Page 111 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

Rose loved him, and he loved her, and his relationship with his daughter was a slow but happy experience that he was relishing with each passing day. He turned and pulled her against him, pulling up the coverlet, then put his arms around her so that her head lay on his chest, her hand over his heart.

“I hope that Max does not bound in at the crack of dawn. She may see far more than she ought.”

“She knows better than to do that. Although, if we were to make love until dawn, then we could watch the sun rise together. The first dawn of our married life.”

He laughed. “Strangely, that idea does not alarm me.”

“Which part? The sunrise or the lovemaking?” she asked, her tongue darting out to flick over his nipple.

“Both,” he said with a laugh. “Give me a few minutes to recoup my energy, my love. One must pace oneself to satisfy one’s insatiable wife.” But still he kissed her and palmed her breast. Tracing the curve of her hip, he grabbed her buttock and hauled her closer.

“What happened to recouping your energy, husband?” Her fingers were already questing down his torso.

“I lived on little to no sleep for years. I think I can make it through one night of bed play.”

“Only one night?”

“Cheeky baggage.” He kissed her soundly. He had the feeling that life was never going to be boring with the two most important females in his life.

And he would not have it any other way.

Epilogue

Edward Ashton, Fifth Duke of Warrington, watched as his now eleven-year-old daughter opened her gifts from the family. She had blossomed in the last few years, and she was nearly as tall as Marianne. His wife grinned as Max squealed in delight at opening a new bonnet. It never ceased to amaze him how much having Max in his life had changed him. It had not always been easy. It had taken a long time for Max to believe that he was not going to disappear to London and never come back.

Late last year Rose had gifted him another daughter, and Lily had proved to be a most determined child. So like her mother. Walking before her first birthday and running ever since. She certainly kept them all on their toes, and most of all, Maxine adored her baby sister.

The room was full. Packed with all the people he loved and cared for. Marianne had married Dunstan and now lived mostly at his estate in Southampton. Her son, Leo, was close to six months old, and if there was anyone who was ready for motherhood, it was Marianne. She’d had practice with Max all those years, and so being a mother came naturally to her.

His brother, Charles, came to stand beside him. After Edward had taken back his ducal responsibilities from him, he had decided that he quite liked knowing what was going on with the farmers on his own land.

“I hear that congratulations are in order again,” Charles said. “A babe for spring. I do hope this one will be a boy.”

It was true; he and Rose were expecting again. “Still wanting to rid yourself of the title of heir, brother?”

“With all possible haste,” Charles said with a smile.

Edward could not help but smile back. “I have heard you are experimenting with a new variety of barley. How does that fare?”

“The early results are promising. I find that there is far more to farming than I expected. That there is science behind every crop and every breed of animal. I find it fascinating.”

“Glad to hear it.” He then whispered in his brother’s ear. “Is the surprise ready?”

“It is. I think the volume of her delighted shriek will require the covering of all our ears.”

“Excellent.”

“You want us all to go deaf?”

“I want her to like her gift.” He turned back to the scene before him. His heart was full of gratitude and joy. To think he had missed out on so many of her birthdays hurt his heart, but he would make sure he never missed another.

“I want to thank everyone for my birthday gifts. I love them all,” Max said, her face the picture of a child well loved by her family.

“There is one more gift for you. From your mama and me.” He winked at Rose. “And Lily, of course. It is out on the front steps.”

Maxine shot up out of her seat. “May I see it now?”

He laughed. “Of course.” He indicated the doorway, and she ran out of the room in a very unladylike fashion, followed by all her cousins.