Jax frowned, regretting her friend’s ordeal. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Uma. It’s my fault for dragging you into this arena.
Her friend paused a moment before ushering out the throng of women. “I’ll see to the Duchess from here, ladies, thank you.”
Without protest, the wedding planners shepherded themselves out of the room, leaving the two friends alone at last.
“You are no more to blame than you said I was, Jax,” Uma said, cupping her cheek.
“As much as I appreciate that, I think you’re wrong, dear one.” Jax hung her head as she spoke. “Reinbeck was imprisoned because he tried to kidnap me, and that crime destroyed his son’s life.”
“Reinbeck made that choice himself.”
Jax felt her chest grow heavy. “Because of the position my father held, that I now hold. What is it about power that drives people to madness?”
Uma tied the laces of the corset in a neat bow before walking around to face Jax. “The fact that the answer alludes you shows your true goodness. All you have ever wanted is what’s best for your duchy and those closest to you.” She picked up the magnificent white dress that lay across the bed. “Your inability to fathom that type of evil is what makes you such a strong and just leader.”
Jax blushed at the praise and felt her spirit being restored.
Taking Uma’s outstretched arm for balance, she stepped into her gown, the white lace hugging her slender frame before billowing out gracefully at the waist. They opted for simple pearl earrings accompanied by a strand around her exposed neck, for her sleeves were designed to hang off her shoulders. Her most radiant diamond tiara lay nestled in her honeyed-curls, gathered in a simple but classic bun.
“You’re going to take everyone’s breath away,” Uma marveled, her eyes nearly spilling over with tears of happiness.
“Hopefully not,” Jax said in a teasing tone. “I don’t want them all to faint. Then who would fawn over me?”
Uma rolled her eyes. “Ever the charmer,” she managed before the friends collapsed into giggles.
ǂ
George’s chocolate eyes brimmed with pride as Jax arrived outside the chapel doors. “I have no words,” he said, clasping her hands as he looked her over. “There is no greater honor than to walk by your side today, Duchess.”
She wiped away the lone tear that escaped down his tanned cheek. “I was worried you still might be mad at me for that little stunt I pulled yesterday.”
“Little?” George chuckled, the sound momentarily obscuring the chorus of murmurs on the other side of the great door before them. “I can’t say it didn’t age me twenty years when I ran into Perry out there and he told me you had led the charge.” As his hand ruffled his short hair, Jax noticed a recent speckling of distinguished silver sprinkled throughout. “But I know how much your friends mean to you, and I can’t stay mad at you for that.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, her throat tight with emotion.
“Although I think I may resume our training sessions after all this wedding hoopla has subsided.” He sent a playful look her way. “If you think leaping at someone with the hilt of your sword is the best way to fight, then you must need a refresher course.”
“Oh hush,” she said, smacking him with the bouquet of white roses in her hand just as the doors before them began to part.
She supposed that as Duchess of Saphire, she should have made more of an effort to smile and acknowledge the crowds of people who had come to see her, but as she floated down the aisle, she only had eyes for Perry. The moment she saw him amidst a sea of blazing fireblooms, the glowing sunset creating an ethereal halo around his dark curls, she never knew she could be filled with such joy and happiness. With each step, she glided towards the man with whom she’d be spending the rest of her life, a man she truly and deeply loved with all her heart.
At the bottom of the dais, George kissed her cheeks and placed her hand in Perry’s outstretched palm. She caught sight of a silent exchange between the two, and her smile widened so much it threatened to tear her face in half. After the deaths of her parents, she thought she was completely alone in the world, but seeing the fierce affection in both their gazes, she knew she’d always be surrounded by family.
As George backed away and took his place standing next to Uma, Jax and Perry ascended the stairs to the top of the dais, where Jaquobie presided over the brief ceremony.
He gave them a private smile before addressing the awestruck crowd that filled the room. “Today, the Virtues bless us as we lay witness to the joining of two hearts. May they look to the Virtues for guidance during their life together, always remembering to be kind, to be brave, to be intelligent, and to be humble in their love for one another.”
Perry’s eyes shone with mischief, and she guessed he’d thought of a self-deprecating joke about his own intelligence compared to hers. It had the same result as if he’d shared it aloud, as she struggled to keep a straight face.
“By the grace of the Virtues, I pronounce Prince Consort Percival Pettraud and Duchess Jacqueline Arienta Xavier husband and wife,” Jaquobie proclaimed with his arms held toward the heavens. “You may kiss your groom, Duchess,” he said, beaming with pride.
The cheers and applause that filled the vast hall faded away as Jax lost herself in Perry’s embrace. At last, he was hers.
Epilogue
From the balcony overlooking the courtyard, Jax watched the bittersweet sight of the last carriage rolling through the palace gates.
“Goodness, I thought they’d never leave,” Perry joked as he leaned against the railing. “It feels like we’ve been standing out here for hours.”
“Get used to it,” Jax said with a chuckle. “After all, it’s your job to stand there and look pretty by my side.”
Trying to dash away from him, her laughter floated across the castle grounds as he chased after her until he managed to sweep her up in his arms. “But then what happens when I become old and gray, my love?” he whispered against her ear.
She turned to him, cupping his face in her delicate hands. “You will always look like this to me.”
He kissed her before resting his head on her shoulder, gazing out over the rolling hills covered in the shadows of morning. “It’s going to be strange having the palace to ourselves.”
She shifted on her feet. “Well, it won’t be quiet for long, I can assure you that much.”
To her delight, Lady Giovanna had graciously accepted her offer to oversee the design and creation of Saphire’s first theater house. It was actually her father Michelangelo who persuaded her to spread her wings, after Jax convinced him this represented a once in a lifetime opportunity for his daughter. She also had agreed he could use her as the subject of his next production, but that was neither here nor there.
During the wedding celebrations, Jax had also found the time to speak frankly with Duke DeLacqua about his troubles. At first, it had not been pleasant, and he was furious to be seen as weak and incapable in her eyes, but after the a few days of serious contemplation about what course of action to take, she presented an offer that he couldn’t refuse. She agreed to settle DeLacqua’s debts with his creditors and provide him with enough money to live comfortably in Saphire for the rest of his life. In return, ownership of the isles would pass to her and be incorporated into the folds of Saphire. As much as it pained him to release the title of his family’s ancestral home, he was wise enough to know Jax was doing what she could to keep his people and himself safe from any unscrupulous lenders.
This meant that Carriena, who would be traveling to the Academy to secure a fellowship position, would call Saphire her home and be back to visit both her father and her friend on a routine basis. While she was excited about getting the chance to live a relatively normal life, it was not without its hurdles. Once Viscount Emyr learned Carriena was losing her title, his affections had inexplicably cooled. After his friends departed a few days after the wedding with promises to visit in the future,
Perry explained that Emyr was under intense pressure from his father to marry into a ducal bloodline, and to not hold the slight against him too harshly.
In light of the upheaval Isla DeLacqua was preparing to experience with all this change, Jax had reorganized the structure of her court for the time being. Jaquobie and Lysette were sailing to the isles to oversee elections of village and town premiers for the next few months, as well as a governor to supervise the region and report to her court regularly. Master Vyanti would travel to the islands as well, to ensure that the islands’ healers and physicians were taught the latest advances in the realm of medicine that were practiced in Saphire. Charles Montivarius, in turn, would graduate from his residency within the upcoming weeks and be placed as Saphire’s interim court physician.
“So, how does it feel to gain a husband and an entire duchy over the course of just a few days?” Perry asked, pulling her away from her daydreams.
She gazed across the rolling hills surrounding her home. “It all seems a bit surreal, doesn’t it? I might be a fool to think it will all transpire smoothly, but one can only hope,” she said with an optimistic sigh.
“I know you begrudgingly impressed my father with the way you swooped in and scooped up the isles for yourself. He’s very proud to call you his daughter-in-law.” He stroked her cheek, beaming with pride. “It says a great deal that the leaders of the realm were not threatened by your move, but respected you even more for it.”
“Well, considering that only your father, Duke Mensina, and Darian have been made aware of the agreement, I’m sure there will be some resistance when it is all formally announced.” She thought grimly at the possibility that the other duchies might retaliate with more force.
“It’s a bridge we shall cross when the time comes.” Perry’s reassuring arms found their way around her once more. “Together.”
She smiled, the warm glow of happiness filling her completely. “Together.”
THE END
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Bettye Underwood for her stellar editing and writing advice, as well as her enthusiasm for the Realm of Virtues.
Evan Grant deserves a hearty round of applause for his social media expertise as he has helped me create my (growing) online empire.
A special thank you to Mihail Uvarov for taking my chicken scratch and creating a cover that never fails to take my breath away.
Cover design by www.Ecover.pro
Dedications
To Evan, Alison, Rachel, and Liz
Throne of Threats (Ducal Detective Mysteries Book 5) Page 18
