“Damn you, Edward.”
“I did it for Mother. She had almost lost you once when you were shot. I could not bear her going through that again. It seemed like a good compromise at the time. I am sorry.”
This was all too much. He did not want to argue with his brother on an issue that no longer mattered. He had reconciled himself to a different life path; however, he was now being offered the post of Spymaster in place of Stafford. He needed to weigh up how that would work, especially now he had Lucinda to consider.
“You do not need to accept right away. In the meantime, why not concentrate on marrying Lucinda as soon as possible without making Mother lose her mind. We need to make her an official Ashton. If nothing else, it will distract everyone andreplace this episode with something more in keeping with their usual talents.”
“Thank you for your support, Edward. In fact, thank you for all that you do for us. I know it is not an easy position to hold. Keeping us all in line must be a nightmare.”
The duke laughed. “You do not know the half of it, dear brother. Go to your betrothed. You have much to discuss.”
Tony stopped in the doorway. “You do not know the half of it, dear brother.”
Epilogue
Despite the dowager’sunhappiness at the haste, Tony Ashton married Lucinda Sterling in St George’s church by special license on the 30th of May 1817. Lord Shorten gave the bride away with much pride and Marianne cried through the whole ceremony. The wedding breakfast was an intimate affair. The ton was all still reeling about the hasty marriage, but neither Tony nor Lucinda cared.
Once alone together, Tony took his bride into his arms and kissed her softly. Wife. My wife. It was such a strange feeling to know that he was responsible for the happiness of another, and vice versa. He had noticed that Lucinda had a new calm about her. Not even the whirlwind of wedding plans had caused her any stress. She was happy. And that made him happy. There was no need to rush into love making tonight. They had all night. They had the rest of their lives. He stripped off his clothes and waited for his bride to join him.
Lucinda kicked off her slippers before climbing into Tony’s large bed. “May told me something very interesting today.”
“Did she?” He played with one of her delicious auburn curls at her shoulder.
“She thinks I am increasing. I will have to have a doctor confirm it, but I have not had my courses for over a month. She said it was a sure sign.”
Tony should not have really been shocked, but he had just come to terms with being a married man, and now he was to be a father?
“Are you happy?” Her eyes showed her worry. “I may not be, it is just… well, she knows things like this.”
He kissed the shoulder he had exposed. “Of course. I want to give you as many children as you want.”
She frowned. “How many to do you want?”
He pulled down the other side of her nightgown. “I have no particular number in mind but four is a nice even number.”
“And what if they are all girls?”
He laughed and palmed one breast through her nightgown. “Then I will love them anyway. In fact, if they look like their mother I might even prefer it.”
She moaned as he took one nipple into his mouth. “I would like at least one boy,” she said, clutching his head and threading her fingers through his hair. “One with sandy-blond locks and blue eyes like his father. And he shall get away with tormenting his sisters simply because he will have his father’s smile.”
Tony lifted his head. “I feel sorry for him already. Three sisters!”
They made love, slowly and with care that every inch of each other was explored and worshipped.
In the morning, while May was brushing her hair, Tony lounged in her favorite red and silver banyan. The one he had worn the night they met. She met his eyes in the mirror.
“I want you to go,” Lucinda said.
“I’m not going anywhere. I am having far too much fun watching you,” he replied.
She turned in her seat. “I mean to find Markham.”
He crossed his legs. “I knew what you meant. I cannot leave you for months.”
“He would do it for you. Is that not what you once said?”
He frowned and sat forward, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “Circumstances are different now.”
