Bound to a Wicked Duke (Taming the Gillets #1)

Extended Epilogue

The Stonefield Estate, Oxfordshire, England,

Two Years Later

“Adalaide, come away from there,” Emily instructed her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter as she toddled around the library, reaching out to touch anything that caught her attention. Emily arose and removed the flowered teacup that was about to be knocked on the floor out of her daughter’s reach.

Madeleine smiled dotingly at her niece. “She has a curious mind.”

“She does indeed. She is like her Aunt Madeleine in that regard.” Emily lowered herself back into the chair, cradling her once again pregnant belly.

“Have you been as sick with this one?” Madeleine asked. She remembered all too well the garden party where Emily had been quite ill, unknowingly with child at the time.

Emily shook her head. “No, I have not. Charles believes it is a son this time.”

“Yes, I do,” the Viscount replied as he walked through the door— coming around to kiss his wife—then scooped his daughter up into his arms to give her a kiss on the cheek.

Percy followed, taking a seat next to Madeleine. “Monkey,” he murmured, kissing her softly.

“Horse,” she whispered for his ears alone. She had given him the nickname on their wedding night, referring to the size and power of his manhood. Percy grinned widely and pulled her into his arms. Madeleine blushed slightly, snuggling up against his side.

Cecil and his new bride Elizabeth entered the library together, coming around to sit on the settee opposite them. Cecil had found in Elizabeth someone who shared his passion for business and honoring one’s familial responsibilities. She would make a fine countess when the time came.

“Did you receive an invitation to Herbert Mowbray’s coming nuptials?” Cecil asked, his brow arched at the audacity of the man’s hubris.

“We did,” Madeleine replied, shaking her head at the irony of it. “I am just glad that it is not me.”

“As am I. You are mine,” Percy growled possessively, kissing her hair.

“Always and forever,” Madeleine agreed, lifting her lips to his. Desire flooded Madeleine’s core, causing her to clutch at his shirt in need, but she pulled back, keeping it in check. “Later,” she whispered in promise.

“I will hold you to that,” Percy murmured, smiling.

Cecil cleared his throat, shaking his head in chastisement at their brazen behavior. “Do you plan to attend the wedding?”

“I do admit to being curious as to what poor soul has saddled herself to such a man,” Madeleine admitted, “but I have no desire to watch such a dismal affair. His betrothed has a great many difficulties ahead of her. I pity anyone who must wed themselves to a cowardly gambling drunkard.”

“His drinking grew much worse after he lost you to Percy,” Cecil informed her. “He was banned from White’s for ungentlemanly conduct.”

Percy shook his head. “I will never understand why your father believed him to be an appropriate match for you.”

“I asked him about that,” Cecil replied. “Father did not know of Mowbray’s true character. He only knew of the elder Mowbray’s qualities.”

Everyone present nodded in understanding.

“The elder Mowbray is a responsible hardworking nobleman of quality. His son is not. The only thing that both men seem to share is their sense of honor when it comes to women,” Charles noted.

“Perhaps that will work in the young lady’s favor,” Elizabeth offered hopefully.

Cecil, Percy, and Madeleine all exchanged a look, but they said nothing. They had agreed not to tell anyone about their middle-of-the-night dash to Gretna Green on the night of the family’s annual dinner party. The only people who knew of it were those who had been in the immediate family at the time and Mowbray himself. They had all agreed never to divulge the actions of that night to anyone else. The room fell silent.

“Perhaps,” Emily offered in reply to Elizabeth’s comment by means of moving the conversation forward. “Tea?” she asked, offering her new sister-in-law something to drink.

“Yes, please,” Elizabeth smiled and accepted the cup gracefully. “I know that my dear Cecil is not fond of the younger Mowbray, so we will not be attending.”

Cecil smiled down at his beautifully innocent wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We have better things to be getting on with,” he murmured, kissing her forehead. Elizabeth blushed, smiling sweetly.

“As do we,” Emily patted her growing abdomen for emphasis.

“As do we,” Percy agreed. He met Madeleine’s eyes in question, and she nodded her head in permission. “Madeleine is with child,” he announced, a proud papa bear grin transforming his face with pure joy.

Every face in the room lit up with excitement, and everyone stood to give the expectant parents hugs and salutations. “Congratulations, old boy,” the Viscount thumped Percy on the back. “You will love fatherhood. It is the greatest joy.”

“I am so happy for you,” Emily gushed as she gave her sister a big hug. “Our babies can grow up together.”

Cecil gave Percy a pretend look of censure but could not hold it very long before he too broke out into a smile and hugged them both. “I am pleased for you both.”

“I see that you told them,” the Countess’ voice broke into the celebrations. They all turned to find the Earl and Countess beaming happily from the doorway.

“You already knew?” Cecil asked his parents. “You did not give anything away.”

Madeleine chuckled. “Mother knew before I did.”

“I have had some experience in these matters.” The Countess smiled sweetly, coming to kiss Madeleine’s cheek. “And I will be right there by your side when this precious little angel comes into the world.”

“I will hold you to that promise,” Madeleine replied. “I admit to being a bit frightened about it. We both are.”

“You have nothing to fear,” the Countess reassured her. “Percy’s grandmother saw a beautiful future for you both.

Madeleine looked up into Percy’s eyes. “She gave us a beautiful gift.”

Percy nodded, love shining through the tears in his eyes. “The gift of eternal love.”

***

Greyhall Manor, Middlesex, England, Six months later…

“Push, Madeleine! Push!” The Countess of Stonefield’s commands filtered through the bedchamber door to Percy’s ears where he had been pacing in the hallway. A scream from Madeleine ripped his heart in two, and he turned to push through the doors.

“Now, son, this is women’s work.” The Earl tried to stop him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Madeleine’s water had broken while they were having tea with her parents. She had been experiencing discomfort all morning but had dismissed it as normal. When her travails began, the Countess had immediately taken over and instructed Mr. Hargraves to send for Dr. Moberly.

The Countess had then commanded one of the footmen to carry Madeleine into the master bedchamber which Percy immediately countermanded and carried her up the stairs himself. Once he had laid her gently down upon the bed, the Countess had ushered both he and the Earl out of the room. Percy had protested profusely to leaving his wife whereupon the Countess had firmly closed the doors in Percy’s face. That had been some time ago, and Dr. Moberly had not yet arrived.

“I care not for proprieties. She is my wife, and I will be by her side. I will not stand out here helpless for another moment longer.” Shoving past his father-in-law, Percy pushed through the doors and strode across the room to his wife’s side. The fear of losing her was more than he could bear.

“Percy, this is not the place for menfolk,” the Countess began, but Percy raised his hand to silence her.

“This is my house and my wife. I shall do as I damn well please, and neither you nor God himself can keep me from her side for another moment.” He took Madeleine’s hand in his. “I am here, my love,” he breathed, kissing her softly.

“What took you so long?” Madeleine asked, looking up at him with a loving smile.

Percy chuckled. “Your parents are fierce gatekeepers.”

“It is simply not done,” the Countess clicked her tongue in disapproval.

“Mother, I want him here,” Madeleine panted as another pain tore through her, and her face contorted in response. She squeezed Percy’s hand, and he held on tightly in return.

Once the pain had passed, he smoothed the sweat from her brow. “I am not going anywhere,” he promised. “I will remain by your side no matter what happens. I will never leave you.”

“Neither will I,” she promised in return. She held his eyes with her own. “I know that you fear losing me, but I am not going to leave you. You were not allowed to say goodbye to your mother, but there is no need to say goodbye now. Your grandmother saw us old and grey together, surrounded by our children and grandchildren. We can and will get through this together.” Another pain tore through her, and she cried out. “Percy!”

“Where is that doctor?” Percy growled in question.

“This baby needs to come now,” the Countess announced from between Madeleine’s legs. “The doctor is not going to make it in time.” She looked up at Madeleine and Percy, her eyes widening in shock. “What are you doing?” the Countess demanded to know as Percy slid into bed behind Madeleine so that she could lean against the solid frame of his chest.

“Giving her my strength,” he answered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The Countess shook her head, her eyes filled with wonder at his actions, but she did not argue further. There was no more time for arguing. “She needs to push. She needs to push as hard as she can.”

Percy nodded. “Monkey, my love, you need to push.” He took both of her hands in his. “Take my strength. Use me to help yourself push as hard as you can.”

Madeleine nodded as the next pain swept over her. Pressing all of her weight into Percy’s chest, she pushed so hard that something akin to an animalistic growling roar emerged from her lips. When the pain passed, she collapsed against Percy, sweat streaming from her face onto her shift-clad chest.

The Countess nodded encouragingly. “Again,” she instructed.

Madeleine took another deep breath and bore down as hard as she could. “Arrrrr!” she cried out in pain, panting as she collapsed once more against Percy’s chest.

“Again,” the Countess commanded.

Madeleine looked up into Percy’s eyes. “Take my strength,” he whispered. “Take it all. It is yours. I love you.”

Madeleine nodded. “I love you,” she whispered in reply then bore down, letting out an agonizing scream that filled every corner of the room and beyond.

“I see the top of the head!” the Countess announced, excitement in her voice. “Now push again, my darling, until I tell you to stop,” she instructed, giving Madeleine a nod of encouragement.

Madeleine grabbed ahold of Percy’s hands. Leaning into his chest once more, she bore down with everything that she had to give. Percy held her in his arms willing all of his strength into her. “You can do this, my love,” he murmured softly in her ear as she cried out his name in pain.

“Percy!”

“I love you. I love you. I love you.” He chanted the words as if in prayer. “I love you!”

“I love you,” she sobbed in return. “Oh, how I love you!”

“Push,” the Countess commanded, her face showing the urgency of the command. “You must push now.”

“I am so tired,” Madeleine sobbed.

Percy wiped the sweat from her brow, kissing her hair in reassurance. “I know that you are tired, my love. I know that it hurts beyond bearing, but we have come too far to turn back now. This is it. Just once more and our beautiful child will be with us. Just once more and our lives will be forever changed, our love made manifest into the world.”

Madeleine nodded. “Our child,” she breathed, love shining in her eyes.

“Our child,” Percy replied with a smile, kissing her forehead. “Just one more push, my love.”

Taking a deep breath, Madeleine bore down, screaming out everything that she was feeling.

“Stop,” the Countess instructed. Madeleine obeyed, but it was clearly not easy for her. She panted, clinging to Percy’s hands as if they were life itself. “The head has emerged.” The Countess cleaned the infant’s nose and mouth then nodded. “Push one last time, and it will all be over. Just one more time, my darling, and you will hold your newborn babe in your arms.”

Madeleine obeyed, bearing down with the last of her strength. Within the span of two breaths, in the very next moment, their beautiful baby boy made his way into the world, crying loudly to announce his arrival. The Countess laid the baby bloody and screaming onto Madeleine’s stomach then cut the umbilical cord. She wrapped the baby up in a blanket then placed her into Madeleine’s arms.

Percy breathed in awe as he stared down into the ruddy face of his newborn son. “George Percival Hardy, meet your papa,” Madeleine introduced father and son, smiling brilliantly at the two men that she loved the most in all of the entire world.

The Countess smiled upon hearing the baby’s name. “Your father would have been honored to be the babe’s namesake. I know that he and your mother are looking down upon you now and smiling. Your grandmother was right. I can see it now. You were meant for each other. You were meant to live a long and happy life together as a family. There was never any other destiny to be had.”

“A long happy life together,” Madeleine murmured, turning her face up to receive her husband’s kiss. “I love you,” she whispered, her eyes filled with effervescent joy.

Percy leaned down and kissed her gently once more. “You have brought me the greatest joy that any man could ever possess. You are my family, my reason for living, and all of my heart. Your love has touched every part of me. You are the air in my lungs. You are my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night. The very blood in my veins sing for you and you alone. You are my life, my light, my love. I will love you all of the days of my life, come what may, even unto eternity.”

“Forever and always,” Madeleine promised in return, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. “I am yours and you are mine.”

Percy laid his lips against the skin of her neck and breathed the truth of his heart into the core of her being. “Forever and always.”

The End