Page 87 of The Not So Perfect Duke

“Shall I bring tea, Your Grace?” Kingsley asked.

“No, thank you.”

The butler departed and closed the door behind him. There was no use prolonging the agony. Best to express his feelings once again and make his case.

“So, you thought it over?”

“I have.”

“Allow me to make one last appeal. I am, as society claims, a besotted rake so in love with you that he has renounced his former wicked ways to be devoted to you the rest of our days. And God, how I love you. I will agree to any terms you lay forth because I cannot be without you. My world will be hollow. But you fill it. You fill me.”

Damon took a step closer. There was no stopping him now; the words tumbled out of him in an emotional rush. “You will be taking on quite a lot, children running underfoot, extended family everywhere we turn, but you must have your own life as well. Continue on with your investigative agency. You will anyway, as you hardly need my permission. What is the saying? ‘Make me the happiest of men.’ Say yes, my Thea. End my agony. Join your life with mine. I will never make demands on any aspect of your life. I give my solemn vow. There is no rush to have children, if you want them or if we are even able—”

Althea came to stand before him and laid a finger on his lips. “Yes, I will marry you. I accept and embrace your family with my whole heart. But more importantly, I embrace you. I love you, Damon. So very much. We will face everything life throws at us. We can have it all, my love.”

He took her hand and kissed it. Damon’s heart soared. “And I do hope this will not be a long engagement.”

“I apologize for not saying yes right away. I needed to work this through. There was and is no doubt of my feelings. I admit I doubted if we could blend our lives together, and I briefly doubted you would even be capable of it. I am sorry for that, too. I cannot explain why I needed to think this through. I’ve always puzzled out every major decision in my life.”

“I understand, and I am not upset in the least.”

“And that is also why I love you.” Athena raised their joined hands and kissed them. “A small Christmas wedding is all I want, as Eleanora had with Uncle Reece walking me down the aisle.”

“Then it shall be done.” Damon kissed her passionately, then scooped her into his arms and hurried into the dining room. “Althea has agreed to marry me!” he announced to his family.

They surrounded them, offering congratulations. The scene was as comforting as a warm blanket.

Damon would never be lonely again. With Althea, he had the love he so richly deserved—at last.

He would spend a lifetime proving to Althea how honored he was to have it.

****Farther ahead is a sneak peek of Book 6 in The Rakes of St. Regent’s Park series, The Viscount of Shadows! It is Oliver Wollstonecraft (grandson of Aidan, from book 3, Love with a Notorious Rake in the Men of Wollstonecraft Hall Series), and Claudia Ellingford, who first appeared in the Rakes series in book 4, The Duke of Pain, as Mary O’Toole. Check it out! And after the epilogue, check out the 2nd author’s note relating to historical facts! ****

Epilogue

Ten Years Later

Chellenham Park, Essex

What a whirlwind decade since Damon and Althea had agreed to marry. His mother, her husband, and Damon’s half-brother lived in London while Sebastián attended university. Damon got to know his family, and life-long bonds were formed. Sebastián was now one of the youngest judges at the police court at Guildhall in northern London and a full member of The Rakes of St. Regent’s Park. His mother and stepfather spent summers and early autumns in London at Clarendon Place and wintered in Spain at their villa.

As for the rest of his found family, Adina Desmond was reunited with her mother, and they returned to Cornwall. Damon paid a small yearly stipend as agreed upon with Adina’s mother. He tried to offer more, but they gently refused, saying they only needed enough to live comfortably. They exchanged letters once or twice a year, but Adina preferred to remain apart from the rest. Damon respected that.

As for Althea’s operation, the benign growth was successfully removed, and she used the cane for nearly two years. They married at Christmas, at Queen Anne’s Gate. It was a small affair with friends and family.

Now fully renovated and every trace of his loathsome father gone, they moved in along with his younger half-siblings. A ready-made family, indeed.

Archie Fitzgerald eventually took over as manager of The Galway Agency, with the sisters keeping a hand in. Althea continued with her investigative agency, slowing down only long enough to give birth to their son and heir three years later.

Damon and Althea named their son Rory Galway Cranston, the Marquess of Brookton, after Althea’s grandfather. Rory’s birth held its share of drama. The delivery was difficult, and both mother and son were in peril for a time. Those agonizing days were the worst of Damon’s life. When it was all said and done, they recovered, although Althea had to have a life-saving operation, which meant no further children.

But as Damon told Althea, it didn’t matter. As long as she was restored to him in perfect health. And Queen Anne’s Gate was filled with children regardless—and happiness, as Damon never imagined he would ever experience.

As for his older half-siblings, though Mitchell Evercreech was initially reluctant, they became friends and brothers over the years. His half-brother even took Damon’s advice and changed his name to Mitchell Simpson to honor the older couple that had raised him. Mitch also joined the Rakes of St. Regent’s Park after some convincing.

And Olivia? They had grown closer still, and their families were inseparable. As were all The Rakes and their families.

With Clarendon Place sold to Anthony De León and the Daimler shares reaping ever-growing profits, Damon more than kept the dukedom afloat. Because of it, Chellenhome became a legitimate orphanage and expanded in size and scope. Mrs. Seddon married MacClery, and they took over the daily home and nearby farm management.