Epilogue

London, May 1825

Letty walked through the large printing offices of The Hard Truth and The Woman’s Truth, holding the latest issue of the magazine in her hands. After four years, she still smiled after every issue was printed.

The building she and her husband owned on Fleet Street was nearly three times the size of Mac’s small print shop on Holywell. With three floors full of staff and two steam-powered printing presses, they were able to publish monthly issues of The Woman’s Truth and daily issues of The Hard Truth.

With Richmore’s investment Mac had rented a larger building that had room for Letty to start her magazine. It had taken her nearly a year to finally accept her inheritance from her father. Although she had forgiven him and her mother once she returned home from her night with Mac, Letty had not wanted to fully accept her father’s assistance. Though her mother was not pleased that her daughter was ruined beyond repair, she did rejoice at Mac saving Letty from Pleasure House, and was now her son-in-law’s greatest advocate.

“I’ll see you later for dinner at your home. I miss Ellie so much. I can’t wait to see her!” Cleo said packing her satchel full of papers.

Cleo was a reporter for The Woman’s Truth, her articles was filled with opportunities and resources for women.

“You saw her two days ago; she hasn’t changed much in that time.” Letty couldn’t help the smile on her face when speaking of her daughter.

She and Mac had focused the first years of their marriage on the paper and the magazine. The Hard Truth was now a global abolitionist paper with articles from around the world, with a number of reporters, both men and women, reporting on the horrors of slavery. The Woman’s Truth was a free magazine running off of advertising and the generous contributions of donors. When Letty had discovered she was with child, she was both overjoyed and sad that she would no longer be able to work at her beloved magazine.

It was Mac who had encouraged her to return to work after the babe was born, to the shock of both their mothers and all of society.

“Two days is too long for an aunt not to see her niece, in my opinion. I’ll arrive early, so do hurry up and get home,” Cleo said before she walked through the empty print shop.

Letty laughed, making her way to the office she shared with her husband. When she entered, Mac was busy stacking pamphlets for a rally in boxes.

“The next issue is here, and I think it’s perfect,” Letty said, holding up the magazine with a sketch of Lady Hendershot, formerly Madam Kitty Delcour, on the cover.

The article on her told the story of how a woman of African descent became one of the wealthiest businesswomen in London.

“You’re perfect,” Mac said, walking over to her and pulling her body flush against his.

His greedy mouth was on hers before Letty could protest—not that she would.

“Don’t be wicked, husband,” she teased trying but failing to free herself from his embrace. “We have to go. Both families will be at our home in two hours to see your daughter and to have dinner,” she reminded him, turning away.

Since Ellie had been born, they couldn’t keep the grandmothers or the grandfather way. Even Mac’s brothers frequented their home, as enamored with their niece as Mac and Letty were.

The only person in her family who wasn’t welcomed in her home was her brother. She hadn’t spoken to him in years, since their father officially refused to leave him any inheritance at all except what was already entailed to the earldom.

His lips found a home on her neck as she placed her precious magazine down on his desk.

“Let them come, though must we entertain the entirety of our families just because we have the most beautiful daughter in the world?” His hands went under her skirts, finding her already wet and ready for him.

“Half an hour,” she moaned as his other hand freed her breasts from her green day dress.

“Half an hour? Is that all you’re willing to give your husband, temptress?” he asked biting her earlobe.

Letty whimpered, happy that the print shop was empty of all employees. She craved him more than she craved sustenance, and it would never change.

He was the one person who drove her absolutely wild. Every. Single. Time.

And she loved it.

The End.