Epilogue

Helena Stafford stood at her bedchamber window at Ryewolds gazing out at the summery view. A green lawn stretched away to the right where it was bounded by a camellia hedge. In front of her a stone fountain absorbed the hot sun, and a lone throstle bustled and preened his way through a bath. Along the gravel path a persistent peacock stalked a blatantly uninterested peahen. Helena laughed aloud.

“What is it, darling?”

Two arms slid around her from behind, and she turned within their circle. She still melted when he called her ‘darling,’ but she was not so partial to ‘Athena.’

“I didn’t hear you come in.”

“No. You were laughing at something outside. What is it?” He nuzzled her hair.

“Look, Ivor! Have you ever seen such a lackluster courtship?”

Ivor stared out the window and grinned. “Well he’s not precisely lackluster. It’s just too hot for him and he can’t keep up. But she’s definitely lackluster. I hope I never bore you like that.”

“Never.”

“Truly?”

“Now you’re looking for compliments. You know perfectly well that…that…I am never bored, my love, and well you know it.”

His hands slid down to her backside, pulling her against him.

“Good. It wouldn’t do for me to lose my touch.”

“Just as long as I am the only one who feels your touch, sir.”

****

He knew she still had moments when she doubted his complete absorption in her to the exclusion of any other woman. He was working on making those moments fewer and fewer and was succeeding. But perhaps ‘working’ was not the correct word. It was hardly work to show her how much he loved her, how much he wanted her. Giving her pleasure also gave him pleasure, not something he had been familiar with. He had not realized that seeing the woman who meant the whole world to him undulating in his arms with soft little cries could give him an ache so fierce that it jolted his heart into a sort of thanksgiving.

She kissed his throat. “I’m sorry, Ivor. I didn’t mean that. I know you would never behave like Cole or Lord Barringate. I don’t know how their wives stand it. I would be destroyed.”

“I know, my love. But you are different from those wives. Believe me, I knew a few of them some years ago, and they are every bit as licentious as their husbands are. Remember, instead, our closest friends who have made their own marital rules of shared goals and exclusiveness.”

She nodded and smiled, and he turned her around so they faced the big mirror beside the window. His hands slid upward, gently cupping her breasts. She knew that from where he stood, he obtained a similar birds-eye view as he had the night of the Yardleys’ ball. She now had her dresses made with lower necklines just to please him. He was a lucky man. The soft, gleaming skin he so adored was always freely offered for his delectation. In turn he made sure that his cravats were in less precise folds than in the past, because she had a passion for edging his cravats aside to dip her forefinger inside his shirt to stroke the skin of his throat and collarbone. He had no intention of sabotaging such an interesting habit.

“I was going to ask you, Ivor, whether we should suggest to Caroline and Robert that they might marry here at Ryewolds next year. Would that be acceptable to you?”

“My dear, please rid yourself of the habit of asking permission for things you wish to do. This house is yours now too. Naturally they will marry here if they wish it.”

She leaned back against him, laying her hand over his where he stroked her breast. Turning her head, she nuzzled his throat.

Gradually his lady’s memories of her years of servitude were fading, but she sometimes irritated him by asking his permission before making a decision. She was a strong woman. She would recover.

“I’m pleased that Josh Yardley thought they should wait until next year before marrying. Robert’s leg had not mended enough for him to stand up at our wedding, but he will be able to stand straight and strong at his own wedding next year. And Caroline will by then be more mature. She is already assuming the mien of the wife of a budding politician and aide to the Prince.”

They smiled together. Life was good. Life was very good.

Ivor’s arms tightened around her. He had everything he wanted, here in his arms.

****

Helena leaned farther back and tucked her head beneath his chin. Held in his arms, she had everything she wanted. Things might not always be smooth sailing, but they had a foundation of love to help them celebrate their successes and commiserate with each other when trouble came. Together they would raise a family and keep the love that had been so hard-won.