Epilogue

"Grandmother." Thomas's voice held a note of impatience, but he was smiling. "Must you? Really?"

The Dowager Duchess smiled imperiously. "Yes. I really must."

To Catherine's surprise, Thomas stood up, drawing her up with him. The Dowager Duchess stared at them, blinking rapidly. The dogs lying at her feet blinked at them owlishly, too.

"What are you doing?" Catherine hissed.

Thomas turned to her, grinning. He didn't reply. He turned back to his grandmother.

"Grandmother, you know I love you dearly," he began, his grin widening. "You are staying the night, are you not?"

The Dowager Duchess nodded slowly. "As long as my chambers have been prepared, then yes, I do believe I will. It is such an arduous journey from London and back in a day at my age." She frowned. "Why?"

"Just checking that we shall see you again at dinner," he replied, squeezing Catherine's hand. "You see, we have a previous engagement now."

Catherine frowned, puzzled. What was he talking about? She wasn't aware of any previous engagement.

"Oh, really?" The Dowager Duchess leaned on her walking stick, gazing at him. "And what, pray tell, could be more important than entertaining your old, decrepit granny?"

"Well, if you really want a great-grandchild that badly, Grandmother," he said, arching his eyebrows, "then my wife and I must get started on the task immediately. You will just have to excuse us."

Catherine burst out laughing, turning to slap him lightly on the arm. Her cheeks turned pink. How was the old lady going to respond to such an outrageous statement?

The Dowager Duchess gazed at him intently, her eyes twinkling. "Well, what are you waiting for, then?"

"I cannot believe you said that to her." Catherine laughed as her husband led her out of the house and through the grounds of the estate. "You are so audacious!"

Thomas chuckled. "I thought I might give her a taste of her own medicine." He shrugged. "She took it with good grace."

"She did," Catherine agreed, still giggling. "Where are you taking me? When you said that we needed to get started on a great-grandchild for her, I assumed you were going to take me to the chambers, husband."

"I am taking you somewhere special," he replied, smiling at her. "I hope that you like it."

They fell silent as they kept walking past the maze and the gazebo, heading towards the woodlands.

Catherine gasped, taking in the beauty of it. The leaves on the trees had all turned to russet and gold and brown, a symphony of such vivid color that it took her breath away.

"Summer is leaving," she breathed, gazing around. "You can see it… and feel it in the air."

Thomas grinned. "It has not left quite yet," he said, glancing at her quickly. "It is quite a warm day. Do you not agree?"

Catherine took a deep breath. "Yes. It is still warm. The cold has not set in yet."

They kept walking, heading deeper into the woods. Suddenly, Catherine knew exactly where he was taking her.

"You are leading me to the lake," she stated, smiling. "The lake where I saw you swimming that day."

He didn't reply. They rounded a corner, and there it was—the lake, shimmering in the sunlight, looking even more gorgeous than when she had last seen it, surrounded as it was by vivid red and gold-leafed trees.

They walked to the edge before they stopped. He turned to her, looking at her intently.

"I asked you that day if you would join me," he began. "You refused, saying it was not the proper thing to do."

Catherine laughed. "I did," she said. "I was not yet ready to surrender to you, even though I longed to do it."

He reached up, stroking her face with his hand. "Are you ready to do it now?"

Catherine's heart fluttered. She could barely breathe as she gazed at him, his beloved face, asking her to join him for a swim in the lake.

Slowly, she nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "I do believe I am."

His eyes lit up. He drew her towards him, whispering in her ear, nuzzling her, before he turned her around and carefully unlaced her gown which slid to the ground. Then he tenderly removed her stays and chemise, tossing them to the ground, too. She blushed as his eyes lingered on her body.

"I longed to see you like this that day," he whispered, his voice husky. "I still cannot believe that this is happening, Catherine. That you are finally mine… and I am yours."

"I am yours," she whispered back, her heart thumping hard. "I will always be yours."

Boldly, she moved towards him and removed his jacket, her eyes never leaving his. When she had tossed it to the ground, she slowly unbuttoned his shirt, doing the same. He took off his boots. And then she unbuttoned his britches, pushing them down his legs. Thomas stepped out of his britches… and he was standing there, completely naked.

Her eyes feasted on him, taking in his magnificence. His broad shoulders, his smooth, muscular chest, his strong arms. His manhood stood proud and erect. Her heart rate quickened just looking at him, exactly as it had that day by this very lake.

She had wanted to touch him then, but she couldn't admit it. She had been too afraid. Too afraid to give in to the power of the desire she felt for him. Too afraid of where it might lead. Too afraid that it would take her somewhere she could no longer control her life.

She wasn't afraid any longer.

She ran her hands over that glorious, hard chest, luxuriating in the feel of it. In the feel of him. He stood there, barely breathing, letting her touch him, her hands suddenly everywhere, exploring with no limit. She heard his sharp intake of breath, noticed the agonized look on his face, his gleaming eyes, as her caresses grew bolder.

Suddenly, he took her hand, pulling her to him. They stood face to face, so close, breathing each other in, not moving. And then, without a word, he led her to the water.

It was colder than she had expected. The water lapped around her like silk, enveloping her in its depths. He pulled her to him again. She wrapped her legs around him as they kissed, feeling the heat rising between them even as the coolness lapped at her body.

When he entered her, it was as if they were merging with the water and each other. They moved gently, twining themselves around each other, buoyant in the water. Catherine felt the familiar need, the rising sensations, edging ever so gently towards that glittering pinnacle.

When it came in a slow, glorious rush, she cried out, clinging to him. She heard her voice echoing in the silence. Thomas gripped her tightly, shuddering as he poured himself into her.

For a long while, they simply embraced, holding each other up in the water before they walked out of the lake. They lay on the bank side by side, their hands intertwined, gazing up at the sky.

Catherine watched the clouds moving, shifting patterns, so beautiful and entrancing that she felt like she could look at them forever.

"Happy?" Thomas murmured, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Immensely," she whispered, her heart overflowing with love for him. "I have never been more glad to lose a card game in my life."

He laughed. "I am glad you lost, as well."

Yes, she had found her courage at last. The courage to live fully, to give herself to another person… and to love. The past was gone forever. And now, all she longed for was the present and the future. With him.

The End?