Epilogue
EPILOGUE
1 month later
" H ow many times must I apologize before I am forgiven, Lord Stubbornsbur—Janesbury?"
Lewis rolled his eyes to the frescoed high ceiling of the grand ballroom in Castle Stanhope. Gideon mimicked his friend, exasperated. He crossed his arms and watched as his ball guests milled about and mingled with each other while he waited for Lewis to arrive at a decisive judgment.
"Three more times?" Lewis suggested at last.
"I apologize. I apologize. I apologize," Gideon drawled immediately.
Lewis let out a sigh. "I do not sense any sincerity but I'm afraid I have no option but to accept your words, lest I end the night with a megrim."
"Excellent." Gideon was tempted to grin, knowing that Lewis was only being playful. He met his friend's eyes instead. "But just know that I am serious. I pushed you away when you were only trying to get me to see reason. I should have trusted your judgment."
"I trust you won't repeat that same mistake," Lewis said with a light laugh, then added, "I'm still astonished that you took ownership of the letter the Duchess sent to me apologizing on your behalf…"
"I did not take ownership, I simply refrained from correcting your assumption," Gideon replied with a sheepish grin. "Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand."
"You are hopeless, Stanhope," Lewis declared with another roll of his eyes. His expression suddenly grew more serious upon noticing two figures approaching the pair.
Gideon had hastily organized this ball soon after returning home with Amelia, after setting her family's affairs straight in Brighton. Though it was set up as the backdrop of a fruitful up-and-coming winter season, its true purpose was to make their marriage official. And he certainly wasn't surprised by the huge turnout despite the eleventh-hour notice.
However, the unexpected arrival of the Earl of Appleby came as a shock. He moved to confront the Earl but was swiftly halted by Lewis.
"I invited him," Lewis quickly added, sensing Gideon's confusion. "There is… something important I wish for you to know. If you are serious about making things right, then indulge me, if only for this evening."
Gideon's frown deepened as his friend stepped forward to greet the two figures. Only then did Gideon pay heed to the other figure accompanying the Earl of Appleby. The woman's feline-like features triggered a faint sense of recognition in him…
Lady Harriet?
Indeed, it was her, the very same lovely lady Lewis had failed to hide his affections for, for so long.
This time, however, it seemed Lewis had no intentions of hiding anything. He gracefully took Lady Harriet's hand and kissed it gently. She flushed, boldly meeting his eyes as he straightened from his bow. Gideon recognized two people in love now that he knew how it felt.
But he was still a little perplexed.
"Gideon," Lewis addressed him, turning his way. "I believe a proper introduction is in order. This is the Earl of Appleby and his daughter, Lady Harriet Turner."
"It seems we were destined to cross paths once more, after all, Your Grace," the young lady chimed with a radiant smile.
Daughter?
Gideon felt a pinch of shame that he hadn't made the connection sooner. Lewis had often hinted at more prudent methods for Gideon's quest for vengeance, yet he had never directly challenged Gideon's actions. That was, until the target became Lord Appleby. Until Gideon had all but threatened to jeopardize the future of the lady Lewis loved.
"It is an honor," Gideon responded tightly. He didn't know how else to answer. Lady Harriet was an innocent, clueless bystander of it all but he was still working on letting go of his anger at the men who had ruined his life. And one such man was now standing before him.
"There is… something more you should know, Gideon," Lewis continued. He boldly wrapped an arm around Lady Harriet's waist, causing her to blush. "We plan to marry in the coming weeks."
"Coming weeks? Congratulations are in order then, old boy!" Gideon exclaimed. His focus remained on his friend's happiness, paying scant attention to the earl. "Have you been keeping this from me all this time?"
"I needed to test the waters first," Lewis confessed sheepishly.
"If it isn't being too forward, Your Grace," Lady Harriet added. "The poor boy was deeply concerned about you. Whenever we would promenade through Hyde Park, all he would talk about was the quarrel that ensued between the two of you, though he never divulged the specifics. He seemed quite lost without you."
Gideon couldn't help but grin. "Is that so? ‘Poor boy' and ‘lost', was it?" he inquired mischievously. Those few words had set him up with enough munition to tease Lewis for the years to come.
"Do not take her words to heart," Lewis interjected hastily, though his clear embarrassment only served to amuse both Gideon and Lady Harriet further. "Certain things are best kept private, my dear," he gritted to his betrothed, before adding, "Besides, I knew everything would work out in the end."
"As did I," Gideon added. "And I am truly delighted for the both of you. Truly."
Lewis smiled broadly at that. Just then the orchestra struck up, signaling the commencement of the first dance this evening. Lewis eagerly escorted Lady Harriet to the dance floor, leaving Gideon alone with the Earl of Appleby.
The earl did not leave. He stood by Gideon's side in silence and Gideon could tell that he was building the courage to say something. Curiosity was all that kept Gideon anchored in place.
"Do you know what became of your late father, Your Grace?" the earl asked at last.
Gideon's gaze didn't waver. Instead, his eyes continued to scan the room, searching for a familiar head of brown curls. "If you mean how you and your cohorts swindled my father into crippling debt, precipitating his untimely end, then yes, I am aware."
Lord Appleby exhaled deeply, as if the weight of the entire world sat on his shoulders. "Words cannot express the guilt I feel for the part I played, Your Grace. If I thought my apologies would bear any significance or sufficiency, I would offer them."
"It would be a beginning," Gideon replied tersely.
"Then I apologize sincerely, Your Grace. It is all that I can offer. Despite appearances, I am merely a destitute earl who has incurred more debt than I know what to do. But as of today, I intend to renounce my gambling ways and start repaying my debts that I owe to those I have harmed."
Gideon pondered his words for a moment, his attention still divided as he looked for Amelia and a way out of the conversation. Unknown to most, he had managed to finalize a deal with Sir Clarkeson regardless, acquiring the Serpent's Den and all its associated debts. This gave Gideon the leverage to potentially ruin the man standing before him.
His eyes eventually landed on Amelia by the refreshment table where she stood, engaged in animated conversation with her sister. As if she sensed him looking, she caught his eyes and smiled.
"In that case, forget the debt, my lord," Gideon found himself saying impulsively, his gaze still fixed on Amelia. "Use your funds for the wedding and the dowry for your daughter. Send her into her husband's arms prepared and without any shame."
"Your Grace…"
Gideon didn't linger around to hear more. He had reconciled with his past and was now focused on his future.
Amelia smiled as he approached. He pulled her close to him, acknowledging Dorothy with a nod.
"Oh, goodness, you two are insufferable," Dorothy complained lightheartedly. She rolled her eyes. "I shall make myself busy elsewhere then."
Amelia giggled but said nothing as her sister walked off. Dorothy seemed happier now, staying in one of Gideon's townhouses in London.
Gideon leaned in, whispering to his wife, "May I have this dance?"
Amelia gave a playful tilt of her head, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I have a better idea."
Before he could ask, she took his hand and began leading him across the ballroom, through a door, and then down an empty corridor. He realized her destination when he spotted the balcony doors. A devilish grin spread across his face as they stepped onto the secluded balcony, locking the French doors behind them.
"This place again?" he teased.
"It seems I'm just irresistibly drawn to our memories here."
She grasped his arm and guided him over to the railing, before pressing him against it with doe-like eyes. "Mind it, Duchess ," he drawled. "There aren't many ways you can touch me without stirring other desires."
"Is that so?" Amelia responded, taking his hand and deliberately licking the tip of his finger, keeping her eyes fixed on his all the while. "How about this?"
"Be careful now," Gideon growled, his voice deepening.
"And this?" Her grin widened as she playfully took his entire finger into her mouth
Gideon shuddered. It wasn't the first time and it most certainly would not be the last, and yet her touch was enough to set him on fire. Each encounter felt as intense as the first, and the proximity to the bustling ball on the other side of the locked door added an exhilarating edge to the moment. No one would disturb them. They were in their own world.
Amelia looked up at him with a wicked gleam in her eyes now, clearly intending to take full advantage of that fact. She didn't take her eyes off him as she reached up and pressed her tongue against his neck, her soft nibbles sending shivers through his entire being. It forced him back against the balcony railing, knowing that his legs would not have enough strength to keep him upright. Her heated fingers trailing down his chest was enough to sap it all away from him.
"I've created a monster," he breathed out, as she traced a path with her tongue up to just beneath his earlobe.
" Your monster," she purred before she delved onto the other side. Gideon's hands found her waist, reveling in the feeling of her bosom against his heated flesh. The cold midnight air hardened the peaks of her nipples, and he was already growing tired of the layers of clothing that separated them—but he knew he couldn't strip her bare here.
So he lifted her skirts instead, hiking her leg up on his hip. Amelia giggled but it was cut off when he captured her lips, his fingernails imprinting her left thigh at the same time. He was feverish with need now, needing to have all of her. Amelia's soft moans against his lips only spoke of the need that she too could not contain. She raised her thigh a little higher, then found his hand as she desperately guided it to the light thatch of hair that adorned her sex. Each brush of his fingers there had her hips almost convulsing.
"I… I need to feel you," she panted, still locked in their frenzy of kisses.
"Not yet," he whispered in return. In the blink of an eye, he wrapped an arm around her petite waist and twirled her, pinning her against the railing this time so that her derriere now pressed firmly against the curve of his manhood through his breeches. Amelia gasped as she leaned back, her hands grasping his hair while revealing the beautiful silhouette of her neck in the moonlight. Unable to control himself any longer, Gideon tugged ferociously at the neckline of her crimson gown, causing her perfectly pale breasts to spill free.
With a hand still hiked beneath her skirts, he spun her around to face him this time. Then, he slipped two fingers inside her wetness just as he captured a nipple between his teeth. Her moans could not be contained, thankfully drowned out by the loud orchestra playing inside the ballroom. Gideon began, slowly and teasingly, curling his fingers inside her as he flicked his tongue over her hardened peaks. Steadily, he picked up the pace until she was all but grinding against his thigh, her nails clawing into his back as she surged towards the precipice of her ecstasy. He switched to the other nipple and peppered kisses all over her skin as he guided her to her release. She convulsed desperately against him, his arm encircling her hips securely against the railings as her eyes rolled to the back of her head, until her body went completely slack from her exertions.
But he wasn't done. He wanted more… no, he neeeded more.
Gideon pulled away and whirled her around, bending her over the railing once more. This time, Amelia let out an excited giggle as he hiked up her skirts and quickly revealed himself to the cold, night air. His member strained with longing as he pressed it against her rear, and, the moment he slipped inside her, it took nearly all his strength to hold himself together.
Amelia's breathy and uncontrolled moans drove him to the brink of madness. Pressing her lower against the railing, he thrust into her deeper and faster. He wanted to please her, to watch her become undone all over again before he allowed himself any release. But as he picked up the pace, he was afraid that would be impossible.
Amelia's moans morphed into cries as she clung to the railing with one hand, the other hand attempting to reach behind. Gideon drew her into his body, brushing his hand over her throat. With each thrust, it felt as if they had become one, as if he was not himself anymore but a part of her and her a part of him. He felt his climax take control of him a few seconds later and Amelia's body shook again, as if she too found herself within its throes once more. The world spun and he became everything and nothing all at once, before he eventually drifted back to earth.
For a few moments, they stayed like that, content to be so close to each other in such an intimate way. Then, Amelia craned her neck and pressed a kiss on his lips. "Have I told you that I love you tonight?" she asked softly.
Gideon gave a sappy grin. "I don't believe you have."
She kissed him again. "I love you. With all my heart and soul."
"And I love you too, Amelia." Gideon cupped her chin, willing to kiss her a million times over if she would let him. "Thank you, Amelia. For kissing me that night."
She leaned against his chest. "You deserved it," she smiled. And they stayed like that for a while longer, just plain and simply… content. The pain he'd felt for so long could not easily be erased, he knew. But with Amelia, it was hardly noticed, for she was everything he never knew he needed. A perfect soul, and a beautiful love that would stand the test of time.
The End?