EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

‘T WINS ,’ C ESARE SAID through gritted teeth, as five children caused havoc in Aristophanes’ previously immaculate pool area, ‘are such a delight.’

Someone screeched, and there was a splash, followed by a howl of accusation.

‘That’s your son, I believe,’ Lark murmured from the sun lounger, not looking up from her book.

Aristophanes tried not to smile as Cesare rolled his eyes, got up from his lounger, and went to deal with the offender. Then Aristophanes surreptitiously checked on Plato and Hypatia to make sure it wasn’t either of his children causing the drama, since they were known mischief-makers. But it seemed not to be the case now, as they were playing an innocent game at the other end of the pool. A suspiciously innocent game.

Idly, he wondered if he should go and do something about it, then decided not to. He was enjoying sitting here, watching over the children with Cesare and Lark.

They’d come for a week’s visit with their three children, filling his house with chaos and noise and laughter and happiness.

In fact, he wasn’t sure he could get any happier. His life had become the most glorious thing. He was no longer tied to his schedule. He simply didn’t need it any more. He knew what was important, and that was his wife and his children, and while his business had to be managed, he’d decided to delegate that to someone else, at least until the children were older. He hadn’t regretted it.

After the twins had been born, Nell had decided to take a job at the charity the fundraiser they’d attended had been in aid of, which she did remotely. Because she too knew what was important. Then again, she’d always known that.

Thinking of Nell, he wondered where she’d got to. She’d gone into the house, muttering something about peace and quiet, and hadn’t come out again.

‘I’m going to check on Nell,’ he murmured to Lark. ‘Can you keep an eye on—?’

‘Of course,’ she said, still not looking up from her book. ‘Cesare! Watch Hy and Plato for a minute!’

Aristophanes grinned as he got up from his lounger while his friend gave him a long-suffering look from the side of the pool. All a front, as Aristophanes well knew. Cesare loved watching the kids.

He stepped into the cool of the salon just as Nell came through from the hallway. She wore a white dress and her hair was loose and flowing over her shoulders, and desire hit him hard in the gut, the way it always did.

His beautiful, amazing wife.

He reached out to her and she came over, taking his hand and lacing her fingers through his. ‘Where did you go?’ he asked. ‘I missed you.’

She looked up at him, her dark eyes sparkling. ‘I have something to tell you.’

Aristophanes raised her hand to his mouth and kissed it. ‘Oh?’

‘Do you think we could do another philosopher name? Or is three in the family too much?’

His heart leapt. ‘Nell...’

‘Because if it’s a girl, I like Theodora,’ Nell went on. ‘And if it’s a boy, I was thinking maybe Aristotle—’

But she never got to finish, because Aristophanes had pulled her close and was now kissing her hungrily.

He’d been wrong after all.

It was perfectly possible for his life to get even happier.