Epilogue

February 15, 1820

Baselford House

St. James Place

London, England

It had been a bit over two years since that landmark dinner party Evan and his wife had thrown, and since that day, life had continued to surprise him.

After they'd married again and re-committed their union in Hyde Park, he had taken Vivian on a second honeymoon trip, where they'd spent a few months in Rome before moving on to Egypt to visit all the ancient sites. Much of the last year was for travel, and since it made her happy, he was far too content to go along with her wherever she desired.

But there was simply nothing like coming home to familiar surroundings. Shortly after their travels had ended, he'd made the decision to open a small, private doctoring practice. He'd rented out a space in a quiet street off Bond Street, and that was where he saw patients.

Ever since the day he'd had no choice but to suture his wife's wound, he'd studied every book he could find regarding doctoring and surgery. Though he didn't remember those skills he'd had during his stint in the military, the affinity for such was still there, and with the added knowledge, he felt confident enough that he could provide basic services for those who needed them. A few days a week, Vivian joined him in the office and acted as his secretary and manager, keeping him on schedule, for he had the tendency to talk.

And what was more, doing such kept him focused and his mind grounded. Did the nightmares still plague him? Yes, but not as intensely as before.

"Vivy? Are you in here?" He came into their shared suite with a letter in his hand, but once in their sitting room, he stopped short for Vivian stood in the center of the room, clad in a gown of peacock blue but the back of it gaped open as if he'd caught her in the middle of finishing her toilette, yet her maid was nowhere to be found. "Have I interrupted you?"

"Of course not. I've been hoping you would arrive." There was a certain twinkle in her blue eyes he could never manage to resist. "Are we spoken for in the next few hours?"

"Not that I can recall. The only plan we had was to walk in Hyde Park." As was their wont. As long as the weather was fair, that is how they spent their afternoons unless otherwise booked, and they always followed the exercise with tea either at home or at a tea café around Town. "I'm scheduled to meet with some of the men at club later tonight." Then he waved the letter. "There is this, though."

"Oh?" Her eyes rounded, and the hope that reflected in those depths caused his chest to tighten. "Do you think it's the answer we have wanted for so long?"

"You can find out only if you open the missive." Once he handed it over, Evan made inroads into removing his jacket, for he suspected what his wife had in mind, and when she was in that sort of mood, who was he to deny her? "Well?" he asked as she broke the seal while he settled onto a low sofa.

"Dear heavens. It's from my brother."

"And?"

"He says the young maid we'd spoken with during Christmastide has given birth." She raised her gaze to his. Wonder mingled with happiness in those blue pools. "She has been delivered of twin babes, but is unfortunately growing weaker with each passing day."

Oh, dear God. His chest tightened. "Are the children strong?"

At the end of their world travels, they'd decided to spend the Christmastide season last year with Vivian's brother and his growing family. While they were there, they'd met a maid in the household who'd fallen into a bit of scandal, and she'd reached the month of pregnancy where she could no longer hide the evidence. She feared the earl would sack her.

Vivian, in her typical caring fashion, had reassured the young girl everything would be well, and that she and Evan would take care of her, for they wished to adopt the child and raise it as their own, if the girl was willing. They'd even offered to bring the girl with them back to London in order to care for her and monitor the pregnancy, but she'd declined out of fear. Everyone involved knew she hadn't the means to care for a child, and she was far too young besides to have her life ruined in such a manner even if she had been seduced by a visiting peer.

A contract was proffered and signed, then the waiting began while they converted a suite of rooms into a nursery in the hopes that fate would be kind.

"As of the date of this letter—two weeks it seems—the twins are quite the fighters with lusty cries and hearty appetites. There is a boy and a girl. The boy is the older one by two minutes, and my brother says they both have heads of glorious blonde curls." Her hand shook as she continued to skim the words. "The mother hopes that we will come as soon as convenient, for she wants to die—if that is what will ultimately happen—knowing her children are content with their new parents." A waver entered her voice. "Oh, Evan, we simply must go immediately. Surely, we can do so, for that part of Surrey isn't such a long trip."

"It isn't, really." The estate was located near the border of Hampshire and Surrey counties, and depending on the condition of the roads, the trip could be accomplished in a day of travel, perhaps an overnight at a posting inn if it was slow going. "We can pack immediately." His pulse kicked into a quick rhythm, for he never dared to hope they would ever have children, for it seemed Vivian truly was barren.

"I would like that ever so much." The letter fell from her hand as she rushed over the floor and at his location, she straddled his lap, regardless of the skirting she crushed between them. "We are going to be parents, Evan. There will be babes in the house."

"A little lady and the boy shall have my courtesy title, of course." Since they weren't of his blood, the boy wouldn't be able to inherit the title of earl, but that didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps that was the kindest thing, for then he wouldn't pass on his tendency of a shattered mind or his predilection for melancholy. They would be taken care of both financially and with land so they wouldn't need worry over their futures, and what was more, they would be loved, wanted. "We'll have the family we always hoped for."

"Are you happy?" She peered into his eyes with a mix of hope and worry in hers.

"How could I not be?" Slipping his arms around her, he brushed his lips over hers. "Children, sweeting. We are about to be parents." There was a certain amount of awe in his voice, for he could hardly believe it. "Me, a father."

"It's such a glorious thought. Perhaps one of them will have the affinity for doctoring that you do. That would be lovely to keep in the family." Then she held his head between her palms and her eyes welled with tears. "None of this would have been possible if not for you."

He snorted. "I don't know about that, but I had a bit of a hand in it." His chest tightened further. "I hope I'll prove a good father. I've no experience in it, and I cannot remember my own, which might hinder me in that."

"Hush, Baselton. You will do this with all the determination and vigor that you do everything else, and those children will simply adore you."

"No more than they'll love you."

"That is the hope. I won't take this honor or responsibility lightly." She spent the next few minutes apparently wanting to kiss him senseless. When she pulled away, they were both breathless. "I want you, Evan, and promise me that we won't be shy around these children. Promise me we'll show them what love is and that we'll be affectionate to each other while they can witness such. It's so important."

"I agree, and yes, I promise. It will help them to develop their own confidences and make choices that will benefit them." Because he could, he kissed her back, and as with every time he was with his wife, mere kisses went quickly into heated desire. "Just think, sweeting, in two days, we'll hold our children in our arms, make inroads into taking them home."

"It's still like a dream." Moisture lingered on her cheeks, but her smile was blinding. "I love you."

"I love you as well. This new life of mine has yet to disappoint me, and for that, I am so very grateful." Once more he kissed his wife, slipped his fingers into the gaping back of the lovely gown and then easily encouraged it down her body and off her arms until it pooled at her waist. She hadn't worn undergarments, so her perfect breasts were quickly bared for his inspection. "Now I'm going to show you the depths of my regard so there will be no question."

"There never was," she said against his lips, then they were both lost in kisses and caresses, in sighs and moans as pleasure points were explored and sensitive places were bedeviled.

Evan let his thoughts wander, but only slightly, for there wasn't much more he enjoyed more than holding his wife on the brink of pleasure.

A man might be kicked in the stones by life and handed a less than savory sentence, but that didn't mean he needed to give up. There was always something—someone—to live for, and as long as said man had hope, he had… everything. For fate usually had something better in the offing to give.

The End