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T
he Duke of Whittington grinned as he contemplated the cheerful fire dancing behind the decorative grate in his private sitting room. Graham had married earlier that afternoon, and now that the occupants of Ivy Castle had retired to their respective rooms, he could finally talk about it with his wife.
“We did it, Beatrice.” He glanced at her as she worked at a piece of embroidery in her lap. “All of our children have been matched before Twelfth Night.”
A tinkling laugh escaped her. “You did it, Whittington.”
“I had help, darling.” Not content to remain parted from her, the duke dropped to the low sofa beside her and tugged the handiwork from her fingers. “Between the both of us, our children can now move forward with their lives. Hopefully, that means more grandchildren are in the offing soon.”
“You’re incorrigible.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’ll admit, I’m quite impressed at what we managed to accomplish in under a month. Especially with Graham. That came about purely by accident.”
“Or was it fate, my dear?” The duke slipped an arm about her shoulders and pulled her close. “Either way, the boy is married, and from the looks of things, his will be a truly happy union.”
“Agreed.” She laid her head on his chest. “I wonder how long it will take him to realize he’s scandalously in love with his new bride?”
“Only time will tell, but if he’s anything like me, it’ll smack him upside the head when he’s unaware.” Once more he stared into the fire’s flames. “Now we have a problem.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“What will I occupy my time with now?”
She pressed her lips to the underside of his jaw. Even after so many years of marriage, tremors of anticipation still coursed down his spine. “You’re an intelligent man, Whittington. I’m sure you can think of something.”
“Indeed, I can.” Then he leaned past her, blew out the candle, and then took her into his arms, grinning when she squealed.
Nothing made him happier than seeing his family in that state too. Now all he needed to do was sit back and enjoy watching his children’s romances blossom.
Yes, demanding they all come to Ivy Castle had been the best decision he’d made since... well, since marrying his Beatrice.
And it had been a very good life indeed.