Okay............so this is finally it.   I really hoped you enjoyed reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.   It was fun and I've started on another Historical which will be a Scottish themed one taking place in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland.

Pretty please VOTE and comment...........please let me know what you thought about it!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all my loyal fans who voted and commented and got my story to where it is!!!    Thank you so much!!!   Love you all!!!!

S   xo

Epilogue

Eight months later………

The sound of the babe crying jostled Lucas awake.   His wife, his Duchess, was snuggled closely in his arms.    The babe cried louder this time and Lucas decided not to wait for the nurse.

Putting on his robe, he was sure the nurse would not appreciate seeing him in the nude.  He padded over to the adjoining bedchamber, which was the Duchesses chamber they had converted over into the nursery.    Clarissa and Lucas both agreed that they would not have their own chamber, they would live as man and wife in one chamber and sleep together each and every night.

The nurse already had the babe in her arms when Lucas strolled into the nursery.   “I’ll take him,” he whispered to her.   Taking his son into his arms, he kissed him lightly on the head and whispered to him how much he loved him.

“Not to worry little love, Mama will feed you now,” he cooed his ear.

Back inside his chamber, Clarissa was already sitting up in bed, holding her arms out for their babe.   He placed Mark in her arms, took off his robe and crawled back into bed with them.   Lucas loved that Clarissa wanted to nurse Mark on her own.  She refused a wet nurse and enjoyed every minute feeding their son from her own body.

Sighing……….as Mark latched onto her breast and started nursing.  Looking down at his dark curls, so much like Lucas’, Clarissa still could not believe that he was here.   “He’s so beautiful,” she whispered.

“Aye Love, he is,” and turning her face with his finger, Lucas brought his mouth close to hers……”and so are you my Love.”    He kissed her softly, it was filled with tenderness and love.  There was nowhere else where Lucas wanted to be.

They married six weeks after that heart wrenching night when they discovered that Lucas was the Father of Clarissa’s child.   After Mark was born, there wasn’t any more doubt of who his Father was, he was the splitting image of Lucas.   Even Lucas’ Mother, Lady Anne, who still was upset that Lucas did not marry someone pure.   She even refused to believe the child Clarissa carried was Lucas’.    All that changed when she saw her grandson and held him for the first time, it was as though she was taken back 26 years ago when she held Lucas in her arms for the first time.

The Dowager Duchess has since made up with her new daughter-in-law.    She has even decided to reside at Langley for a time to get to know her grandson and heir to the Dukedom.

Langley was still filled with many guests from the wedding and the birth of Mark.    Clarissa and Lucas enjoyed having their family and friends close.    Lucas’ brother Derek , his wife Millicent and their children remained as well at Langley.  The winter months were approaching fast, the cold was settling in, everyone was welcomed to stay at the estate for the Christmas festivities.

The biggest surprise of all was Lord Royce and Lady Sarah.    Over the past months, the two had fallen in love.    Royce loved children and he spent every moment he could with Sarah’s boys.   He doted on little Lady Elizabeth like she was his own daughter.     Before Royce asked Sarah to marry him, he needed to ask her if she would still want more children.  He was an Earl and needed and heir, which Lady Sarah told him numerous times that she would bare him more children.    He was good for her sons especially since he was an Earl and was able to teach Alfred what was expected of him as he grew older.

Royce and Sarah were also still at Langely where they married five weeks after Clarissa and Lucas.    Lady Sarah did not want to venture home and then come back for the birth of her nephew.   Now, they were expecting their own child who was due in the spring.

Clarissa was very touched when Lucas told her that he wanted to name his son Mark, after her brother.   Lady Sarah was also touched that they named their child after her late husband.   Lady Sarah was even more touched when she was asked to be Mark’s godmother and Stephen the godfather.

Lord Jonathon had come up from London for all of the festivities and Lord Stephen was grateful for another bachelor to hang around with.   They enjoyed each other’s company, went drinking, gambling and whoring in the village, looking for possible women to claim for their own.  They too wanted to find love the way their friend’s  had.

When Mark had finished nursing, Lucas him brought him back to the nursery.   He couldn’t wait to get back into bed with his wife.   She was still glowing from the pregnancy her body was lush as were her breasts.   The midwife had told Clarissa that she was healed from the birth and was able to make love to her husband once again.

He slid back into bed and proceeded to make love to his wife.   He slowed down this thrusting, wanting to prolong every minute of their love making.   Cupping the sides of her face, he placed a tender loving kiss on her lips.    She had tears in her eyes from all the love that was shining through them.

“I love you so much Lucas”.

“I love you more……..”

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Please VOTE and comment............thank you to you all who have and to those who I hope will in the future!!    S.....xo