Epilogue

The next morning Bethany woke in the softest of beds, or perhaps it only seemed so because she'd spent three or four nights on a settee. But Leopold was not in bed beside her. Sitting up, she glanced about to find that both of her footmen were pouring steaming water into a tub set before the fire. Leopold stood not far away and sadly was fully clothed.

Bethany stifled the pang of disappointment because she was certain that there would be many chances in the future to view him unclothed.

"How did you sleep?" he asked.

"Wonderfully." She smiled and stretched.

"Did you wish to bathe?" she asked.

"I already have. This is fresh water for you."

It was then that she noticed his damp hair.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Bethany frowned. "I am supposed to ask you that question. You are the one injured."

"I did not have two glasses of whiskey and a pint of ale yesterday. You fell asleep before dinner was delivered and slept the night away."

She'd not slept so long in her life before. She also hadn't gotten much sleep since she'd found him in the middle of the road.

Between the whiskey, ale, and being tired, it was no wonder she'd slept so long.

Whiskey and ale. She nearly groaned at how much they had loosened her tongue and the discussions about his manpart. Her face heated.

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about."

"It was not the drinking that I was thinking about."

Leopold grinned. "I know."

The footmen finished filling the bath and stood.

"Enjoy Christmas," Leopold said. "Have a hearty meal, drink some ale."

"It is the morning, Your Grace," Henry reminded them.

"That it is." Leopold laughed much like he used to before she had shoved him in the Serpentine. "Break your fast and in two hours, bring a tray to us. Your mistress should be done with her bath, dressed, and ready to be seen again by then."

The two shared a look of concern.

"I understand your unease." Leopold then picked up the screen at the corner and placed it around the tub. "Lady Bethany will have all the privacy she requires. I simply remain to guard her. This is a coaching inn with all manner of people roaming the corridors.

The two nodded as if they agreed.

"We will return in two hours," Henry said and pulled Jason from the chamber.

"I do not need two hours to bathe and dress," she insisted.

"I see no reason for you to feel rushed," Leopold explained, his eyes darkening, making her a bit nervous, though Bethany could not understand why. Except it would be her without her clothing this time.

"What if I do not wish you to stay. Unlike you, I am modest."

"I think it is hardly fair that you have gazed upon me whenever you wish, yet I've only gotten a glimpse of your breasts."

"Nor should you see a thing. We are not married. Nor do I believe a woman should be naked and on display as you have been. It cannot be proper," Bethany argued.

"Yes, but we will be married as soon as I can obtain a Special License."

"You have not even asked my father. Not that I believe he would object, but you must speak with him first."

Leopold turned and opened her trunk. "Which dress would you like to wear?"

Bethany got out of bed and walked to her trunk and removed a dressing gown. She would attire herself more properly after she had bathed and dried off completely. Her concern was Leopold's silence.

"You were going to speak with my father, were you not?"

"He already knows." Leopold glanced away.

"What does he know?" Bethany demanded as panic set in.

"Jason was unable to lie and when pressed, told your family and mine everything. Your father is expecting me as soon as I am well enough to travel."

Thank goodness they had finally been honest with each other, or the marriage her father would force would be a nightmare. "Why did they not come right away to check on your condition?"

"I asked Jason the same, and he claimed he thought I was on the mend and only needed to rest to recover completely and as we had already been here for a few days, there was no longer a need to rush to my rescue or to preserve your reputation."

He was correct.

"When do you wish to leave?" she asked, no longer eager to join her family.

"The doctor did insist I rest at least a sennight and it has only been five days."

Leopold turned her around so that her back was to him. "I also know exactly how we are going to spend those two days." As he unbuttoned the back of her dress, he kissed the side of her neck. "It is Christmas and as you have already unwrapped your duke, I intend to unwrap my future duchess."

About DUKE IN TRAINING

Darius Copeland, an American, and now the Duke of Ellings, believes he knows all that is necessary for his new station in life.

Theresa "Tessa" Claxton, self-professed spinster, will show him that there is so much more to learn than memorizing a list of rules.

What they come to realize is that some rules are meant to be broken.

Read DUKE IN TRAINING.

About SCANDALOUS WAGER

Miss Vanessa Claxton gave her heart to Lord Crispin Tilson when she was only seventeen. He did not ask for it, but it went willingly. A secret friendship on the cusp of young love, and then he was gone. Lord Crispin Tilson hadn't expected that at the age of twenty he'd fall in love with a miss enjoying her first Season. He certainly hadn't anticipated that their meetings would take place in secret and that nobody would ever learn. But, as much as he wished to be with Vanessa, adventure called, and he had to leave her behind. Nine years later, they meet once again when Lord Crispin, the finder of all things, and Miss Claxton, the thief finder, are asked to locate a missing gem. Will love bloom again, or will competition and wagers get in the way?

Read SCANDALOUS WAGER.

Thank you so much for reading UNWRAPPING THE DUKE.