“And gifted with truth. I saw myself in him and my mistakes. I’ll have to get to know my father all over again. I actually want to, now that our biggest disagreement is settled.” He slipped again to my side and to that spot on my neck that brought silver shivers. “Completely done. Cold, my little blueberry? I’ll take care of that.”
He drew the bedclothes about us and warmed me with his fevered skin. “We’ll stay here at Warwick, this place you love. And I can show you how to properly load the blunderbuss. Helena’s gun didn’t fire.”
“Then whose did?”
“Seems the duke was determined to give you what you wanted if I failed.”
“Tramel shot him? I should tell Helena.”
Felton held me in place. “Tomorrow. Let’s let the master spy’s plan work. Our staying here will be good. The girls can’t keep a pet cow in Mayfair. Well, not easily.”
Turning to his countenance, I saw the openness of his love shimmering in his eyes. “I love you, David Felton Lance, my Lord Gantry. Everything in my heart is yours.”
“We’re together. Our family is whole. Two solitary jaguars have found a home. You do know what jaguars do when they finally settle down?”
“No.”
“I’ll show you.” When he took my lips and began the quiet workings of love, his hands sculpting me, shifting me, guiding me, I figured this was the next part of Felton’s great plan to keep me safe and warm.
EPILOGUE
October 15, 1815
My sisters and I walked by the great cliffs. Helena can go to them now. I’d like to think that she can just hear the water lapping below, nothing more.
Felton was right. Learning that she hadn’t actually shot Gladstone was healing.
It was I who cataloged the sounds of that day—the guns, the scream, the slam against rocks. Couldn’t forget it. These feelings would come out in some painting. I found fruit bowls unsatisfying.
Patience and Jemina and Enna whirled and danced in the breeze. Our eldest sister grinned and looked so beautiful in a poppy pink gown. “His Grace is in love with our little girl.”
Jemina shook her head. She was the only one to wear a bonnet, a pouf of creamy feathers, one I thought the wind would whip away. “Did you fret, Patience? I’ve never in my life seen a man so taken by babies.”
“I did. I thought he wanted a son, but he’s convinced that his daughter can plan war strategies as fine as Lionel will one day.”
I wanted to say that Felton could train them too, but that didn’t seem right for babies.
Helena frowned and crossed her arms in her light gray gown as the wind fluttered her hem. She sat on a blanket, watching the sea, scribbling in a book that Patience bought her.
Noah was fully mine now. She wanted to forget everything about Demerara and Gladstone. We both rather liked to think he looked like Felton. He was my husband’s heir, so it was fine by me.
“Mary and Lord Ashbrook love riding horses along the cliffs. My daughter is so smiley here. Neither one has noticed I’m not riding,” Jemina said.
“Lord Ashbrook will find out soon enough.” Patience laughed and offered her dearest friend a bit of cracker to settle her stomach.
Jemina curled onto our picnic blanket. “Thank you again for the invitation.”
I clasped her hand, and she embraced me in my new jacaranda-purple redingote. Felton had it made special for our anniversary. It wasn’t going anywhere near Moomoo. The naughty cow was a favorite of Agatha and Amelia’s, but they never wore bright colors around her. One can never be too careful with a guard cow.
Patience stretched. “This is refreshing, a moment alone, just us women, but we should return before chaos happens. Well, with Lady Shrewsbury coming tonight, it just might.”
Enna sat by our picnic basket and cut pieces of cheese. “I see why you love the Lord Gantry. I would too for this rich food.”
The basket was from Tramel. He had more of the delicious French cheese and bread in the basket. He was a dear to me, as always. He and Felton often came into my studio to watch me paint, but only my husband modeled for me. “Lord Gantry is trying to get us blackberries. He can source the best blackberries you’ve ever tasted.”
Jemina drooled. “His berries are the best. Your mother-in-law is teasing of some pie. Wouldn’t it be grand if Tramel and Lady Strathmore—”
“No!” Patience and I said the same time. My sister looked at me and we knew if the duke had a fourth wife, she would be nothing like her loud mother-in-law.
