“Unless a house falls on me, of course.”
“I think we’re safe in that regard,” Addison laughed. “Unless, of course, you were speaking metaphorically.”
“Ah…” Addison caught her cry with his mouth and proceeded to heighten her completion with his kiss.
“Figuratively speaking.” Addison tucked her into his side afterward. “You can count on the house coming down many, many times over the next fifty or so years. Because like it or not, love, you’re trapped with me forever.”
Collette dragged her fingertips along the line of his jaw. In a beautiful sense of irony, spending her life with this man gifted her with incredible freedom. Freedom to love and be loved.
Joy burst in her heart and heat pricked the back of her eyes.
“Just so long as we’re trapped together, Addison.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Bonus Epilogue
“I’ve never danced this much in my life.” Bethany lowered herself onto the chaise beside her sister, who was now a marchioness, feeling exhausted but happy.
“That’s because you spent most of the time hiding behind potted plants at the few balls you attended last spring,” Diana teased but then added. “Sarah seemed to enjoy herself. That was good of you and Bethany to allow her to remain downstairs for the first few sets.”
Their younger sister, who was three and ten now, had grown by leaps and bounds since moving to the country with their mother. No doubt Chase and Bethany would be wanting to bring her out before long. “Do you think she could ever have a season?”
Diana smiled. “If I can marry a marquess, and you can marry a duke, I’ve no doubt that despite her challenges, Sarah will take theTonby storm.”
“She’s apt to marry a king.” Collette laughed. Because her sister was correct in pointing out the irony of both of their present circumstances. Even now, she could hardly believe this elaborate party was being thrown to celebrate her wedding.
ToAddison.
She searched the room until she found him laughing and talking with Lord Greystone, her brother, and a few other familiar looking lordly gents. And then a familiar thrill swept through her when he caught her eye and the corner of his mouth twitched in what she liked to think of as his secret smile.
For her.
With the wedding set to take place bright and early the following morning, their brother’s country estate was near bursting at the seams with guests, but Collette had felt none of the squeeze. In fact, since Bethany had set aside one of the most elaborate chambers at Easter Park for Collette’s use, she felt rather like a princess. Normally only ever opened up for visiting royalty, the state apartment, as Chase referred to the suite, was more luxurious and grander than anything she’d ever known.
She and Bedwell would share it for ten days, until after Christmas, when the two of them would journey to Brier Manor, rather than embark on a wedding journey.
His mother would be returning to London for what remained of the winter while the dower house was renovated to her liking, and once spring came around, Addison wanted to take Collette to the continent so they could have a real honeymoon.
“I cannot believe that you are just returned from Paris, and that you are married to Lord Greystone.” Collette said.
Held up by inclement weather, Diana and her husband of less than a year had only just arrived at Easter House late the night before. What with the last-minute preparations for the ball that evening, the two sisters hadn’t had a chance to do any real catching up.
Collette tilted her head and held her sister’s gaze. “Are you happy?”
It was more of a statement than a question, really. Diana had always been vibrant, but there was something different about her now. She positively glowed.
“I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful he is.” She sighed. “Yes, I’m so very happy, Collette. And I’m even happier knowing you won’t be spending the rest of your life locked up in a stuffy school.”
Before meeting Addison, Collette had been adamant that she would never marry. She’d insisted that she only wanted to teach. “It was a lovely school,” she defended the place of her former employment.
Diana turned to stare across the room where Miss Primm, Miss Shipley, and a few of the other teachers hovered near the wall with the mothers and chaperones. “I suppose,” she said. “Thatiswhere you found your duke.”
“It had to have been fate.” Collette almost whispered. Because if she hadn’t wanted to teach, she never would have met Addison. And if she hadn’t been sacked, he would not have found her in London.
“Do you love him?” Diana asked.
“More than anything.” Collette answered from her heart.
