Epilogue #2

August 1819

Clarington Estate, Kent

S itting on the edge of a picnic blanket, Lucy basked in the bucolic scene that surrounded her. She loved visiting her brother's estate, and it had been far too many years since she'd been able to visit the house in which she'd grown up.

She smiled. Watching the children play and run around brought back happy memories of her own childhood, playing on these very grounds. But today there were decidedly more children. All her brother's friends and their families were visiting, and the estate was filled with laughing children. Some were giving chase, but she didn't miss the small group of girls who were off to one side. They were whispering to each other and giggling while they cast what they thought were surreptitious glances at another group of boys. They'd find out soon enough what the girls were planning. That was the good thing about children. They couldn't hold back their secrets for long.

Their parents had all paired up and were strolling through the grounds. They took turns standing on the opposite side of the open area in which the picnic had been set up to ensure none of the children wandered too far afield.

Lucy remembered well the panic she'd felt when she'd snuck into the maze when no one was watching and then been unable to find her way out. Alex had found her an hour later, hopelessly lost and crying.

Feeling eyes on her, she glanced over to the opening of that maze and found her brother standing there, barring the entrance. And she had the uncanny thought that he was remembering that exact same moment.

Holbrook joined her on the picnic blanket then. He dropped into position behind her, his long legs stretched out on either side. She leaned back into him, enjoying the way he surrounded her. The feel of his hard body, his scent filling her nostrils, never failed to soothe her.

He placed his hands over her still-flat belly. "How are you and the little one, my love?"

She sighed and closed her eyes. "Exhausted. Charlotte warned me I'd be tired during the beginning months, but I never imagined I'd be this tired."

He dropped a kiss on top of her head, and she hummed with pleasure. She could fall asleep just like this.

After a minute Holbrook spoke. "I never expected I could be so happy."

Joy blossomed in her chest. Neither had she. But with Holbrook, safely held in his arms and carrying their child… "I never imagined I could have everything I've ever dreamed of. But you've made that possible."

She turned to look at him, and he dropped a kiss onto her lips. "We've made that possible together."