Page 73 of An Artful Lie

Aidan turned to kiss her.

Across from them, Gwinnie and the Duchess sniffed as tears slid down their cheeks.

EPILOGUE

FOUR MONTHS LATER

“Will that be all, Mrs. Nowlton?” asked the maid who’d brought her tea and scones.

“Yes, thank you, Beatrice,” said Bella. She eyed the scones with delight. Food no longer made her stomach queasy, and she loved Cook’s scones. She took a bite of one before pouring her tea. She closed her eyes as she savored the flavor. Not too sweet, with a lovely blend of spice.

“Ah, good, I came up before you could devour all the scones,” said Aidan from the library doorway.

Bella’s eyes flew open, and she quickly stood up and threw her arms around her husband, scattering crumbs across both of them.

“You know, my love, I would rathereata scone than wear one,” he teased.

“Yes, yes. But I am delighted you could join me today! You haven’t in so long,” she complained.

“I am delighted as well,” he said, urging her to sit back down. He took a seat next to her. “Delighted to spend time with you, my wonderful wife and mother-soon-to-be, and delighted that the new gallery assistant is working out well. With a full staff, I believe I will feel comfortable leaving the gallery when we go to Versely Park for Ann’s wedding to Ellinbourne.”

“See, Gwinnie and I told you Miss Brinkley would be an excellent addition for the gallery. How are Mr. Tourmet and Mr. Coombs getting along with her?” she asked as she poured tea for him.

“Surprisingly well. And I didn’t have to threaten them too much,” he said.

“Aidan!” protested Bella.

“I’m teasing,” he said.

She smiled. “It’s nice to see you tease. Lord Candelstone could not call you a prig now! Speaking of Candelstone—”

“Must we?” Aidan asked tiredly. “He’s far away in the West Indies.”

“Yes, but his wife isn’t. I saw Catherine today when I was at the Earl of Soothcoor’s boys' orphanage. She is organizing the boys there for a Christmas Pageant. Costumes, wigs, makeup, everything. She is no longer moping and missing Lord Candelstone.”

“Good, I hope she continues working with the charity children for plays and pantomimes when Candelstone returns, which hopefully won’t be until late Spring at the earliest.”

Aidan put his arm around her, and she leaned back into him as she sipped her tea. “I feel sorry for Ann having to wait so long before she and Ellinbourne can marry.”

“If all goes well, his eldest sister will be back in England from Boston in the next couple weeks,” Aidan said.

“I look forward to meeting her,” Bella said. “Ann said she’s been a governess in Boston for the last four years, long before anyone imagined Miles Wingate, a clergyman’s son, would become the Duke of Ellinbourne.” She picked up another scone.

“Ifshe comes back to England. Ellinbourne says she has a broad streak of independence and wasn’t happy when he became the Duke.”

“Really? Well, sounds like there is a story there,” Bella mused.

“Probably; however, at the moment, rather than thinking about other people,” Aidan said, taking her teacup out of her hand and setting it back on the tray, “how about thinking of your husband.” He pulled her across his lap.

“Oho, my favorite subject,” she murmured, reaching up to run her hand through his hair as his lips came down to meet hers.

She closed her eyes and surrendered to his encompassing love.

THE END