Epilogue

"Idon't think it is proper for us to be lazing around so much." Helen sighed, lying on Alexander's chest. "Don't you have work to oversee?"

They'd extended their month-long honeymoon to five months and had made good use of their time away from the eyes of the ton, getting to know each other better and in more intimate ways that would have made Helen blush months ago.

Her husband had proven himself more than capable of loving, spoiling her with gifts that were so thoughtful that she was always at a loss for words. And he'd begun to open up about his past, letting her into the dark recesses of his mind. It hadn't been easy walking down that path with him, but with honesty and a few letters that had arrived from his brother, he walked around with more light than she'd seen in him before.

"I do have work to oversee, but my wife's needs will always come first," he said, kissing her forehead.

"You are a silly, silly man." She laughed. "But I love it, and I love you."

"I know."

He sat up gently as a knock sounded at their chamber doors, and he donned a robe to go answer it.

He returned a few minutes later with a tray laden with breakfast and a bunch of correspondence.

Seeing as they were delivered to their chambers, they knew they were from family, and he handed Margaret's letter to her as well as one from her father. Her friends' letters were also a reminder that Helen hadn't seen or written to them in almost an age, and she opened theirs first. They both had matching sentiments, anger and excitement being the most prominent, about her marrying the Duke without them being present, but they also gushed about how their best friend was now a duchess.

They asked to be invited to tea once she was in town, as they wanted all the juicy details. She laughed out loud, catching Alexander's attention.

"They are just letters from my best friends, Joana, daughter of the Marquess of Kilburn, and Ariadne, daughter of the Viscount Yardley," she told him. "They want to be invited to the townhouse for tea once we return."

"I know the Viscount," he said thoughtfully. "I asked to purchase one of his mares a while back, but he refused me."

"And no one refuses a duke." She smiled.

"You're learning," he mused.

"I have a great teacher." She winked. "Any mail from Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel had tried to fix his broken relationship with Alexander since he discovered his mother's deceit, and men being men, they'd quickly bonded as Nathaniel mended his ways, and he was now helping Alexander oversee some investments in his absence. The man had good taste in alcohol and had earned Alexander a great deal by telling him which companies to invest in.

He'd even quickly won Helen's friendshi and now asked after her fairly often. She was looking forward to his visit when they returned.

"Yes. He enquires about the tea he sent."

"Oh, I forgot to write back to him."

The tea in question had been a ginger one that he claimed would help with the weird sickness that had riddled her the past month. She'd found the smell of eggs and even custard, which was her favorite, nauseating and had fast gotten used to retching into her chamber pot each morning.

The family doctor was to arrive that day, so she wasn't too bothered, but her husband had been driven to the end of his wits' each morning. He'd been attentive, holding her hair and using a warm sponge around her abdomen till the cramping subsided.

She'd thought it was her monthly cycle, but when she thought about it, she realized it had been a while since she had seen her flow. She suspected the cause of her current illness but didn't want to get excited too early, so she kept her suspicions to herself. Especially because she also didn't know how well Alexander would take the news.

"What did Father say?" she asked, trying to peer over his shoulder.

Alexander and her father had bonded strongly over their love of horses and frequently corresponded on the subject. They even had private dealings that she wasn't included in, which made her pout.

"He is my father, you know," she complained.

"But now, he's mine." He laughed, kissing her cheek.

"Hmm."

She settled back to read Margaret's letter and squealed in excitement.

"What is it?"

"Maggie is engaged!" she cried joyously.

"To one of her Scottish admirers?"

"No," she answered, shaking her head. "He's an Englishman. A duke who'd been visiting his estate in Scotland."

She read through the story of their meeting and laughed again. Apparently, he'd walked into her chambers one night when he'd come to visit their grandmother, and she'd screamed the entire house down, accusing him of trying to steal her virtue. It had all been a misunderstanding concocted by their grandmother to get her to live outside her novels.

Apparently, her chambers were originally the one he stayed in when he came to visit, and Margaret had been placed there on purpose.

She'd tried to apologize, but he was adamant about avoiding her until she helped him solve a small problem with his three-year-old daughter.

"That is quite an interesting tale," Alexander stated. "I guess Maggie is getting her fairytale ending, after all."

"I know," Helen gushed. "I'm so excited."

"Which duke is it?"

"The Duke of Holbrook."

"Oh. He lost his wife two years ago in that horrible fire accident."

"Indeed?" Helen asked with a gasp. "That is so horrible."

"Indeed. I remember the Duke sustained some terrible scars trying to save his wife and son, but in the end, he could only save his son."

Helen shook her head at the morbidity of the tale.

"When is the wedding?" he asked. "And where will it be held?"

"In a month, and it will be at his Scottish estate," she answered. "The Duke doesn't like crowds."

"A smart man." Alexander smiled, his grin turning wolfish.

She shook her head at him. "Anything from Sophia?" she asked.

Sophie, too, had tried to make peace with Alexander when the truth of what their mother had done surfaced. She'd apologized profusely and promised to tolerate Helen, even though she disliked her for reasons best known to her. They exchanged correspondence regularly too, and it seemed marriage was fast becoming her sister-in-law, who'd somehow won her mother-in-law's affection.

His stepmother, however, shamed by her own actions, had kept from sending him any letters, which was not a great loss in anyone's books.

"Yes. She's traveling to America soon for her second honeymoon."

They shook their heads at Sophia's antics, making a note to write to her before she left.

"I have one from Letitia," Helen announced, ripping the letter open. "She's inviting us for a night at the opera when we return." She smiled. "I will write her back first. I absolutely adore her."

"As she does you." Alexander laughed.

"How is the deal with Cecil going?" she asked.

He never really liked to discuss the intricacies of his business with her, which she understood, but she liked knowing things were going well for him.

"Perfectly," he answered. "I am expecting a letter from him soon."

"Congratulations, darling," she said with a smile.

"I thank you, dear wife." He laughed. "You could choose to congratulate me in some more enjoyable way, though."

"You are insatiable."

"Only with you, my love."

Their reverie was broken when a knock sounded at their door.

"Who is it?" Alexander asked.

"Doctor Fraser is here to see you, Your Graces," the butler announced.

Helen donned her robe and used her hand to arrange her hair into a near-normal state before Alexander gave admittance.

"Send him in."

The doctor was a middle-aged man with graying hair and a warm, fatherly smile she'd been accustomed to since childhood. He'd always brought her sweets every time he visited.

Alexander had insisted on him coming so he would be sure she was getting the best care. It was touching how he worried about her.

"Doctor Fraser," she greeted, smiling broadly at him.

"Little Helen." Doctor Fraser smiled, then seeing Alexander, he bowed. "Your Grace."

"Do not stand on such formality with me, Doctor," Alexander answered. "I hear you're almost family."

"I've known the Duchess since she was a wee girl." Doctor Fraser laughed. "She was always getting into scrapes."

"Was she?" Alexander asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, yes, she was. Unlike her sister."

"Well, good news, Doctor Fraser. Maggie is getting married," Helen announced.

His face broke into a wide smile. "Your father must be over the moon with excitement."

"I don't know if her letter has reached him yet."

"All right." He nodded. "Now, what are your symptoms?"

She sat up at his serious tone.

"I wake up with the need to empty my stomach. The smell of eggs and custards nauseates me. I-I haven't gotten my monthly cycle for a month now."

At her words, Alexander's eyebrows rose, as he knew what that could mean.

"I think you already know what your diagnosis is," the doctor observed. "Congratulations to both of you. The Duchess is expecting."

They were both stunned to hear it and looked at each other and then back at the doctor.

"Are you certain, Doctor?" Alexander asked.

"Quite certain, Your Grace."

"I'm going to be a father," Alexander said slowly, and then turning to her, he smiled broadly. "I'm going to be a father!"

Helen's heart, which had been pounding violently in fear, calmed at the joy in his voice. "Yes, you're going to be a father."

"Oh God, thank you!" he exclaimed, and then he turned to the doctor and shook his hand. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Your Grace," the doctor replied. "I'll leave my list of instructions and bill with your butler. Congratulations once again."

Once he shut the door behind him, Alexander was on her again, hugging her from behind, with a hand on her stomach.

"I'm going to be a father," he stated calmly now, and she could sense his mood change. He was slowly receding to the dark recesses of his mind.

"Yes, and you're going to be a good one," she encouraged. "The best one there is."

"How do you know that?" he asked softly. "I don't…"

"I know because I know you, and I know you would never do anything to hurt anyone you love."

"For all you know, I could change. I could hurt my child."

"I'll be right beside you to talk sense into you if that ever arises."

"We're going to have a baby," he said again.

"Yes, we are."

"And we're going to be good parents," he said with conviction this time.

"Indeed, we will."

He stayed silent, and so she chose not to fill it, finding solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

A few months ago, she'd been thinking that she'd probably spend the next few years of her life trying to find a match for her sister, but now she was happily married, and her sister would soon be married too.

The future really was a fickle thing one could only see by living. She heard Alexander's gentle snore and smiled. He'd never believed her when she said he snored, and it was honestly something she found adorable about her beautiful husband.

She was really happy she had chosen to give love a chance when it looked like nothing good would come out of it. She only hoped they continued to experience more beautiful moments ahead.

The End?