Chapter Twenty-Four

E ffie rode, the wind in her face, feeling free from all the constraints of the past few weeks. No more perfect hair or elaborate gowns. No feigning interest in people she found to be ignorant and frivolous.

But no more Malcolm.

She slowed Juno, bringing her horse to a canter and then a trot. Finally, she began walking the horse, leaning down and stroking her neck.

"I missed you," she said softly, hearing Juno nicker. Then she said, "I miss him. Malcolm."

Juno came to a stop, and Effie slid from her back. She pressed her face into the mare's neck, wrapping her arms around the horse. Hot tears coursed down Effie's cheeks.

Had she made a mistake in quitting town so abruptly?

She might not have liked the superficiality of the Season—but she had liked him. Effie thought about what Aunt Matty had said. That Malcolm might have played the role outlined for him in the guidelines her well-meaning relatives had set forth for a short while, but he would have reverted to his true nature after a few times of them being together. What she had seen was a consistency with him. A constancy which told her she had observed his true character. He had not stuck to rules outside his realm. He had been himself with her.

He had been the man she had fallen in love with.

Still, Effie told herself things could never have worked out between them. She was not suited to be a duchess. While other girls making their come-outs yearned to wed a duke and live in wealth and comfort and hold a lofty title, that had never been her goal. She did not want the attention being a duchess brought. How would a marriage ever have worked between them if she had demanded to stay in the country each year, while he spent months in town at the Season? It wouldn't have. It was better that things had ended between them when they did. It would give him the opportunity to find a wife since so much of the Season still remained. In the meantime, she would be happy here at Shadowcrest.

Perhaps not happy. But content. She would be satisfied with her life here in Kent. More importantly, she still had precious memories of her time with Malcolm. She would never forget his kiss. His touch. His passion. His tenderness. Effie was fortunate to have experienced that with him, a magical joining. No one could ever take away those treasured memories.

She heard hoofbeats and turned to look over her shoulder, wondering if Caleb had decided to join her.

Instead, she caught sight of the Duke of Waterbury atop Zeus, riding hell-bent toward her. Her heart nearly exploded in her chest as she grew dizzy. Surely, she was simply conjuring his image because she longed to see him.

No, those hoofbeats were not of her creation. Neither was the look she saw on his face as he reached her, pulling up hard on the reins, leaping from the saddle, yanking her to him. Their mouths collided.

And it was like coming home.

They kissed, both desperate for the other, as if they had been wandering in the desert for weeks and had finally come across an oasis. They drank from one another, her body heating until she thought she might burst into flames.

Malcolm broke the kiss, his eyes searching her face. Though she wanted nothing more than to be with him, she must send him away. For both their sakes.

"I love you," he said, his breathing harsh. "I love you and did not tell you. I had to find you. Let you know."

He kissed her again, hard, demanding, and she sensed the emotions roiling inside him.

Breaking the kiss, she pushed against him, trying to free herself. His arms tightened about her, letting her know she wasn't going anywhere.

"I love you, Effie. I am sorry about those stupid rules. I was desperate for you to see me as a man. Not as Ada's brother. James called a family meeting, and the men in your family couldn't have been nicer to me. They could see how conflicted I was, not knowing what to do or how to win your love. The guidelines were merely meant to help me express myself to you. I actually found I did not need them."

Malcolm smoothed her hair. "What I found was that I could be myself with you. All my life, I got what I wanted. I was the best at everything. I took every prize in school. Won every athletic contest. But I shared with you how lonely I have always been. I never truly was myself. Until my time with you."

He looked at her, anguish in his eyes. "Say you love me, too, Effie. Say you will wed me and be my duchess."

A sick feeling washed over her. She refused to tell him she loved him. If she did, he would never let her go.

"I do not want to be your duchess, Malcolm," she said, using his given name to try and soften the blow. "I do not want to be anyone's duchess. I do not wish to belong to any man."

Hurt filled his face, but she saw determination in his eyes. She knew his argument would be strong. She would have to stay immune to it. And his kiss.

"You know, without realizing it, I modeled myself after my father. He thought a duke above the masses, and he remained detached from everyone his entire life. You thought me cool, arrogant, and dispassionate. You were right. But I changed because of you, Effie. I am not the stiff-necked duke I was when I met you."

He took a deep breath. "You are everything I had missed out on in life. You have taught me to be my true self. I love you. I want the world to know that."

She looked at him, sadness permeating her soul. "Sometimes, love is not enough, Malcolm."

His grip tightened on her. "Do you love me? Answer the question, Effie. Quit avoiding it."

"Yes," she admitted. "But we are so different. I do not wish to be a part of the superficial world of the ton . You are a duke, a man who leads Polite Society. Your duchess should be by your side, also a leader." She swallowed. "I have no interest in that role."

The tenderness in his gaze almost undid her. "Can you not see that, as a duke, I can write my own rules? Polite Society forgives a duke anything. The same goes for his duchess. You will break the mold of what a duchess is, Effie. I will give you the stability you need, but I will also provide you the freedom to be you. To do as you choose. You and I will never be puppets on a string, dancing to the tune that the ton plays for us."

He smiled. "No. We will write our own story. Make our own rules. If you do not wish to ever attend the Season, then we will not go. I know you were bored. I also know you missed your family."

Tears misted her eyes. He did know her well.

"Just think of it this way. Next Season, you will have your husband. You will not need to meet people you have no interest in and dance with gentlemen who annoy or irritate you. No more morning calls, with endless suitors fawning over you, wasting your time. For you, the Season will be the celebration it is meant to be. You can visit with various family members each afternoon. Attend only the events you wish to. Sit with those whom you love at suppers."

She bit her lip. "You make it sound... possible."

He laughed, kissing her hard. "Of course, it is possible. We will be the Duke and Duchess of Waterbury. We will do as we please. We will show a kindness and civility to others which has not been practiced in Polite Society in decades. We will find others who are likeminded and become their friends. We will celebrate family."

Malcolm kissed her tenderly. "And hopefully, we will build a family of our own." He gazed at her intently. "Effie Strong, you are the woman I want by my side. Without you, I am nothing. With you, I am everything. Say you will be mine for always."

She believed in what he said. She believed in him.

Effie believed in them. Together.

Smiling, she said, "You are a most persuasive man, Your Grace."

Suddenly, he was swinging her through the air, holding her waist, spinning her about until they were both dizzy. When he stopped, she collapsed against him. His mouth sought hers, and they kissed and kissed and kissed.

She knew the picture he painted of their life together was not false. They would make their contribution to Polite Society in their own ways. They would lead by example. She would get to spend time with her sisters and cousins and their husbands and children.

And she would have children of her own, with this man, this wonderful, incredible duke.

Breaking the kiss, he asked, "How soon can we wed?"

"It takes three weeks for the banns to be read," she reminded him. "Unless you purchase a special license."

Malcolm kissed her over and over, murmuring between kisses that a special license was an incredible idea.

"I want to wed here at Shadowcrest," she told him, barely able to catch her breath. "We have a chapel on the estate. It is where all Strongs wed."

"We will need to summon all your family. Mama and Ada, too. Will they be willing to leave the Season?"

Effie laughed, feeling free and alive—and very much in love. "They will for my wedding." She framed his face in her hands. "You need to hear this from my lips because I have yet to say it. I love you, Malcolm. I will always love you."

His smile warmed her as if she sat by the fire on a cold winter's night. It filled her with warmth. Hope. And love.

"I plan to love you a very long time, Duchess," he said huskily, kissing her lightly. "Now, shall we go and share our good news with your aunt Matty?"

Effie beamed at her betrothed. "I will race you," she declared, breaking away from him and flinging herself into the saddle, Juno taking off like lightning.

"Cheater!" Malcolm called, though she soon heard hoofbeats behind her.

Her spirits soaring, love filling her heart, Effie knew life with Malcolm would never be boring.

*

A week later, Effie stood in the bedchamber she had shared her entire life with Mirella. Of course, it had been hers alone ever since her sister had wed Byron.

She looked out at the room, seeing nothing but jabbering Strongs. Her three sisters and two cousins were present, along with Sophie, Aunt Matty, and Mama. They had all come to ready Effie for her wedding. Frankly, she did not care what she wore and knew Malcolm wouldn't, either, but her relatives all wanted her to look her best.

Everyone had come from town for today's ceremony, including the Dowager Duchess of Waterbury and Lady Ada. Those two were already at the Shadowcrest chapel, along with Lord Ashmore. Malcolm had asked Effie if she minded the viscount coming to the ceremony, and she had eagerly agreed to invite him. She could imagine a betrothal announcement coming soon for Lord Ashmore and her friend.

Suddenly, Effie saw Mirella climb upon the bed and stand there. She signaled Pippa, who let out one of her earth-shattering whistles. The room came to a halt.

"Thank you," Mirella said, addressing the group. "It is time for us to all head toward the chapel and leave Effie in peace. Mama, you stay with Effie, while the rest of us go and join our husbands."

For the next few minutes, she was the center of attention, being kissed and embraced, until only Pippa remained to say her piece.

Her sister hugged Effie tightly. "Malcolm is a good man. He is the one meant for you. You will have a beautiful life together. Oh, I am so happy for you, Effie."

The sisters embraced again, and then Pippa vacated the room, leaving her with Mama.

Her mother took Effie's hands in hers and smiled gently. "My baby girl. Getting married." Mama's eyes misted with tears.

"We still have to marry off Caleb," she said, trying to keep the mood light.

"Yes, your cousin needs to find his own soulmate, just as you have done with Malcolm. I am so glad you reconsidered things, Effie. While I know you would have had a full life if you had chosen not to wed, your life will be richer for doing so, especially because you have made a love match."

"Thank you for being patient with me, Mama."

Her mother cradled Effie's cheek with her palm. "Of course, my darling girl. And you will know what it is like one day when you have children of your own. I see you, more than any of the others, being fiercely protective of those children."

"You were a shining example to me. I hope I can be half the mother you were to all of us."

Her mother dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "Well, I had help, you know. Aunt Matty was always there for me, to lend a helping hand, and you had excellent care in the nursery, all the way up to Miss Feathers."

Effie had wished Miss Feathers could be here on this special day, but she was far away in York with her two new charges. Hopefully, she would be able to one day introduce Malcolm to the woman who had helped broaden Effie's education, while becoming a trusted friend to her.

A light tap sounded at the door, and Mama said, "That will be Drake, coming to fetch us."

Mama opened the door, and Effie saw the captain standing there, beaming with pride.

He opened his arms. "Effie, my girl," and she moved to him, allowing him to envelope her. He held her close, kissing the top of her head.

"Shall we see to this business?" he asked.

"Oh, Drake, it is not business at all when it comes to marriages in this family. It is all about love," Mama protested.

"You do not have to remind me of that, sweetest Dinah. My love for you knows no bounds, and it grows stronger every day."

The captain offered one arm to her and the other to Mama, and they went to where the carriage waited for them in front of the house.

Effie was glad that Mama and the captain would have some time to themselves. After the wedding, James and Sophie said they would return to town and stay for a few more weeks to handle shipping business. Because of that, Sophie had insisted that the captain vacate the Neptune Shipping offices for a while and take his wife and Jamie to the country for a much-needed respite. They would remain at Crestridge until it was time for James and Sophie to return with George and Ida to Shadowcrest at the end of summer.

As for Georgie and August, they were heading to Dalmara, their property in Scotland. Since Pippa and Seth had never seen Dalmara, they were accompanying Georgie and August north, along with their children.

Byron and Mirella would leave Kent, taking Aunt Matty with them as they traveled to the Lake District to visit with Byron's Aunt Flora and Uncle Hugh, Aunt Matty's lifelong friends.

Only her cousins would be returning to town for another month or so. Neither Allegra nor Lyric had made a traditional come-out, instead making their debut into Polite Society with the house party Mama had held for them at Shadowcrest. Sterling and Silas were happy to accompany their wives and children to town again, but even that foursome would be leaving by the end of June for their own country estates.

The carriage ride to the Shadowcrest chapel only took a few minutes, and the captain handed down Mama and then Effie. Her mother went directly inside the chapel, while she and the captain lingered outside for a moment before she made her grand entrance as Georgie played her down the aisle.

"You made a wise choice, Effie," the captain said. "If I had to choose for you this Season, Malcolm would be the only man I would have even considered for you. He is a good man, Effie. And you make him a better one every day. Love each other well, and always talk. Share even the smallest of things with one another. Most people think it is those large moments in life you remember. I disagree. I believe it's the small moments between a couple which are the cherished times of your heart."

She threw her arms around him, kissing his cheek. "Thank you for being the father I never had. And thank you for being so good to Mama and Jamie and loving them both so well."

He wiped away a tear and cleared his throat. "Are you ready to begin the next chapter in your life?"

"I am, Captain," Effie said with conviction, and they stepped through the doors.

Georgie began playing as they moved down the aisle, Effie's gaze upon her groom. Malcolm looked so incredibly handsome. It was hard to believe he would be hers. She could not wait for the life they would share together.

The captain handed her off to her husband-to-be, and Malcolm linked their fingers. He gave her a smile and mouthed, "I love you. Now and always."

They turned their attention to the clergyman before them. Long after this day had passed, she would not remember the exact words spoken between them, but she would always remember their joined fingers and the love in her heart for Malcolm Ware. Her husband—and Duke of Waterbury.

She would also recall the kiss which started their life as man and wife and vowed to kiss this man and tell him each day just how much she loved him and their life together.