She raised an eyebrow.“Here?”
“Well, I know that I said I would buy you an engagement ring, but then I got to thinking that ostentatious jewelry is not your style.So instead, I bought you this house.”
Elizabeth’s mouth fell open.“You bought me a house?”
He took both her hands in his.“I bought us a house.”
“But I have a house.”
“And you can keep it as your place of business.I chose this house because it is only three blocks for you to walk to work.As you expand the paper’s readership, you will be able to hire more employees and have plenty of space to expand into the other rooms.Maybe even offer the bedrooms upstairs for let to employees.”
She nodded.The possibilities buzzing in her head.“What about the hell?”
Matthew chuckled.“The hell was fine for a bachelor, but it is no place to raise a family.”He turned her by the shoulders to face the house and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She leaned her head back against his shoulder.“You bought me a house.”A house.A place to make a home together.Tears gathered in her eyes, and she swallowed hard.
“Do you like it?”he spoke low next to her ear.
She nodded.Turning, she grasped his face between her hands and kissed him.“I love it.But most of all, I love you.”
“Good.Because they are all excited about the house.”
The front door opened, and in the threshold, Stella and Robert waved at them.Ben and Mrs.Todd stood behind them, his arm around her shoulders, and smiles wreathing their faces.
“Do you love it?Isn’t it the finest house you have ever seen?”Stella called out.
Robert rushed out and hugged her legs.“Matthew said we might live here if you said yes.Did you see the big garden?It has a very tall tree right in the middle.I bet I could climb to the very top.”
Elizabeth ruffled his hair.“Yes.”She looked back up into Matthew’s warm, chestnut eyes.Happiness flowed through her.“Yes.”
He cupped her face and brushed away a tear that had slipped down her cheek.“I love you, Lizzie.Don’t be scared.”
How did he always see her so clearly?“I don’t want to be.All of this is worth the risk.I want my happy ending.”
“We will build our happy ending side by side.”Matthew’s grin was cocky as ever.“Remember, the house always wins.”
Epilogue
Christmastide
Elizabeth gripped Lucy’shands and kissed her cheek.“Thank you for inviting us.The house looks beautiful dressed for Christmas.”
The main ballroom of Hartwick House was draped in festive greenery woven with bright-red ribbon.The refreshment table was laden with sweet treats and tureens of wassail.The tall windows were painted with delicate snowflakes, and more snowflakes dangled by ribbons from the chandeliers.
“Thank you for coming, Lord and Lady Griffen,” Lucy replied.
Standing next to her, Matthew grunted.“I prefer Mr.and Mrs.Reeves still.I have not yet come to terms with the title.”
Elizabeth lowered her voice.“He still thinks it’s cursed, or bad luck anyway.”
“The title is whatever you make of it.”Hartwick, stoic as ever, gripped Matthew’s shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze.The two men had become fast friends.Perhaps it was all the time that Hart had spent in the last month playing cards at the newly refurbished Angel.He said he much preferred the atmosphere and clientele at the Angel as opposed to the pretty, citified dandies that overran his club in St.James Square.And when word spread that the Blue Angel was the Duke of Hartwick’s new favorite place, it had brought in a set of new, monied clients.“You and Elizabeth are starting a fresh branch of your family tree.I am sure it will grow strong and healthy.”
She exchanged a look with Matthew.“Yes, well, about that.”She slipped her hand in his.“Robert is going to be an older brother by next summer.”
Lucy bounced on her toes.“Ah!That’s wonderful news!”She flung her arms around Elizabeth.Lucy’s large protruding belly pressed against her.“Our babies will not be that far apart.They can become the best of friends.”
People around them were staring at Lucy’s overt show of affection, but that didn’t dampen her enthusiasm.With her duke scowling at anyone who looked sideways at them, no one would ever twitter unkindly about their hostess.
