Epilogue

One Month Later

One month had passed since the dramatic rescue of Ernest and Edwin. Things had slowly returned to normal.

The boys were slowly regaining their sense of security and joy. The progress they had made was remarkable.

After breakfast, Frances found Christopher alone. The children were playing in the courtyard. After what had happened, both of them made sure to never let them out of their sight.

"They're doing so well," Frances murmured, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It's wonderful to see them so happy again."

"You should give yourself credit," Christopher pointed out. "I see how much love and affection you have poured into them, trying to make them feel safe again."

"And you as well." She smiled. "I notice how you go out of your way to spend time with them each day."

"I feel like they are practically my own children," Christopher admitted. "How could I not?"

Frances paused at that. It was something that she had thought about a great deal this last month.

"Christopher, I've been thinking about something important. About the boys."

"What is it?"

Frances took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "We've talked about how much they mean to us, how much we love them. And I've been wondering if we should take the next step and adopt them officially. Make them a permanent part of our family, legally."

"Adopt them?" Christopher seemed surprised, but it was a welcome suggestion.

"Yes. They've lost so much already, and I want to give them the security and certainty of knowing that they're truly ours. I think it would mean the world to them to know they have a permanent home and parents who love them unconditionally," she explained.

She observed his reaction carefully. After all, this would be a big step. But one that she felt was right.

And even though the conversation was serious, she knew that Christopher would not dismiss her without reason.

He was silent for a moment, seeming lost in his thoughts.

She began to worry slightly. Was he going to refuse? Did he have reason to? What would the children think if they knew?

She scrambled to explain herself. "It's just that I think it is the right thing to do now… I mean, they are young now, and if they start accepting us as their parents, it will be easier for them growing up… I just think…"

Christopher touched her shoulders gently, trying to calm her down. "Frances."

She stopped rambling immediately, freezing under the intensity of his gaze.

"I've been thinking about it too," he admitted finally, his voice soft but firm.

"Have you?" Her voice was brimming with emotion.

Christopher nodded. "They're already like sons to me. Making it official… it feels like the right thing to do."

Frances's heart swelled with relief. "I was hoping that you would say that, but I had been so scared to broach the subject, after everything that happened."

Christopher squeezed her hands gently. "Why do you feel scared? You know that I can never turn you down."

She blushed at his words. "Just the responsibility of it all. It is a big step," she pointed out.

"I think it is the right one. Tomorrow, I shall contact my lawyer and draft whatever contracts are needed," he declared in a determined voice.

Frances could not believe how smoothly the conversation had gone. She had been scared to ask him for weeks, thinking that he might refuse. But he had made no objection at all.

Christopher brushed the pad of his thumb against her cheek, bringing her back to the present.

"I like seeing you happy, Frances. I do not want you to have a frown on your face," he breathed.

He was close enough that his warm breath fanned her face. They were in a secluded enough corner that they could not be spotted by anyone, but still, it felt so strange to be so close like this again.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She expected Christopher to step away from her, but he did not. Instead, he seemed to be moving even closer!

"Christopher," she murmured, her heart beating wildly.

"Frances."

They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment.

"I need to tell you something." Christopher swallowed. Was he as nervous as she was? "I have thought about it every single day for the last month, and I will surely go mad if I do not let you know."

"What is it?"

"I've spent so much of my life hiding from my past, burdened by guilt and fear. But you… you've shown me a different way."

Frances felt like her heart was going to explode. Was this going where she thought it was?

He paused, taking a steadying breath before speaking again. "Frances, I love you. I love you more than I ever thought possible. You've become the center of my world, and I can't imagine my life without you."

"Oh, Christopher," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I love you, too."

Was she dreaming? She had surely dreamt of this moment for so long.

The words felt natural, slipping out of her mouth as if she had uttered them a hundred times before.

He leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. It was the first one they had shared after a month.

"You do not know how much I want to do that whenever I see you," he murmured against her lips, making her blush deepen even more.

"Is that so?"

He kissed her again, a small peck. "It is. I love you."

They were staring deep into each other's eyes. But their moment was short lived, interrupted by the sound of tiny footsteps approaching them and then staggering to a halt.

"Eww, are you two going to kiss again?" Edwin's playful voice rang out.

They broke apart immediately, looking down to see Edwin standing there with a teasing grin on his face.

Christopher chuckled, ruffling his hair affectionately. "What's this, then? Have you been spying on us?"

He seemed quite unfazed, while Frances was red with embarrassment.

"I was only looking for you…"

"That is enough," Frances cut in. "Where is your brother?"

Edwin shrugged his shoulders. "I am not sure…"

"Come, let us go find him, then."

Frances hurried off with him, but not before she could sneak one last glance at Christopher, who winked at her.

* * *

Frances was nervous. God, why was she so nervous?

It was not like anything bad was going to happen. The day had arrived when the lawyer was going to come and set up the papers for the adoption.

Christopher found her in that state and pressed a small kiss to her forehead. "You seem to be a bit stressed, my love."

She shook her head. "No, no. I am just fine. I am… ready."

It was a lie, and he knew it. He seemed to always know how she was feeling, despite what she said.

"Ready? Are you sure you're not the one with cold feet?" he asked, raising an eyebrow playfully. "I've seen you look more relaxed during a storm."

"Cold feet? Me?" she asked, pretending to be affronted. "I could never."

He squeezed her hands gently. "Love, it is okay if you feel nervous. It is a big step, after all."

Frances let herself relax under his touch. She was lying to herself if she thought she could keep her nervousness from him.

"It is not that I have any doubts, just…" She struggled to find her words for a moment, and he waited patiently. "It is just that I feel nervous of what the children might think, or that something will go wrong."

"My love, the twins adore you," Christopher reassured softly. "I am certain that they will accept the decision."

A soft knock sounded at the door, and a footman told them that the lawyer had arrived.

"Well, let us go do this, then," Frances muttered.

Christopher intertwined their fingers and guided her out of the room.

Mr. Aldridge, the family's trusted lawyer, was waiting for them in the drawing room. He was a distinguished man in his sixties, with a kind face and a calm demeanor.

"Good afternoon, Your Grace," he greeted, shaking Christopher's hand firmly before turning to Frances. "Your Grace, it's a pleasure to see you."

"We're so grateful for your help in making this possible," Frances admitted, trying to make her voice sound steady.

Christopher squeezed her hand softly, before leading her to the sofa. They both took a seat.

"It's an honor to assist in bringing this family together," Mr. Aldridge said.

A few moments later, the door opened again, and Edwin and Ernest appeared, guided by their governess. The boys were dressed in their best clothes, their faces alight with a mix of excitement and curiosity.

"Come in, boys," Christopher called out warmly. "We have something to tell you."

Mr. Aldridge smiled kindly at the boys. "Good afternoon, Edwin, Ernest. Today, we're going to make official what your aunt and uncle have already shown—they love you very much and want you to be part of their family forever."

"We're ready," Ernest declared.

Frances and Christopher had already discussed the adoption with the twins. They were too young to understand these things, of course. But Frances had insisted that they did, as she did not want anything to be a surprise.

"Very well," Mr. Aldridge said, opening his briefcase and laying out a stack of documents on the table. "These papers will formalize the adoption of Ernest and Edwin into your family. Once signed, they will legally be recognized as your sons, with all the rights and privileges that come with that. Are you both ready to proceed?"

Christopher nodded, his grip on Frances's hand tightening slightly. "Absolutely."

Mr. Aldridge handed them each a quill and guided them through the documents, explaining each section as they signed.

They both obliged.

In the background, Edwin and Ernest watched them with their child-like curiosity.

As they signed the final document, Mr. Aldridge placed his hand over the papers and smiled warmly at the boys. "Congratulations, Edwin, Ernest," he said. "The Duke and Duchess are now legally your parents."

"Does this mean we can call you Mother and Father now?" Edwin asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Frances's heart swelled at his words. She knelt down before him. "Yes, it does. You're our sons now, and we couldn't be happier."

Tears rolled down her cheeks, but they were tears of joy. She had never been this happy before in her life.

They were a real family now, and no one could take the twins from her. From them.

Soon, the lawyer left, and the governess took the children away for their lessons.

Christopher and Frances were left alone again. Christopher snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"So, any regrets? Second thoughts? Do I need to be worried about you having cold feet now?"

She playfully slapped him on the shoulder. "Do not be silly. I've never been more certain about anything in my life. This is exactly where I'm meant to be—with you and our boys."

Our boys.

It felt amazing to say that.

"Our boys," Christopher repeated softly. He seemed to have read her mind.

Frances nodded, her smile widening. "They've brought so much joy into our lives."

"And a fair bit of chaos too." Christopher chuckled.

God, that they did.

"I cannot believe your mother is in jail now." Frances frowned. "This feels like an unfortunate end to her already lonely existence."

"She deserves it." Christopher rolled his eyes. "She went too far, and you know that."

Frances sighed. "I know. But I do wish…" She paused, gathering her thoughts.

Christopher rubbed her arm softly, telling her that he was there for her. It was something he did every time he felt that she was struggling with her emotions, and she felt quite loved whenever he did it.

"I just sometimes wish that things went differently, you know? It would be good for them to have their grandmother in their life."

"My God, Frances. Your heart is too kind," Christopher muttered. "Even for those who do not deserve it."

"In a twisted way," she asked, "aren't the people who are the cruelest who need our kindness the most?"

He blinked, confused. "You have lost me there."

She bit her lip. "Well, I just think that… people who are cruel are like that for a reason, right? Maybe no one has ever shown them kindness, and that is why they cannot give it to others."

Christopher tightened his arms around her, pulling her close to him. "Never change, Frances. You are a rare one."

She blushed, and he kissed the top of her head. She loved little moments like this.

"I love you," she murmured.

"I love you more."

* * *

The family was due to pay a visit today and Frances was excited to meet them. She had not shared the news of the adoption with anyone yet and was eager to let her family know.

The Duke was in the drawing room, entertaining her parents, while Harriet and Esther slipped away to her room.

Harriet, always ready to tease her sister, tilted her head with a mischievous grin. "You two seem happier than ever. What's the secret?"

Frances laughed softly, her cheeks flushing. "No secret, Harriet. Just gratitude for having my wonderful family."

Harriet exchanged a knowing look with Esther. "She is being suspicious, is she not?"

"I believe so," Esther agreed, playing along. "Are you hiding something from us?"

Esther's gaze flicked to Frances's belly, making her blush profusely.

They couldn't be suggesting that she was… expecting. Were they? The thought alone was enough to make Frances turn bright red.

"I am not," she protested.

The two sisters burst out laughing, amused at having gotten a rise out of her.

"Oh, we are just playing with you." Harriet smiled. "If anything, it is quite nice to see you happy like this."

"Well, happy to have your approval." Frances rolled her eyes. "Come, we should go back to the drawing room now. I cannot trust Mother to be alone with Christopher for too long. Who knows what will come out of her mouth?"

They entered the drawing room, and Christopher patted the spot next to him. She sat beside him.

"I have to say." Albina cleared her throat, observing both of them closely. "I'm glad to see you both so happy. It's a blessing, especially after everything you've been through."

Frances frowned. It felt like a nightmare, what had happened with the twins, and both she and the Duke tried their best to not bring it up, as it only evoked unwanted memories.

Esther sensed the tension and chimed in, "I'm so proud of you, Frances. You've come out of it so much stronger, but we should not dwell on the past."

"There was something we wanted to tell you, actually," Frances announced. "Christopher and I have officially adopted the twins. We are their new legal parents."

Albina's eyes widened. Frances knew that her mother was shocked, but the Countess was careful not to say anything that could offend her daughter.

"I suppose it does make sense for you to." The Earl nodded in agreement. "It secures their futures, which would have been uncertain, as their real parents are no longer alive."

Frances winced slightly, and Christopher squeezed her hand discreetly.

Silence fell over the room. But then Albina spoke up again.

"Frances, dear," she began, careful not to offend. "Now that Ernest and Edwin are officially part of the family, have you and Christopher given any thought to having a child of your own?"

Frances opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Christopher spoke up.

"We haven't talked about it in detail yet," he said, glancing at her with a reassuring smile, "but it's a conversation we'll be having soon."

Frances blinked in surprise. Really? Was it a conversation that they were going to have soon?

Her eyes met Christopher's, searching for an explanation. But he simply grinned at her.

Esther, sensing the slight tension, stepped in. "Whatever you decide about your family's future, I'm sure it will be the right choice for you."

"We have plenty of time to discuss our plans," Christopher explained. "For now, we're focused on enjoying our time together and building our family with Edwin and Ernest."

Albina nodded. "Well, I suppose you have enough on your plate as it is, with what happened with the Dowager Duchess recently. Quite a scandal that has become, now that the news of her arrest has reached the ton."

"Yes, what became of that case?" William asked, curious.

Christopher pressed his lips together in a thin line. "She is in the hands of the authorities now and will stand trial soon."

"Must be difficult for you." Albina frowned. "I cannot imagine a son going through that."

"Frances has been a constant support for me." He smiled. "I think I would not have been able to handle this without her."

Frances felt a warmth bloom in her chest. How nice it was to be loved.

The conversation then shifted to lighter topics, but Frances still kept thinking of what Christopher had said earlier.

What did he mean by that?

So, when the guests left, and the children were put to bed, she decided to broach the subject again.

"Are you coming to bed, love?" Christopher asked.

They no longer slept in separate rooms. She had moved into his chamber, on his request, some weeks ago.

"Just a minute." She stole one glance at her reflection in the vanity mirror and then sat down on the side of the bed.

"You look a bit distracted," Christopher noted, looking up from the book he had been reading.

Reading before bedtime was a ritual for him, she had learned. It helped him relax his mind and prepare himself for sleep.

"You believe so?" she asked, wondering how she should broach the subject.

He closed the book and put it on the bedside table. "Mm-hmm. What is going on in that mind of yours?"

"I keep thinking about… well, what you said earlier to my parents." She swallowed thickly. "About having children of our own someday. What did you mean by that?"

A smile tugged at his lips. "Is that what was bothering you all this time?"

"I would not use the word ‘bothered.'" She bit her lip. "Rather, curious is a better way to say it."

"I see. What did you want to know?"

He was playing with her now, and she knew it.

"Well, you said that it is a conversation that we will have soon. Is this soon enough for you, you think?" she pressed.

She did not want to outrightly say what she felt. But as their relationship had grown in these last few weeks, she had found herself desiring a child.

It was only natural maternal instinct, something that could not be suppressed.

He gave her a sheepish smile. "It is not."

"Have you had a change of heart?"

He scooted over so that he was now closer to her and gently took her hands in his own. "I have been thinking about it."

Her breath hitched in her throat, her eyes fixed on his as she waited for him to continue.

"I think having you in my life has led to a lot of changes in the way that I think. I see how you are with the twins, and I see how nice it is to have a family," he admitted.

"What about your fears?" she asked, even though she felt nervous to know what his answer would be. "You said that, because of your past, you never want to bring a child in this world."

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I used to think that. But it turns out that opinion was not set in stone."

"Does that mean…"

She could not even bring herself to finish the sentence. Was she dreaming?

"Yes, it means that I am open to the idea of expanding our family with you," he admitted. "In reality, I think it is something that I have always wanted, but I held myself back. But having you in my life has made me see that it is possible."

He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. "So, if you would be willing to have my children, I would be happy to give you them. As many as you like."

Tears welled up in Frances's eyes, and she threw her arms around him. "Oh, Christopher. Do you really mean that? Are you going to go back on your word?"

"Darling, I mean it. I love you, and I see no future without you in it. Having little versions of ourselves would make our lives even better."

"I cannot believe it, you have come such a long way."

He tilted up her chin with one of his fingers, making her look him straight in the eye. "What can I say? Love has a way of changing you."

A smile spread across her lips. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"If anything, I need to apologize for earlier, when I gave you the impression that I would deprive you of your right as my wife. I was foolish then, and scared?—"

She cut him off, kissing him gently on the lips. It was sweet, full of the love that they had for one another.

"No need to explain," she whispered against his lips as they pulled away. "With me, you never have to explain."

"You are the love of my life, darling," he repeated, his eyes burning with intensity. "You have given me a new life. I want to give you everything in return. Before you, the manor was just a building I occupied, but now it feels like a home."

She hugged him tightly, hoping to convey through it what her words could not.

She was happy, like this, with him.

It was everything that she could have asked for and more.

The End?