Epilogue
They said marriage changed people.
Drew wasn’t sure if that was true of him and Aurora.
Well, yes, they had changed, mellowed together, committed to mutual goals…but that was well before matrimony had occurred in their case.
They had always been well matched as lovers though, and now three months on they were much the same. Finding any excuse to linger in bed. He was happy, and he was certain Aurora was, too.
Once she’d made up her mind, she had committed to a life with him. Despite the burden of becoming a countess, too, she had also worked on making sure her matchmaking business thrived. With his blessing, and occasional participation too.
He told her he loved her every day, kissed her goodbye when he went out, and he always came back at the time he promised, or sent a note to explain any delay, to dispel any lingering fears she might still harbor about the possibility of abandonment.
Aurora had good reasons not to trust that happiness was meant to be hers, after all. He’d experienced that fear, too, having lost his first wife and child unexpectedly. So, he did all he could to forget those darker days and tried to help her do the same.
Aurora’s love and trust had made his happiness possible.
That was not to say he was blissfully wed all the time. Oh, no, he’d discovered they did hold a few opinions in opposition, especially the methods they used when dealing with family matters.
Today was one such example.
“Have you come to disinherit me at last?” Drew asked as he stared at his sire. Northport had shown up, uninvited, but clearly spoiling for a fight judging by his scowls.
The duke’s lips pursed a moment. “Where is this woman you are rumored to have married?”
“Never far away,” he promised, hoping Aurora would actually stay away to avoid meeting his father, since he seemed to be in a bad mood. Northport had not disinherited him still. That he’d come to Drew now to complain about being the last to hear of his marriage amused him immensely.
The duke’s scowl darkened as he looked past Drew’s shoulder.
Drew turned to see his wife stroll into the room. Dressed in blue and smiling, and his breath caught.
“Darling, you should have told me we had a guest,” Aurora murmured.
She linked her arm through his and gazed up at him with such a besotted expression on her face, he started to feel a blush coming on. “Father, I trust you remember my wife, Aurora.”
“Yes,” Father said slowly. “We’ve met.”
Aurora’s face changed as she whipped around to face the duke. “The drawing room. Now. She’s expecting you—but don’t think she will forgive you as easily as you expect.”
“How dare you,” the duke sputtered, obviously surprised by Drew’s wife’s abrupt change in demeanor and by her words as much as he was. Few women ever dared tell Northport what to do. Clare had and it seemed Aurora would too.
“Oh, I dare, your grace,” she warned. “I know your character now. And so does she.”
She was Juliette. His father’s spurned mistress. Juliette was living with them now as a guest and had been since just after their marriage and return from Scotland. He’d brought the woman back to London because they still hadn’t found anywhere they wanted to settle down.
Juliette’s arrival had been a tearfully emotional reunion, especially when she’d seen them so happy together at last.
Aurora stared Drew’s father down now as he remained silent, watching them both with suspicion. Drew hid a smile, proud of her. She was formidable when she wanted things done her way. She’d be more than a match for his father and his attempts at manipulation in years to come.
“Go immediately, if you believe there is any chance she’d take you back after you broke her heart.” Then she said softly, “Believe me, I know exactly how you’re feeling right now. You should not delay. You may never get this chance again.”
To Drew’s surprise, Father turned on his heel and stalked from the room without a word.
Aurora shook her head and muttered, “About time he came to his senses.”
Drew was surprised. “I thought he’d come about us. How did you know he was looking for Juliette instead?”
“I have my ways.”