Lavinia took a slow breath, her hands trembling as she reached for him. The rawness of everything that had been said and unsaid between them overwhelmed her, but it was too much to ignore.
Without a word, she leaned in, her arms wrapping around him in a tight embrace. The moment their bodies connected, shefelt a rush of relief, of warmth...of him. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, allowing herself a moment to gather her thoughts before she spoke again.
"I was upset, Andrew," she whispered, still holding him tightly. "But what I didn't want to admit to myself was that I was upset because you were not who I thought I wanted for my life, and I still wanted you that way. I was angry that I was even considering choosing you above all else. But it makes sense to me now."
She pulled away gently and let out a sigh. "Love makes you do strange things. It makes you understand even the most bizarre of things. It makes you accept things you probably would never have otherwise opened your mind to. I understand now. I understand why you said what you did, and why you did what you did. It's your life...you lived it. You know it better than anyone else would."
Her hands cupped his face as she looked up at him. "I don't want to pressure you. I never wanted to do that. But I know that you can be happier, Andrew. What I want more than anything is you. I want us. We can take our time with everything. We can figure it out, step by step."
Lavinia placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I just want you," she whispered. "My heart only wants you."
Lavinia's heart was racing, her chest rising and falling with every breath, but for the first time in days, it wasn't from fear oranxiety. It was from the warmth and tenderness that Andrew had wrapped around her like a protective cloak.
"I love you," he said, and she could see the sincerity in his eyes. Those simple words sent a rush of warmth flooding through her.
Lavinia's heart fluttered in her chest as Andrew's lips met hers. When she kissed him back, her hands threading through his hair, Andrew leaned in, deepening the kiss. He cupped her face with both hands, holding her in place as if he was scared she'd slip away. Lavinia melted in his arms, allowing him to take control. The peace she felt in that moment was something she wouldn't trade for the world.
When he pulled away, his breath was uneven, his forehead resting against hers as if he, too, needed this moment of connection to ground him.
"I love you, Lavinia," he repeated. "I loved you even when I didn't know how to."
Lavinia let out a shaky breath as her tears finally spilled over, hot trails of emotion slipping down her cheeks. She had spent so long believing that happiness was just beyond her grasp, that love—true, unwavering love—was something she would never be fortunate enough to have. But now, as Andrew held her, as he spoke those words with such sincerity in his eyes, it felt as if the universe had finally decided to be kind to her.
EPILOGUE
Months Later...
"So, if you could, Your Grace...would you trade the dukedom for a simple life in the countryside as a farmer?" Lavinia asked Solomon.
Solomon smiled faintly and tilted his head to the side. "That's an impossible question. I'm afraid I don't know how to answer that."
The grand chandeliers of the Montcliffe ballroom sparkled like a thousand tiny stars in the sky. Music swelled in the background, the lively strains of a waltz filling the space as couples twirled gracefully across the marble floor. Lavinia stood at the foot of the staircase, talking to Solomon, one of Andrew's closest friends.
"So you do like the dukedom," she commented. "Even though you were not born into it."
Solomon, a tall man with sharp features and a presence that commanded attention, let out a low chuckle. He was the only other friend Andrew had besides Victor, Alice's husband. Solomon was obviously different from the men in theton.
"It is more of a game to me at the moment. A rather exhausting one," he answered.
Lavinia studied him as he leaned against the pillar and scanned the crowd. In the few months that she had known him, she could tell that he was nonchalant about many things that most gentlemen thought to be important. Solomon had not been raised for the high society life he lived. His mannerisms were rougher, his speech more direct than most of the noble men...but there was a certain intelligence about him, a calculating awareness that suggested he understood the rules of the game better than he let on.
Lavinia parted her lips to respond, but just then, her eyes caught sight of a familiar figure entering the ballroom.
Lavinia turned back to Solomon with an apologetic smile. "If you will kindly excuse me, Your Grace, I see someone I must greet."
Solomon inclined his head. "Of course, Your Grace. I will go and find your husband to occupy myself until this...theatre is over."
Lavinia chuckled, shaking her head as she stepped away. She hurriedly made her way across the room and stopped by Emma's side, playfully poking her on the shoulder.
Emma turned around swiftly and beamed. "I was just looking for you!"
"You're late," Lavinia whispered. "The ball started long ago."
"I apologize. I was with Alice until this morning," Emma explained, giving Lavinia an affectionate squeeze. "She wanted to come, truly, but she is so close to her time now that even a short carriage ride is too much."
Lavinia's expression softened. "How is she?" she questioned. "She must be due to give birth any time now."
Emma sighed dramatically. "She insists she is fine, but I caught her wincing more than once. I suspect the baby will come any day now. I would have stayed longer and missed this ball, but my sister's here, so I must keep an eye on her."
