Unable to resist, Jane leaned in and kissed her fiancé on the lips. “You have my heart, now and forever,” she murmured.

Epilogue

Six years later

The sun hadjust set as Corbyn sat in his office and read through his pile of correspondence. He had been working for hours, but he was waiting for the dinner bell to be rung before he took a break. Jane insisted that they eat supper together every evening, and he had readily agreed to that. He loved nothing more than spending time with his wife.

His wife.

Even after all these years, he considered himself the luckiest man in the world to have convinced Jane to marry him. He loved her more with each passing day, and he was grateful that he had been wrong about his life not being conducive to having a wife. Because of her, his life was filled with immense joy. A joy that he scarcely deserved.

His brother’s voice broke him out of his reverie. “I see that I assumed correctly that you would be in here,” Simon remarked from the doorway.

Corbyn leaned back in his chair. “I’m afraid so.”

“You work entirely too hard,” Simon declared as he stepped further into the room.

“Not hard enough, if you ask me,” Corbyn remarked. “There is a never-ending pile of work that needs to be done.”

“That is how I feel about managing the duchy.”

Rising, Corbyn walked over to the drink cart. “Can I get you something to drink?”

A pained look came to Simon’s face. “I suppose one drink won’t hurt.”

Corbyn picked up the decanter and poured two drinks. As he extended a glass towards his brother, he asked, “What brings you by this evening?”

Simon took a sip, then said, “I didn’t have the chance to speak to you at your daughter’s christening yesterday.”

“I do apologize about that.”

“No need to apologize,” Simon replied. “I find myself in awe that you have three children now.”

Corbyn smiled. “It is a remarkable feat.”

Simon walked over to the brown leather sofa and sat down. “How did you do it?”

Chuckling, Corbyn said, “When a man loves a woman very much—”

His brother cut him off. “That is not what I mean,” Simon stated. “I just find myself curious how you and Jane have made your marriage work so splendidly.”

“That’s simple,” Corbyn replied. “I love Jane more than anything else in the world, and I strive to ensure that she is happy.”

Simon placed his drink onto a side table. “I would do anything to have someone look at me the way Jane looks at you.”

“I have been most fortunate.”

“You have.”

Corbyn took a sip of his drink before saying, “It is not too late with Catherine.”

Simon shook his head. “I’m afraid Catherine is not interested in reconciling.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s my own fault,” Simon said with a sigh. “I took her for granted, and I lost her.”

“What of Beatrice?”