of their child growing in her womb. Then, before he could panic about her health and well-being, seduce himagain.
It was a failsafe plan.
Mr. and Mrs. Godwin appeared on their other side, Eliza’s cheeks flushed from the glass of wine in her hand.
“Have you heard from Marie?” she asked without preamble. “I last heard she was in Venice having the time of her life.”
“And yet when I ask you whether you would like to travel, you inform me that you dislike ships and carriages and would rather remain in England.”
“Well, so I do. Marie may have a delightful time, yet still I may not wish to join in her adventures.”
“There is no doubting that Lord Harrogate dotes on her,” Alexander said, the tremor of a laugh in his voice.
“Well, she is so mild-mannered and placid. I imagine she is easy to adore,” Mr. Godwin smirked.
Eliza’s eyes lit with the familiar light of battle. Recently married, and they still bickered as though they were mortal enemies. Yet Lydia saw the amused, adoring glances that Samuel sent Eliza, and the coy, flirtatious glances that Eliza—when she was not preparing to verbally eviscerate him—sent in return.
If that was what made them happy.
Lydia preferred an entirely different sort of joy.
