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Jackie was under the impression that a lot could change in a few short months, but she had no way of knowing just how much could change in seven years.
For a start, it brought along four little miracles in the form of her two sets of twins. Identical, two boys and then two girls a mere two years later. She had started to wonder if the number two had any significant meaning to her.
“Philip,” she said to one of them one afternoon. “Please tell me that you tidied away that toy.”
“I am William, Mama,” the boy said with a grin. “Philip is in the garden.”
“Well, so long as he stays away from the pond. Philip is a terrible swimmer.”
“I shall make sure to tell him what you said!” The little boy laughed before leaving the room, adjusting his clothing, and returning inside. “I am Philip now, and will be sure to do as you said.”
Jackie couldn’t help but laugh at him. She knew which brother he was, because William had never been the sort to play tricks. If she had to guess, she would say that William was in the library with the duke, reading, which was precisely where she needed them to be.
“Come now, Philip,” she smiled. “It is Papa’s birthday, and you remember our little secret, don’t you? We wouldn’t want it to be spoiled, would we?”
“No, Mama. When will they be arriving?”
“Within the hour, I believe, and so I shall need you to find someone to dress you for this evening. I shall locate your brother myself when he is not with your father.”
“Shall I find someone for Elizabeth and Edith?”
“If you happen upon someone, though I suspect they are already being tended to.”
He was a very talkative boy for his age, and well-spoken too. It made sense that he was the one that used his voice, while his brother sat quietly reading.
Her guess had been correct, and within the hour Elizabeth and Rupert arrived with their own child, a daughter they had named Jacqueline Anne Greene, which had made Jackie tear up at the time. She was still very small, but she clung tightly to Jackie’s hair whenever she held her, which her own children had never done.
“She has your curls,” Elizabeth lamented as she handed the baby over. “Truly, they are impossible to tame.”
“Then let us hope that she never tries, for it is a frustrating and fruitless process.”
“Speaking of fruitless,” Elizabeth smirked. “Shall I wait for the duke to arrive, or would you like to hear some ton gossip beforehand?”
“Beforehand would be best. Philip does not engage with that sort of thing.”
“Ophelia has married at last!”
“After all this time? I would have thought that she would have chosen someone as quickly as she could.”
“Had she been able to find someone, perhaps she might have, but after the way she behaved all those years ago nobody wanted her anymore.”
“In which case, I dread to think of the sort of man that married her.”
“A merchant,” Elizabeth explained. “He has no title, but he is fabulously wealthy. It was enough to settle her family’s debts, and that was enough to make her parents send her away to him.”
“I pity her.”
“I do not. There is a reason why you are a duchess, and she is a merchant’s wife, in spite of the fact that you both were in the same circumstances.”
“I suppose that is true. Have you heard anything from Lord Montague?”
“No, nobody has. It is as though you married the duke, and he disappeared completely, never to be seen again.”
“I always thought that he might marry Ophelia.”
“Knowing how she behaved when she didn’t get her own way? It could never have happened.”
“So he chose to vanish instead?”
“Yes, and it is for the best, if you ask me.”
“It is a shame, though.”
“Does the duke ever talk about him?”
“From time to time. I know that he misses his friend, and that after so long he is prepared to at least try to forget about everything, but it is hard to do when he cannot be tracked down.”
“Then here is hoping that you find him one day.”
Their conversation was punctuated by the arrival of their father, accompanied by his new wife Margaret. She was a gentry woman, and they liked her a good deal because she never expected them to call her their mother, or even their stepmother. She was simply Margaret, and they appreciated her a great deal. She certainly made their father happy, too.
Then came the arrival of Philip’s mother, who had brought along some of their friends from their town. They were trying to keep quiet, but they were hushing each other so loudly and then giggling with one another that they may as well have been talking all at once.
The dowager had never remarried, saying that she had already had a great love and did not feel any need to replicate it, and instead filled her days planning activities with other widows. She was a good planner, and it brought her happiness to help others.
“I hear voices,” Philip said brightly as he entered the room, William under his arm giggling. “My goodness, would you look at this, William? All of these people have come to see you!”
All of the guests gave the little boy some attention, and then gave the duke his turn. Once that was over, the party truly could begin.
“This is the best birthday present,” he whispered in Jackie’s ear as they danced. “I cannot thank you enough for it.”
“I am so happy that you are enjoying yourself,” she smiled. “And that everyone could come.”
Suddenly, the door opened, and everyone fell silent, turning to look at who had entered. Jackie blinked, wondering if she was imagining things, but she was not. There, stood before her, was Lucien himself. He seemed a lot older, withdrawn, but just as confident in his walk as he had always been.
“Lucien?” Philip gasped, turning back to Jackie for a moment.
She nodded to him, and he let her go and walked to Lucien, who did not seem to have any one emotion on his face. There was uncertainty there, but also hope, and slight hint of fear.
“Where have you been?”
“I have been away in my own space, thinking.”
“For seven years?”
“I had a lot to think about. Philip, when I said and did all of those things, I was angry. I was downright furious that you could have anything that you wanted, and I could not. I saw it as fitting revenge if I took the one thing you truly wanted from you, and it was wrong of me.”
“It was, but it did not mean that you had to hide away for so long.”
“I chose to. I needed some time to learn who I was outside of a duke’s friend, or a duke’s enemy.”
“And what else did you do during that time, besides think?”
“I found a wife, if you can believe it, and we are to have a child soon. Our wedding was last year, and it was then that I realized that I never even loved Lady Jacqueline. The way I feel for my wife, that is truly love, meaning I threw all our years together away for mere infatuation. I am so sorry, Philip, and I understand if you never forgive me. I simply wanted to come here and tell you myself just how apologetic I am for what I did to you.”
“Where do you live now?”
“In the South. I traveled for three days to be here, but that is what was needed. My wife has accompanied me, and we are staying at an inn, but she hasn’t come tonight in case things took a bad turn.”
“Go back to her,” Philip replied. “And tell her that there shall be no bad turns, and that the two of you are to come here together. There is no need for an inn, so long as you do not mind the house full of children.”
Lucien smiled at Philip, shaking his hand tightly, and Jackie looked on with hope. She knew that her husband was a forgiving man, and this was no exception. At last, they could begin to repair their friendship after so many years. Lucien left to get his wife, and the party continued, Elizabeth taking Jackie to one side almost immediately.
“Now that was a true surprise! Did you invite him?”
“I would have, had I known where to find him. He came of his own accord, it appears, and I am pleased that he did. It feels as though we can finally leave everything that happened in the past now, and look forward to everything else.”
“And there is so much to look forward to! I was thinking of planning a party for the dowager duchess, as it is her birthday in a month’s time. What do you think?”
“I think that we will be planning parties for the rest of our lives,” Jackie giggled. “And I will be honored to do so.”
“Good evening, Ladies,” Philip said, joining them. “My apologies, Elizabeth, but I require a moment with my wife.”
“Of course!” Elizabeth grinned. “I shall take my turn with the boys.”
“You know,” Jackie remarked as they headed to the balcony, “it is customary for the children to be kept with a nanny during events like this.”
“And did you know that they are wanted there more than you and I?” he joked. “They are incredibly well behaved when necessary.”
“Yes, which you wouldn’t think when looking at Philip.”
“One of our children had to cause mischief somewhere! It just so happens that he is the one with my name, and he clearly stole all of my mischief from me.”
“You say that as though you haven’t snuck away from your own party with me.”
“I cannot help myself. If I go too long away from you, I get these horrible tremors, and I become clammy. It really is an unfortunate sight, and so it is better if I simply do not leave your side at all.”
“Oh, certainly. We wouldn’t want you to become unwell.”
“Then you must stay by my side.”
“I believe I agreed to that around seven years ago, now.”
“And you are pleased to have done so?”
“It was the best decision that I have ever made, along with our decision to have our little ones. Truly, I believe that I might be the most blessed lady in the world.”
“And I the most blessed man. To celebrate a birthday surrounded by family and friends, no longer hiding away, and adored by my wife and children. What more could a man want?”
“I would say that you could wish for sons that were not born together at exactly the same time.”
“Ah, yes. That might be a difficult conversation in a few years. At least the girls will be able to have their seasons together without any fierce battles.”
The boys had not been born at exactly the same time, of course. William was first, followed by Philip ten minutes later, but those ten minutes meant everything when selecting an heir. It was for that reason that they had never disclosed the order, which had seemingly worked well given that William was perfectly happy not having such responsibilities.
“I believe the boys will come to a decision themselves,” Jackie laughed. “Though if you believe the girls entering society will be painless, I have some terrible news about how ladies act.”
“But they will likely be perfectly fine, will they not?”
“Likely, yes. And if not, then we shall have to keep to our vows and overcome it all together.”
“And that,” Philip smiled, kissing her gently, “is the greatest gift of all.”
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Secrets and Passions of High Society", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello there, my dearest readers! I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 😊