Page 68 of A Duchess Untouched

Then she offered Mary a hug too, though hers was more somber. Matthew watched the two women who had mourned Robert come together. His chest tightened, but he felt some relief, too. Some joy.

“Uncle Matthew and Auntie Selina said that I would get to have my very own room!” Robert could not hide his excitement.

“Of course you will. And you will make sure to spend some time with your grandmother every day, Robert. You will never want for anything,” Antoinette promised.

“Thank you so much for your kindness, Your Grace. You have no idea…” Mary was still drying her tears.

“Do not mention it. Robert would have married you despite my opposition, and given how much he loved you, you are family. You will always have a mother in me.” Antoinette turned to the rest of the group and smiled at her son. “You have made me the happiest woman in the world, Matthew. I had wanted a grandchild, and now I have not only one, but two.”

“Then you will not be too disappointed to hear that I will not be getting married, but moving to a warmer climate this winter.” Oliver chuckled as he shared his own news.

“You should not worry about any of that, brother. Your health comes first, and you should heed Dr. Howard’s advice.” Matthew placed a hand on Oliver’s shoulder. Their mother was beaming too much to let such information dampen her spirits.

“Not at all, my boy. Just make sure to stay long enough for the wedding,” Antoinette said cheekily.

“The wedding?” Selina, Oliver, and Matthew asked as if in unison.

“Well, we had an announcement of our own prepared, but we had not expected to be so… overshadowed by yours,” Harleigh said meekly.

“What announcement?” Oliver asked, his eyes bulging. Matthew could only chuckle.

“Oh, do not look so shocked!” the Dowager scolded. “Harleigh and I have developed a sort of… shared affection over the past weeks, and we have decided to marry soon!”

“My lovely Antoinette cannot bear another day without me by her side,” Harleigh said, looking into the Dowager’s eyes.

Matthew and Oliver exchanged a glance as Selina’s expression turned to horror. The Duke could only wince. What could they do? These were two people who deserved some happiness in their lives, too.

“Do you need my blessing, Mother?” Matthew asked, mock-gravely.

“Matthew! I am your mother!” she protested, looking truly indignant.

“Mother…”

“Perhaps I do need your and Oliver’s blessings,” she amended. “I want both of you to feel comfortable with this.”

“And little Robert’s blessing,” Oliver teased.

Their mother glared at him.

“I never thought I would say this, but we wish you and Mr. Quinten every happiness, Mother.”

Soon, though, they needed to say goodbye and return home. Harleigh, Antoinette, Oliver, and Maximus rode in one carriage.

Oliver gave Matthew a wink and whispered, “You and your wife need some time alone from this big boy. Let me take Maximus for a walk.”

“I am too tired to go for another stroll!” the Dowager cried.

The two brothers laughed and said goodbye to each other.

Matthew stared out the carriage window, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his heart. The introduction to his mother had gone much better than he had expected, and he was more than happy to see her accept them so readily. Soon, they would be living like the nobles they would have been.

I am finally free.

Matthew had finally repaid his debt to his brother, and he knew Robert could now rest in peace. Matthew would stop resisting his own happiness and let himself enjoy all the good things in his life. Starting with the wife he was madly in love with.

“Thank you,” he said, turning to his Selina. “Thank you for everything you did with Mary. She might have refused to see me again, but you provided her with a new mission in life without taking away her pride. You handled it with more grace than I ever could. I do not know what I would do without you.”

“Oh, but was that not why you were looking for a wife years ago? You needed a duchess in your absence, and in your distress,” Selina said, smiling at him playfully.