As Desdra petted her kittens and relished in the care and love of her friends, Jareth realized that it wasn’t simply the money he had inherited, but the wealth of friendship and love that one couldn’t put a price on. He had so much in life. For the second son of a man who had hardly given him the time of day, it was the first time he realized that he didn’t need his father or any approval, from anyone. He had everything he needed, right here at Aphrodite’s Feast.
Finally, Jareth de Leybourne had a home.
And he was damn proud of it.
EPILOGUE
Redcliffe Manor
Six Months Later
It was awedding feast to end all wedding feasts.
Jareth and Desdra were literally entertaining the entire town at their wedding feast. They had friends at Redcliffe Manor, including the Guard of Six and about three hundred of Jareth’s friends from London, and then there was a spread of food and entertainment set up in front of the church that Chester had built. Still more food and drink was at Aphrodite’s Feast and at the universitas that bore the name of de Long. It had cost Jareth a huge amount of money but, as he’d said, what good was money if he couldn’t spend some of it to celebrate the best day of his life?
And the best day it was.
Jareth and Desdra had been married at the church with a mass said by none other than the Pope himself. Not the actual pope, but the steady visitor to The Feast. He wore his simple priest robes for the mass, one that was attended by most of Bristol. They spilled out into the streets. Although King Henry couldn’t attend, as he didn’t travel these days, he senta few advisors, including William de Valence, and a document that gave Jareth the Barony of Bedminster. As Lord and Lady Bedminster were introduced to the crowd to a host of cheers, Jareth also announced that he would be legally taking the name of de Long to honor Chester and the men before him, men who had created this unique and glorious legacy that now belonged to him. It didn’t seem right that a de Leybourne should have it, so the de Leybourne name was put aside as Jareth became Jareth de Long, and his children would also bear the name.
The de Long legacy would continue.
For their wedding mass, Desdra wore a dress of pale blue that made her look positively luminous. Her magnificent hair was left long except for a silver ribbon that secured it at the nape of her neck. The rest trailed down her back. She wore a translucent gossamer cape that was anchored at the top of her head with a bejeweled comb that Marston had given her, and on her ring finger, her wedding ring of gold and sapphires gleamed.
Now, they were back at Redcliffe, at a feast that included not one but two whole sides of a cow, roasting over two spits in the main yard. Old Henbury was in charge of the feast, ensuring everything ran smoothly, and Jareth wasn’t hard-pressed to admit that the old man did a remarkable job.
Long after the feast started and evening fell, the new Lord and Lady Bedminster took a stroll out in the yard to get a breath of fresh air, accepting congratulations from everyone they came across. On the narrow wall walk overlooking the river, they could see Aidric, Dirk, Britt, Hugh, and Stefan drinking and talking and admiring the clear night overhead. But they were joined by two other men, original members of the Guard of Six, in Torran de Serreaux and Kent de Poyer.
They’d come all the way to Bristol for this momentous occasion.
“You’re going to miss your friends, aren’t you?” Desdra asked softly.
Jareth looked at her, realizing that she’d been watching him as he observed the men on the wall. “Not really,” he said. “I will see them often enough, but much like Torran and Kent, I now have another life now and I intend to live it.”
“No more Guard of Six?”
“Once a Guard of Six, always a Guard of Six,” he said. “I will be there if they need me. But let us hope they do not need me for a while. I’d like to spend time with my new wife first.”
He winked at Desdra as she giggled. She looked positively radiant after her brush with death those months ago. Recovery had been a little slow, and she still hadn’t gained full mobility in her left arm because it had been crushed in the fall, but considering the circumstances, it could have been a lot worse. Jareth thanked God daily for his wife and her miraculous recovery.
“They can come and visit frequently,” she said, her arms looped around his left elbow. “In fact, we cannot seem to keep Orion away. He and Anosia are quite a pair.”
Jareth grunted in agreement. “She finally gave up her position at The Feast for him,” he said. “She was well loved there, but I suppose she loves him more. Now, he needs to marry her.”
Desdra nodded firmly. “I agree,” she said. “I’ve told him so. He just smiles and says ‘soon.’ That is all he’ll say. It is most annoying.”
Jareth laughed softly. “The truth is that he’s not entirely certain about his position with the Guard of Six,” he said. “Henry moved him in, but he could just as easily move him out, so I believe he wants reassurance from the king that his situation will be stable before he marries a woman and brings her, and her children, to London to live. I am proud of the way he is thinkingof others before himself. The Orion I knew before our journey to Bristol would not have done that.”
“He has changed?”
Jareth nodded as he thought on the big blond knight who wasn’t quite so annoying anymore. “Aye,” he said. “Acceptance will do that. Love will do that.”
Desdra smiled. “Does that mean you have changed?”
“From what? I was perfect when you met me.”
She burst into soft laughter. “You are a confident man,” she said. “I love that about you.”
“Good,” he said. “It is too late for me to change my ways, so you had better.”
