EPILOGUE
“Mama!”
The sound of her son’s footsteps rang against the deck of the ship as he made his way over to Georgina’s place at the rail. The sun glinted off his dark head of curls, the blue of his eyes like that of the ocean before her. She could see land in the distance. England. Damn it. She had so been hoping she would never have to return. But a wager was a wager.
“What is it, my love?”
“Papa is green again.” Daniel made a horrible face.
A shadow loomed over her son. “No. Not green, Daniel. A much lighter shade.” Leo’s arm slipped around her waist.
Pale. Washed out. Not green. She would have compared the color to milk which had spoiled.
“Did you have some tea?” Her fingers brushed along his jaw. He’d kept the beard because she liked it.
“I did. Which is why I’m out here with you instead of below.” He reached to pull Daniel closer to him with one hand. “I’ll be very glad to get off this ship, though the crossing has been much quicker than my first.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for compromising.”
She and Leo had indeed been married the same week he’d finally walked out of Lilian’s guest room and made his way down the stairs with little assistance. Her parents had objected to Leo until they’d caught sight of Daniel and discovered that Leo, bastard or not, was the son and brother of a duke.
The news earned Georgina not only a smile but an actual embrace from her father.
The Barrington was nearly finished. The remainder of the details, which were minor, would be overseen by Schuller while Leo and his family spent a long-overdue holiday in London. The hotel was nothing short of spectacular. There was already a waiting list for membership to the exclusive gentleman’s club housed within the hotel. A chef had been hired for the restaurant. They would be back in time for the grand opening, hopefully with actual Barringtons in tow.
She and Leo had played poker to determine how much time they would spend in New York and London, respectively. Georgina had won several hands but lost at the end. A year in New York, followed by six months in London. They’d adjust as time went on, but for now, Georgina thought it the best solution. Leo missed his family, and he had a variety of business enterprises which required his attention, including Elysium.
Georgina had married a very wealthy, ambitious man.
Leo’s hand flattened over the small mound of Georgina’s stomach. He touched the tiny bump frequently. Sometimes speaking directly to her mid-section rather than Georgina. She found it all vastly amusing. As did Daniel.
“We’ll stay for a time at the Averell mansion. Tony will insist. But we should find a house of our own.” Leo nuzzled against her neck. “I’ll sell Beechwood Court.”
Georgina nodded. She no longer wanted the estate. Not after what had happened there. The memories of Harold had faded, but she doubted they would ever be gone completely. Clarissa was still Lady Masterson but would need to remarry. The estate was bankrupt and would revert back to the Crown without an heir.
Much like William had been bankrupt.
How Harold made the acquaintance of William and the nanny, Mrs. Gibbons, remained a mystery. Ben suspected Harold had made inquiries about her which had eventually led him to William. Her brother-in-law had probably been impressed with Harold’s title and the opportunity to get out from beneath her father’s thumb.
Lilian’s entire marriage had been a sham. Jacob Rutherford had purchased the company William’s father had once owned and then made his new son-in-law into an indentured servant of sorts. No wonder he’d wanted to escape New York, though it didn’t excuse what he’d done to Lilian. Her sister was still a shell of who she’d once been. She’d moved back in with Georgina’s parents, though she refused to speak to their father.
Georgina worried for Lilian. But Ben had promised to coax her into coming to London with him in a few months.
“What are you thinking, Georgina?”
“That I wish I’d won that last hand of poker.”
He hugged her to him. “We’ve faced far worse than London, Georgie. Of course, the true test will be dinner with all the Barringtons.”
* * *
