“I would gladly do so, except we had a deal.” It was time for them to give me their reply. The wine soured on my tongue, my need to put this all behind me strong. “And you have yet to give me an answer.”
“I fulfilled my end of our bargain. I spoke to Rex, and we have come to an understanding.” She put the chocolate in her mouth, closing her eyes, and releasing a soft moan. “I have already said yes to the affair. It is up to Rex to determine our fates.”
“You are my best friend, and I value our friendship.” Rex exhaled a noticeable breath, the coat straining at his shoulders. Head angled, he drifted his stare over my face with longing. “If this is going to work, we will need to be careful. More than our lives will be disrupted if we’re discovered.”
“Fair enough.” I knew the risks, but the rewards were worth taking chances.
“We already have the advantage of spending time together,” Eleanor said. She bit into another truffle, chocolate smearing her fingers. Had I known she adored them, I would have given her some as a peace offering.
“Indeed, it is the intimacy that might be an issue.” Rex rubbed his thumb along the rim of the glass, the food forgotten in the face of our conversation. “I would like to say I would be happy to continue our relationship as it was before our affair, but the thought of never kissing you again tears me apart.”
“It would be hell.” I nodded, my hand moving to his. He turned his wrist and linked his fingers with mine. Throughout my life, he had been my friend and now he was my lover.
Eleanor lifted another truffle and inspected it, a small smile tilting her mouth. “It would be like having a plate of truffles and never being able to eat them.”
“I believe you are obsessed with those confections.” Rex used his other hand to clasp Eleanor’s left hand.
“I am obsessed with more than the confections. We have covered the risks, but we haven’t covered the rewards.” She licked the fingertips of her right hand, her breasts straining at the bodice. The sensual woman was back in play. “I know you like to be careful, but Flynn is right, it would be hell to not exchange intimacies. Thus, you need to decide.”
“Speed is of the essence,” I said, running my fingers through my hair. The suspense was killing me. “I have to get back home before the girls rise, and I don’t wish to wait another moment for your agreement.”
“You have always been impatient.” Rex shook his head, his fingers in mine squeezing. The telling gesture telegraphed his answer. “However, I happen to agree with both of you. I don’t wish to go back, only forward. Starting with tonight.”
I lifted my glass, my heart expanding in love for them. “Tonight begins a new journey.”
“A new journey,” Eleanor repeated, tilting her glass in my direction.
Rex stood, intent in his regard. He helped Eleanor to her feet. “I think we should begin our new journey right now.”
“I agree wholeheartedly. To the bedroom, gentlemen.” Contentment radiated from her, along with eagerness. Rex led the way, Eleanor on his arm. I followed, feeling the luckiest of men to have gained the favors of two such loving people. While they were bound by marriage, the love between the three of us transcended the boundaries of societal norms.
I had doubts about how I would fit into their lives until I realized I was already firmly entrenched. I had been since meeting Rex and courting Eleanor twenty-some years ago. Time might have slipped by too fast, but one thing was constant, my love for Rex and Eleanor. As I closed the door and began to shed my coat, I was walking into my future with the people I loved.
Epilogue
Lady Eleanor, Duchess of Smythington
“I would like to propose a toast to Eleanor, Duchess of Smythington in celebration of her first concert at London Hall.” Flynn stood at the front of the dining room, a glass in his hand.
I was in heaven after giving the concert and hearing the admiration of my fellow students. It was one of my greatest accomplishments, my family being the first. The one person noticeably absent from the gathering was Olivia. As she had predicted, she met and married an Australian man and did the unthinkable by moving to his cattle station, where she learned how to wrangle a cow. I enjoyed every letter I got from her and missed her greatly.
Rex lifted his own glass. “Here. Here.”
Nigel and Anne followed suit, the couple exuberantly happy in the year since their wedding. Anne rested her hand on her rounded belly. My grandchild would be on the way in six months. I was ecstatic. Harry was doing well, and Atticus had been courting a young lady I wasn’t sure about, but not because of her, but because of myself. I was still the doting mother who wanted to ensure my children were well cared for.
