Epilogue

EPILOGUE

The Good News

Six Months Later

L eah and Solomon sat side by side in the coach as they rode toward the same chapel they had wed in. Bridget and Frederick would have a more elaborate wedding celebration afterward than Leah and Solomon had, but Leah would not change anything for the world. Everything that had happened to beat them had pushed them toward love.

"Might I say how radiant you look?" Solomon asked.

"You should," Leah said with a smile.

"I am worried you will upstage the bride," Solomon noted. "This is her day, and all eyes will be on her, but my eyes will only be on you, my love."

"You are the sweetest man I have ever known," Leah said, leaning in to kiss her husband.

"Don't go around telling everyone that. I have a reputation to keep up." The Duke laughed.

"I am sure people still know how much of a rogue you are," Leah teased him.

"Even with my reputation, I can still get things done. Thanks to your father's connections, I have acquired a paper mill, and if all goes well, we can expect a city percent increase in efficiency in six months."

"That all sounds impressive, but I don't really understand what any of that means," Leah told him.

The Duke took her hand and held it tight. "It means more money for our household, and I had a thought about what we might do with some of the money."

"What?" Leah was curious as she had not wanted for anything since marrying the Duke. She could not imagine what else he could give her.

"It might be an idea to raise the wages of our staff. They have been loyal to me for a long time, and they will continue to be loyal without the pay rise, and that deserves a reward."

Leah leaned in and kissed her husband. "You never cease to amaze me. You are a wonderful man, and you always think of others. I would not have you any other way."

"It is the right thing to do," the Duke stated.

"Yes, it is. Oh, we are almost there. I am excited to see my family again after so long, and I can't wait to see Bridget on her wedding day. She is besotted and loves Frederick with a passion. I am afraid he will faint at the altar."

"Then you must be by her side to catch her," Solomon noted.

The coach came to a stop near the chapel. When the doorman came to the door, Leah asked him for a moment alone with the Duke.

"My love, I have something I need to tell you before we go in there," Leah said.

"This sounds important," the Duke said.

Leah was not sure why she felt so nervous. She should not have felt so nervous about telling him.

"It is… well, the thing about it is that I… am pregnant," Leah said.

The Duke's mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened.

Leah burst out laughing at the Duke's reaction. She laughed and laughed and exited the coach, leaving him and his open mouth behind. She laughed in glee as she made her way to the church. Leah looked around and almost got the fright of her life when she found the Duke right behind her.

"You don't get to run away from me like that." He wrapped his arms around his wife and spun her around. "We are to have a child?"

The world was a blur around her as the Duke swung her in his arms.

"We are," she admitted.

"We are to have a child!" the Duke exclaimed.

He stopped spinning her and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tight. He quickly loosened his grip.

"That was too tight," he said. "I don't want to damage our child."

"I think they liked you being close," Leah replied.

"My goodness, this is the most wonderful news I could have received, We are to have a child." Solomon hugged his wife tight again. "I love you so much. I love you so, so much."

"I love you, too," she admitted. "We will be a family together."

The Duke could not contain his excitement, and he picked Leah up again, spinning her once this time before putting her back down. He held both her hands in his and stared deep into her eyes, deep into her soul.

"You have blessed me once again. I am so lucky to have met you," the Duke said.

"I am the lucky one," Leah maintained. "I would not be here without you. You made me whole again, and now our family will grow."

The Duke let go of one of her hands but kept a tight hold of the other. "Wonderful, wonderful news. Your family?"

"They don't know yet, but they will soon. I don't want to take anything away from Bridget's wedding day."

"It shall be our secret for now," Solomon told her. "Come, let's celebrate some more."

He guided Leah into the small chapel and led her to the front. He took his seat, and Leah stood by her sister near the altar. Leah tried to concentrate, but it was hard to look away from the Duke when he stared at her with such glee.

It truly was a wonderful day.

The End?