by Darcy Burke
The applause and cheers rose to a crescendo, and Calder spent the next half hour shaking people’s hands and even giving a few hugs. By the time Felicity wrestled him back inside, she could tell he was quite fatigued.
“Never mind what I said about watching from the drawing room. You’re going back to bed.”
“Thank God,” he said.
“May I help?” Truro asked. The butler had apparently followed them inside. “It appeared as though His Grace could use some assistance.”
Calder looked to Truro. “You should be outside celebrating. This is your day,” he said.
“I will, but first I want to see you comfortable.”
“I don’t deserve you, Truro.” Calder gazed at him earnestly. “Truly. You’ve endured a great deal from me these past several months.”
“I didn’t think it would last, Your Grace. Besides, I put up with your father for far longer, and I’m still here.” He winked at Calder. “You’ll be fine. And I’m here to help. Come, let’s get you upstairs.”
Calder allowed them both to help him to his bedchamber, and a short while later, he was resituated in bed. Truro had insisted on having someone brew a pot of tea and promised it would be up shortly.
“Thank you, Truro,” Calder called as the butler left. He turned his attention to Felicity. “I really don’t deserve him. But I don’t deserve you either.”
“Please promise me you won’t keep saying that.”
“Every day for the rest of our lives. I’m afraid you must get used to it.”
Isis jumped onto the bed and sat on his feet. She’d accompanied them outside, but had ended up playing with some of the children from Hartwell House. Now, however, she looked quite content to doze on her master’s feet and keep him warm.
The tea arrived along with some toast, which Calder hungrily devoured. Then he yawned, and Felicity insisted he should sleep.
“But I’ve been sleeping for over a day.” He yawned again and sank down into the bed, despite his protests.
Felicity tucked him in and kissed his temple.
“Aren’t you getting in here with me?” he asked. “You look tired too. I know you can’t have slept much.”
“That’s true.” She glanced toward the door. “It’s not really proper, though, is it?”
“A betrothal is as good as marriage, and I just announced our betrothal to everyone. Besides, I’m well past following the rules of propriety as far as we’re concerned. I’m not spending another moment without you.”
After stripping down to her chemise, she climbed into his bed and snuggled up beside him. His breaths were deep and even, and she was fairly certain he was already asleep.
Then he startled her by speaking. His eyes remained closed. “Thank you for rescuing me.”
“It wasn’t just me.”
“Not in the meadow.” Now he opened his eyes and turned his head toward her. “From the darkness.”
She smiled softly and touched his cheek. “You rescued yourself—you just needed a little help.”
“Thankfully I had an angel to help me.” He kissed her forehead, then closed his eyes once more.
Now, she was certain he’d fallen asleep. She murmured, “I think we had angels helping both of us.”
Epilogue
Christmas Eve 1812
* * *
“Is it going to fit?” Bianca asked, cocking her head to the side as Calder hefted the massive Yule log into the hearth with the aid of Gabriel and Ash.
“Maybe?” Felicity said as she stroked her round belly. Calder was practically obsessed with the fact that he was going to be a father. He couldn’t stop staring at her.
“Calder, this is very heavy,” Gabriel said, drawing his attention back to the matter at hand.
With a grunt, Calder wedged his side into the fireplace. “Set it down.”
Gabriel stood on the opposite end and, heaving his side into the fireplace as well, let the log drop onto the coals from last year’s log. They’d spread them that morning, taken from the box in which they’d been stored since the day after Epiphany.
The day he and Felicity had wed. What Felicity didn’t know was that he’d saved enough coal from that log so they would be able to use a piece for every Christmas. He smiled at the thought, his gaze drifting once more to his beloved.
She stood between Poppy, who held her four-month old son Thaddeus, and Bianca, who was also with child, but not yet obviously so. She and Ash would welcome their babe in the early summer, while his and Felicity’s would be here in just a matter of weeks.
He could scarcely believe how drastically his life had changed—and how utterly grateful he was that the future he’d glimpsed was not to be. Or part of it, anyway. If he was the man standing beside Felicity surrounded by their children and grandchildren, he would count himself fortunate.
“It fits,” Ash said, stepping back to put his arm around Bianca. “Barely.”
“That should have no problem lasting through Twelfth Night,” Bianca said, pressing against her husband’s side.
Calder set to lighting the massive log, which was no small feat. After some time, it began to burn. Everyone cheered, including Felicity’s and Ash’s mothers, who were also present, and brandy was poured all around.
“To family,” Calder said, raising his glass.
Everyone lifted their glasses with a resounding chorus of “Hear, hear!”
Calder assisted Felicity to a settee and sat down beside her. The mothers found chairs, and his sisters gathered on other settees with their husbands.
“My mother says the packing is going well at Hartwell House,” Felicity said, glancing toward Alicia Templeton. “I’m sorry I haven’t been able to help.” She’d been rather tired the past week, and Calder had insisted she not overtax herself. While he wasn’t as petrified of pregnancy and childbirth as Gabriel had been, he saw no reason to take unnecessary risks.
“We’ve had plenty of hands,” Poppy said, juggling her son and her brandy glass. “Which is not the case for me right now.” She laughed and handed her glass to Gabriel so she could better situate Thaddeus. “We still have a few weeks before Shield’s End will be ready to be inhabited.”
Indeed, there were many things still to be done, and that was with the hired firm conducting work along with assistance from Calder, Gabriel, Ash, and many other people from Hartwell. It had been a massive community effort, which was the only way the reconstruction could have happened so quickly.
Bianca leaned back against her settee and into her husband. “It can’t happen too soon. The school will be taking its first pupils at the beginning of February.”
Hartwell House would soon be known as the Hartwell School. They’d intended it to be a day school only, but the interest for boarding had been so great that they’d opened it up to a small number of applicants from County Durham. The spots had filled quickly, and already there was discussion as to how to enlarge the school so they could accept more.
Though young, Dinah Kitson had proved herself an excellent manager for the school. Actually, she hadn’t been as young as they’d all assumed. She was, in fact, nearly Poppy’s age.
The repairs on Hartwell House had been completed last spring.
“Pardon me for a moment,” Poppy said, handing Thaddeus off to his father.
Bianca rose. “Oh yes, me too.”
Calder watched in bemusement as they went to the corner to a small desk. A strong kick from the child in Felicity’s womb drew his attention. She looked up at him, her eyes glowing. “He’s very active this evening.”
“She is usually active in the evenings. I fear she will keep us up at night.”
“Perhaps.” Felicity took his hand and set it on her belly. Another kick landed against his palm.
“Calder, we have something for you,” Bianca announced. She and Poppy now stood before him, a box in Poppy’s hands.
He blinked at them in confusion. “But we exchanged gifts on St. Nicholas Day. Poppy, you gave m
e a lovely embroidered waistcoat, and Bianca, you gave me a book.”
“Yes, well, this gift wasn’t quite finished,” Poppy glanced toward her husband, then gave the box to Calder. “It took a long time to find the last piece, and it only just arrived yesterday.”
Calder took the box and set it in his lap. He turned his head to look at Felicity. “Do you know anything about this?”
She shook her head. “I do not. But I’m quite interested to see what it is. Do hurry and open it.”
The box was a foot long and half as wide. Its height was smaller, perhaps three inches. He would have guessed it was a box for jewelry, but why would they give him such a thing?
The lid was hinged with a small clasp that held it shut. Flipping the clasp open, he lifted the lid. The contents completely stole his breath.
Lying on a bed of brown velvet were his mother’s jewels: the emerald necklace, earrings, and ring. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
He had to blink back the tears blurring his vision as he looked up at his sisters. “Are these real?” he whispered.
They both nodded.
“Ash and Gabriel spent a great deal of time looking for them last Season,” Bianca said. “I believe the ring ended up in a rather unsavory place.”
Poppy elbowed her, murmuring, “Don’t make him feel bad.”
“How could I feel bad?” Calder touched the fine jewels, seeing his mother wearing them on Christmas when he was a boy. “This is the greatest gift I’ve ever received.” He looked at Felicity, his heart so full, he feared it would burst. “Except for you and the babe.”
She reached over and put her hand over his atop the jewelry. “I know what you meant.” She smiled up at her sisters-in-law. “This is truly lovely.”
“Well, I can’t wear them, obviously,” Calder said, angling his body toward Felicity. “And I’d always wanted my wife to have them. When I lost you, I couldn’t imagine anyone else wearing them. While I hated to part with the set, I convinced myself that I didn’t need it. Not without you.”
She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek. “Oh, Calder.”
He looked to his sisters. “Do you mind if I give them to Felicity?”
“Of course not,” Poppy said, beaming. “We expected you would, and we’re delighted for her to have them.”
Calder wouldn’t have blamed them if they’d wanted to keep the items for themselves. But then they didn’t remember their mother, while he did. “Thank you.”
He took the necklace from the box and held it up toward Felicity. She pivoted so he could fasten the piece around her neck. When she turned back, tears filled his eyes again.
She wiped her finger across his cheek to catch a teardrop, smiling. “Happy tears, I hope.”
“The happiest. Thank you.” He turned to his sisters. “Thank you.” Then he looked to his brothers-in-law. “Thank you.” He wiped at his eyes and glanced toward Felicity’s and Ash’s mothers, saying, “Thank you too!”
Everyone chuckled. Bianca grinned. “Happy Christmas, Calder.”
He put his arm around Felicity and drew her close, pressing a kiss against her temple. “Happy Christmas, everyone.”
* * *
Thank you so much for reading Joy to the Duke! It’s the final book in my Regency holiday series, Love is All Around. I hope you enjoyed the trilogy; I had such fun writing it! If you think some of the secondary characters might need a story and an happy ever after, drop me a note!
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And follow me on Bookbub to receive updates on pre-orders, new releases, and deals!
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Need more Regency romance? Check out my other historical series:
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The Spitfire Society - Meet the smart, independent women who’ve decided they don’t need Society’s rules, their families’ expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don’t need a man doesn’t mean they might not want one…
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The Untouchables - Swoon over twelve of Society’s most eligible and elusive bachelor peers and the bluestockings, wallflowers, and outcasts who bring them to their knees!
* * *
Wicked Dukes Club - six books written by me and my BFF, NYT Bestselling Author Erica Ridley. Meet the unforgettable men of London's most notorious tavern, The Wicked Duke. Seductively handsome, with charm and wit to spare, one night with these rakes and rogues will never be enough...
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Secrets and Scandals - six epic stories set in London’s glittering ballrooms and England’s lush countryside, and the first one, Her Wicked Ways, is free!
* * *
Legendary Rogues - Four intrepid heroines and adventurous heroes embark on exciting quests across Regency England and Wales!
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If you like contemporary romance, I hope you’ll check out my Ribbon Ridge series available from Avon Impulse, and the continuation of Ribbon Ridge in So Hot.
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I hope you’ll consider leaving a review at your favorite online vendor or networking site!
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I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Author Note
One day last spring I thought it would be fun to write a Christmas trilogy and base the stories on classic holiday tales. I knew right away I wanted to write The Duke of Scrooge, except Joy to the Duke seemed like a much better title. In fact, I think that title popping into my head was actually the seed that grew into Love is All Around.
The task of writing a rather nasty character who would need to transform into a swoon-worthy hero is actually something I relish. I love, love to read about redemption, and boy is Calder’s arc a doozy. In writing a series about siblings, I wanted to explore how their experiences and perspectives can be very different and how we all have our own path to take. Hopefully you enjoyed Calder’s and Felicity’s.
The Institution for Impoverished Women is something entirely of my own creation. It’s based on workhouses of the time, but I didn’t want a “real” workhouse which separated men and women (and children—they didn’t see their parents often) and was typically more like a prison.
Thanks and love to Rachel Grant for the super helpful writing sprints and always fabulous friendship.
I hope you enjoyed this inspired story! And Merry Christmas. :)
Books by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
Love is All Around
(A Regency Holiday Trilogy)
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The Red Hot Earl
The Gift of the Marquess
Joy to the Duke
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The Spitfire Society
* * *
Never Have I Ever with a Duke
A Duke is Never Enough
A Duke Will Never Do
* * *
The Untouchables
* * *
The Forbidden Duke
The Duke of Daring
The Duke of Deception
The Duke of Desire
The Duke of Defiance
The Duke of Danger
The Duke of Ice
The Duke of Ruin
The Duke of Lies
The Duke of Seduction
The Duke of Kisses
The Duke of Distraction
* * *
Wicked Dukes Club
* * *
One Night for Seduction by Erica Ridley
One Night of Surrender by Darcy Burke
One Night of Passion by Erica Ridley
One Night of Scandal by Darcy Burke
One Night to Rem
ember by Erica Ridley
One Night of Temptation by Darcy Burke
* * *
Secrets and Scandals
* * *
Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
* * *
Legendary Rogues
* * *
Lady of Desire
Romancing the Earl
Lord of Fortune
Captivating the Scoundrel
* * *
Contemporary Romance
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Ribbon Ridge
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Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)
Only in My Dreams
Yours to Hold
When Love Happens
The Idea of You
When We Kiss
You’re Still the One
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Ribbon Ridge: So Hot
