Epilogue

Six months later…

Hand in hand, Duke and Prudence climbed the stairs of the villa outside Paris they were sharing with Madeline and Damien Northcutt. They had spent just enough time to be polite in the drawing room after their arrival before retreating to their rooms.

"How are you feeling?" he asked with a grin.

"Tired but very happy. And you?"

"Ready to take you to bed." At the top of the stairs, he swept her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way to their room.

After their elopement to Scotland, Duke and Prue returned to London for Mr. Sharma's inquest. Due to his family's influence, Atwater had been spared the hangman's noose but was transported to Australia. Mr. Sharma's nephew published the research, and at least Mr. Sharma had received the accolades he deserved. Bittersweet justice had been served.

Giving up her dreams of infiltrating British nobility, Aunt Honoria had resigned herself to returning to America to tout her new connection to the Barnes family there. Duke and Prue had seen Aunt Honoria onto the boat with letters to Duke's mother and father.

Then they'd been free. Free to decide their future.

Their first stop had been Paris where they found Madeline and Damien Northcutt in the thick of Parisian society. After an initial awkwardness born of a brotherly protective streak, Duke and Damien had become fast friends. And finally in Madeline, Prue had found a kindred spirit in science. They spent much of their time hosting salons for other like-minded ladies.

As for Prue and Duke, they had engaged in quick rough sex against the walls and slow gentle sex in candlelight. She couldn't get enough of him. In between, they had talked about everything from the mundane to the philosophical.

But after a month in Paris, Duke had suggested they travel to Egypt. It was an amazing feeling to know she was free to decide. And an even better feeling to have a companion who was enthusiastic as she was to experience the world at her side.

Under the vast skies of the desert with stars twinkling overhead, Duke had professed his love and devotion. They made love in a luxurious tent with the warm breeze caressing their bare skin. It had been perfect.

They had been traveling for two weeks to return to France. They were exhausted, but desperate for solitude.

He dropped her on the side of the bed.

She propped herself up on her elbows to enjoy the sight of him stripping off his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt. His muscular chest had become familiar but was no less arousing. She had traced every inch with her fingers and most with her lips.

He pushed her skirts to her waist and pulled her bottom to the edge of the mattress. Eagerly, she wrapped her legs around his hips as he made quick work with his breeches. He was hard, and she was wet.

He thrust inside her with a groan of relief. Grinding his hips to get even deeper, he propped himself over her on his hands, gazing into her eyes.

"How do you feel now?" he asked in a rough voice.

"Like I'm home." The thought popped out without examining it, but it felt truer than anything she had ever felt. It didn't matter she was thousands of miles from where she had been raised. No matter where she was, as long as he was with her, she would be home.

His eyes flared in surprise, but a slow smile crested his lips. "Yes. Home. Wherever we are, you are my home."

Did you miss the beginning of the Laws of Attraction series? THE COURTSHIP CALCULATION , kicks off the series. It takes place in the Spies and Lovers world, but it focuses on three ladies who are penpals and share an interest in science and the natural world. It is fun and sexy!

Damien Northcutt is a gambler, a rake, a bastard, and… bored. Madeline Barnes is a botanist, a lady, an innocent, and… curious.

When Damien accidentally plays knight-errant and rescues Madeline from the clutches of her scheming relatives, he discovers she might be the key to getting what he's always wanted—revenge.

Even though Damien has warned her repeatedly he is no gentleman, Madeline is sure deep down underneath his rakish demeanor he is a hero. Why else would he secret her out of a ball to safety?