Page 186 of Dukes for Dessert

“He is here,” she whispered, making for the door. Her beloved brother. Her one time protector. The friend she’d despaired of ever again seeing had returned. Because of her husband.

Abandoning her place in the foyer, she squeezed past Aidan and Richard, and stumbled outside. Theodosia suddenly stopped.

Several footmen rushed forward reached inside the carriage, and helped her brother out.

Rail thin, his hair long, and his face covered with a beard, Lucas bore little trace of the smiling man who’d gone off to fight Boney’s forces. He eyed the collection of assembled guests with bloodshot eyes. Those eyes had aged in the time since he’d been gone.

A tear slid down her cheek.

But he was home.

Grabbing her husband’s hand, she rushed forward to greet her brother.

The curse had, at last, been broken.

The End

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