There were babies. Beautiful, healthy, plump babies.

And Willa had never seen her two friends happier. Motherhood suited Leonie and Cassandra.

As the three friends had promised themselves, they gathered with husbands and children at the first opportunity.

Leonie’s daughter, Lady Elizabeth Rose Gilchrist, was almost nine months. She had her mother’s exotic eyes and her father’s smile. She was already attempting to walk.

“Precocious like her mother,” Leonie’s husband, Roman, Lord Rochdale, said proudly. Cassandra’s son was two months and four days old. Lord Andrew Lawrence York had an awareness of his surroundings that surprised Willa for someone so young. His six-year-old half-brother, Lord Logan, doted on him with gentle care. Willa was deeply touched to watch the two brothers together.

They were all at the Dewsberry estate, Pentreath Castle, because of Andrew’s age.

After what seemed to be weeks of rain, they were enjoying a sunny day. The husbands, Logan, and Willa had all gone for a bit of fishing before joining the new mothers on the back portico. The talk was of building projects, land management, Leonie’s roses for which she was becoming renowned, and the school that Cassandra and Soren had opened.

Willa sat in her chair on the back portico, where their hosts had prepared what could only be described as a feast, and listened to the happy sharing. The men were entertaining Logan by teaching him how to play croquet. Their voices carried across the lawn.

“There isn’t a game Logan doesn’t enjoy,” Cassandra said with a touch of pride. “His mind is so quick.”

“He will grow into quite a man,” Willa agreed. She was holding Andrew and enjoying the soft, cottony smell of him.

Her friends had asked questions about the case against George. He was coming up for trial in a few weeks. The papers and pamphleteers were busy making him and his misdeeds infamous. Only Minerva was upset by the gossip and speculation. Willa and Matt were at peace with their decision.

Baby Andrew’s head bobbled slightly as he looked up at her. She smiled down at him—and then he spit up.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Cassandra said, jumping to her feet with a wet cloth to help Willa clean up.

“It’s fine,” Willa said, and it was. “He is being a baby.” She handed Andrew to his mother and dabbed at the shoulder of her dress.

“I don’t have an article of clothing that doesn’t have some stain from Lizzy,” Leonie said.

“It is time for him to nurse anyway,” Cassandra answered. “We’ll only be a moment.” She slipped inside the house.

“I will have to do that shortly as well,” Leonie said. “But this is our first private moment since we arrived.” She leaned toward Willa. “You appear so happy. The marriage is good?”

Willa thought of that morning, of her husband’s lovemaking. She ran a finger over the lines of her wedding ring, the one Matt had made perfect with his confession and vow of honesty. He’d kept that vow.

“My marriage is wonderful.”

Leonie smiled. “We are three lucky women.” Her gaze drifted to the tall men in deep competition with themselves and a small boy. “Logan will outfox them.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“I didn’t mention it earlier, but I do like your hair. The style suits you. It is as if you were weighed down before and now you seem lighter.”

“That is how I feel.”

“And children?” Leonie asked.

“In God’s time,” Willa said. “To be honest, right now, life is so full.” A memory struck her. “Before Matt and I married, I tried to make list of all the things I wanted to do in my life. I was lonely after you and Cassandra married and left. The pages were blank. I knew nothing, had thought of nothing. I’d spent all the time until that moment meeting others’ expectations. I tried to be what my parents wanted.”

“They wanted us to find husbands.”

“And to not cause any comment or scandals,” Willa added.

“True,” Leonie agreed. “How is your father with all the gossip about the trial coming up?”

“He is too concerned with his own affairs to have a care. I’m not sorry we are doing this. People have taken Matt aside and told him stories of disgrace from their own families. It is almost as if they had carried a burden and must confess it to him.” She looked over to her husband, who had knocked his wooden ball into Roman’s and sent it flying. “I love him so deeply that I can’t imagine my life without him.”

“I understand. I never could have believed I would be this happy.”

Willa swung around in her chair to face Leonie. “But it is more than having a husband. With Matt, I have someone who wishes me to be my best self. In turn, I want the same for him. The gossip and rumors about the trial are nothing to us as long as we have each other.”

“And our friends,” Leonie said. “As long as we are friends.”

“I could second that,” Willa answered.

“Second what?” Cassandra said, coming out onto the portico. She must have handed Andrew over to his nurse for a nap since he wasn’t in her arms.

“Our friendship,” Leonie said. “It has taken us through many adventures.”

“Because we have been there to support each other,” Cassandra answered. She poured a glass of lemonade. She offered it to Leonie and then poured two more.

“And to compete with each other,” Willa reminded them. “I did win our point game.”

“I am convinced we have all come out winners,” Leonie answered.

“So, here is to friendship,” Cassandra said, sitting down and raising her glass.

“And to the future,” Willa offered.

“May we be women unafraid to face whatever life brings us,” Leonie finished.

And it was so.