by Erica Ridley
Vera, the youngest, threw her arms about Virginia. “I missed you so much!”
Viveca and Valeria talked over each other in excitement. “Mother said—”
“Father insisted—”
“We thought you were dead!”
“It was horrible to lose a sister.” Vera’s eyes shone with tears. “The worst pain you can imagine.”
“When we saw the papers—”
“The announcement that Lord Ormondton was back, and marrying you—”
“It was the miracle we’d never dreamed to hope for!” they said at once.
Vera threw her arms around Virginia. “Please say you’ll have us back. We love you so much.”
Virginia’s throat was too tight to release all the words trapped in her heart. “But… what about Mother and Father?”
Her sisters’ faces fell.
“I’m sorry,” Viveca said softly. “A fever took them several years back.”
Virginia braced herself for the pain of loss. It didn’t come.
Instead, something closer to relief swept over her. Her family hadn’t ignored and forgotten her all these years. The only two people who knew where she was, were gone. To her sisters, Virginia hadn’t been inconsequential at all. If they’d had any notion, they’d have come to her at once.
“We would love to be family again,” Valeria said with a shy smile.
The music changed, and Vera’s face lit up. “It’s a quadrille! Perfect for four couples.”
“Do say you’ll join us.” Valeria squeezed Virginia’s hand. “I can think of nothing better than sharing the last soirée of the Season with every one of my sisters.”
Virginia could think of nothing better than starting the rest of her life reunited with her family.
Theodore appeared at her side. “Am I interrupting something?”
“You’re just in time.” She grinned at her sisters and took a deep breath. “We’re going to dance a quadrille.”
His eyebrows shot up and he proffered his arm at once. “Who do I thank for this miracle?”
“Valeria, Vera, and Viveca.” Virginia’s happy smile wobbled as she gazed at them. “I just realized I cannot make proper introductions because I don’t know all your new names.”
“I can’t wait to tell you everything that’s happened,” Vera gushed. “I’ve been keeping a list—”
“It’s not a list,” Viveca interrupted. “From the day you died, she began all her diary entries with ‘Dear Virginia.’”
“How do you know?” Vera demanded.
Valeria and Viveca exchanged innocent glances.
“You two are the worst.” Vera looped her arm through Virginia’s free side. “Don’t be friends with them. They don’t deserve you.”
“Did you really write me letters?” Virginia asked in wonder.
Vera nodded. “Every night. They won’t admit it, but they did, too.” She gave Virginia a mischievous smile. “I peeked.”
“Come along,” Viveca called. “We’re missing the start of the quadrille!”
As Virginia and Theodore took their places, she squeezed his hands.
“I love you,” she whispered. “Without you, none of this would have happened.”
“I believe you have that backward.” He gestured at his knee brace, then the ballroom around them. “None of this would have happened without you, Lady Ormondton. You tamed my heart and complete my soul.”
Epilogue
One year later
Searching for Virginia, Theo dashed up one side of the folly overlooking the family pond with a basket dangling under one arm. Just as he reached the top, her head rose from the other side.
“The heart has only four chambers, but its capacity to love is infinite.” She grinned at him. “Looking for me?”
He answered by taking her mouth in a kiss.
“I brought you something,” he murmured.
“So did I.” Her eyes sparkled. “You first.”
He set the basket on the wide balustrade and began unloading small, frost-covered dishes.
She burst out laughing. “Ice cream?”
“Start with the chocolate,” he suggested, and handed her a spoon.
Virginia dipped the spoon into the dish and frowned. “Remind me to talk to the chef. Parts of this are frozen solid. It feels like—”
Her head jerked up toward his, eyes round.
He blinked back at her innocently.
“There’s a key in my ice cream.” She dug through the dish to retrieve her prize. “Why is there a key in my ice cream?”
He lifted his shoulders.
With a squeal, she set down the dish and launched herself into his arms. “We got the property?”
“You have the property.” He held her tight. “The one you wanted, halfway between here and Christmas. Now you’ll never be more than a few hours away from one of your many animal sanatoriums.”
“Many?” She pulled away with a laugh. “First there was one, and now there’s two.”
“That’s how the aviary started,” he replied with a straight face. “Go ask Dancer how many birds there are now.”
Virginia spun around in joy. “This is everything I dreamed! The London sanatorium can concentrate on pets and strays, and our new country location can specialize in wildlife.”
“Be sure to save a few hours in your busy day for me,” he growled as he pulled her back into his arms.
“Nights,” she corrected wickedly. “I promised you my nights.”
He wiggled his brows. “At least I was clever enough not to promise there’d be time to sleep.”
Sighing happily, she rested her cheek on his chest and snuggled close. “Did you ever think we would have all this?”
Theo pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
Every aspect of their life together was a dream come true. They’d carved a place in Society. His wife was brilliant with animals. Marlowe Castle had employed a second veterinarian, but was always thrilled when Virginia stopped by the aviary.
They divided their time between London, Christmas, and the marquessate’s country pile. Father was finally allowing Theo to take part in a few projects. He and the marquess weren’t quite bosom friends, but they were slowly learning how to work side-by-side. It was more than Theo had dared to hope.
Virginia lifted her head from Theo’s chest and hesitated. “When we were at the Duke of Azureford’s cottage—”
A black ball of fur streaked up the folly steps, hissed at them both, then disappeared into the basket of ice cream.
Theo sighed. So much for their treats. He grinned at Virginia. “When we were at Azureford’s?”
Her cheeks turned pink and she nodded. “You once said you found me… poetic.”
“I always find you poetic.” He touched her cheek. “You have a gift, my love. You should write down some of your—”
She reached into her reticule and handed him a small book.
His mouth fell open.
“You published your poetry?” He thumbed through the pages in awe. His wife was the most talented, capable woman he knew. “This is marvelous. I cannot wait to tell everyone I know.”
“There’s only one copy,” she said in a rush, then bit her lip. “I thought you might like it.”
“I love it.” He swept her into his arms. “And I love you.”
For the rest of his life, he would keep her poems tucked next to his heart.
* * *
THE END
When the Duke of Azureford finally returns to his holiday cottage, he and his heart are in for a surprise!
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In order, the 12 Dukes of Christmas:
Once Upon a Duke
Kiss of a Duke
Wish Upon a Duke
Never Say Duke
Dukes, Actually
The Duke’s Bride
The Duke’s Embrace
The Duke’s Desire
Dawn With a Duke
One Night With a Duke
Ten Days With a Duke
Forever Your Duke
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In order, the Rogues to Riches books are:
Lord of Chance
Lord of Pleasure
Lord of Night
Lord of Temptation
Lord of Secrets
Lord of Vice
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In order, the Dukes of War books are:
The Viscount's Tempting Minx (FREE!)
The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower
The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress
The Major’s Faux Fiancée
The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride
The Pirate's Tempting Stowaway
The Duke's Accidental Wife
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Acknowledgments
As always, I could not have written this book without the invaluable support of my critique partner, beta readers, and copy editor. Huge thanks go out to Erica Monroe, Jennifer Connor, Tracy Emro, and Nikki Groom. You are the best!
Lastly, I want to thank the 12 Dukes of Christmas facebook group, my Historical Romance Book Club, and my fabulous street team. Your enthusiasm makes the romance happen.
Thank you so much!
About the Author
Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels.
In the new Rogues to Riches historical romance series, Cinderella stories aren’t just for princesses… Sigh-worthy Regency rogues sweep strong-willed young ladies into whirlwind rags-to-riches romance with rollicking adventure.
The popular Dukes of War series features roguish peers and dashing war heroes who return from battle only to be thrust into the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Central America, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
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