At the gentle touch of loving fingers on his cheek, he opened his eyes to find his love, his life.
"Juliana?" he asked wonderingly, in the voice she had come to love above all others. "I thought … "
"Dominic, I am here," she murmured softly.
His eyes were clouded a blue she had never seen, but his mouth curved in understanding before he took her hand and held them. "You know what happened here ten years ago."
At her nod he looked away, his eyes moving slowly around the room. "I could believe anything of my mother, and my father. Although I loved them in spite of their faults, as a child will. But Jules … he taught me to ride, you know … and hunt. I, I worshiped him. When I thought Jules was like them, something snapped inside me. Perhaps if I'd been older I could have dealt with the pain. And the guilt that I stood here and let it happen-that I could not, somehow, save … my mother or my father." At last his eyes rested on her face. "At eighteen the only life that seemed open to me was the one I've lived. Because of the actions of that foolish boy, I am considered beyond redemption by the ton."
"Is that why the Duke of Monmouth wishes you to take your place in the House of Lords?" she asked gently, sure now that she would allow nothing, and no one, especially ghosts from the past, to stand in her way of happiness.
He did smile then. "Some of the worst reprobates in the ton sit in the House of Lords." He tightened his grip on her fingers. "You know of what I speak. The stories are mostly true. My former mistresses litter every social event. The whispers, the gossip, it is not what a man should bring to you."
Pulling her hands from his grasp, she twirled away from him, going to the fireplace to carefully consider the answer that would put his doubts to rest forever.
"The ton will soon have something new to gossip about. Something that will make them forget the wicked marquis," she stated firmly, turning to face him.
"Juliana, what … ?"
"What am I planning, is that what you are asking, my lord?" Lifting her chin, she folded her arms firmly across her breasts. "They will be gossiping about how I am shamelessly pursuing the Marquis of Aubrey. I shall be relentless."
She paused as he took several steps closer to her. She would not retreat. "And if you should run away to the Continent, I shall follow you. That scandal shall put your exploits to shame."
He stood so close to her now that she had only to reach out her hand to touch him. But she did not.
"You would do this," he said gently.
"For our love I would forsake my pride … my heritage … everything. Won't you?"
Suddenly his eyes cleared, the brilliance startling her. He held back one moment longer before sliding his fingers into her hair; then he bent his head and sought her mouth as a man parched by sun seeks water.
"Someone do something!" shrieked Lady Grenville as she dashed into the formal salon where the house party had regathered for a late night game of whist. "Dominic and Juliana are in the upstairs hallway and they are kissing as if they will never stop!"
"I am sure they will stop, Mama. In fifty years or so," Charlotte said calmly.
Sophia could watch the emotions chase themselves across Eugenia Grenville's face until her mouth puckered in a pout.
"But that's not fair!" she wailed. "Sophia has Rodney, and now Juliana has Dominic. You don't have anyone!"
"You are wrong, Mama. I shall have George."
Only Rodney's quick action saved Sophia's wineglass from shattering on the floor. Lady Grenville's mouth fell open.
"George?"
"Yes, Mama. I've always wanted George you know. I thought it best to humor you about my Season. I've had it, so now I can go home."
She bowed deeply to the duke and duchess before getting a firm grip on her mother's arm. "I think we should excuse ourselves, Mama. This is now a family party. Oh, Papa, I'm sorry, I almost forgot you were here. Come along, both of you. We must pack."
"But, Charlotte," her mother asked, an anxious note in her voice. "Does George want you?"
"He will, Mama. He will."
As the Grenvilles filed out, the Duchess of Culter turned to Sophia and asked, "Goodness, is the chit serious?"
Sophia smiled, feeling extremely pleased with the whole world. Mrs. Forbes did have the eye! Not even in her brightest dreams had she thought to find such happiness for all of them.
"Sophia, did you hear me?"
"Of course, Charlotte is serious, Your Grace. She never says anything she doesn't mean!"
Epilogue
"I can't believe it! Twins!" Her Grace, the Duchess of Culter, murmured for the fiftieth time as her husband helped her into their traveling coach.
"Yes, dear. A boy and a girl." The duke patted her hand and then turned to take his leave of the couple standing close together on the stone steps. Placing a kiss on Juliana's cheek, he smiled.
"Take care of yourself, don't let Dominic push you to do too much. We wouldn't leave you, but I am sure Rodney needs us desperately. When last I saw him, he was getting thinner as your aunt got plumper."
"Juliana," the duchess stuck her head out of the carriage window, "remember to take a nap every afternoon. We shall return long before your lying-in. My goodness, Sophia gave birth to twins!" she repeated, falling back on the seat.
Dominic's arm tightened around Juliana and she laughed. "Yes, Your Grace, I shall take care of myself. Give Sophia my love and tell her I look forward to seeing all four of them as soon as she can travel."
An hour later, dutifully, Juliana was in bed. She was snuggled in the depths of the great canopied, carved wonder Dominic had ordered from France. And he was there beside her.
He pulled her tightly against his chest so that she could feel the steady beat of his heart under her cheek.
"Are you tired, love?"
Juliana laughed. "I don't think what we've been doing is exactly what the doctor had in mind when he told me to lie down every day."
Dominic's finger gently urged her chin up. His cornflower blue eyes searched hers; they still had the power to make her breathless. "Should we stop?"
"No! I refuse to be deprived of my pleasure. It will be months yet before I become so ungainly that you will no longer wish to share my bed."
"That will never happen!" Rolling onto his back, he drew her gently on top of him.
"Am I not too heavy for you?" She frowned, for her stomach did protrude and her breasts had become swollen.
"No … I love it … I love you," he murmured, brushing her lips gently with his own. Suddenly his magnificent eyes widened. "My God, what was that?"
Juliana laughed again; life was so good. "That was your son kicking."
"Or my daughter … or, God help us … both!" His voice was warm with love. "Whatever will we do if we have twins?"
Juliana tangled his thick golden curls in her fingers and bent to kiss him. "Very simple, my darling, we shall all live happily ever after."