Epilogue

“ N ow, Emily, mother always told us to be ladylike and never curse, but I am telling you now that there is one notable exception to this rule.” Rose reached over and wiped the sweat from Emily’s brow.

Emily was in her room at Warren castle. Pain wracked her and her breathing came in hard, harsh pants. She felt sure she would split in two, that if something did not change soon she would die. She gripped the sheets of the lying-in bed with white knuckles.

“And what is that?” Emily panted, letting out another groan.

“Childbirth.” Jane said simply. “You may curse as much as you like.”

The midwife, Anna, nodded. “Some women swear it helps with the pain, Your Grace.”

Emily let out a string of expletives that would have made a sailor blush. The pain was still awful, but the shocked expression on Lucy’s face was, at the very least, amusing.

“How have you both done this more than once?” Emily grimaced.

“The mind does its best to forget the experience.” Jane said.

“Besides there is nothing quite like the beauty of holding a babe in your arms for the first time.” Rosed added, smiling at her. “And I will add that the first one is always the hardest and generally takes the most time to arrive.”

Emily let out another string of curse words, her jaw clenched so tight that she was surprised none of her teeth broke. She let out another cry of pain, and Jane took a hand in hers.

“Just breathe, little sister. All will be well.” Jane soothed.

“It hurts.” Emily choked out.

“I know. I know.” Rose took up Emily’s other hand. “But you are doing so well.”

Emily yelled again, her vision blurry as she fought off the pain and tiredness.

“I can see the head!” Anna said. “You are nearly there your Grace.”

Emily could not muster the energy to make words, and settled instead for a strangled noise that seemed to reverberate around the room. She let out a scream, as Anna said, “one last push!”

She did as she was told, pushing with all the energy she could muster, swearing like a fishmonger’s wife as she did. And then it was over.

Luke was pacing in the adjoining room, the waiting element of the birthing chambers at Warren castle. Every time Emily screamed, he felt sure his heart would break in two.

“I do not even think that would be anatomically possible.” Rodger said, frowning after Emily’s latest curses came floating through the door. “Who knew Duchess Warren had such colourful language?”

“You have never tried to steal her pudding.” Natalie said sagely. “Although, I am learning some rather flavoursome insults.”

“Which you will not repeat.” Duke Emberly gave his sister a warning look.

“This is torture.” Luke moaned. “How did you manage it?”

Rodger shrugged. Marie had given birth in this same suite two months beforehand. “I was just as much a wreck as you are now, brother-mine.”

“I suggest whiskey. Or wine.” Duke Emberly walked over to the carafe of wine and poured out several glasses.

Luke took his glass with a shaking hand and drank deeply. Emily let out another scream, making him shake so violently that he spilled wine all over his front.

“Emily!” he called, but Duke Emberly laid a hand on his shoulder.

“We must be patient.” He said.

There was silence, and with each moment, it seemed to thicken into something deep and unpleasant. He had wanted Emily to stop screaming, but this eerie silence was worse. Something must be wrong.

He looked at Rodger, then at Duke Emberly. Everyone’s face was slowly draining of colour. Luke felt his heart sink. This was not supposed to happen. It was not supposed to be this quiet.

“Emily.” He whispered, tears pricking his eyes.

And then, the unmistakable sound of a baby’s wail shattered the silence into a million pieces. The sound made spiky shades of amber and violet, lines of blue dots, but Luke barely registered the patterns.

All he could do was breathe. The door opened, and Jane poked her head out, massaging her hand, face streaked with tears, even as she smiled.

“Emily has asked that you join us, Duke Warren.” Jane gestured for him to come into the room.

Luke nodded, and took a deep breath. His legs shook, and he felt like a deer walking for the first time. He clenched his fists, digging his nails into the soft flesh of his palm as he entered the room.

Emily was lying in the centre of the bed. Her face was flushed, her hair slicked to her forehead, and clothes drenched with sweat. She looked utterly exhausted, but when she saw him, her face broke out into a smile that made his heart sing.

And then he noticed the bundle in her arms.

“Is that?” he choked, his voice raspy.

She nodded. “Come and hold your son.”

“My… My son?” Luke moved towards her and took the tiny bundle in his arms.

Through the bundle of cloth, Luke could see a very pink, impossibly small baby, with a tiny tuft of hair. His eyes were closed, and he made a small sound as Luke adjusted him in his arms.

“Hello, little one.” He murmured, breathing in the smell of his son. “Welcome.”

Emily looked at him, and he could see that her eyes were full of tears. Luke gazed back at her, his heart so full that he was sure it would burst.

“How is it possible that something so tiny could be so perfect?” he whispered.

“I do not know.” Emily answered. “But I did not know I could love so deeply.”

“Nor did I.” Luke settled onto the bed beside her, and she leaned her head against him. “Nor did I.”

A few hours later, Emily woke alone in her bed. She felt a momentary stab of panic and sat up.

“Luke?” she called.

“I am here.” Luke was standing by the window, his tiny son in his arms.

“What are you doing by the window?” Emily asked, wincing as she got out of bed and made her way gingerly over to her husband.

“It is snowing.” Luke gestured outside. “I wanted him to see the first snow fall of the year.”

Emily stumbled as she approached them, and Luke caught her in a free hand and guided her to a chair. He gently placed their son in her arms, and moved the chair with her in it, so that she could peer out of the window at the freshly falling snow.

The wind brushed through the grounds, sweeping the snow into swirling mists as it fell gently upon the trees. The fire crackled merrily beside them, and Emily breathed in the comforting smell of wood.

“It is beautiful.” Emily murmured. “I love the snow. I love the way it makes everything so quiet, so still. It is like for a moment, the whole world has taken a breath, and we are just waiting for the exhale.”

“The quiet is the same colour as the word tranquility.” Luke added. “And the crunch of snow underfoot always makes me smile.”

The sound of music floated through the door, and Emily could hear singing distantly. She knew that the rest of her family would be celebrating, singing and toasting to her and the new babe’s good health.

“Do you want to join them?” Luke asked, turning to her.

Emily shook her head. “Not yet. I want to stay here a little while longer, with you and our son. I know it is not really proper to keep everyone waiting now that I am awake again.”

“I think today, propriety can wait.” Luke kissed her forehead gently, the warmth of his lips sending shivers through her body. “Perhaps it is selfish, but I want the gift of this moment. This is just ours, and I want to savour it.”

Gift. The word stirred something in Emily and she looked down at her son. “Nathaniel.”

“Pardon?”

“It means gift of God.” Emily gently kissed her son’s head. “And that is what he is. A divine gift.”

“Nathaniel.” Luke sounded out the word as he looked at the falling snow, his smile widening. “It is the same colour as the snow!”

“It is the colour of the trees in winter to me.” Emily said.

“Either way, it is perfect.” Luke looked down at Emily and Nathaniel, beaming at them both. “Our little Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel made a small burble, and Luke and Emily laughed. She leaned against her husband, the warmth of him easing some of the aches and pains she felt.

“I forgot, I had some good news for you. I meant to tell you at breakfast, but well…” Luke gestured towards her.

Emily had gone into labour over breakfast, and Luke had been swiftly escorted from the room. She had completely forgotten that he had been about to tell her something.

“What was it?” Emily asked, her curiosity piqued as she saw the glint in Luke’s eye.

“It is about the Marquess of Snowden.” Luke’s smile widened, reminding Emily of a wolf in pursuit of prey.

“Oh?” Emily canted her head towards him.

“Apparently, he has fallen onto rather hard times. He has lost everything and, well, he has had to rent out his stately home to make ends meet.” Luke rubbed his hands together. “Apparently, he is living in a tiny cottage on his estate as he has had to sell his London house altogether.”

“How embarrassing.” Emily smiled.

Luke’s excitement was palpable. “Indeed. Yet not quite as embarrassing as his maid, Harriet, coming forward and confessing that he forced her to write the letters he claimed were from you, and promised to marry her if she did.”

“I thought he was marrying the Lady Penelope? Daughter of the Duke of Carlisle?” Emily frowned.

The engagement had been announced a few months after her own marriage. She had paid very little attention to it, the Marquess was an insignificant blip on her road to finding true happiness.

“He was, but she has broken off the engagement.”And everyone in the ton is cutting ties with the Marquess, because of the scandal. Apparently the Lady Penelope found him ensconced with Harriet, and that is why the whole thing has come to light.”

“So my name is cleared?” Emily gaped. “And the Marquess is ruined.”

“That is the truth of things.”

“And here was I thinking this day could not possibly get any better!” Emily laughed. “Perhaps Nathaniel is our lucky charm.”

Luke brushed a lock of hair from Emily’s face, the soft touch of his finger soothing. “Or it is simply the case that people get what they deserve. You are good, and wonderful, and deserve everything your heart desires.”

“I already have everything my heart desires.” Emily said. “I could hardly want for more.”

“You will never want for anything, not while I am around.” Luke kissed her, tenderly, mindful of the baby in her arms.

Her stomach let out a gurgle. And they broke apart. Luke laughed, and so did she. The sound of singing drifted through the doors, and he raised an eyebrow at her.

She nodded wordlessly, and together, they walked through the hall of Warren castle, in search of food. Music and good cheer filled the space.

Everything was just as it should be.