Seven Nights with the Duke of Sin Extended Epilogue

Extended Epilogue

Two Years Later

Emma stirred in bed, the early morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. Her hand instinctively reached out to the space beside her, searching for her husband. But when it came up empty, she opened her eyes and sat up, wondering where he had gone off to this early in the morning.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet sinking into the soft carpet. Slipping on her dressing gown, she quietly made her way out of the bedchamber and into the quiet hallway.

As she approached the stairs, she heard a familiar sound and a smile slowly spread across her face. There he was, she thought fondly, following the noise.

Emma paused by the door to the nursery, watching her husband tenderly coo at the crying babe in his arms as he tried his best to soothe her.

“Now, now, Sophia, are you hungry?” Edward asked gently, only for their daughter’s cries to grow louder. “Oh, Lord,” he sighed in mild exasperation.

“May I?” Emma chuckled as she entered the room, her presence catching Edward’s attention.

“Emma, you are awake!” Edward exclaimed, the relief in his voice so palpable that it drew another laugh from her.

As Emma approached the cot, another cry joined the chorus. She picked up Sophia and softly cooed while Edward reached into the cot and carefully lifted their son, Alexander, mirroring her actions to quiet the infant.

The twins were three months old, and Emma could not help but recall their eventful birth. Each time she thought about it, she could not help but laugh.

She remembered the happiness and relief that washed over her when her daughter was placed on her bosom, only for those emotions to quickly transform into a cry of pain when she felt something else trying to force its way out of her.

The memory of Helena’s ecstatic reaction when the doctor checked and exclaimed, “There is another one!” still brought a smile to her face. And she could not forget Mrs. Evans’s surprise and delighted cry at the arrival of the second babe.

As they stood there, each cradling an infant in their arms, Emma could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of love and gratitude. She had her husband by her side and two beautiful children and her heart swelled with happiness. Life had never been more perfect.

Emma’s favorite part of the memory was Edward’s shock and the tears of joy he had shed so freely, like a broken faucet. Helena teased him about it to this day.

Sophia finally quieted down as she began to nibble on a silk sash of Emma’s night rail, while Alex’s cries grew louder. “Where is the nursemaid?” Emma inquired as she moved to help Edward with their fussing son.

“I sent her away. I thought I would be able to handle them myself. I wanted to,” her husband responded, his voice filled with determination.

Emma smiled at his enthusiasm. Together, they soothed the children before Emma fed them and handed them over to their returning nursemaid. She was certain that once Helena was awake, she would come up to spend as much time as she could with the twins.

Later that day, they prepared for the evening’s celebration. It was Edward’s birthday, and they were hosting an intimate dinner with their closest friends and family.

It was a delightful affair, and during dessert, everyone presented their gifts to Edward. After Nicholas, Emma’s father, Evangeline, Kitty, and Lindmoor had given him their presents, Helena handed him hers and then turned to Emma with a second package.

“And it is not even my birthday.” Emma chuckled as she accepted the box, both perplexed and curious. She opened it and removed the parchment covering. “Helena, you finished it!” Emma cried out in delight, her eyes widening.

Helena had finally finished the bonnet she had started knitting for her son, who had never made it. And Emma knew why Helena gifted it to her now. It was for little Alexander.

“As you know, I began knitting it for my son, Emma. And I would have knitted more for my other children had I been lucky enough to have them,” her sister-in-law said. “But now, thanks to you, not only do I have a nephew to gift this and more bonnets to, I have a niece to dote over as well. I made another one in pink for Sophie,” she finished with a tender smile.

Emma felt her heart swell with love and gratitude as she looked around the room at her family and friends. They had come so far, and she could not imagine a more perfect life.

Emma carefully peeled back the parchment layering to reveal the unmistakable sight of delicate, colorful bonnets nestled within. Her eyes glistened as she looked at the thoughtful gifts.

“They are beautiful, Helena. Thank you,” she said, rising from her seat to give her sister-in-law a heartfelt hug.

“Oh, no tears. It is a happy occasion, remember?” Helena offered her a handkerchief with a gentle smile.

“It is your fault,” Emma joked, accepting it and dabbing at her eyes.

“Am I sharing a birthday with my children now? Why are they suddenly stealing all the attention?” Edward playfully grumbled, feigning annoyance.

Nicholas gave him a friendly little shove in the arm. “Grow up, Sin,” he chuckled. “You are a father now,” he added, with a teasing glint in his eye.

“Emma, you would not happen to have some of those Indian sweets, would you?” Kitty suddenly turned to her after she had retaken her seat. Her friend was expecting her first child, and Lindmoor was as overprotective as he was overjoyed.

Emma recalled similar behavior from Edward during her own pregnancy, and warmth enveloped her heart at the memory.

“Is she referring to the sweets I received from the East Indies?” Terrence interjected. During his stay in the East, her father had made some investments and now had quite a number of successful dealings with Indian merchants. It was from them that he received several gifts in the form of fabrics and sweets, which he always shared with Emma. During one of her visits, Kitty had tasted the small balls of sweetness made from flour and nuts soaked in sugar syrup and had fallen in love with them since. In fact, Emma had given her the last stash she had had.

Before Emma could respond, her father turned to Kitty and said, “Why, you should have asked me, child. I have another supply at home. I shall have it delivered to you.”

Kitty’s cravings came in the form of a rather prominent sweet tooth. She blushed with embarrassment now. “Oh, I cannot possibly–” she began, but Evangeline cut her off with, “If you do not want the exotic sweets, I shall have them on your behalf then, Kitty. I know not to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“You are not the expectant one here, Mama!” Kitty quickly retorted, causing laughter to fill the room.

***

After their guests’ departure, Edward’s thoughts drifted to the events of the year before while he waited for Emma to finish giving instructions to the housekeeper regarding the ball they would be hosting in a fortnight. 

Mary was now locked away in Bedlam, the only place capable of containing such a dangerous and unhinged woman, while Terrence, in his wisdom, had sent Dorothy to live with Emma’s strict aunt in Cornwall, where she would learn some manners and hopefully find a better path. As for Harry, he was serving time in prison. Worse for him, Terrence had renounced Harry as his heir, effectively cutting him off from any claim to the title and family fortune.

Despite the turmoil that had surrounded them, Emma had persevered, and Edward worked tirelessly every day to make her happier than she could ever be, for if anyone deserved such, it was her. Every time their eyes met, Edward never failed to feel overwhelming love for his wife. And Sophia and Alexander were the greatest gift she had ever given him.

“A penny for your thoughts?” she asked, and he looked up, smiling.

“For you, there is no price.” Edward rose from his chair by the fire and met her across the room, taking her hand and kissing it. “I am simply reflecting and being thankful.” He kissed her forehead. “Shall we bid the little ones goodnight?”

“Yes.” Emma placed her hand on his arm, and they made their way to the nursery where the children were already asleep in their cots, and their nursemaid seated in a chair by the window reading. She stood when she saw them and quietly curtsied.

Edward and Emma kissed their cheeks in turn before retiring to their bedchamber. 

As soon as he closed the door, his wife skipped into the bedchamber, and she re-emerged before he could join her, holding a rectangular wooden box. “It is my turn,” she announced, giving him the box.

Edward’s eyes widened with curiosity as he took it, knowing that this gift was meant to be shared in private. Carefully, he opened it to reveal a stunning, bejeweled peacock quill.

“Let us write our story together, Edward,” Emma said, her voice filled with affection.

“It is almost as beautiful as my wife,” he teased, admiring the intricately designed quill. Overcome with emotion, he pulled Emma into a warm embrace and whispered, “You coming into my life, Emma, and giving me Alex and Sophie are the best gift I could ever hope for. But the quill is just as appreciated. I love you, my darling, and thank you for bringing meaning into my once-empty life.”

“I love you too, Edward,” Emma responded, her lips meeting his in a tender kiss that sealed their love and commitment to one another all over again.

The End