Page 35 of Devil at the Gates
She nodded, suddenly nervous. “Yes… I wanted to tell you, but then George came, and I knew I had to leave. My courses are two weeks late. I’m not certain, but”
She was unable to finish her sentence as he crushed her to his chest in a fierce hug.
“Children.” He said the word with a boyish smile as he picked her up and whirled her around. When he finally set her down on her feet, he looked at her as though she was the answer to every question he’d ever had.
“Harriet. My Harriet.” He pulled her close again. “I love you to the point of madness.”
She nuzzled his throat and basked in the warmth of his body holding hers. “And I love you beyond all measure.” It was a love that did not fill her with madness but rather a glorious, wondrous giddiness for life. It reminded her of when she’d been young, long before her father fell ill.
“Let’s go home. We have the rest of our lives ahead of us.” Redmond’s voice was full of joy and hope. No more shadows, ghosts or otherwise, stood between them any longer.
“How did you know where to find me?” she asked as they reached the inn.
Redmond’s eyes were serious again. “I’m not sure you’d believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“Thomas showed me the way—after Millicent warned me you were in danger.”
Harriet was quiet a long moment, thinking back to what the ghosts of Frostmore had shown her.
“I hope they can find peace together. They deserve it.” She laid her head on his shoulder, and then he nodded.
“For once, I think I do as well. Frostmore shall be a place of joy from now on. A place of love and light.”
“So long as we are together,” she added.
“And forever beyond that.” He raised her chin up to steal another kiss. Her heart was for none other than the Duke of Frostmore. He was no longer the Devil of Dover, because he had a pair of angels watching over him. And he was her angel.
Epilogue
Two Weeks later…
Redmond woke to a white Christmas covering the grounds of his ancestral home. Harriet lay in his arms, still sound asleep. He almost couldn’t believe how easy it had been to deal with Halifax’s death. The magistrate had set aside the papers Halifax had sent him, and Harriet had been awarded Halifax’s estate in its entirety since he’d had no heirs. Harriet had made mention of converting the home into a fencing school, and Redmond had agreed it was an excellent idea.
He slipped from the bed and crossed to the window while he pulled his dressing gown on. The snow stretched out as far as the eye could see, all the way to the cliffs and the deep, icy blue waters beyond. For the last seven years, the winters here had been cold and depressing. But now everything was different. The halls were full of Christmas garlands. The upstairs maids hummed carols as they cleaned. The footmen had taken the placement of kissing boughs quite seriously. More than one maid had been caught unawares for a quick giggling kiss by the young men. Frostmore was a home once again, for everyone.
Harriet stirred in bed, reaching for him. “Red?”
“Here, my darling.” He rejoined her and leaned down to kiss her. She laughed in delight.
He tapped the tip of her nose. “Why don’t you get dressed? It’s Christmas.”
She rolled her eyes. “Someone is anxious for his presents.”
“I certainly am. We haven’t had a proper Christmas here in seven years.”
Her eyes darkened with emotions. “Oh, Red…”
He shook his head. “None of that. Now come down and meet me in the long gallery once you’re dressed. I must see Grindle and Mrs. Breland and see how the preparations for tonight are coming along.”
He gathered his clothes and went to change, but he took the time to steal one more kiss before he headed downstairs.
The staff were bursting with their preparations for the evening celebrations. Tonight they would be hosting a Christmas ball, where he would officially ask Harriet to be his wife.
“Grindle?” He found his butler ushering in the orchestra that would play during the event. Old friends and local families had been invited, as well as his tenant farmer families. He wanted to restart his life, to embrace being a part of the world again, thanks to Harriet. When they’d mailed out the invitations, he’d been worried that no one would come, yet the positive responses had poured in within days.
Grindle smiled broadly. “We’re almost ready, Your Grace.”
