Bonus Epilogue

Four Years Later

"Marina, would you please stop fussing so, my dress is perfect!" Prudence shook her head and smiled at her sister's reflection in the mirror. The year Prudence had spent at the finishing school had turned her into quite the elegant young lady.

"I will stop fussing when you stop moving around so much!" Marina scolded her before bending over and fixing her hem despite her heavily pregnant belly.

Prudence examined her reflection in the mirror for a moment smiling.

"There, now you look just as perfect as you the young woman that I know you are." Marina smiled at her, rubbing over her swollen belly as she came up straight.

The champaign color of her silk dress shone in the dim light of the fading sun that filtered through the open drapes. "Thank you for agreeing to come with me this evening. I know it is not proper for a lady so heavily pregnant to be in attendance, but I do appreciate it."

Smiling back at her, Marina laughed. "When have you ever known this family to do anything that is socially acceptable? I was jilted at the altar and married the brother of the man who jilted me. Adam married a maid, and Mama has gone married an untitled merchant at the ripe old age of sixty! I think that the ton expects the unexpected from us at this point, don't you? I'm just surprised that have not driven us out by now."

Prudence rolled her eyes in agreement, despite the urge to laugh before bending over and picking up her niece who came toddling toward her.

Marina watched as her younger sister picked up her daughter, holding her on her hip. "You know, strangely, she looks more like you than me." She reached out and stroked the rich brown curls that hung down her daughter's back.

"It was you that named her after me, it was bound to come back on you at some point." Prudence kissed her niece's cheek before placing her back on the ground and watching her toddle away.

"Are you ready to face the firing squad? I know Mama is waiting downstairs. She is quite anxious to see you."

Turning back to the mirror, Prudence took a deep breath and smiled. "It is now or never. And who knows, perhaps I will meet my prince charming this evening."

"Is that something that you are looking forward to?" Marina asked her curiously.

"I wanted to study and see the world before I got married. I am eighteen, I have traveled the world, looked under every rock and stone, and painted landscapes until I was blue in the face. I think that my head will explode with all of the knowledge if I lean anymore."

Closing the distance between them, Marina reached for her hands. "As long as it is what you want. I know how disappointed you were when Adam married Isolde, but you have borne it all so bravely. Aaron and I are willing to fund all of your travels if that is what you wish to do for the rest of your life."

"I want this," Prudence responded confidently. "I have seen the way that you, and even Adam have bloomed in your marriage. I want someone to look at me like there is nothing more important in the world."

"And it will happen, in time. Possibly not this evening, but it will happen." Marina cupped her cheek.

Raising an eyebrow, Prudence gave her a challenging look. "Do you question my ability to find a husband, dear sister?"

Marina laughed and shook her head. "Not at all, but I do not want you to get your hopes up or get ahead of yourself. This is your debut ball, after all."

"There is no need to worry about me, Marina, I have seen more of life in the past four years than I care to admit. I will be just fine."

Biting the inside of her cheek, Marina took a step back, trying her best to let go of the little sister that she'd helped raise. "I know you will, it's just hard not to see you as that mischievous little girl anymore."

"I know." Marina took a deep breath and stepped aside so that her younger sister could descend the stairs and officially become one of the many hopeful young ladies of the ton. It almost felt surreal to her as she watched her leaving the room. So much had happened, yet she wished that she could hold onto some things, even if it was just for a moment or two.

***

"You took your time in getting here." Aaron came up behind his wife, making her jump slightly when he spoke in her ear.

"Your Grace! You should not sneak up on me like that! I almost gave birth to our child right here!" Marina grumbled at him, placing her hand over her swollen belly.

Raising an eyebrow, Aaron gave her a questioning look as he narrowed his eyes.

"I am not up to anything before you ask. Prudence has asked me to let her do the rounds with Mama while I rest." She turned away from him and peered around a pillar to check on things.

"So, you are up to something. And pray tell what it was that made Prudence ask you to rest?" His voice was laden with amusement as he watched her.

"Bold of you to assume that I did anything. I am pregnant after all. She could have just been concerned about my health." Marina defended herself, briefly glancing at him, before craning her neck to see where her sister and mother were headed.

Between the throng of guests that crowded the ballroom, she could just make out the back of her sister's head as she curtsied to a handsome young man who seemed far too arrogant for her.

"Your Grace…" Aaron laughed softly and placed his hands on her shoulders.

Feeling irritable at having her plans being thwarted, Marina relented and allowed herself to be led over to a bench. "All right, it was not nothing. A young gentleman may have come to make her acquaintance, and I may have said no and pulled her away before the introduction could be made." She placed both of her hands on her abdomen for support when Aaron helped her sit.

"Marina, you have to let her go. Prudence is debutant now. She has to find her own way in the world, and your mother is there to guide her. You have our son to worry about now." Aaron gave her a loving look that eased her irritation.

"I know, I just do not think that Prudence would be happy with a young man who forgot to shave his mustache. She needs a clean-cut young man who will be able to keep up with her intellect, not some foolish young shipper snapper." She winced slightly when the baby kicked, making her regret her decision to come out. At eight months pregnant, she was carrying much heavier than she did with Prudence.

Aaron sighed and shook his head before raising an eyebrow again. "You declined an introduction because the young man had a mustache?"

"Do not look at me like that, you were not there. It looked like a lost caterpillar trying to escape." She pulled a face and gestured with her finger across her upper lip.

Stifling his laughter, Aaron smirked. "No, I was not there, and while your description had left me more than curious to see the young man, I was busy looking for my wife and unborn son."

Relaxing as she gazed at her husband, Marina felt all of her worries melting away. "You are certain that it is a boy this time, Your Grace?" The happiness in his eyes made her chest flutter despite the fact that they had been married for six years. It did not seem to matter how much time passed, their love never wavered, even for a second.

"I do, and even if it is not, I will be holding you to our little agreement." His eyes took on a mischievous glint.

"And what agreement was that, Your Grace?" It was Marina's turn to raise her eyebrow in a question.

Leaning over, Aaron whispered in her ear, making her blush. "Did you forget about the day when I won you back? You promised to try for children with me, no matter how many times it took to build our little army. I am very much looking forward to all of the trying."

Heat crept up the back of her neck as a fine layer of bumps spread over her skin. It still amazed her how Aaron could make her feel like the most beautiful woman in the room, even if she was on the brink of giving birth.

"That is the promise that I am talking about." Aaron leaned back and winked at her, ignoring the rest of the world as he gazed into her eyes.

It still amazed Marina that the two of them could be in a crowded room, and not care about anyone else. Aaron no longer shied away from the public eye, no matter how many strange looks he received because of his scars. In truth, Marina hardly noticed them anymore, all she could see was the man that she had fallen head over heels in love with.

"Do not look now, but I think that your sister may have just met someone to your liking," Aaron announced after glancing over his shoulder.

"Where?" Marina almost slapped him in the face as she struggled to her feet, eager to see the man whom he had seen.

Aaron grumbled something inaudible under his breath before helping her up and gesturing across the room.

There, among the throng of ladies and gentlemen, stood Prudence, curtsying to a young man who seemed to captive her every breath.

The gentleman in question was a tall young man of roughly twenty or more. His jet-black hair and ice-blue eyes followed Prudence as they made their way onto the dancefloor.

"Who is that?" Marina hissed, practically pulling Aaron down to her lever as she gripped his arm.

"I would like it if you did not injure me in your attempts to spy on your little sister." Aaron winced and removed her hand, shaking his head.

"Yes, yes, but who is he? He looks very distinguished." Marina once again craned her neck as she attempted to get a better look.

The couple took up their stance, staring into each other's eyes as the music began to play. The young man moved her effortlessly across the floor, seemingly in tune with her every breath as her chest rose and fell.

"I think I have seen him before. He is a distant cousin of the royal family. As far as I know, he has his own title as a duke." Aaron frowned as he tried to recall all of the details. "Anthony, something or the other, I think his name is."

"Royalty?" Marina practically collided with his chest as she spun around to face him. "Why do you not pay more attention to gossip? I need to know more if Prudence is to marry into the royal family." She was almost frantic with giddiness as she turned back to them.

Prudence seemed to be utterly enthralled by the young man as she paid little to no attention to anyone else in the room.

Placing his hands on his wife's shoulders, Aaron turned her away and steered her back in the direction of the bench. "Distant royalty, it is not like she would be dining with the Kind and Queen if they got married. Besides, I think it is about time that you had a rest, our son will be here sooner than expected if you do not calm down."

Feeling a sharp twinge in her belly, Marina stopped and placed her hand on the back of the bench. "I think you are right, you had better take me home and send for the midwife; I may have overexerted myself this evening."

***

Aaron paced back and forth in front of the closed chamber doors as he waited impatiently for any news. The silence behind the closed doors was almost too deafening as he hoped and prayed for good news.

"Where is she?" Prudence came rushing forward in her gown, her eyes frantic. "Mama told me the news as soon as I was finished with the dance. She has gone to be with little Prudence while we wait for the news. Is she all right? I will never forgive myself if anything happens to her or the baby."

Aaron raised his hands to stop her. "The midwife has not been out yet, but she said that is not entirely unusual for a woman to give birth a little earlier when she is carrying as heavily as Marina.

Prudence seemed as if she were about to faint when Marina suddenly screamed.

Aaron stopped pacing and stared at Prudence as all of the blood drained from his face.

Acting quickly, Prudence came to his aid. "Right, it seems as if things are in full swing. We will need a distraction."

Aaron began to pace again when Marina continued to scream. "Your dance! How was your dance? Marina seemed to think that you were quite taken with the young man."

Glancing at the door with concern, Prudence chewed the inside of her cheek. "My dance, right, yes. He is a distant cousin of the King, Anthony Hemsworth, the Duke of Pemberley." She recited the facts as if she practiced them.

Nodding vigorously, Aaron attempted to focus on her words rather than his wife's screams which were now growing more urgent. "The king, that is wonderful."

"It is all right, it is not as if I would be dining with the King and Queen if we were to get married." She answered and began to pace alongside him as they waited."

"That is what I said." Aaron glanced at her in surprise, finding it hard to believe that she had been that naughty young girl who had marched into his study and demanded his help. Something that she and her older sister seemed to have in common.

A terribly long moan filled the air before everything suddenly went silent.

Looking at Prudence in shock, Aaron could feel his heart beating in his ears. "Did you hear a cry? I did not hear a cry." Fear filled his chest.

Prudence was about to open the door when a healthy, and somewhat angry cry of an infant met their ears. "Oh, thank God." Her shoulders slumped in relief as when Aaron smiled.

"Thank God, indeed," he was about to knock on the door and ask if he could enter when the door suddenly opened to reveal a young maid.

"I am sorry, Your Grace, but the midwife has asked if you would not mind waiting just a few more moments, something quite unexpected has happened." She looked past them down the hallway as if she could not believe what she had seen and experienced.

Exchanging a look of concern, Aaron and Prudence both stopped.

"Mother and baby are quite well; it is just that…" Her words trailed off as a second long, and an even louder moan filled the air. "Oh, dear." Her head disappeared around the door once again before anything more could be explained.

Prudence nodded as if she understood. "Perhaps she is busy delivering the…"

Stopping in his tracks, Aaron shook his head. "Please, no medical descriptions. I do not want to hear what happens behind that door; it is bad enough having to wait without hearing all of the gory details."

Rolling her eyes, Prudence shook her head. "I will never understand you, men. You spend years fighting in bloody wars and even hunting helpless animals. Yet the second that birth is mentioned, you all become too delicate to listen."

"I resent that; I have not gone hunting in years. You know that your sister does not approve of killing animals." Aaron shot back, returning momentarily to his old bickering matches from when Prudence the first was younger. "We do not even eat meat on Wednesdays and Fridays anymore."

"That is not the point." She rolled her eyes again but quickly stopped speaking when everything went silent.

Tension filled the air when silence ensued.

"That's it, I do not care what I see, I am going in now." Aaron placed his hand on the door but stopped when another small cry filled the air. "I think it is safe to say that our second child has a healthy chest."

"I do not think that is your second child, Your Grace. That cry sounded a little different to me." Prudence began to smile as if she knew something that he did not.

Taking a step back when the door opened, Aaron found himself face to face with the old midwife.

"Hasty, I see. Well, Your Grace, you can go on in." She beamed from ear to ear before disappearing down the hall.

Not wasting any time, Aaron hurried into the room and smiled when he saw his wife smiling down at an infant. "My dearest, I was so worried about you." His heart melted at the way she beamed down at their child.

"We are just fine, Your Grace, come and meet your son." Marina lifted her gaze smiling at him.

"Can I come in now as well? I have been waiting almost as long as His Grace has." Prudence poked her head around the corner before coming into the room.

Not wanting to lose his privilege of being the first to hold his son, Aaron closed the distance between him and the bed, scooping his son up in his arms.

Prudence stopped and glared at him, folding her arms over her chest.

Laughing from the bed, Marina lay back, exhausted from the ordeal. "It is all right. There are enough babies for both of you to hold at the same time." She gestured to the back of the room.

Turning around at the same time, Prudence and Aaron suddenly noticed the maid at the back of the room who was holding a second bundle.

"I knew it!" Prudence almost screamed as she rushed forward and took the baby from the nurse, cradling it carefully against her chest.

Turning back to his wife in shock, Aaron felt stunned when she smiled at him.

"My apologies, Your Grace, I should have said that you may come and meet our sons. It would seem that the reason I was carrying so heavy was that our practicing has become a little too good."

Prudence blushed at her sister's words and turned away with the second baby, giving them a moment of privacy.

Beaming with pride despite his disbelief, Aaron lowered himself with the baby onto the bed, perching next to his wife. "I can't believe that the midwife did not tell us."

Marina shook her head, apparently, it is not unheard of to miss it. I am just happy that everything went well. I am quite tired now." She leaned back on the pillows and looked up at him.

"You should rest now, you deserve it, what do you think we should name them? They both seem like strapping young lads with strong chests."

"I think that you can name them. You gave me the honor of naming our daughter. It is only fair."

Feeling as if his heart were about to explode with pride, Aaron looked down at his first-born son. "I think that this one can be Adam since he was the first, and he seems quite mischievous."

"And our other son?" Marina asked him with a pleased smile.

Looking up, Aaron met Prudence's gaze. "Perhaps his aunt should name him. He is, after all, someone that I think will get along with her a lot. Fish eggs, and all things considered."

The End