Five months later
“She has the loveliest green eyes, Emily. Just like Godric’s,” Charles teased as he stared down at Emily and Godric’s daughter, Sierra. They were by a small lake in Hyde Park, taking in the glorious spring sunshine.
“She’s going to be so spoiled.” Emily’s complaint was followed by an indulgent chuckle.
“Of course she is,” Lily replied. She held a hand over her slightly rounded stomach protectively. She sat on a bench not far from where Charles and Emily stood by the small lake in the middle of the park, and held Kat on her lap. The child wiggled her legs in excitement, more eager to run about then sit still.
When Charles looked her way, his heart turned over in his chest. He would soon be a father twice over, and he couldn’t think of anything more wonderful.
I love you, he mouthed. She mouthed the words back and set Katherine down on the ground, nudging her toward Charles. He knelt and opened his arms.
“Kat, come to Papa.” Kat ran over to him. He lifted her into his arms and hoisted her into the air. She squealed and laughed as he held her close.
“Do you want to see the baby?” he asked her.
Katherine nodded, suddenly serious. She leaned over Emily’s shoulder to peer down at the baby.
“So pretty,” she said to Emily, then tucked her head shyly against Charles’s neck. Lily rose from the bench and joined Charles and Emily and the rest of the League by the lake.
Ashton and Rosalind lounged on a blanket, both of them in an animated discussion about banking. Lord, if that is their idea of pillow talk… Cedric and Anne stood at the water’s edge, talking to a gentleman about horse breeding. Their newborn twins, Sean and Hartley, named after their valiant footman who’d once saved Cedric and Anne’s lives, were safely at home in the nursery being looked after so the new mother could have a moment outside in the fresh spring air.
Lucien, Horatia, and little Evan were feeding ducks. Evan, safe in his mother’s arms, watched in fascination while the white ducks huddled around their legs, quacking incessantly. Jonathan and Audrey stood beneath the shade of a tree, their faces close as they whispered to each other. Audrey grinned mischievously, and Jonathan had one hand on her hip, his fingers toying with her skirts.
There’s trouble afoot there. Charles smiled and looked to Godric, who rolled his eyes and took Sierra from his wife, cooing as he kissed the babe’s forehead.
Everything was as it should be. Finally.
He looked around the park and saw Daniel Sheffield and Melanie, Hugo’s widow, escorting Hugo’s son, Peter, to the lake’s edge. Daniel had married Melanie scandalously fast after Hugo’s death, but the rumors about their union died quickly as new gossip spread to take its place.
Daniel knelt by the boy’s side and pointed at the swans in the center of the lake, smiling as the little boy talked to him.
Charles wondered for a moment whether Peter would follow in Hugo’s footsteps. But if there was one lesson he had learned, it was this: blood does not make us who we are. It was up to Daniel and Melanie to see that Peter was raised a better man than his father.
Daniel glanced at him, nodded once, and Charles answered with a tilt of his own head. Their war was over. There were no enemies left, only friends and, perhaps, cautious allies.
Let every rogue have their day, Charles thought, looking over everyone in the park, and let them be blessed with a life full of friends and love, as I have been.
He almost laughed, realizing he sounded like he was praying, and added, Amen.
“What’s so amusing?” Lily asked.
“I was thinking about how my prayers have been answered, and how I was fortunate enough not to be struck by lightning, seeing as how I’ve been so wicked. I always feared I might be destined for the fires below.” He was teasing, of course, but deep down part of him had feared he’d caused too much pain to ever deserve such joy.
Lily gazed at him, her blue eyes filled with an ancient understanding. “A man like you, Charles? There’s only one thing you’re destined for.”
“And what is that?”
She leaned up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips over his and whispered, “Love.”
Excerpt from the Quizzing Glass Gazette, December 18, 1822, the Lady Society column:
Never fret, my dears, Lady Society has returned. Lord Lonsdale has finally gotten leg-shackled, it is true, but there are many other rogues in the world with hearts that need taming. Too many for me to deal with on my own. Remember, ladies, it is up to you to do your part. Perhaps your rogue is still out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered.
Worried this is the last League of Rogues novel? Don’t worry! It isn’t! The League will be continuing on, starting with the story Never Kiss a Scot starring Brock (Rosalind’s Scottish brother) and Joanna (Ashton’s sister). Turn the page to see the cover as well as some special Character Art of Charles and Lily.
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If you like what you’ve read, feel free to explore another delicious and romantic series: Sins and Scandals!
Feel free to fall in love with Leo, the british Earl and the half gypsy woman from his childhood, Ivy as they rekindle their romance! Turn the page to read the first 3 chapters of An Earl By Any Other Name! Come on, you know you want to turn that page…
