Page 98 of The Duke of Seduction
Epilogue
We walk in the garden, our hands entwined,
Surrounded by beauty, your love is mine.
We are one and the same, dear, you and I,
Naught shall part us, nor shall we say goodbye.
-The Marquess of Northam to his wife on their wedding day
Devon, August 1818
“Are they back yet?” Beck’s stepmother, Rachel, joined him in the garden.
He set his guitar down and leaned it against the bench where he’d been sitting. Rising, he looked toward the path that led to the beach a mile away. “No.”
Lavinia and George had gone to look for fossils, one of their favorite pastimes on a beautiful summer day like today. That George preferred geology to learning to play guitar was just another example of a battle she’d won.
Beck smiled to himself. His wife was formidable and amazing.
“What are you smiling at?” Rachel asked.
“Just thinking of my wife,” he said. “And George.”
His stepmother peered at him from beneath the wide brim of her bonnet. “You’re quite changed since you wed. Lavinia has done you good.”
“Was I beastly before?” he asked in mock offense.
She laughed softly. “Of course not. You just seem more…settled.”
Yes, that was a good word to describe it. He still suffered from dark moods, but they were far less intrusive. He was working through them and finding his way back to the light. And yes, he credited Lavinia.
She’d guided him through the particularly horrid trial of Haywood, which had included the testimony of one of the other women he’d given pennyroyal—Lady Kipp-Landon. The woman had tearfully admitted that he’d gotten her with child and insisted she take the herb to dispose of it. She hadn’t needed to because she’d ended up miscarrying, but her story had sealed the man’s fate, and he was currently on his way to Australia. If he survived the voyage, he’d likely spend the rest of his life on the other side of the world.
Haywood had begged for mercy, and even Beck had been swayed. He’d seen the man’s wife and children one day and had felt terrible for their loss. Lavinia had been so right when she’d said that killing Haywood would have wrecked him. Just knowing the villain would never see his family again had nearly done the same.
Following the trial, Lady Kipp-Landon had apologized to Beck for tormenting Helen. When Beck had asked her why she and Lady Abercrombie—who had retreated from Society for the remainder of the Season—had singled out Helen and why they’d suggested she kill herself, she’d broken down and said it was because of Haywood. Lady Kipp-Landon had been in love with him, and she’d wanted to push every other woman he paid attention to out of the way.
While Beck had wanted to know the truth, he couldn’t say he was satisfied. The entire situation was just sad. Still, with Lavinia’s help, he found the courage to let the darkness go.
Forgiveness, it seemed, wasn’t something you granted to someone, but a gift you gave yourself. Once Beck had done that, he’d felt free.
“George likes her a great deal,” Martha said, looking toward the path just as Lavinia and her son came into view. “Here they come.” She turned to Beck. “I like her too.”
How could they not? Lavinia was kind, generous, funny, and wickedly smart. In fact, she’d practically taken over George’s studies in science. When he went off to school, he’d know more than most of his mates.
A few moments later, George and Lavinia strolled into the garden. George toted a basket, which contained today’s treasures.
“Hungry for luncheon?” Rachel called.
“Famished!” George answered. He handed the basket to Lavinia, then veered toward the house and broke into a run.
Rachel laughed. “See you both inside.”
Lavinia walked up to Beck and kissed him, her lips lingering on his.
“You taste like salt and wind,” he said, inhaling her scent. “And you smell like perfection.”
