Page 113 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

He turned to look out over the front lawn and saw a lone figure under the ancient oak tree.

Cecil.

Rose looked too and gasped. “What is he doing here?”

“I do not know. Shall we go and see?” But before they could decide, Cecil turned and walked back to his horse, mounted, and rode away.

“Perhaps he needed to see for himself that the rumors were true. That we are happily married and have a child.”

“I wish it had not come to this. Perhaps I should write to him.”

“If it will ease your heart on the matter.”

Rose nodded and went inside, and the door closed.

Her family was here now, and who knew, perhaps even Cecil could change. Perhaps he too had seen the error of his decisions and regretted them. If anyone knew about that, it was Edward.

“Come, cake awaits and Lily has fallen asleep on my shoulder. Should I take her up to the nursery?”

“I’m not feeling up to cake. This morning sickness is playing havoc with my stomach. Let us go together.”

Together. He could hardly reconcile the loneliness he once felt. The desperate part of himself that craved understanding and acceptance.

Love. Letting Rose love him was what saved him, but it was not the only thing.

Family. Despite everything, they still loved him. And he was never more grateful for it.

Maxine. She had valiantly given him back that part of his heart that had been missing. Forgiving him for his mistakes and opening her heart to him.

Rose. The woman who had put all the broken pieces back together. If not for her, he would still be in that room in London, looking out on the rooftops of London, drowning in duty and hating himself.

She had saved him in more ways than she could ever know, and he would spend the rest of his life thanking her for it.

As he placed Lily in her crib and kissed her forehead, Rose wrapped her arms around him. He turned and took her lips in a kiss.

“Are you happy, Edward?” she asked.

“Blissfully so.” He looked down at the serene face of his infant daughter. “Sometimes I wake up with you next to me and it feels like a dream I do not deserve, but I promise you I will do all in my power to earn it. To prove to you, Max, and Lily, and whoever graces us with their presence this spring, that you all have my whole heart.”

The End