A Wicked Duke to Her Rescue – Extended Epilogue

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Four years later

Liliane watched as Harry offered a basket of cheese and bread to a poor woman, her young daughter clinging to her leg. “Thank you, Your Grace,” the woman said, tears streaming down her face. “I do not know how I could ever repay you for this.”

“You will never have to,” Harry said gently. “This is what the ton is supposed to do.”

Liliane’s gaze turned to her sons. They toddled about with Addie, clinging to the skirts of Liliane’s dearest companion. The twins were three years of age, named Luke and Matthew. They both had thick, black hair from their father and hazel eyes like their mother.

Liliane had often done this, save when Lady Henrietta threatened her and made her hide away, but doing this with Harry and her boys was something new. It filled her with a wonderful warmth every time they joined her in making the baskets and distributing them to the villagers. 

They made their way through the familiar roads. There was where Harry had bumped into her on that fateful day. Liliane paused, her gaze drawn upward to the new schoolhouse, a place made so that even the poorest children in the village could receive a proper education.

“I think we should open a hospital next,” Harry said, rounding to her side.

Liliane raised an eyebrow. “In the village? Do we have the need for something like that?”

“My idea is that we will grow the village,” Harry said, tilting his head upwards. “If we are going to have a school to educate the village’s children, why not also have a place where everyone can go to receive treatment for their ailments? Building such a place would encourage physicians to come to Kent. At present, we only have the village apothecary and my physician, if I call for him.”

“That seems reasonable,” Liliane said, “although you would know better than I would. I will confess that my governess never told me much about building a city.”

“I could teach you,” Harry said, “if you have some interest.”

Liliane glanced towards her sons. Matthew was attempting to carry a basket all by himself towards a family. “I think I may find myself rather occupied for a while. I will leave building the village to you and Alan, if he feels inclined to help you.”

“I will persuade him to move to Kent, too,” Harry replied. “Then, I can have all the most important people in my life with me, regardless of where I am.”

“It would be nice to have him nearby,” Liliane said, “and Paulina, too.”

Paulina had married Alan in a ceremony that was far larger and more lavish than Liliane would have ever wanted, but she was delighted to see that her stepsister was happily wed. It had taken Liliane some time to decide how she felt about Paulina. At first, she had wished that Paulina had helped her more, protected her more, but at the same time, Liliane knew that Paulina had been victimised by Lady Henrietta, too.

Now that Lady Henrietta was gone, Liliane felt as though she could finally have the sister she always wanted. It would be hard building a relationship with one another, but Liliane was willing to work towards one. It seemed as if Paulina was, too.

“Yes,” Harry said. “I rather like the idea of the boys being able to have all their family near, also.”

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Grace!” a villager exclaimed.

Liliane smiled and inclined her head to the speaker, an elderly man who walked away with a basket looped over his arm. Addie offered the final basket to a young couple. Once her arms were free, Addie took each of the boys’ hands in her own. “I believe that is the last of them, Lily,” she said. 

“It is time to return home, then,” Liliane said.

Addie led the way. She only managed to make it a few feet before the boys broke free and made her chase them. Liliane placed her hand in the crook of Harry’s arm. He smiled and patted her hand. “I hope there are no imperilled kittens on the way home,” Harry said. “My mother will be most upset with us if we are late for supper.”

Liliane laughed and gestured to the sky. “That would only occur if one of us spent hours trying to rescue that kitten, and even the first time, I do not believe it took me that long.”

“I do not know. If I recall correctly, it did seem that you were made late by that kitten,” Harry replied. “Who is to say that such a thing could not occur a second time?”

Liliane hummed, pretending as though she were deep in thought. “I think that would be most unlikely, Harry. I appreciate your concern, however.”

Harry leaned closer to her, so near that she felt his breath puff against her neck. “I remember holding you in my arms and never wanting to let you go. I thought that you were so perfect.”

“And I would not even tell you my name,” Liliane replied. “I did not want you to find me, you know. But I am glad that you persisted.”

“As am I,” Harry said. 

Neither of them speculated about what might have happened had Harry not been so persistent. Liliane did privately wonder sometimes if he would have married Jane, though, or if some other lady would have caught his fancy. She wondered if Harry would have ever found another love match or if he would have simply wed out of obligation to the dukedom.

“Even if persisting means that I had to adopt that mean, little kitten,” Harry said.

“His name is Elm,” Liliane said, a little indignantly. 

The little kitten had grown into a sleek, elegant creature with wide, gold eyes. To Harry’s immense relief, age had made the cat slothful, and it seldom darted about destroying his possessions. Instead, the cat liked to sleep in sunbeams and curl up sleeping on people’s laps. 

“Yes, Elm,” Harry said. “I still hold that name is too dignified for a cat.”

It was named after the tree Liliane had endeavoured to rescue the cat from so many years before. It was four years, was it not? That was difficult to believe, for although the years were not so many, Liliane’s life with Lady Henrietta seemed as if it were another life entirely, like her past belonged to some other Liliane.

They reached the country estate soon enough. Addie entered first with the boys, who darted across the foyer and began talking excitedly all at once to Violet, the Dowager Duchess of Gillingham, who waited for them. Liliane greeted her mother-in-law with a quick kiss on the cheek.

“How was the village?” Violet asked.

“It was lovely,” Liliane replied. “As always.”

“I am beginning to think that the villagers might like Lily more than me, though,” Harry said, grinning. “They talk so often of her uncommon generosity.”

“Perhaps, the villagers already preferred Lily to you, and you simply did not realise it,” Violet teased.

“Why, I do not suppose I can blame them for that,” Harry said. “Lily does surpass me in every way.”

“Not in city building,” Liliane pointed out.

“In all ways, save one,” Harry corrected. “Thank you.”

Violet smiled. “Lily, I am meant to tell you that your father will be joining us for supper. I expect that he will arrive in half an hour.”

“Thank you.”

Violet nodded, and then she bent down and grinned at the boys. “Now, why don’t we give your parents some time to themselves?”

After the Dowager Duchess had left, taking the boys with her, Harry turned to Liliane. “I know we just returned from the village,” he said, “but would you fancy a walk? We could explore the woods behind your house.”

Liliane shook her head. “Are you certain you would want to? The last time we were there, a siren tried to drown you. Did she not?”

“She did, and then, I married her.”

“It is too far. We would not return in time for supper,” Liliane pointed out.

“I suppose you are right,” Harry mused. “Perhaps, the woods at the edge of this estate then, rather than your father’s.”

They set a leisurely pace through the familiar gardens with their sweeping grass and flowers in full bloom. For some time, they walked in companionable silence. “I feel so blessed,” Liliane said at last, “to be here with you and the boys and to have the love of both of our parents. I know I have said it many times before but thank you for rescuing me from the attic that day.”

“You need not thank me. Being married to you is thanks enough, and in truth, I never deserved your gratitude. I only did what any good man should have.”

“Still,” Liliane replied. “If it had been any other man, I would not have wed you, and you make me so very happy every day, Harry.”

Harry hesitated. His brow furrowed, and he looked thoughtful. 

“Is something the matter?” Liliane asked. 

“I suppose it depends on how you look at this particular situation. I have some news to share with you, and I am not wholly sure how you will receive it.”

“You make it sound like something dreadful. What is wrong?”

“I recently learned that Henrietta and Jane moved to Boston,” he said.

Liliane hummed and slowly nodded. “I suppose that is…as good of a place to go as anywhere,” she offered, unsure what to make of the revelation. “I have no intention of going to Boston, so I am not terribly upset.”

“There is more,” Harry said. “Jane married a rich banker. From what I have heard, it seems that she is doing rather well for herself.”

Lilian thought about that for a long time, trying to sort through all of her contradictory feelings. Harry walked alongside her, silent and waiting. 

“Well,” Liliane said at last. “I do not suppose that it matters where they are or what they are doing, so long as they are no longer a part of our lives.”

“It does not vex you even a little?” Harry asked softly.

“No. I am happy, and I do think that life is too short to spend upset over things which are beyond my control.”

“That is very wise of you.”

“It is easier said than done.”

They found themselves entering a cluster of trees. Harry always referred to them as woods, but Liliane privately thought that there would need to be far more trees for the place to be a proper forest.

“Ah,” Harry said. “Here we are, alone in the woods.”

They were quite alone, and no one would have any reason to venture so far onto the property. Harry placed his thumb on Liliane’s chin and coaxed her into turning her head towards him. He placed a gentle kiss upon her lips and raised an eyebrow, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

“We should return,” Liliane said. “We will be missed soon.”

“I have no doubt that we will, but we surely have a few minutes to do something quickly.”

He pulled her down suddenly. She yelled in surprise as she landed on top of him. “Harry!” she shrieked.

He laughed, the sound reverberating through his chest. “You know you want to.”

Already, there were leaves and twigs tangled in his dark hair. Liliane shook her head and slapped a hand against his chest. “You are insatiable,” she said accusingly.

“I am, but I think you are equally insatiable,” Harry replied. “At least, you seem to enjoy my affections a great deal.”

His hands toyed with the sleeves of her gown, his nimble fingers pulling the garment down with painstaking slowness. Liliane ran her hands down the broad planes of his chest. He dipped his head to kiss the tops of her breasts, held in place only by her chemise and stays.

“You had best hurry, though,” Liliane said, “if we are to have finished the deed before we are missed.”

“Is that a challenge?” Harry asked.

“You may take it as one.”

Harry hooked a leg around her waist, and in a single, practised movement, he brought her beneath him. Liliane gasped in delight and seized handfuls of her skirts, hitching them up past her thighs. Beneath her, the forest floor was brittle and rough. She felt terribly, deliciously exposed to the world, even if there was no one about to see her. 

Harry knew her body well, and her whole being longed for him. He unbuttoned his trousers and revealed his manhood to her. Once, Liliane had found his member to be large and frightening, but now, she knew that Harry would only ever give her pleasure. He kissed her neck, and she traced his shoulders, revelling in how every movement of his muscles brushed against her fingertips.

He kissed her breasts and kneaded them with the palms of his hands. His fingertips traced quickly, feverishly, over her entire body. He ran his hands over her ribs and down the sides of her waist. Harry touched her hips and moved down her thighs. Every touch sent sparks of desire jolting through her body. By the time those tantalising fingers reached her core, she was wet and aching.

“Harry,” she murmured. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

He pressed and rubbed that place between her thighs until her back was arching, and all her muscles were tightly wound up. She felt herself on the edge of release when Harry replaced his fingers with his hard, throbbing manhood. He entered her suddenly with such force that it left her breathless. She groaned and arched her back, pushing him deeper within her. “Oh, Harry,” Liliane whispered. “Do that again.”

He did, and a wave of bliss crashed over her. Liliane reached out with her hands, grasping rough tree roots along the forest floor rather than the usual bedclothes. The roughness scraped along her palms with every buck and arch of her hips and back, and when she tipped her head back, leaves crinkling beneath her, she gazed at the forest and the sky. She felt as if she was one with the world, as if anything were possible.

Harry pushed deeper into her. They rocked together on the forest floor, their only witness the leaves and the sky above. Liliane quivered, and a rush of Harry’s warm seed entered her. Her release came an instant later, leaving her starry-eyed and flushed with warmth.

Harry’s mouth found hers, the kiss clumsy and warm. “I told you we would have enough time,” he murmured.

Liliane laughed and plucked a leaf from his hair. “We may have to sneak in if we both arrive looking as though we have rolled around the forest floor.”

“So you finally agree that this place is a forest,” Harry said, lips twitching in amusement. “We shall sneak in if we must. I happen to be rather good at climbing into ladies’ windows.”

Liliane kissed him and pressed her forehead against his, so blissfully happy that she could not even put it into words.

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Grab my new series, "Lust and Love in High Society", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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