Page 87 of Her Wolf of a Duke

“My name is Sarah, Your Grace. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Emma’s sister, I assume?” she asked, to which she nodded. “You may call me Eloise.”

Levi left to prepare some things, and Eloise took Emma’s hand gently, smiling at her.

“You did what I never could. You made him come home.”

“He isn’t like his father,” Emma said gently. “I know that you believe he might one day be, but I cannot imagine it. I do not believe in this curse.”

“And, given how he looks at you, it would appear that you are correct not to. It is time that I stop believing in it myself, and that I take the time to truly earn his forgiveness.”

She left soon after, leaving Emma and Sarah alone. Immediately, Sarah threw her around Emma and held her tightly, thanking her over and over.

“We do not know if Levi’s plan will work yet!” she yelped.

“No, but I want to believe it will, and so I shall. In any case, the two of you have saved my life, and there will not be a day that passes where I am not so grateful for everything that you have done for me. I may have had an awful father, but you are such a brilliant sister that it doesn’t even matter. I love you, Emma. Endlessly.”

“And I love you. Come, I must show you to your room.”

As Sarah was settling into her room, Emma went to visit Levi in his study. He offered a drink, and when she glared at him he laughed.

“I don’t suppose that you will ever want my drinks again?”

“Certainly not. They are awful,” she laughed along before softening. “I want to thank you for what you are doing. I know that it is not what you truly think is right, but I am grateful that you are doing it for my sake.”

“Giving your life away for an elopement is not right,” he corrected her. “A marriage within the ton, however, is perfectly acceptable. I shall have no qualms with that at all.”

She smiled, and he took her in his arms.

“I simply do not understand why you were so assertive about honor. After all, it isn’t as though it has ever been something you cared about. Why were you so willing to risk your life for it?”

He laughed gently, kissing the top of her head.

“It was never about honor. In all honesty, it was because I knew you would be lost without your sister and I couldn't bear the thought of that because I cannot bear to see you unhappy.”

She looked at him with curiosity, though she had been certain that there had been another reason for his actions herself.

“I meant what I said last night,” he continued. “It may not make any sense at all, but it is true. I love you, Emma.”

“And I love you. In equal measure,” she replied, sighing into his chest.

At last, they pulled apart, and he kissed her with such gentle passion that she had no further doubts if any remained. For a moment, she allowed herself to wish that there was no wedding to plan, so that they could have been alone.

Only for a moment, of course.

EPILOGUE

“Emma, do you think this looks right?”

“You look perfect, Sarah. You mustn’t fuss like this!”

Thankfully, Levi’s plan had worked perfectly. As it turned out, the deal struck between Emma’s father and the Viscount had been more insidious than they had thought. The Viscount had severely gambling debts, and was therefore bordering on destitution. He owed so much money to so many men that it would only be a matter of time before one of them caught up with him. He was not worthy of Sarah, not in the slightest.

It did not matter that her father intended on paying the man’s debts, as even he had not been aware of the extent of it all. Unfortunately for him, the Viscount had already had a contract drawn to say that his debts would be paid by Emma's father, and it had been legally done so there was no escaping it. When Levi learned of this, he went to visit them both, and they mysteriously left town shortly after.

It would have ruined Sarah, if the man she loved had cared for any of that.

“I’m sorry,” Sarah said gently, eyeing herself in the mirror. “I suppose I am simply unable to believe that this is truly happening. I cannot believe that Levi managed to do all of this!”

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