Loving a Fearless Duchess – Extended Epilogue

Two years later

Penelope sat at the parlour window watching Luke.

She saw chickens scattering and laughed. How could a two-year-old get into so much trouble? Penelope had to give him credit. Although he hadn’t caught one yet, he continued to try. She didn’t have the heart to tell him he would never catch a chicken.

Luke had perseverance. A good quality. She thought Luke might be a lot like his father. She wondered if Nash ran headlong into chickens thinking he could catch one when he was young. The idea made her smile.

“More ice tea, Penelope?” Cecilia asked.

“No, thank you. All I do is pee. I can’t wait until this baby comes out.”

“That’s what you said with Luke. When will you learn patience?”

Penelope laughed. “Probably around baby number six. When is Edward coming? I want him here when I give birth.”

Cecilia smiled that small smile she gave when she was biting her tongue. “I think I told you he’s coming tomorrow. And I think I told you tomorrow more than once.”

Penelope rolled her eyes. “Yes, I think you did.”

She rose, stretched and stuck her feet in front of the fireplace.

Mira laughed. “Penelope, you still need the fire? It’s summer.”

Penelope shook her head. “I think it’s a circulation problem. My body is always hot, but my feet are always cold.”

Cecilia sighed. “It will be good for Edward to visit. He is always elbow deep in work, and it seems like it will never ease up.

“Well, ease up or not, I’ve received another letter from my brother. He insists Edward go to London for the season. Avery is adamant he wants to see a wife and an heir before he dies,” Cecilia said.

“And Penelope, it’s not an unreasonable request.”

“You’re right, Mother. His head is always down in his work. He seems to have time for his estate but nothing else.

“Which begs the question, what woman would want to marry him, be stuck in the country with no prospect of going to London and to have a husband who ignores her?”

Mira said, “Oh, I don’t think he will ignore his wife. She would just need to understand that the first few years would be hectic, and then things would settle down. Some women don’t want a man in their hair all day.

“Besides, she’ll be nobility. She’ll know he must be in London when the House of Lords is in session.”

Cecilia looked at Penelope. Penelope looked back and gave her a slight nod.

Cecilia rose. “Ladies, I must leave you. My correspondence has been put off long enough.”

Penelope looked at Mira. She gave her a fond smile. “You have been such a joy to me, coming here from London, foregoing last season. But I must insist you be a part of the upcoming season.”

Mira looked devastated. She moved her gaze to her gloves.

“I’ll go with you and act as your chaperone and be with you every step of the way if you like. Your mother would understand, I’m sure.

“You can’t stay up here in the wilderness when the single gentlemen are in London. Your progress, your ability to talk with such joy and intelligence, has been beyond my hopes. If I didn’t know you, I’d never believe you were once a tongue-tied lady, barely able to be in a room with others.

“I could never live with myself if you stayed here and missed your opportunity to find a gentleman. Every season that goes by means a season you are one year older.”

Penelope saw tears springing to Mira’s eyes. In a low voice Penelope barely heard, Mira said, “I don’t want to go to London. I will if you force me. I was hoping . . .”

Penelope rose and sat next to Mira. She took her hand.

“I see the way you look at Edward. I’ve seen it for a long time and watched him as well. Mira, he hasn’t shown a special interest in you throughout the time you have known one another. It frustrates me, but in all the time you have known him, his demeanour hasn’t changed.

“All the time you worked on redecorating his dower house for him should have woken him up. If that didn’t make him notice, I don’t know what will.”

***

Cecilia thought back to the fire Henry caused in the dower house two years ago. She had planned to have Mira redecorate it as a way to bring the two of them closer together.

Edward entered the parlour before dinner. After the curtsies and bows, Penelope said, “Edward, what are your plans for the dower house?”

He looked at her, not understanding the question.

“Well, you have a burnt out house on your property with bars on the windows. I’m afraid you have a great deal of work to do inside and out. Now that you have fixed the cottages in the village, I’m afraid you need to fix the house on your own estate.

“I suppose you’re right.” He turned to his mother. “Were you thinking to move into the dower house?”

Cecilia barked out a laugh. “No, Edward, I won’t be living there, try as you might to get rid of me.
But Penelope is right. You cannot have a burned out empty home on the estate.”

Edward nodded then looked at Nash. “They are right, Edward. When women are right, you need to pay attention to what they say.”

Edward was quiet while the others talked about their days and other inconsequential things.

“Pardon,” Edward said, “but should I hire some men from the village to clean out the house? Then get carpenters to fix the burned out rooms?”

Nash nodded. “There’s probably smoke damage on everything in the house. You’re going to need to get the place cleared out then wash all the walls and ceilings. Wallpaper will probably need to be replaced.

“If I may suggest, while renovating, think about putting in a sunroom or an attached greenhouse. You’re going to need an architect. He’ll advise you.”

Edward shot up out of his seat and began to pace. “This is going to cost me a fortune, isn’t it?”

Nash laughed. “Not as much as housing Henry for the next twenty years would have cost.”

Edward turned to Cecilia, “Mother, you will need to redecorate the entire house. The smoke damage won’t leave anything unscathed.”

Cecilia frowned. “No, Edward. That job means multiple trips to London to pick out furniture, fabrics, carpets, and much more.

“I’m not interested in spending the better part of the next year exhausting myself like that. Why don’t you ask Mira? She’s young, and I like her taste.”

“Fantastic idea. Mira, will you do it?” Edward asked.

Mira shook her head. “I’d be too nervous. I would have to talk with strangers. I may even need to press them for delivery dates and such. I couldn’t.”

Penelope got up and sat next to Mira. “You have come so far; I know you could do it. Besides, Edward is spending so much money on this dower house, inside and out, I think the vendors you work with will bend over to please you.”

Edward said, “Penelope’s right. No one would argue with you or cause you any distress. If anything, you’d get sick of the sugary sweet way they’d treat you.”

Cecilia said, “You know, Mira, I could hear your ideas and what you need to say to the vendors. I can help you in any way you’d like as long as I do it from the comfort of the parlour.

“Most women would love an assignment like this. You would be busy, but it would be fun. Although, you would have to work closely with Edward. I don’t know how you feel about that.”

Cecilia and Penelope exchanged glances. Penelope had to put her hand in front of her mouth to keep from showing the smile on her face.

“Yes, Mira. You will need to consider staying here for at least the next six to nine months. You would need to go on several buying trips to London, and you would need to work closely with Edward.

“Edward is asking a lot of you. You should probably give it some thought. Edward doesn’t need to start today, but it would probably be best to start within the next fortnight.”

***

Mira was crying harder. Penelope put her arm around her shoulders and pulled Mira close. “Know this. It has nothing to do with your hands. I would have seen him show unease if that were true. But I don’t see that; I have never seen that.

“Don’t stay here hoping he will wake up one day and notice you as more than a dear friend of mine. We’ve both given that a chance. Probably more than enough time to hope for him to see how truly wonderful you are.

“Move on. I beg you, Mira. I will help you. We’ll do this together. I want to be a part of finding the perfect gentleman for you.”

Mira nodded. “I don’t think I can do it. Sitting in your parlour and at your dinner table having conversations with all of you is different from attending a ball in London attended by a hundred people.”

Penelope nodded. “We’ll start with teas and the theatre. At the theatre, most of the time is spent sitting in a box, watching the play. We’ll work our way up to a ball.”

Mira looked at Penelope. “My aunt lives in Bath. She is active in society there. Maybe I should start with her. Bath is not as overwhelming as London. What do you think?”

Penelope took Mira by the shoulders. “That is a fantastic idea. I haven’t been to Bath in years. I’ll drop you off, meet your aunt, and indulge in the baths.

“Write to your aunt. Tell her what you’re thinking. I’ll bet you get an enthusiastic response.”

“Stay until the baby is born; go to Bath to visit your aunt, and then come back to me. We’ll travel to London. Just for a month. But we’ll go to a few balls. I miss the theatre. We’ll walk in the park. Please say yes.”

Mira laughed. Penelope still thought her laugh was the most melodic sound she had ever heard. Nothing compared.

“I will stay until you give birth; I will go to my aunt’s in Bath, and then I will come back here. When I come back, we can talk about London.”

Penelope yawned. “Deal. Now help me up, it’s time for me to rest.”

***

Penelope lay in bed thinking. She had spent the last two years trying to match Mira with Edward. He had been working so hard to make Edgewood work; he hadn’t taken any time for himself.

Every turn of the season he worked on a new thing. More sheep for the slanted field. Wheat on the flat meadow the next year. Then barley. Then he built a mill to grind the grain at the end of the season. Then shear the sheep and sell the wool. Then start all over again.

He had done so much. All based on the timetable he and Sir Jeffrey had developed. Edgewood was becoming a jewel in the Duke’s crown.

Now Avery wanted him in town. He had written several letters enumerating the reasons for his request. Penelope thought the most powerful reason was Avery’s decline in health. Avery would not live for more than a handful of years. He knew it, and so did everyone else.

Edward loved his country estate. He was proud of his accomplishments, as well he should be. The villagers who prospered under his and Sir Jeffrey’s plans loved him.

He told Penelope he woke up every morning, put his feet on the floor, felt he could jump up, and touch the fourteen-foot-high ceiling in his bedchamber. The estate gave his life meaning.

Why didn’t Edward see it wasn’t all fun and games? His responsibilities were greater than turning around the estate. Avery needed to bring him to the House of Lords and show him the bills and votes that needed to be passed.

He needed to be introduced to everyone important in the House. The older Lords as well as the up and coming like himself. Penelope knew Edward thought he could tag along with Nash one day and be done with it. Nash scoffed at the idea.

Penelope couldn’t wait to see Edward. They needed to have a very long talk.

***

Nash looked at Edward accusingly, “Does she have to scream so loud?”

Edward shrugged.

The servants going in and out of the bedchamber had long since stopped asking politely for the gentlemen to step aside. Now they just told the two men to get out of the way.

When a servant girl went to enter the bedchamber with fresh linens, Nash stopped her.

“What’s going on in there?” he asked.

“Your wife is having a baby,” she said, then walked into the room and shut the door.

Edward looked at Nash. “You know this is the one day those women can get away with talking to you like that. But I think they are enjoying it a bit too much. Tomorrow, they’ll be back to normal.”

Nash was distracted. “I don’t care about that right now. I care about all the screaming going on in there.”

The two men paced. “It was like this last time. But I forgot. Then she gets pregnant again, and the screaming comes through the door. And it all comes back to me.”

Edward shrugged. “Stop getting her pregnant.

Nash stopped and turned to Edward. “Pardon?”

“I said stop getting her pregnant,” Edward said, slower this time.

Nash looked into Edward’s eyes for a long time. To his credit, Edward didn’t flinch and look away.

“I consider you my brother, Edward, so I’m going to let that go.”

Edward shook his head, “What?”

“I need a drink,” Nash said then walked into the nearest bedchamber and tugged at the bell pull.

Thomas came to the men, moving quickly towards them in the hall. “Your Grace,” he bowed. “What can I get you? Is Her Grace well?”

Nash clutched Thomas’ arm as if it were a lifeline. “We know nothing. There isn’t a woman behind that door who will tell us anything. We rang for whisky.”

Thomas bowed and turned.

“They all think you’re crazy you know.”

Nash swatted the air. “I am. They like me anyway.”

Edward rolled his eyes.

Two hours and a bottle of whisky later, Mira opened the bedchamber door to find Edward and Nash sitting on the floor leaning against the wall. There was an empty bottle between them, and they looked up at her with glassy eyes.

Nash snapped out of his stupor fast. He stood and went to Mira.

“Is it over? Is Penelope alright?” he asked.

Mira put a hand in front of her nose and waved the air.

“She’s not going to like that,” Mira mumbled. “It’s a girl, and everyone is fine. Would you like to come in?” Mira went on, in a low voice. “Or would you like to rinse your mouth out and splash water on your face first.”

Nash pushed past her and went straight to Penelope.

“Penelope, are you alright? Your screams. They drove me crazy. Tell me you’re fine.”

Penelope sat back on her pillow to escape the whisky smell permeating Nash. “We are both fine. Having a baby is painful; you know that.

“I’m going to forgive your drinking because I know it was from worry for me that made you drink. But you’re not holding our daughter smelling like that.

“Clean yourself up, then come back to see us. Now,” she said while pointing her hand to the door.

Penelope leaned past Nash to see Edward. “You too, Edward. Out.”

He too scurried off like a little rabbit. Cecilia handed Penelope her little girl.

Two hours later, the whole family was on the bed. Penelope was inside the covers, in a sitting position leaning against the wall. Nash was next to her outside the covers sitting close, the baby asleep in his arms, and Luke was at the foot of the bed jumping up and down on the mattress.

“I’ve decided on a name, Nash,” Penelope said. She had a pretty smile on her face, one Nash especially liked because it never had a hidden message in it. Like the smile she had that said, ‘I’m going to win this argument no matter what’ or the smile that said ‘Don’t try it.’

No, this smile was just a nice, pure, Penelope smile.

“So don’t keep me in suspense. What is the baby’s name?” he said.

Penelope turned to look directly at Nash. “If it were a boy, we would have gone with Everett. I love that name.”

Nash nodded, “Yes, Everett is good. My father wore the name well. But it’s a girl, Penelope.”

“So, I’ve decided to call her Evelyn,” she said with a big grin.

“What do you think?” she asked.

Nash kissed her. A real kiss, or the best, closest real kiss he could manage with Evelyn in his arms, and Luke jumping on the bed.

“I love it. I love you.”

Cecilia rose and pulled the bell. “Oh, good, Mary, you’re here. Luke needs to be with his nanny, and Her Grace is very tired. She and baby Evelyn need to be alone for a while to rest.”

Cecilia bent down and kissed Penelope. “Rest dear. This one was long and difficult.”

Penelope turned to her, “I will. Would you please send Mira into the parlour to entertain Edward?”

Her mother gave Penelope a look that reflected her belief that Mira and Edward were a lost cause, but she nodded and left.

Nash rolled to his side and put his head in his hand. “What did your mother mean that this one was long and difficult?”

She looked at Nash and paused, “Luke’s delivery was different. Remember how long it took for him to join us? Evelyn took long, but she was also positioned wrong. Getting her in place took some time and some discomfort. That’s all.”

Nash spoke slowly. “When you’re feeling better, I think we should talk about slowing down. I know you want a few more, but I worry about you. We have two beautiful children. I don’t need another one. I need you.”

Penelope’s eyelids were getting heavy. She closed her eyes and said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

Nash got out of bed and pulled the bell. Once a maid arrived, he told her to stay with Penelope and Evelyn. They should not be alone. She curtsied and nodded. He left.

He ordered a bath and then shaved. He dressed and went to the parlour.

“I’m sorry to have left the two of you alone for so long. Penelope finally fell asleep. I suspect she’ll rest for a while.”

Mira curtsied, Edward and Nash bowed.

Mira poured him tea. He drank some and closed his eyes. “That tastes good.”

He sat up and began gathering biscuits and small sandwiches onto a plate.

“So, what are we talking about?”

Mira leaned back in her chair. “I was telling Edward that I am going to live with my aunt in Bath. Have you been there, Nash?”

“I may have when I was much younger, but I don’t recall anything about it. You won’t leave right away, I hope?”

Mira smiled. “I promised Penelope I would stay on for a few days until she’s back on her feet. I imagine I’ll leave in a fortnight.”

“So soon?” Edward asked.

“Yes, Penelope went through the birth well. She’ll recover quickly. Then, I’m off. The society season is starting now. The London season doesn’t start for months. It’s the time to go.”

Nash looked at Edward but said to Mira, “Well, we’ll just have to enjoy your company while we still have it.”

***

Thomas entered the parlour and bowed. The Duke of Somerset to see you, Your Grace.

Nash, Edward, and Mira rose. After the customary greetings, Avery sat.

“Your niece is a strong, healthy woman, Avery,” Nash said, smiling.

“I’m looking forward to seeing her and the baby when they wake. My timing couldn’t be better now, could it?”

Nash shook his head. “No, it couldn’t.”

There was a silence that Edward thought was awkward, but maybe not. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

Avery turned to Edward. “I’m looking forward to our time together at Edgewood.” He turned to Nash and Mira. “I couldn’t be more proud of the progress he’s made. Nash, are you still investing? I’d love to get your opinion on a venture Wilson told me of the other day.”

“I’m always interested in what Wilson is up to.”

Avery looked around, “Enough of that talk. Mira, tell me about you. Would I know your father?”

Mira smiled at him. “I’m not sure, Your Grace. His name is Remington Rockwell, The Earl of Rockwell.”

Avery thought on that a minute. “Was his father Jameson Rockwell? I once knew of someone by that name. His son was a handful at university if I remember.”

Mira smiled wide. “Yes, Your Grace. My grandfather’s name was Jameson. My grandmother would sometimes mumble to my father about university, but we never knew what she meant.”

Avery continued enthusiastically, “Jameson had a sense of humour. We would all be at the club, and he’d walk in. Within ten minutes, the whole club would be in an uproar of laughter. You never had the chance to meet him?”

Mira shook her head. “Not really. I was a toddler when he died. But others have also talked of his humour. My father didn’t inherit that trait, more’s the pity.”

Avery said quietly, “A shame.”

Edward continued to notice the connection Mira seemed to have with Avery when they went in for dinner. They found common ground on many of the issues of the day. Edward could tell Avery thought her intelligent.

By the next afternoon, Edward had to shake off thoughts that he was jealous of Avery. Time and again, he saw Avery and Mira laughing together or in deep discussion about one social issue or another.

Edward hardly had any time to talk with Mira. Her time was completely monopolized by Avery.

“Nash. I have a strange question. Do you think Avery has an attraction to Mira? He seems a little old to be so taken with someone Mira’s age, don’t you think?”

Edward saw a curve of a smile on Nash’s lips. “I’m hoping Penelope and I are still making love past his age.” He shrugged. “Why not. She seems to like him. He seems to like her.”

Edward looked at Nash. “But wouldn’t she be better off with someone your age or my age?”

Nash nodded. “Probably. Do you see anyone knocking on the door our age?

“Look, Edward. Let her be happy. Her face glows, her smile is bright. If no man her age is interested in her, let her be happy.”

Edward nodded and walked away. She should be with someone her own age. What was with Avery? In all the years he’d known him, Avery hadn’t ever looked twice at the woman.

***

Penelope sat up in bed holding Evelyn. Nash sat on the bed next to her, and Avery sat in a chair placed near the head of the bed.

“I’m telling you, Penelope, you’re a genius. His head is spinning. I can’t believe it never occurred to him until I came along to make him jealous.”

Penelope giggled. “I know, Uncle Avery. It’s been in front of his face for years. Men are so stupid sometimes.”

Avery smiled at Nash. “You let her talk like that?”

“Only when she’s right,” he said.

“Which is most of the time,” Penelope said.

Avery laughed. “This is fun. Mira’s a nice girl. She will be a perfect wife for him. I hope this doesn’t take too long. I only have a few years left.”

“Don’t laugh,” Nash said. “I’ve never seen anyone as slow as your nephew. You would think he never had a girlfriend before.”

Avery and Penelope looked at one another then laughed.

“When we get to Edgewood, I’m planning to press him for a wife and an heir. I’m calling him to London for this session of the House of Lords. And, as we all know—”

“The season runs on the same schedule,” Penelope finished.

“It will give him some time to decide to go to the marriage mart.”

“He won’t want to go,” Penelope said.

“I agree,” Nash squeezed Penelope’s hand.

Avery stood and shook his head. “Your brother? Here, we have a nice, intelligent girl from nobility. What’s more, I approve of her, and she’d say ‘I do’ in a heartbeat.”

Penelope giggled again. “I know, I know.”

He kissed her on the forehead then straightened. “Wish me luck. I have work to do.”

***

Avery joined Mira and Edward in the parlour for tea.

“So, Mira, tell me. Will you be in Bath in a month from now?”

Mira nodded. “Yes, Avery, I will.”

“Would you kindly give me your address there? I’m going up to Edgewood from here and plan to spend a month looking over my nephew’s shoulder. Then, my carriage could swing around, and I could spend some time in Bath. I haven’t been there in years.”

Mira smiled. “That would be lovely. I’ll make sure to pass along my aunt’s information before I leave.”

Avery sat up. “Leave? But I didn’t think you were leaving this soon.”

Edward sat forward in his chair. “I thought you would be here a fortnight. Leaving now seems sudden.”

“Not at all. I said I would stay until Penelope was out of bed. She dressed and came to lunch today. I expect we’ll see her at dinner this evening.”

Avery shook his head, “She’s remarkable.”

Edward looked surprised. “Maybe she’s pushing herself too hard and should get back in bed.”

“Nonsense,” Nash said, walking in. “I pity anyone who tries to keep her in bed one more day. That would be a dangerous, foolish thing to do.”

Mira looked up. “I was just telling Avery and Edward that I’ll be leaving for Bath soon. My stay has been one of the most enjoyable of my life, and I thank you for it. But it is time for me to move on.”

Nash smiled. “Well, it’s been our pleasure, and you are welcome here any time you want to babysit two children.”

After the laughter, Mira had tears in her eyes and said, “I do hope I see you again someday. I can’t say goodbye thinking this might be our last time together. Although it may be, let’s pretend it isn’t when we say goodbye, shall we?”

Edward broke the silence in a booming voice, “Why on earth would we never see you again? Are you saying you would break Penelope’s heart by never coming here again to visit her?”

Nash turned to Edward. “What has gotten into you? That is no way to speak to a lady. I suggest you apologize now.”

Edward turned from Nash to Mira. He bowed. “Pardon, My Lady. I should never have spoken to you in that manner. Please find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Mira gave him a deep, slow nod. “You are forgiven, My Lord. Now,” she stood and curtsied to all three, “if you will forgive me, I’ll see to my packing.”

Nash crossed the parlour and shut the door. He turned, giving Edward a piercing look.

“What was that all about, Edward?”

Edward plopped into a chair and put his leg over the arm of it. “I don’t know. It came out of nowhere. I don’t know what came over me.”

Avery stepped forward and, drink in hand, looked down at Edward. “That lady is much too good a person to be treated like the way you just treated her. Do you think lowly of her because of her hands?”

Edward snapped his head up. “Of course not. I’ve put them out of my mind, just as I’ve put Penelope’s scar out of my mind.”

Avery persisted. “Then why are you treating that lovely girl so badly.”

“So badly? I don’t treat her badly.”

Nash sat next to Edward. “You ignore her half the time she’s in here. You won’t talk to her. You never make conversation with her. She has to initiate any conversation you two have.”

Edward put his arm up, “Enough. I didn’t think anyone noticed.”

Avery shook his head. “We all noticed. She noticed. The horses in the stables noticed.”

Edward hung his head, and Avery put his hand on Edward’s shoulder.

“Just admit it. You love the girl. I don’t blame you. She’s beautiful, she’s intelligent, and she’s fun to have around.”

Edward looked up. “I just figured it out. But now she’s leaving. I figured out I love her while she’s upstairs packing.”

Avery looked at Nash. “Nash, what should Edward do?”

Nash looked at Avery and shrugged. “I don’t have any idea. It’s too complicated for me to figure out.”

Edward got to his feet. “Thanks a lot, both of you. Do I go upstairs, knock on the door, and tell her I love her?”

Avery patted Edward on the arm.

“Wait ’til she opens the door first.”

Nash laughed. Avery grinned, and Edward left in disgust.

***

“Who is it?” Mira said.

“It’s Edward, Mira. Could we talk?”

Mira opened the door halfway and looked at him.

“Could we talk in the sitting room?”

Mira nodded and opened the door to him. She walked toward the bedroom and shut the door separating the sitting room from the bedroom. She sat, placed her hands in her lap, and looked up at Edward.

Edward paced, then stopped and turned. “First, I want to apologize again for my outburst downstairs. It was wrong on so many different levels that I will be ashamed of that behaviour until the day I die. I’m sure my conscious will replay it in my head on a daily basis.

“Second, it took me time, but I realized why I behaved that way.” Edward got on his knees and looked into Mira’s eyes. “My reaction was so strong because I don’t want you to go to Bath. I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay with me. Always. I love you, and I want you with me at Edgewood and in London.”

Mira didn’t say anything. She continued to sit, hands in her lap looking at him. Although now, she had a smile on her face.

Edward waited, and then said, “Well, what do you think, Mira?”

“I’ll give you my answer when you ask me,” she said quietly.

Edward closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. Was he going to get nothing right? He opened his eyes and took Mira’s hands.

“Mira, would you marry me?”

Mira took Edward’s cheeks in her hands. She said yes then leaned over to kiss him. He kissed her back. It was a soft, wet, wonderful feeling, and Edward couldn’t wait to have more.

He took her face in his hands, kissed her again, and they leaned into each other’s foreheads.

The banging on the door startled them. It sounded as though the door would break at any moment.

Edward opened it to find Nash, Avery, and Penelope standing in the hall. Penelope stepped inside without an invitation, and Nash and Avery followed. They sat.

“So, what’s new?” Penelope asked.

Mira and Edward laughed.

“We’re getting married,” they said together.

Avery popped the cork of the champagne he brought with him.

“Finally,” Penelope said.

THE END

---

Readers who read this book also liked