Spending Christmas in Hell (Diamonds of London #8)

Epilogue

August 17, 1820

Dashfield House

Manchester Square, Mayfair

London, England

Timothy glanced across the tea table at his wife of a year and a half, and he couldn’t help but grin. Since that unforgettable day in December, life had expanded exponentially in so many ways than he never thought possible.

“You are quite cheerful today. Why is that, I wonder?” Ashlynn asked while she rested a hand on her very swollen belly as she set aside the book she’d been reading… for the fifth time that year.

“Do I need a reason?”

“No, of course not. I’m happy too.” Contentment went through her expression, and she had a maternal glow about her as she looked at him. “In little over a month, we will welcome our first wee child into the world. And you are making great strides already in your first year in the Commons.”

After campaigning through the peerage for most of last year in the search for a couple of acquaintances who might wish to sponsor his bid for a seat in the House of Commons, he’d finally found the backing he’d been hoping for. Turned out that his botany professor friend had mentioned it to his brother-in- law who was an earl, and that man had offered to take Timothy under his tutelage. Additionally, another acquaintance had a general who was his father-in-law, and that man offered to sponsor him as well and prepare him to represent the common people. Of course, Hugh Ridgeway helped tremendously, and though it had been a tiring process, especially surviving the vote and selection, it was a wonderful steppingstone.

Never had he been so grateful in his life for the opportunities.

He nodded. “We do have much to be thankful for.” His heart felt as if it would expand out of his chest. “But the reason I am extra happy right now is to tell you that two of the families our charity has helped since you introduced them to me has now moved out of the Dials.”

“Oh?” She rocked into a more upright position. “Because of the chance you took on the men when you gave them positions in the counting house?”

“Yes. They are surprisingly good with numbers. Though it seemed slow going at times, and I feared this would never happen, everything is coming to fruition.” Not wishing to remain separated from her, Timothy relocated to the sofa next to her. “While I am incredibly pleased with the direction the counting house is going as well as the charity, and my budding career in parliament, I can hardly think of anything beyond the birth of this child.” He placed a palm on Ashlynn’s belly. When the sunlight winked off the Claddagh ring he wore, he couldn’t help but feel grateful for that Christmas night when they’d recommitted to each other. “I never thought I would be a father.” The poor woman had had the devil’s own time with sickness early on in the pregnancy, so they both didn’t know what to expect when it came time for the birth.

She smiled, and her eyes shone with emotions. “You will be a lovely papa.” Then her smile faded. “I just hope I’m a good mother. Mine died when I was young. What if I didn’t glean enough knowledge from her?”

“You will instinctively know what to do when the time comes, and if you don’t, you have a large circle of friends who are also mothers. And my mother would be thrilled if you asked for her advice.” Though his mother rarely moved from the country estate these days, she and Ashlynn exchanged letters regularly.

“That’s true.” Then she pressed her lips together as she half-turned toward him with worry in her eyes. “If I don’t survive, I—”

“Hush now.” His heart squeezed, and he took her hand in his. “None of that such talk. All will be well, and soon enough you’ll hold that babe in your arms.” Though there were always risks, he had faith she would come out the other side hale and hearty. “We will be parents and will love this little one more than we can ever think possible.”

“I’m glad you are going through this with me.” She leaned toward him, and he gladly met her lips with his. “My father would have adored being a grandda.”

“Should this babe prove a boy, perhaps we should name him after your father.”

Love reflected in her eyes. “I would like that very much.” When she settled into his side, Timothy couldn’t help but sigh. “Who knew that when you came to collect the rent as an uncaring counting house man that our lives would change so much?”

“It was fate, surely, that brought me there in the first place.”

“Or Christmas magic,” she whispered with a smile.”

“Of course.” In fact, a handful of months ago, they’d sold the property as well as the shop, and now it was a bookseller’s shop. The proceeds of that would be held for this child—or children if they should have others—for Seasons if the babe was a girl and trips to the Continent if it was a boy. “The moment you dressed me down and tossed me out of your house, I knew you were the woman for me. And now I have the chance to change how the world will be for this little one.”

It was a sacred responsibility.

The sound of her giggle went through him to enhance the feelings he already had for her. “Well, I still maintain you deserved the door slamming in your face.”

“You’ll find no argument from me.” He slipped his arms around her. “We have a few hours to ourselves before we need to dress for dinner. Hugh has invited us over, for he has booked a violist for the evening.”

“Well then, you’d best help me upstairs. It will take a bit for me to ready myself, and I won’t mind the assistance,” she said with a wink at him.

And that meant stealing a few moments alone with her that might include kisses and caresses. “I can’t imagine anything I’d rather do.”

A man only had one lifetime, and it was his responsibility of what to do with it. That being said, it would be a long, empty one indeed if that man refused to grow and live up his own potential. The key was drawing in people who would help him do just that… and a bit of love didn’t hurt either.

The End