Epilogue

Three Years Later…

"N ow remember, be quiet as two church mice," Reeves told the two boys who held tight to his hands.

Alec, the eldest son by three minutes, nodded and poked his twin. "We can be quiet, can't we, Evan?"

"Aye. Is Mum all right?"

Reeves hunkered down next to his charges and looked into Alec's eyes and then Evan's. The lieutenant's sons were the spitting image of his father, not a bit of their mother, though they both shared her indomitable spirit…and sass. "She's tired and needs her rest. So one quick kiss from her two best boys, and peek at your sister, Iona Grace—"

"And cake!" the twins shouted.

Reeves looked over his shoulder as the door to the bedchamber opened and the earl stood there frowning. "Alec Christopher!"

"Aye, Poppa?"

"Evan Nathaniel!"

"Aye, Poppa?"

"No shouting…or no cake."

The twins hung their heads until their father sighed and knelt beside them. Hugging the three-year-old scamps close, he reminded them, "Your mum is resting, and your new sister—"

"Iona," Alec said.

"Grace," Evan added.

"That's right, Iona Grace just fell asleep. So a peek at your sister and kisses for Mum, and off you go with Reeves."

Alec and Evan hugged their father and whispered, loudly, "For cake!"

"Aye, boys." Quinton stood, and his sons reached for his hands. "Kit is asking for you, Reeves—will you come in with the boys?"

"Your wife has a soft spot for this old man," Reeves murmured.

Quinton chuckled. "We are the same age, and I am not old."

"Three and thirty is not young," Reeves reminded him.

"Alec? Are the boys and Reeves coming in?" Kit called out.

"Aye. We were discussing cake and being quiet," Quinton replied.

He led the trio in to see his wife and beautiful daughter. Seeing their mother abed was so unusual that they were quiet as mice.

Alec climbed up and sat on Kit's right. "Did you rest, Mum?"

"I had a nice rest, Alec."

Kit handed their daughter to her husband so Evan could climb up and sit on her left. "Why is Iona Grace sleeping?"

"She's tired," Kit answered.

"Will she want cake?" Alec asked.

"Kiss your mum, boys," Quinton interjected. They bussed her cheeks at the same time and had her giggling.

Reeves bent to press a kiss to Kit's forehead. "You and the lieutenant have been blessed with beautiful babes."

"Darling, Reeves needs to meet Iona Grace—let him hold her and introduce himself," she said.

Quinton shook his head. Kit had insisted that Reeves hold the twins after they were born. He doted on the boys and never minded their questions about sailing on the sea, why their poppa needed help getting dressed, and a hundred others.

An awestruck look of love was on Reeves's face when he looked at Quinton and then Kit. "Alec and Evan are going to have their hands full watching over their little sister."

"Can she walk?" Alec asked.

"Not yet, son," Quinton replied.

"Can she talk?" Evan added.

"Not yet, son."

"She'll be running after you this time next year," Kit predicted, hugging her boys close and kissing them.

Reeves carefully handed Iona Grace back to Quinton. "Must be time for cake."

"Cake!" the twins shouted, jarring their sister awake. Her loud cry surprised them, and they covered their ears. "She's loud!" Evan complained.

"You were too the day you were born," Quinton reminded his sons. "Off you go—Cook will have your treat waiting." He turned to Reeves. "I'll be down shortly."

"Take your time. Lady Kit and your babe need you."

When they were alone, Quinton sat on the bed next to his wife. "Thank you."

"For adding to our family, or encouraging our sons to run wild?"

He chuckled. "Both, love." He handed the babe to Kit and pressed his lips to her forehead. "Rest now—the boys will want another look at their sister."

"Inquisitive scamps. They'll ask me if she can walk and talk. I do not think they believed you."

"Maybe Iona Grace will be the reason Reeves finally asks Elizabeth to marry him."

Kit smiled as their babe started to fuss. As fascinated as he had been when she nursed their twins, he watched Iona Grace root around and latch on to Kit's breast. The snuffling sound she made surprised him. "Were Alec and Evan that eager to eat?"

Kit laughed softly. "Aye. Don't you remember? I had a hard time keeping up with their appetites at first. It should be easier with just one babe." She stared at her husband and sighed. "Are you going to make me ask?"

He slowly smiled. "I wouldn't want to make demands on you right after you gave birth."

She rolled her eyes and locked gazes with him. "Kiss me, Alec."

He pressed his lips to hers gently, reverently, before he eased back until his mouth was a breath away from hers. "Kiss me back, Kit."

"I thought you'd never ask."