Later, after dessert had been served, the guests made their way back to the drawing room for port.
“We did it,” Tess whispered to Dominic as they stood together near the unlit fireplace. She slid a hand along his chest, curling her fingers around his lapel. “You concocteda marvelous plan,” she told him after glancing around to ensure no one might overhear.
“Honestly,” he said, tipping a glance to where Ashbourne sat on a settee and Sofia Van Arsdale sat in a nearby chair, leaning toward him, a lovestruck look in her eyes, “attraction did a great deal more than I was anticipating.”
“I can’t disagree. And they do make a charming couple.”
“We still need to get you back on the dig.”
Tess wasn’t worried. “I don’t think that will be a problem. I can apologize to Mr. Van Arsdale. And to Miss Van Arsdale, if it comes down to it, and I suspect she’ll be in a forgiving mood.”
Dominic arched a brow skeptically.
“Look how happy she is,” Tess pointed out.
“I’ll convince them one way or another,” he assured her.
“I know you will.” Tess smiled up at him. “You’re very convincing.”
“Am I?” He bent to whisper in her ear. “Then let me convince you to come up to bed with me. Now.”
“As you once said to me,” she told him, fingers tightening around the fabric of his lapel, “I’ll follow you anywhere, though people may talk.”
“Let them talk.” He turned, bracing his hands on the mantel on either side of her, standing scandalously close. “I care about what you think. What you want.” He dipped his head. “I want you. Always. Forever.”
He was making promises. Soon he’d be making vows, and she’d be making them too. Yet Tess wasn’t scared of promises anymore. She wanted them because she loved and trusted Dominic Prince with her heart.
“Always,” she whispered. “Forever.”
Epilogue
Thirteen months later
June 1897
As the omnibus rolled into Bloomsbury, Tess clutched Dominic’s hand in both of hers. The museum came into view as they turned onto Montague Street, and she felt the excitement fluttering in her middle.
Tristan and Justine were set to join them within days, and Dominic and Tess had arrived the day before and settled into the Prince town house for their visit.
Meeting Dominic’s sister Allie again had been as lovely as the first time they’d met when she and her husband had come up to Wiggenstow for their wedding. They discussed their research, writing, the challenge of being a woman who wished to publish in a field that had long been dominated by men, and a few other matters out of the hearing of their husbands.
Tess had a secret she planned to divulge to Dominic at some point during their visit.
To match her own happiness and excitement, the whole city seemed to be full of anticipation as preparations were made for Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, which would take place in but a week.
Dominic had been concerned they’d get caught up in the crush of all of it, but Tess was determined to see the Van Arsdale collection laid out in all its splendor at the British Museum.
“Perhaps you were right about the crowds,” Tess told him as they stepped off the omnibus and she spied the queues near the museum.
“It’s to be a grand celebration over two days, apparently,” Dominic told her, his hand on hers where she held his arm. “If you want to wait, we can.”
She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Who are you? My husband is not a patient man.”
Dominic laughed the deep, full-throated sound that never failed to make her smile.
“I am patient only for your sake. I don’t want you overheated or crushed by the crowd.”
The weather was lovely and warm, though they’d had some late spring storms in the first few days of their visit.
