Epilogue

Ann

B eing an Everton Lady was exciting and I loved almost every moment. However, being married to the man I love is ten times better. I don't even mind being the Countess of Kendall. Maybe I should reserve judgment for a few days at least, but I'm too happy to contain it.

"I hope you don't mind, that I invited your mother to our wedding breakfast." Oscar wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck.

I hug his arms and breathe in the warm masculine scent of him. "I was surprised to see her at the ceremony. It was a delightful surprise. I'm glad you asked her to come and thrilled she consented. I saw her talking to Lord and Lady Everton. They seemed quite chummy. Even your mother looked happy."

Kissing me again where my neck meets my shoulder, he stirs longing inside me. "She seems genuinely happy for you, Ann."

"If you keep kissing me like that, we shall miss our own wedding breakfast." My scolding falls short because his mouth is too distracting. "I only came up here to make sure my hair was still presentable and to catch my breath. You needn't have joined me."

With a last kiss, he takes my hand and leads me to the glass mirror and lady's dressing table newly installed in his room. Once I sit, he crouches to look at my reflection. "You are beautiful, perfectly so, my love."

I tuck one escaped curl back into the intricate weave of my hair. Honoria loaned me Margery for the occasion. "I suppose I'll have to hire a lady's maid of my own, now that I'm a countess."

His grin widens. "You forced my valet on me, so yes, you will need a maid."

With one last look at my appearance in smooth the bodice of my pale blue wedding gown. "I suppose we should go down and greet the guests."

Offering his hand, he bows.

I slip my fingers into his palm. We walk to the door of the room that we now share at Kensfield Manor. It's hard to keep worries from marring the day despite my happiness. The old memories of the home I grew up in, surface. "Will you promise me something?"

Hand on the doorknob, he stops and squeezes my fingers. "Anything."

"I don't want to be like my parents. Promise me, we'll always be the people we are today. My father rules my mother and he ruled me for most of my life." I slide my hand over my abdomen and meet his worried gaze. "When our child grows up, will you promise to let him or her make their own decisions?"

Dropping to his knees, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me tight so his cheek is pressed to the place where our first child grows. "How long have you known?"

"I've suspected for a week. I'll have to see the doctor, but I'm reasonably certain that I'm with child." I run my fingers through his thick hair. "It's probably good since at my age, we haven't much time to build our family."

"We have the perfect amount of time, Ann. I would have made a terrible husband when I was younger. I hope to do the job justice now. I love you with all my being, heart, and soul. I will love our children; girls and boys alike. I promise to be a kind father who takes his children's wishes into account. However, I can't promise to deny a bad match for good reason."

I'm about to argue when he holds up his hand to slow my ire.

He stares at me from his knees, takes my hands, and kisses each in turn. "I promise that you and I will discuss these matters at length and together we will do our best for our children."

I lower to my knees despite the constraints of my corset and gown. "You are always telling me that I'm perfect, Oscar, but it is you who exceeds all my expectations with every moment we're together."

Someone scratches at the door. Hodgins speaks from the other side of the wood. "My lord, the guests are arriving."

Oscar helps me to my feet and presses his lips to my ear. "It will be my life's work to do so at every turn, my beautiful, kind, brilliant wife."

I dab the tear at the corner of my eye. Never having believed I deserved such a life, I pushed the expectations of my youth away, stuffing them deep inside. I thought them gone, but now they've come to the surface and brought all the joy of youth with them .

Smiling, Oscar skims his palm once more over my belly. "Are you ready?"

Afraid, words will bring me to tears with my emotions so close, I nod. Taking his arm, we face the rest of our lives together.

Thank you for reading A Lady's Curves . I hope you enjoyed Ann and Oscar's story.