Page 87 of The Odyssean Duke

Evelina gave him a watery smile. “It is not only that. You agreed to marry me because you believed you needed an heir within a year. If you had never believed that clause, would you have still chosen me? If you had all the time in the world?”

Stephan shrugged helplessly. “I cannot possibly know that, but I like to think that I would have. Maybe I would have met you in the tavern, and we would have grown to be friends first.”

Evelina frowned. She realized that she was trying to reassure herself, trying to patch all the holes that she perceived in his beautiful apology. If she was not certain, she must refuse to return with him. “We still have our contracts,” she said.

“We do,” he agreed, producing a folded document from his jacket. “I imagine that a clever solicitor could argue that our agreement is not invalid given that it was made under false pretenses, if that is what you desire.”

Evelina frowned. “I suppose I?—”

“Or we can destroy our contract right now,” Stephan said. “We can forget all of the arrangements we made and become a proper husband and wife. We can produce an heir in our own time without it being at the behest of my grandmother or anyone else. What do you think?”

Evelina stood. “You truly mean it,” she said wonderingly.

No man had ever offered her a choice before. No man had ever come after her before. Now, Stephan stood in front of her—not because he needed her—because hewantedher. Because he loved her for being who she was. Evelina reached out and grasped part of the contract. She flicked her wrist, tearing the fine paper in half. Stephan gave her a brilliant smile.

“No more conditions or agreements built on fear,” Stephan said. “Not between us. I love you, Evelina, and I want you to be beside me for the rest of my life.”

She crumbled the torn contract into a ball with her fist and smiled. “I love you, too.”

Then, their lips met. Evelina could not say which of them moved forward first to seal their agreement with a kiss, but they kissed as if their lives depended on it. She wrapped her arms around Stephan’s neck and drew him close, and his hands were on her waist. The gardens seemed to fade away, as Evelina basked in his attention.

Her heart soared, her dream fulfilled. Evelina had never thought that she would marry again, but she had never imagined that she might find a man who loved her. Stephan was everything she had ever dreamed of, everything she had wanted from a man, and he loved her.

Now, they could finally grow together and be the people they were always meant to be.

EPILOGUE

ONE MONTH LATER

Evelina stretched her arms above her head and sighed contentedly. She had been ill over the past couple of weeks, plagued by fatigue and an unsettled sensation that tugged at her limbs. Twice, there had been vomiting. It was hardly how she wished to return home, but Stephan had been at her side, caring for her just as he had through her first illness. If Evelina had not already loved him, his devotion would have won her affections once more.

At present, she was lying in bed. Evelina had decided to sleep in late, waving away her lady’s maid. Stephan had some business to attend to, but he had promised to join her in a few hours. Evelina did not feel ill for the first time in days, and her body was bursting with energy. She considered leaving the bed and doing something that a duchess ought to, but Evelina liked the thought of her husband entering her room and seeing her still abed, clad in only her chemise.

Stephan swore that he would never tire of the sight of her wearing only a chemise, so she ought not disappoint him.Evelina’s lips quirked into an amused smile. Even though there was no hurry for a baby any longer, Stephan had proven himself to be a generous lover. He showered her with so much attention and pleasure that Evelina could scarcely believe that she had ever survived without it. If they had needed an heir in a year still, the absence of a child would certainly not stem from a lack of labor on their parts.

Evelina blinked, slowly thinking through the past month. She had missed her monthly. Evelina inhaled sharply, her mind working quickly. She had missed her monthly, and she had been ill. Her hand dropped to her stomach; it was soft and round as always, but there was not yet the sign of a baby.

Notyet.

A gasp tore from her lips at the same moment that the door to her bedroom opened. Stephan smiled at her from the doorway. “Evelina,” he said. “How are you feeling?”

“Wonderful,” she said, laughing in delight. “Stephan, I have only just realized that I—I am withchild!”

“A child?” He was at her side in an instant. “Are you certain?”

She nodded, beaming at him. “Yes. I know it without a doubt. I am not sick, Stephan. I am with child!”

Stephan drew her in for a kiss, and she melted against him. He smelled of Bay Rum and saltwater and something indescribablebut so distinctively him. They kissed and kissed, and even though Evelina’s jaw ached, she kept kissing him.

After some time, he climbed into the bed with her, and she let herself fall backwards onto the bedlinens. She had scarcely drawn a breath when his lips found hers once more. Evelina moaned against his mouth. Her hands swept up his sides, tugging at his jacket. Stephan drew away for a heartbeat and tore the garment away. His waistcoat soon followed. Then, his shirt. Evelina gasped for air, her breath quickening and her core stirring with familiar need, as her husband undressed entirely. He was on her again in an instant.

Stephan kissed her all over, down to the tops of her breasts. She curled her fingers in his hair and groaned, bucking her hips against him. Her husband was already hard; Evelina felt him through his trousers.

“Stephan,” she breathed. “I am—I am so happy.”

He raised his head and met her eyes. “As am I,” Stephan said. “Looking at you, I understand why Odysseus was so eager to return to Penelope. I never knew that I would love anyone as much as I love you, and the thought of you bringing our child into the world fills me with such joy that I can scarcely express it.”

She kissed his shoulder, shuddering against him. Her world was light and warm, her body awakening at his touch. He loved her. She still could scarcely believe it. What had she ever done to deserve this wonderful man?