Epilogue

“ I think we need a bath,” Louisa announced as she felt Percival trail kisses down her neck.

She had finally fallen asleep after Percival had comforted her in the way he deemed most appropriate, but it seemed her husband’s desire for her wouldn’t let him leave her to rest even though they both needed it.

She understood that he had been frightened by the whole ordeal and shocked by the truth of his brother’s demise, but since he wasn’t prone to discussing his feelings, he could only express them physically. Previously, he would have gone to his room to work off the excess energy, but it seemed her body had become a better alternative.

Her body grew hot instantly as his lips traveled even lower, desire coursing through her veins. She couldn’t help but wonder if it would always be like this between them.

“Husband, I feel positively dirty, and if my nose is correct, then you are too,” she protested, trying to free herself of his hold.

“I do not mind at all, wife,” he said playfully. “You’re always too proper anyway.”

She shook her head and pushed at his shoulders. “We need a bath and food.”

“Fine,” he grumbled, looking so much like a petulant child that she couldn’t help but laugh.

He rose from the bed, and her eyes widened as they landed on his jutting member. The darned man didn’t seem in the least bit disturbed. He even stretched out his arms above his head, winking at her.

“Enjoying the view, aren’t you?” he teased with a naughty smile.

She shook her head, tossing a pillow at him. “Get dressed quickly,” she ordered. “Or you’ll give Anne a fright.”

He laughed and then thankfully shrugged on a robe before ringing for the maid.

“Won’t you get dressed too, dear wife?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Or do you want to give the young footmen a good view?”

Louisa shook her head and rose, walking past him shyly to get a robe. She could feel heat everywhere his eyes caressed her, which made her dress even slower.

He stepped closer to her, wrapping a hand around her waist and pulling her back into him, and for a second, she wondered if he would take her from behind as he had the night before. A thrill shot through her at the thought.

“You’re much too beautiful for me, Louisa,” he whispered, turning her around to face him. “Much too beautiful.”

He lowered his head to kiss her but then stopped as a knock sounded at the door. He groaned, causing her to giggle.

“Come in,” Louisa called.

“Good morning, Your Grace,” Anne greeted.

“Good morning, Anne.” Louisa smiled. “His Grace and I would like to have a bath and some food.”

Anne curtsied and left, only to return moments later with a large tray laden with more than enough food for the two of them. Tobias’s nephews followed behind her with the huge bathing tub.

Louisa caught the fond look Anne gave Lawrence, who had finally proposed, and smiled as she recognized it as the same look Percival gave her.

They ate as the men filled the tub, surprised by their appetite as they cleared the tray.

“Will that be all, Your Grace?” Anne asked once the bath was ready.

“Yes, Anne,” Percival answered for his wife. “The Duchess and I are not to be disturbed for the rest of the day. If anyone needs anything, I believe Tobias and your mother are capable of sorting it out.”

Anne nodded, blushing, before she hurried out of the chambers, much to Louisa’s chagrin. She swatted her husband’s hand, shaking her head at the unrepentant look on his face.

“You have positively scandalized her,” she scolded him.

“She is to be married soon,” he argued. “She needs to understand early enough.”

“I do not think it is our job to educate her on such matters.”

“Didn’t your sisters educate you on such matters?” he asked pointedly.

“They did, but?—”

“Anne doesn’t have sisters, and she would rather not ask her mother about such things. You’re around the same age, so be prepared to encourage her when the time comes.”

Louisa flushed as she imagined the conversation she’d have with the maid. She still remembered how the conversation had gone between her and her sisters, and it hadn’t been an exciting adventure she would like to relive. She certainly hoped Diana wouldn’t need her advice on such matters because there was no way she could discuss such intimate matters with the same straight face her sisters had.

“Come, wife. The bath is getting cold,” Percival called, disrobing.

“You surely don’t mean to?—”

“You’re overdressed,” he interrupted. “Come here.”

She sighed but obeyed, allowing him to help her into the tub. It was much easier to obey him than to have him tease her until she finally gave in.

The water was warm and soothing against her skin, and as she was fully submerged, she let out a sigh of relief as all the knots in her muscles loosened.

He slid in behind her, pulling her back against his chest, and the moment couldn’t have been any more perfect. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against his chest, heaving another long sigh.

“Happy?” he asked.

She could hear the mirth in his voice and nodded. “Very,” she murmured. “You?”

“Very.”

She smiled, lifting her hand to ruffle his hair before reaching for the washcloth. He snatched the fabric before she could and tutted at her.

“I want to do it.”

“I can do it,” she protested.

“I know you can, but I want to help.”

He gently moved the cloth down her neck, then the valley between her breasts, and then her abdomen and lower, but when her breath hitched, he moved the cloth away from her heated core.

Wretched man.

He washed her slowly and methodically, letting him pamper her. But when she offered to do the same, he tried to deny her.

“That is not very fair,” she protested. “You bathed me.”

“Because it is a husband’s pleasure to do so,” he answered smugly.

“It should be a wife’s pleasure to do the same.” She pouted. “I also have a right to your body.”

He smirked, handing her the cloth. “You do indeed, wife.”

She turned to face him, her face turning red at the intimacy of what she wanted to do.

“Have I frightened you, wife?” he asked.

“No. I was just wondering where to begin.”

He barked out a laugh, and her tension dissipated.

She moved the cloth as methodically as he had, not letting herself linger too long anywhere. When her hands dipped lower to his abdomen, she tried not to let his proud, jutting member intimidate her, moving the cloth over him.

He had never let her touch him there, and now that she had, she marveled at the velvet-smooth yet steely hardness.

“If you keep teasing me like that, we might not get out of the bathtub.”

She smiled and pulled back, putting the cloth away.

He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes searching her face. His thumb caressed her scar, and he placed a kiss on it, shocking her.

“I love you, Louisa,” he said suddenly. “Much more than I could hope to express.”

Her heart swelled at the confession, and she kissed him back.

How had she ever thought he was repulsed by her?

“Take me to bed, husband.”

She giggled as he lifted her out of the tub, barely letting her breathe out her surprise before he took her lips in a kiss.

As Percival watched his wife sleep, he couldn’t help but smile at the soft frown on her face as she held tightly onto his arm. He wondered what it was that she was dreaming about that had put such a look on her face.

He resisted the urge to kiss her forehead, as he knew she would wake up and scold him for doing so, when they had barely slept.

She breathed deeper, moving even closer to him, and he felt his desire for her stir again. He wondered why he could never get enough of her even after the many times they had made love yesterday.

Even more so, he was shocked when he realized it was already dark outside. Somehow, he too had slept, and to his surprise, if he hadn’t been roused from his sleep by his growling stomach, he would have slept even longer.

He wanted to laugh, but he held it in.

He had finally slept without being haunted by the nightmares that had plagued his waking and sleeping hours since he had returned to London. He looked down at his sleeping wife again, unable to deny that somehow she had helped him forget the burdens he had been holding on to.

Her eyes opened, startling him, and he hoped he hadn’t woken her up. She smiled at him, looking so beautiful that his heart stuttered in his chest. He couldn’t help the smile that threatened to split his face in two.

“Did I wake you?” he asked, kissing her forehead.

She shook her head, burying her hands in his hair. “No. I just felt like I had done nothing but sleep today.” She laughed.

“You have done other things , ” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

She slapped his shoulder, sitting up. “That is all you ever think about.”

“Only because I am thinking about you.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “When did you become so sweet, darling husband?”

“I have always been sweet,” he answered, pretending to be offended.

She shot him a look and then nodded her concession. “I won’t argue with you.”

“Are you hungry?” he asked, rising from the bed. “I feel like I could eat a horse.”

“I’m in the mood for a race,” she announced, beaming. “If I lose, I’ll make us a plate, and if you lose, you will.”

She rose quickly and donned a night gown, wrapping a robe about herself, smiling when she felt him hug her from behind. She turned to face her husband, wrapping her hands around his neck, burying her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck.

Percival smirked against her lips, nipping softly.

“You do realize I have the upper hand,” he pointed out. “You still get lost on the way to your chambers. How do you expect to win this game?”

“Like this,” she announced, before taking off.

He threw back his head and laughed at how playful she was.

With her in his life, he knew there would be no room for the darkness of his past. She was a breath of fresh air, bringing life to the formerly cold halls of his home.

Watching her run down the hallway, laughing without a care in the world, he couldn’t help but smile. She would teach him to be young and happy again without even knowing it.

He decided to compete and laughed when he heard her protest behind him.

“You won,” she said, pouting when they finally caught their breath outside the kitchen doors.

They had startled a few servants and earned some amused looks, but otherwise, no one had been hurt in their childish game.

“That I did.” He smiled.

“Well, what do you want?” she asked, still pouting.

“You,” he answered, pulling her close and kissing her.

She smiled against his mouth, burying her fingers in his hair and letting him know that she was no longer upset at her loss.

“As much as I like that idea, I would rather have actual sustenance right now,” she murmured, pushing him away.

She pushed past the doors, saluting cook and the kitchen staff who stared at the two of them with surprise. She waved off their attempts to stop her and eventually chased them from the kitchen as she wanted to focus.

He sat back and watched her make a plate for both of them, and while she did, he couldn’t help but wonder what he had done to deserve her. She didn’t know just how much he had been drowning before she came into his life and saved him. Perhaps he would let her know with time.

Tonight, he would thank her in the way he knew they would both enjoy, but first, he had to replenish his energy.

The End?