Epilogue

H olly and Clara were huddled together in the corner of the Trembley family's parlor, waiting for the guest of honor to appear. The earl's youngest brother, Alfred, was set to arrive any moment, and rumor had it he was bringing a fiancée from America, along with a future sister-in-law.

"I cannot believe Derek has agreed to this," Clara said quietly as they moved amongst the small party that would welcome Alfred home. "Derek has always kept a tight leash on his brothers' propriety, despite their vices. To allow Alfred to propose marriage to someone the family hasn't even met yet is quite a testament to Derek's own development."

"I think Derek is eager to have his brothers settled down. Or at least that's what Gavin says," Holly said as they were joined by Katrina and Violet. "He says the earl has been quieter these days."

"The weight of the earldom lays heavily on him, or so Fredrick thinks," Violet said, with pity in her voice. "It seems as though he's eager to become his father."

"But wasn't the previous earl rather dull?" Clara asked. "I mean, that's not to say I've heard bad things about him. I never got to meet the old earl. But I've heard that he was a very quiet, proper sort of man. Derek is proper enough, but he's certainly not dull."

"Perhaps not, but maybe he wishes to settle down soon, too, as his brothers have," Violet said, peering over the crowd. Holly watched as her fiancé, Fredrick, caught her gaze and winked at her. She smirked. "I believe it would do the earl good. He should find someone to marry. It's a very pleasant experience."

Clara smirked.

"Says the unwedded one."

"Do you disagree?" Violet asked, before adding. "And I'll remind you, you are married to my brother."

Holly smiled as Clara laughed.

"On my honor, nothing has brought me more happiness than my union with Silas, but I do have reservations when it comes to the Trembley men."

Violet shook her head.

"I assure you, the Trembley men are perfectly capable of being happy."

"Fredrick, certainly. But the earl?" Holly asked, gazing across the room to where her husband stood. "He doesn't seem like the type of man to allow himself much room in ways of love."

Gavin, Silas, and Derek were discussing something, but to her satisfaction, her husband turned, as if sensing her stare. Catching her eye, Gavin smirked at her, and a warmth Holly had begun to cherish filled her heart as memories of the night before played between them. She turned her focus back to the ladies.

"I'm sure the earl is capable," Violet said. "Now, let me tell you about Alfred's bride-to-be."

"Yes, how did they meet?" Clara asked. "And what of this sister who is accompanying her here?"

"Well, from what I understand it was all very fast, but according to Alfred's letters to Fredrick, he is besotted and she is supposedly as sweet and lovely as the morning dew," Violet said, her eyebrows raised. "It is quite humorous when the Trembley men turn poetic. It means they're truly in love."

"Has Fredrick ever spoken to you like that?" Clara asked, surprised.

"Of course," she replied. "Now, Alfred's future sister-in-law however, is another story entirely."

"Why is that?"

But before Violet could explain further, the footman announced the arrival of Alfred and his party.

"Mr. Alfred Trembley, Miss Leona Meadows, and the Comtesse de Retha."

Holly shared speculative glances with the others as a surprised hush fell over the crowd. Alfred entered the room, escorting a young lady whose beauty was as evident as the sun. Her honey-blonde hair was pinned back in an elegant style. She was dressed in a pale blue travel gown, and she carried herself with an air of grace most ladies strived for. She was breathtakingly lovely.

Alfred brought her to the center of the room, where she was introduced to his mother, the dowager countess, and the earl.

Before introductions could be completed, however, a woman starkly different from the first entered. She was dressed in mauve silk, with dozens of dyed feathers trimming the hood of her travel cloak, which she pushed back to reveal her near black hair. Silver-blue eyes glanced over the room, and a slight smirk caught at the corner of her mouth as all eyes fell on her.

"There's no need to use my title," she said to the footman before adding, loud enough for the rest of the room to hear, "My divorce was finalized well over a year ago."

A few soft gasps filtered throughout the room, and Holly stared wide-eyed at the American woman. She was bold in her style of dress, as well as her mannerisms, but there was a quality about her that made Holly curious.

The lady came forward, curtsying to the dowager countess.

"My lady," she said.

"A pleasure to meet you," the dowager said, somewhat startled as her gaze flickered to her son. "Alfred has written the kindest things about you, as has your sister."

"The pleasure is all mine," the dark-haired woman said sweetly, before shifting her focus to her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Derek. "My lord."

"Comtesse," he said, his tone stiff.

"Miss Meadows," she said, her tone teasing, yet thoughtful. "Or are you hard of hearing?" Violet stifled a giggle, earning a glance from the American, who sidestepped the annoyed looking earl as she came forward. "You must be Violet. Judging from what Alfred has shared, I'm certain we will be great friends. Come, you will be my commencer."

The entire party seemed wholly focused on the American divorcee. Holly was somewhat fixated on the woman herself when she felt the warm touch of Gavin's hand at her elbow. With the entire room distracted, he could pull her away without much notice, which confused but delighted Holly.

"What are you doing?" she whispered as they disappeared from the parlor.

"Tending to you."

She smiled, though she was still confused.

"Whatever for?"

"You've been practically begging me to do so for the last quarter of an hour," he said, his mouth coming down to her ear.

She shivered.

"I h-have not."

"Oh no? Then why all the longing looks?"

"Longing looks, my heel," she repeated with humor. She shook her head. "I can assure you, I haven't been looking your way since the entrance of the new arrivals. In case you didn't notice, the entire room was rather taken with Alfred's guests."

He pulled back slightly, and she prepared to hear something about how exquisite the American appeared. But Gavin merely frowned.

"Were they? I hadn't noticed."

Unbridled glee went through her.

"She was rather pretty. They both are."

"If you say so," he said, kissing her again. "Now, let's find some dark place so that I may do wicked things to you."

Holly couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. He was truly and wholly only aware of her, and her heart felt as though it might burst.

"I wish I could thank John for all he's done," she said softly as Gavin kissed down her neck.

Gavin and Holly had both read through John's journals together and while there had been some very salacious writings about members of the ton, there were far more interesting things written as well. For one, John had detailed the precise amount he had paid as a monthly stipend to his sister every year since he had inherited the title from their father. He had tripled it the year Gavin had gone to live with Marnie, for a total sum that was so generous it nearly qualified as princely. With those funds at their disposal, they should have been entirely comfortable… but evidently Marnie hadn't ever been able to keep it.

It seems she had a taste for gambling, and most of the money had been lost each month at the tables. She had barely managed to hold on to enough to keep them alive. While Gavin had been angry at the discovery, his grief had been even more profound when he read just how much John had wanted him. Apparently, John and Marnie had fought viciously over Gavin's upbringing, but upon the threat of exposure, John had given up.

Furious, Gavin had wanted to confront Marnie, but Holly had dissuaded him from doing so, reminding him that his aunt—for all her faults—truly loved him.

Another interesting thread they had discovered in John's journals had been his plot to bring Holly and Gavin together. Evidently he had tried several times to get the two to meet, but it had never worked out. When he learned that he was sick, he had devised a plan to marry them by proxy, self-assured that they would find happiness together.

And he had been right.

Gavin pulled back slightly to look at her.

"Me as well."

Holly smiled.

"I love you," she whispered against his mouth between kisses, and he moaned.

"Love, that's just the thing to embolden me," he said. "Come. Let me show you all the ways I love you."

He turned, leading her down one of the empty hallways of Trembley's London home, where no one would bother them for quite some time.