Epilogue

Two weeks later

Holding onto the small swell of her stomach as the carriage jostled them about, Emmaline asked, "Husband, will you still not tell me where you are taking me?"

City had turned to wide open hills outside the window. Wide open hills had turned to village and village to hills and hills to village again.

Then finally, Alex had said, "We are almost there."

The apprehension had been clear in his tone. Emmaline wondered whether Lorraine was having similar trouble with learning from Sean in the carriage behind just where they were going. The two had become awfully close of late and Emmaline was certain that they would grow even closer.

It was no surprise. All was well and had been ever since Alex and her terrified brothers had rescued her and her father from Frederick"s terrible clutches. He himself was still firmly behind bars and would remain so for the remainder of Alex's life which would definitely mean his death would come in a cold, wet cell and not in the sickbed of a duke as he might have hoped.

"I do not wish to ruin the surprise," Alex said, lifting one hand from her stomach so that he could kiss her knuckles. "Be patient, my love, we have made it this far."

Emmaline fizzled with excitement. They had traveled for a day and a night, only stopping to rest, eat and make love in an inn along the way. And all the while Alex had refused to tell her where they were going.

She pulled her hand from his and cupped his face with it, feeling the heat of him even through her glove. "You are an even crueler devil than you used to be."

"Never!" Alex scoffed, taking her hand again. This time he kissed her palm. The look in his eyes suggested he might take her right then and there. She would have happily allowed him if not for the fact that the carriage was slowing.

"It appears, my love, we are here."

Brimming with anticipation, Emmaline allowed Alex to help her down the carriage steps. He practically picked her up and placed her on the ground beside him. She'd begun to feel a bit queasy at times, and he somehow always made her feel better.

She glanced about, still seeing nothing but rolling hills and open fields, a lane leading off to heaven knew where.

"I thought you said we were here," she said, scowling as he took her hand.

"We are. I asked the coachman before we left to allow us to walk the rest of the way," Alex told her, and he kissed her cheek this time as if he still could not get enough of her. "I thought you might wish to stretch your legs."

Emmaline"s heart swelled, for her husband was right.

"Shall we?" he asked, gesturing down the lane even as Lorraine and Sean exited the second carriage and joined them.

Emmaline nodded and the four began to walk slowly, allowing for Emmaline"s slightly slower pace.

As they came to a corner in the lane, Alex paused and gripped both of her hands.

"Now, I must warn you, it does not look too good right now, but I have a vision," he said, his gaze more nervous than Emmaline had ever seen it.

Rolling her eyes, Emmaline squeezed Alex"s hands firmly until he gave a playful squeal. Then she looked him dead in the eye and grumbled, "I am with child. Do not play games with me, husband, or you shall feel the consequences."

"Yes, oh, yes," Alex exclaimed, his voice filled with amusement. "Right this way, Your Grace."

And finally, he took her around the corner. They came upon the grandest driveway Emmaline had ever seen. At least, it would have been if not for the tangled, overgrown hedges, the masses of weeds and the abundance of lawn.

But that was not what took Emmaline"s breath away. Beyond the overgrown lawns, beyond the hedgerows and the forecourt with its waterless fountain, its bowl filled with debris, was a giant manor house or rather the blackened, crumbling remains of one. Only the bottom story and some of the left wing remained standing while the rest had fallen away to blackened ruins.

"Why… why would you bring me here?" Emmaline gasped, clutching Alex"s arm. She felt faint. Even before he told her, she knew this was the place, the place where their father had died, and they had nearly joined him.

"Sean! Help me!" Alex ordered and Sean was there immediately at her other side. Together they helped her to a nearby boulder, a marker for the lawn and set her down upon it.

"Why? Alex, why?" She clutched his hand tighter as he crouched before her.

"Oh, Emmaline, please," Lorraine pleaded, "It is for the grandest reason."

Emmaline looked between them all, those she had come to love and care for as her own family. "You all knew of this?"

Sean looked apprehensive as if he had come to know that she could be just as frightening as her husband if she had a mind to be.

"Do not blame them," Alex said as he took her face in her hands, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Be still and calm, my love. There shall be no more trauma here."

"Then, why?"

She searched his gaze, unable to find the answer.

"The India Rose," Alex said. Emmaline narrowed her eyes.

"What of it?"

"The profits were even more unimaginable than I had hoped for," Alex admitted, and excitement filled his gaze. "We have more than enough to rebuild—"

"Rebuild?" Emmaline swept up onto her feet almost knocking Alex off his perch where he crouched before her.

He stood with her, but she had already turned away.

"How could you ever think to rebuild this place? I shall not live here. I shall not be hidden away here with our children while you go off gallivanting back to London to live the life of a bachelor once more! I should have listened to Violet when she told me all of you men are the sa—"

Alex grabbed her then and pulled her around to face him, kissing her so swiftly that it took her breath away.

It was Lorraine who broke in before she could force him away. "An orphanage, Emmaline!"

Emmaline stumbled backwards, Alex"s arms the only thing holding her up.

"A what?" she exclaimed unable to believe her ears.

"An orphanage, Em," Alex said, his expression bursting with joy. "Just imagine all of the orphans in London. Imagine the magical experiences they might have in the countryside, in a place like this. It shall be rebuilt, even better than before. It shall be filled with laughter, love and light. We shall wipe away the dark stain on this place entirely!"

Guilt swept over Emmaline, and she threw herself into his arms. "Oh, Alex, you must think terribly of me!"

She clutched him so tight she thought she might crack his spine, but he held her until she finally eased her grip.

He kissed the side of her head then and whispered, "I could never go gallivanting off when everything I have ever wanted is right here in my arms."

THE END ?