Page 88 of The Duke Who Claimed Her

“That was…” Caspian breathed. “How do you feel?”

“Good,” she said as she tried to piece her thoughts together. “Better than good. I… I wonder, can we start every morning like that?”

Caspian laughed. “I think that can be arranged.”

She pushed herself up and looked down at him. He was still laughing, and the way his eyes shone as he gazed up at her was all the confirmation she needed to know that the moment was more than either of them expected. It was perfection.

“I do love you, Caspian. So, do not dare to think about changing your mind. I will not allow it.”

“You will not allow it?” he raised an eyebrow at her. “Who do you think you are?”

“Your wife,” she said. “A duchess. And do not forget it.”

In answer, he pulled her forward, and they kissed again.

The world had felt like a different place when Arabella woke up earlier. There were many reasons for that, but the main one was the man she lay beside. He was more than a companion. He was more than a husband. He was more than the man she loved. He was her future, her happiness, just as she was his.

Today. Tomorrow. Always.

Epilogue

Caspian looked around the garden, taking note of the guests scattered throughout. There were dozens of them, most of whom he knew, many of whom he did not, and none of whom he felt the need to avoid as he might have once wanted to do.

It is quite bizarre how quickly things can change… And how grateful I am for it.

He thought back to the last time that his cousin had hosted a garden party—it was, in many ways, a replica of the one he was attending now. He had spent most of that event inside, trying to avoid socializing as he counted down the minutes until it was acceptable for him to leave.

Today, things could not have been more different.

Caspian stood near the center of the garden. Beside him was his wife, across from him was George, and with them were many other lords and ladies with whom Caspian enjoyed engaging in pleasant conversation. Some of them even had their daughters with them, but for once, they were not trying to force his attention on those daughters in a desperate attempt to see them married.

“I thought you said it was going to rain?” George pointed out as he looked to the sky. It was nothing but clear skies as far as they could see, no indication at all of a turn in the weather.

“I said that it might,” Caspian noted.

“He wished that it did,” Arabella chuckled. “So that we might have had an excuse not to come.”

“Lies,” Caspian sighed. “I never said such a thing.” He scowled at his wife, and she grinned wickedly. “Where is Timothy?” he asked, searching the garden.

He was not worried about the boy, nor did he think Timothy was hiding as he used to. Again, Caspian could not help but recall the last time they had attended a party like this one. Timothy had spent it hiding, which had been the final straw needed to change Caspian’s mind about marriage.

“He is with Penelope,” Arabella said. She indicated with a nod across the garden, through the crowds, where Timothy had his cousin watching him as he tried to do a handstand.

Caspian laughed. “He spent all week desperate to perfect it.”

“Oh, I know,” Arabella sighed. “I was with him for two hours yesterday. He refused to let me leave until he held it for thirty seconds.”

“Did he manage?”

She looked at him flatly. “Not even close.”

They laughed, and Caspian slipped his hand around her waist. He wanted to kiss her. More than that, he wanted to drag her inside and pick up from where they had left things this morning…

Careful, Caspian. Do not go down that path, for you might never leave it.

Typically, he caught his wife’s eyes, he saw the wickedness in them, and he knew that her mind was in the same place as his own. Where Caspian loved exploring with his wife, doing so whenever they had the chance, she loved it more.

In fact, if it were not for this garden party today, there was a good chance they would still be at home, in bed, making the most of their newfound passion and eagerness to prove who desired the other more.