“Some days are harder than others,” she admitted. Her voice carried the weight of grief and betrayal. “Learning that Jasper had orchestrated Nicholas’s death, that everything I believed about my family was built on lies and manipulation… it shakes one’s faith in human nature rather profoundly.”
“But not entirely, surely?” Grace leaned forward with the gentle concern that made her such a treasured friend. “Look around this table. Look at what Owen and Iris have built together, what they’ve overcome. That must restore some hope.”
“It does, indeed.” The Dowager Duchess’s expression softened as she watched Owen bounce Evie gently on his knee. The baby’s delighted giggles filled the room with infectious joy. “Nicholaswould be so pleased to see her thriving like this. To know she’s surrounded by such love and protection.”
Iris felt the familiar tightness in her throat that came whenever Nicholas was mentioned in connection with Evie.
The Dowager Duchess knew the truth now, had known since that terrible night three months ago when Jasper’s confession had shattered so many carefully constructed illusions. But rather than battling for Evie’s custody, she’d embraced the narrative that made the child’s safety possible, understanding instinctively that love mattered more than blood when it came to family.
“The legal proceedings are concluded?” Harrison asked carefully. His natural discretion was clear in how he framed the delicate question.
“Mercifully, yes.” The Dowager Duchess’s voice carried relief mixed with residual pain. “Jasper’s confession to the magistrates left little room for doubt about his crimes. Nicholas’s murder, Adele’s death, the conspiracy to take Evie… all documented in his own hand before he took his life in that prison cell.”
A moment of somber silence settled over the table as they contemplated the tragedy. Jasper’s jealousy and ambition had destroyed not only his victims but ultimately himself, leaving behind a legacy of pain that would take years to fully heal.
“At least some good has come out of the darkness,” Felix said eventually, his usual levity tempered by genuine compassion.“The new Duke seems like a vast improvement, from what I’ve observed.”
“Christian is everything a duke should be,” the Dowager Duchess agreed as her voice warmed with genuine affection. “Nicholas’s cousin has accepted the title readily and shown remarkable wisdom in the way he’s handled the family’s… complicated legacy.”
Iris had met the new Duke of Richmond briefly at a recent social gathering and had been struck by his quiet dignity and the way he’d spoken of Nicholas with genuine respect while acknowledging the need to distance himself from Jasper’s crimes. There was something interesting about his serious demeanor and his obvious commitment to restoring honor to a tarnished name.
She suspected he would feature prominently in London Society before long, though whether that would bring him happiness remained to be seen.
“Will he be attending the Goslington ball next week?” Grace asked, with the strategic mind of a woman already planning social campaigns for the coming Season.
“I believe so. He understands the importance of establishing himself properly in Society, though I sense he finds the entire business rather tedious.” The Dowager Duchess’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Perhaps we should introduce him to some suitable young ladies. A wife would do him good.”
“You cannot resist matchmaking, can you?” Owen commented with fond exasperation. “Some men prefer bachelorhood.”
“Nonsense. Every man needs a good woman to civilize him properly.” The Dowager Duchess’s gaze flicked meaningfully between Owen and Iris. “Look what marriage has done for you. Six months ago, you were a cold, distant creature who frightened small children. Now, you’re practically glowing with domestic contentment.”
“I never frightened small children,” Owen protested, though his tone suggested he wasn’t entirely certain of his claim.
“You frightened me occasionally,” Iris quipped with a teasing smile. “Particularly when you got that look that suggested you were calculating the most efficient way to dispose of inconvenient problems.”
“I never had that look.”
“You absolutely had that look,” Felix chimed in gleefully. “I saw it many times. Usually directed at people who annoy you at social gatherings.”
“Speaking of social gatherings,” Grace interjected smoothly before Owen could mount a defense, “when exactly will we be officially appointed as Evie’s godparents? I’ve been practicing my corrupting influence, and I’m quite good at it.”
“You’ll be terrible influences, all of you,” Iris said fondly, watching as Evie reached for Owen’s cravat with the determined focus of someone who’d recently discovered the joy of grabbing interesting objects. “Which is exactly why she’ll adore you.”
“See? She understands our value.” Felix raised his glass in triumph. “I hereby claim naming rights to the next offspring as well. Nothing boring like John or Mary. Something with flair. Persephone, perhaps. Or Bartholomew.”
“There won’t be any naming rights to claim if you keep suggesting ridiculous names,” Owen warned while gently disentangling his cravat from Evie’s surprisingly strong grip.
“There will be a next one, though?” Grace asked with the shameless curiosity of a dear friend who’d earned the right to probe into such personal matters. “Because you two look positively blissful these days and I cannot help but wonder…”
Iris felt heat rise in her cheeks, but she couldn’t deny the truth of Grace’s observation. The past months had brought a happiness she’d never imagined possible, a contentment that went soul-deep and colored every aspect of their lives.
Owen had been true to every promise he’d made by showing her every day how precious she was to him and how grateful he was for the family they’d built together from such unlikely beginnings.
“We’re certainly hoping for siblings for Evie,” she admitted as she caught Owen’s warm smile across the table.
The look in his eyes made her pulse quicken with memories of recent conversations about growing their family. Those discussions had turned delightfully detailed.
“Excellent,” the Dowager Duchess declared with satisfaction. “This house needs children running through it. It’s been far too quiet for far too long.”
