Epilogue

EPILOGUE

ROSEVALE, APRIL 1817

L ewis looked up from his ledger when he heard the strains of a violin floating in the open study window, riding the faint breeze that brought with it the scent of roses.

Gwinnie was taking a moment for herself. Good , he thought. He rose from his desk and walked to the open window. His beloved wife stood in the wildest, in appearance, of the gardens, the one not conforming to a type of plant or orderly planting. All colors surrounded her as she swayed with her music. She'd shunned her bonnet again and sun glinted on her rich red hair. More freckles would bloom across her cheeks. Lewis didn't care. He loved each kiss the sun bestowed on her face.

He looked back at the papers on his desk, then back at Gwinnie and made a decision. He would join Gwinnie outside. He rang a staff bell and requested tea be prepared for the garden, then he walked out of his study and to the ground-floor parlor that fronted the terrace.

The doors and windows were open to the spring air. He passed through the doors and walked across the terrace and down the rose-bordered path that would take him to the wild garden. Beyond the wild garden was a small apple orchard, the trees in full bloom.

He sat on a wood bench at the edge of the wild garden.

Rosevale was a more beautiful estate than he remembered as a young man. He could see why his father had requested Mr. Fortingay remain as the estate manager. The man had a manner that communicated with plants better than people. A couple of society peers had wanted to steal him away from Rosevale; however, the man had thankfully turned them down, saying he was content at Rosevale.

The inside of the manor was like a favored, well-worn jacket, comfortable but not elegant. Gwinnie and Lewis found it suited them. Eventually they would make changes, but they were not in a rush. There were two wings to the house that had been shut up years ago. Lewis had never been in them. When he and Gwinnie toured the closed-up rooms with the old caretaker couple, they'd become excited at the possibilities for turning part of Rosevale into a school or a charity. They didn't know yet what they wanted to do. They were in discussion with the Earl of Soothcoor for suggestions. In the meantime, they were having the wings cleaned and restored.

Supervising this effort filled Gwinnie's days.

Daniel had gone to Versely Park with the dowager duchess the Monday after the Winter Soiree. He discovered he liked the country, but had returned to school after three weeks. He wrote that he was looking forward to coming to Rosevale at the end of the school term.

Lewis spent much of his time getting acquainted with his inheritance and his investments. He and Harry Liddle were contemplating starting an inquiry agency when they discovered they only lived five miles apart. Further, to his and Gwinnie's surprise, they were only eleven miles from Gwinnie's twin brother and his wife, and less than a half-day's journey from Versely Park! Those discoveries delighted Gwinnie. And Merlin knew he wanted a medical practice in the Cotswolds, so he would likely be close as well. Only the Duke of Malmsby seemed to prefer the city, but they would coax him out for visits.

Lewis heard the clattering of china behind him. Their tea had arrived. Gwinnie had heard it too. She turned.

"Lewis! How long have you been sitting there?" she asked, nearly skipping to him. She held her violin and bow in one hand away from her and gave him a one-armed hug with the arm that had long recovered from its injury.

"I don't know. Fifteen minutes or so. I was enjoying hearing you play."

"It is a beautiful day to play outside. I'm glad that last year Bella convinced me to try it."

"I ordered tea."

"I see," Gwinnie said. "Let me put my violin away and we can indulge in some relaxing time together."

"I can think of a better way to spend relaxing time together," Lewis said, flashing his cheeky smile and brilliant blue eyes at her.

"Relaxing? I am nearly always out of breath and positively spent," Gwinnie declared. "But I do enjoy it," she said with a sly smile.

Before Lewis could say anything else, she ran into the house to put her instrument away. When she returned, she saw he had poured her tea and prepared it as she liked it. "I could get used to this." She took a sip.

He smiled at her. "I had a letter from Soothcoor today," he said.

"And?"

"He made a few suggestions. One I found particularly intriguing. A music academy."

"A music academy?" Gwinnie set down her teacup.

"He thought there are probably children with a music talent who have no opportunity to learn. Rather like Robbie Gilgorn and his art talent."

"Possibly," Gwinnie said slowly. "But how would we find them?"

"I don't know, though I'm certain Soothcoor would not have suggested the idea if he didn't have a glimmer of a notion on how to set things in motion.

"True." She nodded and picked up her teacup again.

"Oh, he also told me the Dowager Countess of Harleigh is enjoying spring from Camden House Sanatorium."

"I wonder how they got her to go there?"

"Probably the threat of having me arrest her. No one will cause you any more harm; if someone tried, they wouldn't live long enough to be arrested," Lewis promised.

Gwinnie leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Are you happy here?" she asked. "Do you miss solving crimes and making friends with the mudlarks and other city children?"

"I am extremely happy being with you. I could never have imagined our life now, to live as we please."

"Mr. and Mrs. Martin of Rosevale," Gwinnie declared. Then she grew solemn. "The only thing that will make me happier is to bear your child."

"I know you are disappointed that you have not conceived yet. I, however, am not," admitted Lewis.

"You're not? Don't you want children?" She ran a hand through his blond waves.

"I do. I want children with you," he said, capturing her wayward hand in his and brought it to his lips. "But right now, I want to be selfish and not share you with anyone."

Gwinnie smiled softly. "There is merit in that. Like enjoying the activities that may lead to a child," she said coyly.

Lewis laughed. "Yes, like those activities."

"I'm done playing the violin for the day. Are you done with your accounts and ledgers?" she asked.

He grinned. "I am. Are you suggesting, Mrs. Martin, you'd like to indulge in that activity?" he asked, as he rose from his chair and pulled her up beside him.

"I'm tingling at the thought."

He laughed, his clear blue eyes sparkling at her. "Never let it be said I let tingles go to waste."

"Never," she said, as he hooked her arm through his. She laid her head against his as they made their way to the stairs. At the base of the stairs, Gwinnie gently pulled her arm from his.

"Race you!" she suddenly declared. She grabbed her skirts and took off running up the stairs.

Surprise held Lewis's feet momentarily, giving Gwinnie her head start.

"Vixen!" he declared. He took off after her.

She beat him to their room and threw herself backward onto the bed. "I won!" she crowed with delight.

Lewis raised one blond eyebrow, his lips curving into a stalking smile as he closed the bedroom door behind him.