Epilogue

January 1897

Corfu, Greece

P hoebe let out a dreamy sigh as she leaned against the railing of their hired villa’s impressive balcony. Perched on the hillside above Corfu’s port, the villa offered breathtaking views of the city and sea below. Phoebe had spent each morning of their stay out here so far and was quite certain she could watch dawn breaking across the Ionian every day for the rest of her life. A pity they would have to return to London eventually. But there were a great many exciting things to look forward to back home. The school was thriving after a busy fall and though she would not be returning to the classroom, Phoebe was developing an enrichment program for woman workers in industry to study subjects like literature and mathematics for eight-week sessions. Marion had already signed on as the head teacher and Will donated the use of a large country house he owned just outside London, which would serve their purposes very nicely. Meanwhile, Phoebe was having an excellent time putting together a roster of guest lecturers. But all that would happen in the spring. For now she lost herself in the hypnotic rhythm of the gentle waves, watching as the deep indigo water slowly turned cerulean in the morning light.

They had arrived in Corfu only a few days before after an exhausting stopover in Rome filled with endless tours, sightseeing, and so many statues of badly behaved gods. Though the pasta had been life-changing, Phoebe already preferred this idyllic island to the bustle of the city. They hadn’t left their hillside villa as much as she had anticipated given the slower pace of life here—not that she was complaining.

Recalling just how they had been occupying themselves brought a smile to her face. She glanced back at the sound of bare feet on the tiled floor. A moment later, Will’s arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against his warm chest.

“Come back to bed, Duchess,” he purred by her ear.

Phoebe loved how deep and rough his voice was first thing in the morning. She relaxed against him and reached up to stroke the nape of his neck. “Haven’t you had enough of me yet?”

“ Never .” Will punctuated this with a swift nip at her earlobe and Phoebe let out a delighted laugh.

She turned around and grinned up at him. Her handsome husband. Her whole heart. “Well, I suppose I can. If it is a matter of great urgency.”

He leaned down and nuzzled her cheek. “Oh, most definitely. The very greatest.” Will then rocked his hips against hers and Phoebe raised an eyebrow.

“Say no more, Your Grace. The matter is in hand.”

Will flashed her a wicked grin. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Then he turned and tugged her back inside. But as Phoebe dutifully followed him, something on the floor caught her eye.

“Wait.” Phoebe broke away and picked up an envelope that the housekeeper had slid under their bedroom door. “It must have arrived after we retired.”

“Then it can wait a little longer,” Will said as he began to place distracting kisses along her neck.

Phoebe did her best to ignore him as she tore open the envelope and scanned the heading. “It’s from Alex.”

Will pulled back. “Why is she contacting us, anyway? She has a whole entire man to occupy her time now.”

Phoebe laughed and turned to face him. “You know Alex can always find time for anything. I’m very happy for her.”

He caught her hand and planted a kiss on her wrist. “As am I, but I’d rather she didn’t interrupt our honeymoon.”

“I think you can sacrifice a minute for me to read this.”

His mouth curved in answer. “Even when you know all I can do with you in a minute?”

Phoebe rolled her eyes even as her cheeks flushed. “Even then.” But as she scanned the short note, she stiffened. “It’s Freddie. She’s in some kind of trouble. And Inspector Holland is involved.”

“What kind of trouble?” Will’s gaze turned suspicious as he took the paper from her and read it himself. “Oh. That kind.” He let out a sigh. “Shall I go make the travel arrangements, then?”

Though a great part of her revolted at the idea, there was no way Phoebe could relax here anymore. They needed to be back in London as soon as possible.

“I’m sorry, darling.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest. “You know how much I’ve been looking forward to our Grecian winter.”

They had even planned to rent a yacht and retrace some of Odysseus’s journey. Her heart sank at all that would be lost.

“No need,” Will said as he stroked her hair. “We’ll come back as soon as we can. Besides, I knew when we married you came with two sisters nearly as given to courting trouble as you.”

She looked up and found that unique sense of understanding in his eyes. Never mind the Ionian Sea. She got to wake up to him every day, this man that had been part of her past and now her future. “Have I told you how very much I love you?”

He tilted his head in thought. “Not in the last hour.”

“Let’s remedy that first. Then we’ll make the arrangements, as I doubt anyone is awake now anyway.”

Will pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Yes, people keep very sensible business hours here.” Then he tugged her toward the bedroom. “And thank heavens for that.”