Epilogue
A year later ladies were still sighing over Lord Selbourne’s romantic declaration. In fact, for a few weeks, public romantic overtures were quite the fashion. Doing a Selbourne, the dandies termed it.
Gentlemen, of course, still found Selbourne’s behavior incomprehensible and a little disturbing. As Freddie Dewhurst put it, “If it could happen to Selbourne, no bachelor is safe.”
A terrifying thought.
In their bedroom at Grayson Park, Alex and Lucia were far from terrified. Lucia snuggled in Alex’s arms, listening to his slow, sated breathing. Then she frowned, thinking about Marie. The poor girl didn’t seem adept at any of the tasks a lady’s maid was expected to attend to. She certainly gave her duties her best efforts, but nothing the girl did turned out quite right.
“My hair looked a little better today, don’t you think?” Lucia said, turning in Alex’s arms.
“It was still lopsided,” he murmured against her shoulder, tickling the bare skin with his breath.
“Well, since it is only noon and you have already made a mess of it, I suppose Marie will have another opportunity to practice.”
“Three tries yesterday did nothing to improve her talents.”
Lucia couldn’t argue. But that reminded her of another issue she wanted to discuss. “Alex, now that my parents have forgiven us and are coming for a visit, you are going to have to behave appropriately,” she told him. “You can’t do what you did today or yesterday while they are visiting.”
He opened one eye, smiling lazily. “In the dining room or the library?”
“Alex! Be serious!”
“I am. I can’t help myself. You looked so provocative reading those crop reports.” He pulled her against him, kissing her, and she decided they could talk over her parents’ impending visit at another time. A moment later they were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Alex swore. “What?”
“I am sorry to disturb you, my lord,” Hodges said, “but Lord and Lady Brigham have just arrived.”
“Bloody hell!”
Lucia sat up and called, “Put them in the drawing room, Hodges.”
“Very good, my lady.”
“We’ve been married eleven months and already I’m besieged by in-laws.”
“And just a few moments ago you were so vigorously extolling the virtues of marriage,” Lucia said, turning back to him.
Alex pulled her into his arms again. “I know, sweetheart, but your parents are not one of them.”
“Well, what did you expect?” she asked, snuggling into his chest, but her mind was half on her parents. “They last saw us when you absconded with me from Carlton House. I am certain my father only wants to ensure that we are happily married.”
“No, your mother wants to ensure that we are happily married. Your father wants to break my nose.”
Lucia laughed, but she couldn’t deny it. “And they’ll both want to know when to expect their first grandchild,” Lucia said, sighing as she imagined her mother’s pointed questions.
Alex winked. “I’ll tell them we’ve been working on that daily.”
“I’m half afraid you will, too. There’s only one solution.” She propped her head on her elbow. “We’ll have to devise a plan to keep them from that topic.”
It was Alex’s turn to sigh. “Lucia, I’ve resigned from the Foreign Office. Isn’t it time you retired from concocting your famous plans?”
Lucia gave him a withering glare and flopped on her back. “I’m beginning to think that no one appreciates my plans.”
“Oh, I appreciate them, sweetheart, especially when they involved climbing through my window at night. But you have to admit that your recent endeavors caused some unwanted commotion.”
She frowned. “We hired the cook back, and the kitchen wasn’t that badly damaged . . .”
