Epilogue

"Rowan, darling," Serena said with a tired giggle. "I think it is time for us to let Miss Tennison put Roger to bed."

Rowan held his newborn son, whom he and Serena had named after his grandfather, tightly to his chest, giving his wife an exaggerated look of horror. Just over a year after they were wed, the heavens had blessed them with the most beautiful dark blond haired, blue eyed little boy that London had ever seen. And Rowan had no interest in being away from his son any more than he had to.

"I shall do no such thing," he said. "In fact, why do I not just stay awake all night and just play with him."

Serena laughed. She had given birth to Roger only a week prior, but despite her fatigue, she was radiant, glowing with the joy of being a mother. Rowan understood. His every waking thought had been consumed by his son since his birth, and he found it difficult to tear himself away from the infant. Even when Serena gently scolded him as she was then.

"He has quite a big day tomorrow, Rowan," she said. "As do we, for that matter. I believe we all need a good rest before we are to go to the chapel."

Rowan sighed heavily, but he was beaming. He knew she was right: they all needed rest before little Roger's christening the following day. But Rowan was smitten with his baby son, and it was near impossible for him to tear himself away.

"Just a moment longer," he said, looking at Serena with pleading eyes.

His wife giggled once more, giving him a soft shake of her head.

"It is already nearing eleven o'clock," she said. "We will all be miserable, especially little Roger, if we do not go to sleep now."

Rowan made an exaggerated face of disappointment before handing his son to Miss Tennison, the nursemaid he had hired only a week prior to Roger's birth. He reluctantly placed the baby in her arms, waving to him even though he knew the little boy could hardly wave back.

"Good night, my son," he said, filling his now empty arms with his wife. "Sleep well, and have the most wonderful dreams."

Miss Tennison smiled at the new parents, dipping into a half curtsey as she held the child close to her chest.

"He will be just fine, Your Grace," she said, looking at Rowan. "I shall summon you if there is any trouble. You can both get some rest. I have everything under control."

Rowan nodded, giving the nursemaid a warm smile.

"I have every confidence in your abilities, Miss Tennison," he said.

Serena laughed again and nodded.

"He does, I assure you," she said. "It seems that he misses our little boy more than I do when he is sleeping."

Miss Tennison nodded with understanding.

"Such is the way with new parents," she said. "I will have him dressed and ready at about eight in the morning."

Serena and Rowan nodded, watching as she carried their firstborn child from their chambers and toward his nursery, cooing softly to him. Rowan looked down at his wife, who was even more beautiful in the aftermath of giving birth, kissing her lightly on the nose.

"What a remarkable little boy," he said.

Serena nodded, nestling against him.

"He is perfect in every way," she said.

***

The following day, Rowan was awake before Serena. He had Adrian quickly help him dress in a cream-colored suit, pale brown boots and top hat and cravat to match. Then, he stole away to the nursery, where Miss Tennison was just adjusting the white bonnet that matched the christening gown in which little Roger would be christened.

"Would you like me to take him now?" he asked, extending his arms out to the nursemaid.

The black-haired woman laughed, gently placing the boy in his father's hands.

"As you wish, Your Grace," she said. "I shall go freshen up and prepare for the trip to the chapel."

Rowan nodded.

"Very good, Miss Tennison," he said, no longer looking at the woman now that he was once again holding his son. Young Roger was looking up at his father as though he did not understand quite what he was seeing. Rowan laughed, gently touching his son's nose with his index finger.

"That is precisely the look your mother is going to give me when she sees you with me and not Miss Tennison," he said. Then, he leaned in conspiratorially, as though preparing to tell the boy a big secret. "And then, she will steal you from me and look at you in this exact same way."

The baby cooed, and although Rowan knew he could not understand what his father was saying, he also knew the child felt safe and secure in his arms. Just the way a father should make his children feel, he thought as a mixture of pride and nostalgia washed over him. Just the way that Father always made Louisa and I feel.

Quietly, he made his way downstairs. It would be another hour before they had to depart, so he decided that he and Roger would wait for Serena at the bottom of the grand staircase. He held his infant son against his chest, humming the lullabies that his mother used to sing to him when he was young. He was so lost in his role as a doting father that he did not notice Serena descend the stairs a short time later.

"You are incorrigible," she said with a giggle, reaching toward Rowan and Roger.

Rowan gave her an impish grin, turning his body so that she grabbed only his arms as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"You look beautiful, darling," he said. "Dare I say more ravishing than I have ever seen you?"

Serena laughed again, shaking her head.

"You flatter me, my love," she said. "And yet, it shall get you nowhere. May I please see our little boy?"

Rowan chuckled, handing Roger to his mother. Serena's eyes lit up like a thousand brilliant stars as she smiled down at their son.

"You are such a beautiful boy," she said, kissing a soft tuft of hair that peeked out from under his christening bonnet.

Rowan put one hand on the small of his wife's back and the other on their son.

"He looks just like me," he teased with a prideful smile. "Of course, he is beautiful."

Serena laughed, the sound affecting him as it always had.

"I had no idea His Grace was so arrogant," she said, pushing him playfully.

Rowan lifted his head and scoffed with humor.

"It is hardly arrogance when it is factual, darling," he said.

Serena giggled again.

"Are we ready to depart for the chapel?" she asked. "Or do you need a few minutes with your reflection?"

Rowan laughed. He loved the way they teased one another. It was the most comfortable relationship he had ever had with anyone, apart from his father. The constraints of proper conduct and etiquette did not exist inside the walls of Dalenwood Manor with his wife. They could truly enjoy each other's company and share many non-conventional laughs without fear of judgment.

"I am ready, love," he said.

Together, they boarded the carriage. Rowan insisted on holding Roger as they traveled to the chapel, and Serena only playfully protested. They sat side by side, each of them enthralled with the tiny little life they had brought into the world.

Rowan thought back to what his mother had said to him before he had confessed everything to Serena. She had been right. Opening up to Serena and allowing her into his heart had been the best decision he could have ever made. Now, he had not only a wife, but also an heir, a son whom he loved more dearly than anything in the entire world. Fortunate seemed too tame a word for the way Rowan felt. And he allowed the bliss to fill his heart more every day.

When they arrived at the chapel, Rowan was frozen in his tracks. Every single one of their friends and family members sat waiting to witness the christening of little Roger Davenport, heir to the Dalenwood dukedom. As they made their way down the aisle, Rowan and Serena smiled, silently greeting their loved ones as they joined the vicar at the altar. They reached the bowl with which Roger would be baptized, gently handing off their son to the vicar, who smiled warmly at them.

"Welcome," he said. "Are you ready to begin the ceremony?"

Rowan looked at Serena, who was in awe over their son. She was surveying his perfect features, and Rowan's heart swelled with pride and adoration for his family, the two most precious people in his entire world. The guild he had felt over his father's death had finally passed. He had no doubt that his father would be proud of him, and of Serena and Roger, as well. When her eyes met his, they gave each other a simultaneous nod.

"We are ready," Rowan said to the vicar.

The holy man gave a sage nod, lifting his head to greet the smiling faces of all Serena's and Rowan's loved ones. Rowan glanced out to see his father-in-law, Imogen, and Julian beaming with joy. Olivia, who had become like another sister to him in the year that he had been married to Serena, wiped away tears of joy from her cheeks.

The dowager, who had been more of a mother to him in the year since the day in the study when he had confessed everything to her, sat regally, looking happier and prouder than he had seen her in years. Rowan gave her a fond smile and a nod, and she blew him a kiss, something she had not done since he was a young boy.

He had never believed that he and his mother could ever repair their relationship, just as much as he had believed that he would never find a woman with whom he truly wished to share his life and in the joys he and Serena had experienced during their marriage. But happily, he had been just as mistaken. A single year had taught Rowan that anything was possible. And he could not have been more thrilled.

Harry and Louisa sat together, Louisa looking more like their mother than ever. She, too, had tears in her eyes, and Harry was holding their daughter, Emma, tightly in his lap. Yet right in that moment, she slept peacefully in her father's arms, unaware of the happenings around her.

Everyone watched on in emotional silence as the vicar wiped the holy water across little Roger's head, proclaiming him as saved by the Lord and baptized in his Holy name. And as the ceremony concluded, the chapel erupted into applause. Rowan embraced his wife, who had blissful tears streaming down her cheeks.

Rowan himself could feel tears stinging his eyes, and he smiled, blinking them away. He was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from their loved ones, who watched on as he and Serena took Roger from the vicar and joined them in the aisle. Rowan drew Serena close as their friends and family surrounded them, each of them cooing over the precious infant.

"My love for you grows stronger with each passing day, my darling," he whispered.

Serena looked at him, smiling through the only tears he ever wished to see in her eyes.

"As mine does for you, my love," she whispered.

And there, before God, their loved ones, the vicar, and their newborn son, they kissed. It was the happiest moment of Rowan's life, and he knew there would be many more to come.

The End