Epilogue

EPILOGUE

" I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Even now, the words still rang in her mind like a promise. Thalia touched her freshly kissed lips and smiled with delighted astonishment.

It was done. Thalia could hardly believe it. She stood inside the chapel as her guests filtered out, eagerly awaiting their chance to celebrate the new couple as they exited the church and made their way to the carriage.

But Thalia was not yet ready to face them. She wanted to savor this moment. She wanted to try and wrap her head around the fact that she was now married. Not only that, but she was a duchess. The Duchess of Ravenwood.

A hand reached out to take hers. "My wife," Benedict mused, watching her with unveiled admiration. "I like the sound of that."

"My husband." The words tickled her tongue and Thalia knew, even then, that she would never tire of speaking them.

Benedict opened his mouth to say something more when a voice summoned him from the other side of the chapel. It was the vicar. "I shall be back in a moment," Benedict promised her, squeezing her hand as he stepped away.

Thalia was alone for only a moment when a familiar figure approached her.

"Congratulations, my dear." Marina took Thalia's hand and pressed it gently.

Though the ceremony was finished – the deed done – Thalia could not help but swallow nervously, her throat dry as she was confronted by the duke's mother. After all, it was Marina who had seemed strongly opposed to Benedict and Thalia's closeness from the beginning.

Marina slowly looked Thalia up and down, nodding appreciatively. "You look wonderful. As beautiful a bride as this ton has ever seen."

"The dress was my mother's," Thalia offered in careful reply.

"A fine tribute to her. We must remember those we have lost as we forge ahead with our lives." Marina's eyes clouded for a moment, and Thalia knew she was remembering her late husband.

"You must have loved him very much." Thalia did not know where she found the boldness to make such a statement but, in that moment, she felt the need to say something. To validate the grief that Marina still clearly carried.

"Love is a strange thing," Marina mused after a moment, her voice soft and thoughtful. "But to love and be loved in return is one of the greatest gifts in life." She glanced up at Thalia and seemed to shake away the cloud of memories.

Then, taking a deep breath, Marina gave Thalia's hand a little squeeze. "It was a fine ceremony. I look forward to speaking with you about it once you return from your honeymoon. I am sure you will be flooded with other conversations at the wedding breakfast later on today. We shall have to find time to speak properly after you return from abroad. I believe the Duke of Crawford – Benedict's cousin – will be arriving around that time," Marina added. "I am sure he will be glad to make your acquaintance."

"Aaron will be visiting?" Benedict joined the women, coming to stand beside his wife as he placed a protective hand on the small of her back. His eyes shone with excitement.

Marina nodded. "He sends his regrets for not having been able to attend the wedding. It seems he was caught up with some urgent business. But he looks forward to celebrating with you upon your return. And meeting his cousin's lovely wife he has heard so much about."

Benedict grinned down at Thalia. "I look forward to introducing you two. He shall be as enchanted with you as I am, I am sure."

Thalia smiled, seeing the pride in her new husband's face. She was looking forward to meeting the man who had done so much for Benedict. But that would come later. Now, she was newly married. And with her new title came new duties.

Benedict too, seemed to be following her train of thought. "Well, we are due back at the manor soon, to oversee the final preparations for the wedding banquet. And then, of course, to oversee the packing for our honeymoon." He chuckled at a new thought, eyeing his mother skeptically. "I assume you will wish to oversee the duties of the estate while we are away. And that you will offer your services in showing the new duchess how things are run?"

Thalia winced slightly knowing, as did her husband, that Marina was likely still skeptical about Thalia's abilities when it came to fulfilling her role as a duchess. She had been partial to Selina, of course, and had been hopeful that it would be the youngest Fletcher daughter to marry the duke.

But to Thalia's surprise, Marina shook her head. "I shall happily manage things while you are away, but I would not presume to tread upon the duchess' responsibilities." She cast an approving glance at Thalia. "The Duchess of Ravenwood is more than capable of tending to her duties."

The glowing seal of approval from the dowager duchess was more than anything Thalia could have hoped for. Giving the older woman a small bow, Thalia thanked her.

Then, it was time for the couple to leave. They exited the chapel as their guests cheered and threw rice into the air around them. Thalia could not help but grin broadly at Benedict, clutching her hand in his, led her to their carriage. Then, grandly, he picked her up and set her down inside the open carriage. The crowd cheered at the gesture and Thalia blushed happily.

Benedict stayed outside a moment more, thanking everyone for their attendance and reminding them all that they were invited to the wedding breakfast at the estate. He also added that they would hold another celebration once he and his wife returned from their honeymoon. The man, it seemed, was eager to celebrate his newfound good fortune.

Then, climbing in beside her, he asked the driver to take them home. Thalia spotted her father and sister and waved at them as they departed, the tears in their eyes bringing forth fresh ones of her own. But they were tears of joy. And Thalia knew that that they were as proud of her as she was of them.

As the mirth and noise of the wedding celebration fell away, Benedict turned to Thalia. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "Well, wife, how do you feel?"

"How do I feel now that I am the Duchess of Ravenwood?" Thalia teased, making a show of holding her head proudly and looking down on him.

Benedict chuckled and gave her a playful squeeze. "It has been a long sought-after title. You beat many other women to claim it."

"I caught sight of a few jealous glances this morning," Thalia admitted, remembering several young women of the ton eyeing her with unveiled skepticism.

"They were no doubt wondering how you managed to seduce me," Benedict added, smiling down at her with renewed warmth. "I still wonder what sort of charm you have cast over me."

"I had expected," he continued, "to find my passions for you a little dulled after the ceremony. An inevitability, I assumed, now our desires have been made public. The mystery somewhat lost, as they say."

Thalia's smile faltered. "And?"

Benedict put a hand to her cheek, staring into her eyes with a love that made Thalia's entire body warm. "I find that I have never wanted you more," he murmured. "I want to show my wife how much I love her. And I never want to stop showing her or making her happy. It is a commitment I am eager to devote the rest of my life to."

Blissfully happy, Thalia let her husband kiss her tenderly.

The carriage lurched over a bump, and she was thrown forward, almost on top of him. Chuckling Benedict's arms circled around her even tighter and, as Thalia moved to pull away, he held her in place.

"You see, I even have my driver working to help me," Benedict mused playfully.

Laughing, Thalia playfully swatted at him. As Benedict ran a finger down her neck, tracing the top of her breasts along the neckline of her wedding dress, Thalia shivered with delight.

When he pulled the fabric back, making a show of sneaking a peek underneath, Thalia laughed again and caught his hand in hers. "We are still in public, need I remind you?" she admonished him, still laughing.

When Benedict drew close, his eyes flashed with dangerous amusement. "That has never stopped us before."

Though all Thalia wanted right now was to give herself up to her new husband, she did not think she could face Benedict's driver if he caught them doing anything untoward in the back of his carriage.

So, giving Benedict another kiss, she grinned up at him. "Patience," she whispered.

Groaning in mock heartbreak, Benedict grinned and settled back into his seat.

Despite his dramatic display, Benedict did not have to wait long until they were freed of the confines of the carriage. Before Thalia knew it, they were back at the estate. Back home . The duke helped her down from the carriage and began to guide her up the stairs and into the manor. Around them, several servants hurried to put the finishing touches on the wedding feast.

"The guests will be here soon," Thalia remarked, watching them.

She was about to say something else when she suddenly found herself hoisted up in the air. She squealed as Benedict took her into his arms, carrying her toward the stairs.

"What are you doing?" she breathed, a little scandalized.

The look Benedict gave her made her blush deepen. "They will not be here for some time yet. And I think I know the perfect way to pass the time." He grinned wickedly.

Benedict carried her up the stairs and into his private rooms. In the bedroom he laid her gently out on the bed. Then, to Thalia's surprise, he stepped back.

She sat up a little, confused. "What is it?"

Smiling at her, Benedict's eyes trailed her up and down with a slow, savoring look. "Do you know how many times I have imagined you here?" he asked her.

Thalia's heart skipped a beat. "You have?"

"So many nights I pictured what it would be like to have you in my bed," he continued, drinking in the sight of her. "So many times I wished that I could have you properly, here, instead of in secret in some secluded place."

"Bear in mind," he added with a sly quirk of his eyebrow, "I still fully intend to enjoy you in many more such forbidden places."

Thalia's breath caught in her throat, imagining too, such future encounters. Her pulse quickened with desire.

"But I also intend to make love to my wife here, in our bed," Benedict continued, his eyes flashing with pride and desire. "You should know, my love, that I have many things planned for you," he finished, his voice velvety and dangerous.

Delighted, Thalia felt her body react to his entrancing words. Then, as he drew closer, she shivered in anticipation.

Gently, slowly, Benedict lowered himself onto her. They were still fully clothed, but Thalia knew they would not stay like that for long. But, for the meantime, it was clear that Benedict wished to take his time. He wished to savor this moment.

"How did I get so lucky?" he murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. He then moved to kiss her temple where it had lain.

"I have been asking myself that question," Thalia breathed, her eyes fluttering closed as she enjoyed the sensation of his lips on her skin.

Gently, Benedict pulled back. He stared deep into her eyes for a long moment, wordless. Then, he smiled. "I love you, Thalia Fletcher. Have I ever told you that?"

Thalia giggled, her heart near to bursting with love and happiness. "I believe you have. But I think I should like to hear it again."

Benedict's grin widened. He bent to kiss her cheek. "I love you," he murmured. Then he kissed her neck. "I love you," he whispered into her skin, his breath making her shiver with delight.

"I love you." He kissed the delicate place just below her collarbone. "I love you." Her supple flesh of exposed breast just above the neckline of her wedding dress.

As Benedict kissed her further, making his way under her dress, Thalia sat up. "Wait," she breathed. Her husband paused, raising his gaze to hers.

Wordlessly, Thalia pulled him back to her, kissing him deeply and passionately with abandon. A groan rumbled in Benedict's chest as he moved to further deepen their kiss.

When Thalia pulled back, she could hardly speak. But she needed to. She put a hand on his cheek, staring into those entrancing eyes that continued to make her pulse quicken and her heart lurch. "I love you," she told him, and it was a promise and a declaration all in one.

In reply, Benedict kissed her again.

The End?