The Rogue’s Christmas Gift (Wicked Widows League #24)

Epilogue

LONDON, 1828

Kitty shouted in ecstasy, her fingers gripping at her husband’s shoulders with one leg in the air as Harrison supported her weight against the wall of their bed chambers. They were both gloriously naked, however they’d just never made it to the four-poster black bed.

Pulling Harrison in for a kiss, Kitty enjoyed the rare minutes they were together. With two children, an earldom and the running of Pleasure House, it was difficult for Kitty and Harrison to spend quality time together. They often would steal moments like the one they were currently in, unless they were staying at Pleasure House.

The years had been filled with a balance between life in society and life at Pleasure House. Though society still gave her the rare cold shoulder at times, like most things in her life, Kitty had maneuvered through the ton effortlessly, winning over prominent members.

The ease with which she now hosted teas, balls and the rare charity functions always amused her when she thought of her hesitation to marry Harrison. Kitty had thought her independence would be lost, but being his wife had given her power. Power in knowing that she was loved and cherished, that her children would always have a loving father, no matter their choices in life.

Harrison swiveled his hips, his hard member hitting the perfect spot, putting an end to her musings. “Harrison!” she called out wantonly, loving every second of being connected to him.

He nipped at her bottom lip, pulling it with his teeth. “Quiet, love, or we’ll be discovered,” he whispered against her lips.

Taking her by the hand, he lifted hers over her head, holding her in place, his other firmly supporting her weight as his thrusts increased.

Her sore breasts bounced with the force of their movement. Kitty’s rounded abdomen was not yet a hinderance, but soon all would know that she was with child again.

“Right there!” she cried out, her core squeezing his cock.

“Fuck, Kat,” he groaned, emptying inside of her, his body tight.

Dragging his lips to hers, she plunged her tongue in his mouth as her body relaxed from her own release.

“I love you,” she reminded him, in case he’d forgotten since the last time she’d told him.

Gently placing her leg down, Harrison stepped back. “I’m glad, since I’ve been completely in love with you since I was a boy.” He pressed his lips against hers for a brief kiss. “We didn’t make it to the bed this time,” he teased.

She hit his bare shoulder, laughing at him as she searched around for her discarded chemise. They had run away from their two insistent children the moment Nanny captured their attentions with a book on animals that live in Africa.

Once her discarded garment was located, Kitty slipped it on, loving the way her husband’s gaze lingered on her naked body. Even after seven years of being married, their ardor for each other had not waned.

Three tiny knocks rang through the earl’s chambers at Hendershot House. “Mama, Papa are you in there?” Their daughter, Adelaide, called from the other side of the door.

At five years old, she was an opinionated, somewhat bossy miniature version of Kitty, but with loose red curls that hung down her back and bright green eyes like her father.

They had decided to wait to have more children, needing to establish their marriage first. Pleasure House was also in disarray after Pierre’s brief ownership. It had taken Kitty several months to rehire staff and to fill the coffers again. It was still astounding to Kitty how much money Pierre had actually spent in his four days of ownership. Her gift with accounting and running a business had saved both Pleasure House and the Hendershot earldom.

Once Kitty did a thorough investigation of Harrison’s ledgers, she had found several properties that were not entailed that Harrison sold. She also advised him to greatly decrease the amount of funds that his mother and sister were allowed. A topic that had become a contentious disagreement between Kitty and her mother-in-law. Because of their differences, the Dowager Countess chose to spend her time living with her daughter in Essex and her close friend, Lady Davenport in London.

Once Harrison had done as Kitty advised, the coffers were overflowing with money. So much so that he never required any funds from her at all. Her income was her own to do as she pleased.

“I saw them run away again. Why are they always running?” George, their three-year-old said, in the saddest little voice, tugging at Kitty’s heartstrings.

Putting on her dressing robe, she glanced over to her husband checking that he was now decent before she allowed their children entry into their sanctuary.

“You know it will be impossible for us to escape from three children,” Harrison said, sitting down on the chaise lounge in the corner of the room.

“And you wanted four total,” she reminded him, reaching the door.

Technically they do have four children.

He laughed behind her. “Yes, I’ll take four total, and Christopher will make five.”

It had become easier for them to speak of their first son. They had told Adelaide and George of their older brother, both of them excited to have an angel always watching over them.

Opening the door, she smiled at the two redheads in front of her, a set of green and hazel eyes surveying her.

“Mama, didn’t you have on a dress?” Adelaide asked walking deeper into the room.

Her brother following dutifully behind her.

“I-I did, but I needed to change before I left for work,” she ran her fingers though her daughter’s soft curls.

The children knew that unlike other mothers, theirs did indeed have a profession, though Kitty had long relinquished the everyday running of Pleasure House to Siegfried and Lilias. She had not turned completely away from her duties as Madame; the books and all final decisions still fell to Kitty. It was a relief to have people she trusted overseeing the business she’d built with her bare hands.

“Papa!” George shouted, running to throw his tiny body against Harrison.

“There he is!” Harrison caught their son, lifting him in the air before settling him on his knee.

Their likeness was so overwhelming it stole her breath away. There was no doubt in Kitty’s mind that if Christopher had lived, he would look exactly like his father and brother.

“When you return from work, will you play the piano forte and we celebrate Christmas tomorrow?” Adelaide asked, sitting on her father’s other knee.

“Yes, I will play the piano forte, gladly,” Kitty told her daughter, sitting beside her small family on the chaise lounge.

“Indeed! I think all the pudding you can eat is in your future.” Harrison squeezed the children to him, tickling their small abdomens.

“Yay!” They cheered together.

Kitty wiped at a few stray tears, still not believing that this was her life. She had her family, her business, and her love.

Forever.

The End.