Page 47 of The Forbidden Duke

Nora didn’t look away from Titus. She stroked his hands with her thumbs. “Actually, I don’t. If I’m to be the Forbidden Duchess, I don’t need to care about anything. At least not about anything I don’t want to. And I choose not to. Titus, I may never hold a ball. Is that all right with you?”

“It only makes me love you more.”

Her mouth curved into a smile that was equal parts joyful and seductive. Titus wanted nothing more than to have her alone.

Nora turned to look at the countess. “Must we go back inside?”

His stepmother shook her head gently, her expression resigned but happy. “No. I’ll make your excuses. Titus, I regret to inform you that your notoriety will only soar, not that you’ll pay any attention to it.”

He pulled Nora closer. “Not a bit.” He bent and inhaled the floral fragrance of her hair before pressing a kiss to her temple.

His stepmother smiled widely. “You’ve made me very happy. Both of you.” She turned and went back into the house, closing the door behind her.

Nora looked up at him. “Did you mean what you said? About loving me?”

“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I think I realized it the other night. It just… It took me by surprise. I’m not good at this sort of thing.” Loving people. Letting them get close.

“I know. You hold yourself so apart from everyone. Is it because of what happened with Haywood?”

He could scarcely understand her compassion. “I wanted to tell you. I just didn’t know how. You should be furious with me. I had a hand in ruining you.”

“You were young and foolish—like me. What did you mean when you said I’d saved you?”

“I hated myself after what happened to you. Not just because of how it affected you, but because of the disappointment I caused my father. He died shortly after that, and I was, quite simply, wrecked. I’ve been doing penance all these years. Helping you, loving you has set me free.”

Tears glistened in her eyes. “Oh Titus, I feel precisely the same.”

He brushed a fingertip along her cheek. “I wish my father had known you. He would’ve liked you immensely.”

She grinned. “I’m sure the sentiment would’ve been quite mutual.”

“Are you certain you won’t mind being the Forbidden Duchess? You were the most celebrated woman in town for a moment.”

She laughed. “Yes, my brief time in the sun. Only, I don’t need the sun when I have you. You’re all I want, Titus. All I need. I love you.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her full on the mouth. She kissed him back, igniting his desire. He decided right then that a special license would definitely be in order.

After a long moment, he lifted his lips from hers and looked into her eyes. “I’ve waited my entire life for you, and I’d wait a thousand more. You’ve made me the happiest man alive. Do you think they’ll start calling me the Smitten Duke?”

She giggled. “I don’t care what they call you, so long as everyone understands you’remyduke.”

He bent his head to kiss her again. “For eternity.”

Epilogue

London, 1816

While some things had changed over the past five years—the most important being the addition of Nora and Titus’s two children—many things had not. Lady Satterfield still hosted the first major event of the Season, and Titus still only danced the first dance, though only with Nora. And Nora went to the ball early to help her mother-in-law prepare.

As she entered the ballroom, Nora was struck with a familiar sense of nostalgia. Every year she recalled the night that had changed her life. The night she’d started falling hopelessly in love with her husband.

She smiled as she thought of him at home reading to their children. He’d come to the ball in a little while, in plenty of time for their dance.

Lady Satterfield strode into the drawing room, which had once again been transformed to a glittering ballroom and would soon be filled with Society’s finest. Titus and Nora kept to themselves for the most part, but they weren’t hermits. Nora attended many events with Lady Satterfield during the Season, but her primary focus was always her family. She paid little attention to the ton, and supposed that in the process, she’d become what she once mocked—an Untouchable. However, not in the sense one might think. She was untouchable because she’d learned not to care what people said or thought. And it was a blissfully freeing state of mind.

“Nora, you look lovely as always,” Lady Satterfield said before giving her a quick hug. They exchanged kisses on the cheek, and Nora returned the compliment. “How are my grandchildren?” the countess asked eagerly. She saw them several times a week.

“Very well. They are enjoying the solitary attentions of their father at present.”

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