Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Four Months Later

“ I t is a gorgeous piece,” Tabitha Perth, the mother of Lydia’s new brother-in-law praised, pointing a finger at Lydia’s choker. “Wherever did you get it?”

Lydia blushed as she fought the urge to touch the sterling silver collar that laced around her throat. Ezra had made true on his threat of a collar and leash, and now she wore the collar every day.

“I had it made for her,” Ezra said, placing a hand on Lydia’s shoulder as she joined them.

Lydia looked up to see the utter love and possession in his eyes and felt herself grow warm.

“It is beautiful, is it not?” he asked Tabitha, brushing his fingers gently across the neckpiece. “And it suits her so well.”

“It truly does,” Tabitha answered, smiling at him warmly. “I only hope that my Edmund will treat Juliet as well as you treat her older sister.”

Lydia struggled to hide her scoff in a cough as she felt Ezra’s silent laughter travel from his hand to her body, and they both shared a knowing glance. If only Tabitha knew how close her now daughter-in-law had been to being in Lydia’s place.

“I am sure he will,” Ezra said politely, quickly regaining his composure. “My dear sister-in-law has done nothing but sing his praises since their engagement, and from what I have seen today, the feeling is entirely mutual.”

Tabitha let out a happy sigh as they all turned to look at the bride and groom; both of them looking joyous and in love as they greeted their guests to their reception.

“He is absolutely smitten,” Tabitha went on, “I am lucky, you know, to have a son that has found love. It is so rare.”

She turned back to Ezra and Lydia, studying them for a moment before smiling again.

“You two have found it,” she declared, her hazy blue eyes shining with warmth, “That much is obvious.”

Lydia smiled warmly at her as she felt Ezra’s hand slip around her waist, pulling her closer. Yes, it really was obvious now, wasn’t it?

“I see your collar got another compliment,” Ezra mused quietly after Tabitha made her way back to her husband.

“That does not mean it is appropriate,” Lydia murmured back, though she did so as she was smiling.

While Lydia had received every form of punishment she had predicted that Ezra had waiting for her, she had also received a gift: Her collar. It truly was a beautiful piece; several thin strands of sterling silver wound whimsically around one another like vines and nestled in the center was a vividly blue aquamarine gem; identical to the color of Ezra’s eyes.

A delicate sterling silver chain leash was also gifted along with it; one that Ezra kept in his pocket every day and hooked to her collar any moment they were alone. While she had loved the collar, she had balked at the leash at first. Until that was, he showed her how he planned on using it. Now, knowing the leash was in his pocket, ready to be put on at his pleasure, made her weak with anticipation. Still, she loved to tease him about it.

“You do not like it?” he asked, feigning a hurt tone. Then he smirked.

“Well, if someone had not snuck away, we would not need it, would we?” Ezra taunted.

He began to swirl lazy circles with his fingers on her back, making her tingle. He then trailed them up her spine, to the back of her collar, and gave it a small tug. The soft whimper let loose from her lips before she could help it, and she blushed as she caught herself. Looking around the reception hall wildly, she searched for anyone who might have heard her. To her relief, everyone seemed too involved with their own conversations to notice.

“We are at Juliet’s wedding!” she hissed but took another step backward toward his chest.

She felt Ezra tug her collar again as he let out a cocky chuckle and felt her lower belly clench with arousal as her back become flush with Ezra’s chest. His other arm circled her waist, pinning her to him as he whispered into her ear “ And?”

“All right, you two, show some decorum, would you,” Barbara murmured just as Ezra placed a warm kiss on Lydia’s temple, and moved a small step away.

Lydia looked to the left and laughed as she saw Barbara’s cheeky grin.

“Indeed,” Ambrose muttered, giving Ezra a bemused look. “You two are as bad as Alice and Duncan with their little cuff thing.”

“Oh, come now, Ambrose, you should be careful where you cast your stones,” Lydia replied sweetly, reaching back to pat Ezra’s cheek, “Barbara told us all about what happened at your wedding reception.”

Laughter and amusement bubbled out of Lydia as she and Ezra both watched Ambrose’s eyes grow wide and his complexion pale.

“You did not,” he stated, casting a suspicious glance at Barbara.

“Oh, come, darling, don’t be such a bore,” Barbara pouted, reaching up to grip his chin and kiss him.

Lydia watched in amusement as Ambrose’s rigid nature suddenly softened, and when Barbara pulled away from the kiss she had to bite back a laugh when he sighed and asked, “How can I be a bore with you as my wife?”

“Oh, God,” Morgan gagged, rolling his eyes as he approached. “What is it with this wedding? It seems to have everyone acting inappropriately.”

“Inappropriately,” Ezra laughed. “Since when do you believe in the concept?”

Morgan grunted, looking quite miserable as he swirled the whiskey in his glass.

“Since now, apparently,” he grunted, then swallowed the rest of his drink.

Lydia’s smile dropped a little as she took in the unconcealed loneliness in Morgan’s eyes. He was the golden-hearted fool of the four orphaned dukes. Handsome, charming, carefree, hardly ever unable to make a joke; ladies of all ranks had to be swarming to him. So, if he was miserable, why had he not picked one?

“I believe I shall pay my salutations and well wishes to the bride and groom, and then I am going to go,” Morgan stated, setting his glass down on a nearby table.

“Morgan, mate…” Ambrose said, also sensing their friend’s sad demeanor.

“I am fine,” Morgan replied, cutting him off.

He kissed Barbara and Lydia each on the cheek and then took turns shaking Ambrose’s and Ezra’s hands.

“Get in the ring with me tomorrow,” Ezra said as he shook Morgan’s hand.

It was not so much a request as an instruction, and Morgan nodded as though he understood. They did not just box when there was anger. It was useful for many emotions.

“All right, mate,” he agreed, then clapped him on the shoulder before heading toward Juliet and Edmund.

“Where is he going?” Duncan asked, joining the group along with Alice.

“Off to drown his sorrows, I suspect,” Ambrose sighed, all of them watching Morgan closely as he warmly greeted the bride and groom.

“We know where he is going. I shall check in on him later and make sure he makes it home tonight,” Ezra stated.

Lydia nodded as she slipped her hand beneath her husband’s jacket and placed it on his warm chest directly above his beating heart. In the three days that she had held Ezra captive in his rooms when they were not sleeping, eating, or making love, he had told her what they had learned about their fathers.

Ezra himself seemed to be taking it all in his stride, but he had mentioned his concern for Ambrose and Morgan; for unlike he and Duncan, they had actually been loved by their fathers. Ambrose had Barbara now, and in the talks they’d had many times since their coup, Lydia knew her friend was helping her husband through his struggles.

Duncan had Alice, and Ezra had her, she thought as she glanced up to look at Ezra’s handsome face. But Morgan had no one.

“What is it?” Ezra asked, his grip on her suddenly becoming tighter as he looked down at her. “Something is wrong.”

Lydia felt a burst of warmth at her husband’s concern. He noticed everything when it came to her, it seemed, even when her thoughts began to change.

“I am just worried for Morgan,” she replied calmly.

Understanding shone in his eyes, and he gave a subtle nod, but said nothing.

“Come,” Alice said, taking Lydia’s hand, “We came over to tell you all that Juliet and Edmund are asking for all of us.”

Lydia tucked away her worrisome thoughts of Morgan as they all went to see Juliet and Edmund and showered the two once more in hugs, kisses, and congratulations.

“It truly is the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen,” Lydia gushed for the twentieth time.

And, for the twentieth time, Juliet beamed as brightly as the sun. She had put so much effort into creating the romantic ceremony and reception, and it had paid her back in full. Still, nothing in the room shone quite as brightly as Edmund, who never took his eyes off Juliet for more than three seconds.

There was true lifelong dedication and love in every look he gave her, and Lydia felt her heart swell as she thought of how differently they all would have ended up if she had not switched places with Juliet almost a year ago.

“Thank you,” Juliet whispered into her ear as she pulled Lydia tight, and she knew her sister was having the same thought.

“Thank you,” Lydia whispered back, holding her close. “For being brave enough to say something.”

“Do you regret it?”

Lydia stirred against his chest, and he felt remorse slice through him as he realized he’d woken her up. With his palm, he scooped up some warm water and poured it over her exposed shoulders in apology as she sighed and settled into him again.

After the wedding they returned home filled with a strange sort of intensity. Their lovemaking, usually filled with wicked words and teases, had been silent and wild; even their usual moans cut down to desperate gasps and grunts. Afterward, they’d been exhausted, and barely had the energy to pour themselves into the tub.

Regret what?” she asked softly.

“Marrying me. Taking your sister’s place as my wife. Our wedding certainly did not look like that…” he paused, then added, “And you and I certainly did not look at one another like those two did today. We barely looked at one another at all.”

He knew by the way Lydia looked at him that she could hear the wariness and guilt in his voice. She slid further up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Even now, months after the marks had faded, she still reverently touched his throat where the rope had nearly taken his life; as if to make sure it had not somehow found its way around his neck again.

Ezra felt a heavy emotion as she did this and lowered his eyes further. Lydia would not stand for it, and she tugged a fistful of his damp, black hair, forcing his gaze up. He smirked as she did so and kissed her lips.

“I am nothing but thankful,” Lydia swore, looking into his blue eyes. “Our story may be different from theirs, but that does not make it any less beautiful and real.”

Ezra’s brows tensed slightly as his throat grew tight; the closest he would ever come to shedding an emotional tear, and his arms pinned her against him as he buried his face in her neck.

“We need a honeymoon,” he murmured as he nuzzled.

Lydia smiled, looking relieved that they were finally moving away from the terrifying thoughts of what had almost befallen them.

“Is that not what our three days of punishment were?” she teased.

Ezra pulled back with an offended look, and she giggled.

“I am still not sure I have punished you enough for running off like that,” he snickered.

Arousal simmered through Ezra’s veins as he thought of all the devilishly delectable things he had done to take away her ability to walk, write, and even speak for several days. To her credit though, she had rendered him quite useless in return. His little minx of a wife did not back down from his challenges, no matter how intimidating he made them.

“I think you are right,” she agreed, slowly beginning to gyrate her hips atop him, making him hiss in a breath.

“Obviously,” Ezra murmured sarcastically, bucking his hips back into hers.

“Maybe a honeymoon is in order,” she continued, as he lifted her out of the tub. “You could punish me nonstop for weeks then.”

“Punishment? Oh, no, little dove, you certainly deserve a reward, ” Ezra replied, his wicked smile growing as he carried her, still dripping wet, to the fur rug sprawled before the roaring fire in the hearth.

“I could take you to Spain,” he went on, spreading her arms above her head, “And Greece, and France.”

His hands trailed down her arms and over her breasts, making her whimper as he softly pinched her nipples before moving down to her waist.

“And what would my reward be?” Lydia breathed as his hands parted her thighs.

“Mmmm…” Ezra murmured, taking soft licks at her center, “I think I will create our real wedding night everywhere we go.”

Ezra felt Lydia shift uncomfortably, as if confused, but when she looked into his eyes, she quickly understood what he was actually referring to and blushed deeply. He was talking about the night they had consummated, not the actual wedding night. The night they had finally stopped taunting one another and bared their true desires for each other in the public park in Mayfair for anyone to hear and see.

It was not the only time that they had made love outside, either. The weather had begun to change, the summer slipping into a cool fall shortly after George had been arrested, but the coolness of the air had not stopped them from frolicking naked among the falling leaves of his country estate two or three dozen times since.

“You wouldn’t,” she whispered, though she was smiling as Ezra rose back up and settled his rigid manhood at the entrance of her dewy, parted lips.

Her body ached for him to simply thrust it in; to twitch his hips just enough so that she could feel him.

“Oh, but I would,” Ezra said smoothly, continuing his teasing with his hips as he watched her come undone.

His desire only heightened as he watched the challenge in Lydia’s eyes slowly transform into willing obedience the more he teased her.Bringing his hands up, Ezra laced his fingers through hers, and eased his hips forward, sinking ever so slowly into her.

“Don’t you just love it when we do this outside?” Ezra asked.

Lydia let out a deep moan as she arched into him, the word “ yes ” barely audible at the end of it.

He hypnotically moved his hips, carrying each thrust fluidly up to his base, then drawing out to the edge of his tip at a steady, unrushed pace.

“And you love it when you feel me take your control; when you’re left unable to think of nothing but how good I make you feel.”

“God, yes,” Lydia moaned, fully at his mercy.

“And you know that you are perfectly safe,” Ezra rasped, lapping his tongue over her breast, “Because I will always protect you.”

Lydia let out a strangled cry as she thrust her hips needily against his, but he let loose one of her hands to stop her.

“Because you are mine. ” He growled, feeling that possessive nature slide over him again.

“Yours,” Lydia whispered, and then the two of them were lost.

The End?