Epilogue
Hugh looked around the room. He was humbled that so many friends had gathered for the weeklong celebratory event he and Nellie were hosting to commemorate the birth of their son. Little Edward was now nearly six months old, and there were so many friends and family in attendance that they were forced to use Red Oaks’ seldom-used banquet hall.
Nellie’s five sisters and their husbands were here with their combined twelve children. It gave the hallways of Red Oaks the most delightful constant noise. Then, too, there was Nellie’s father, the Earl of Lyman, and Hugh’s parents, the Marquess and Marchioness of Bentingham, as well as Hugh’s brother, the Earl of Shelton, and his family.
It nearly overwhelmed him to think of the layers of friendship and support that would always surround his firstborn. And first among them were Hugh’s closest friends, the men who had risked their lives, shoulder to shoulder, to earn their place in the Traitor’s Club.
Ford Remington had been the first of the traitors to marry. He’d chosen the ideal woman to be his wife and had turned into a highly regarded shipping magnate.
Jeb Danvers and Caleb Parker had teased him unmercifully for abandoning the traitors when he joined Ford in the ranks of the married, but Hugh would never regret his decision. He was too happy. He had everything he could ever want in life. Even his father had told him how pleased he was with the choices Hugh had made, both in his life and in his wife.
Even though Jeb and Caleb swore they were happy with bachelorhood, Hugh couldn’t help but hope that in time they would each find someone to love. They both deserved to be as happy as he was.
Jeb and Caleb caught Hugh’s look and excused themselves from the group of men with whom they were conversing. They strode across the room, turning every eye with the confidence they exuded.
“That’s a fine son your wife has provided you,” Caleb said.
Hugh laughed. “You make it sound as if it were all Nellie’s doing that Edward is such a remarkable babe and I had nothing to do with it.”
“Well, you may have played a small part in the process, but it’s a good thing your wife was able to rid the babe of all your flaws and bring out only her exceptional qualities,” Jeb said as he joined in with the teasing remarks.
“Laugh all you like,” Hugh countered. “At least I’ve found the most remarkable woman on the face of the earth.”
“I doubt Ford would agree with you on that point.”
Hugh laughed. “Perhaps not. If forced to, I would admit that we were equally fortunate to have found such exceptional wives. My question is, when are you two going to make your matches?”
“Never!” Caleb said, reaching for a glass of champagne from a busy footman.
“Same here,” Jeb said, also taking a glass. “And to make sure you and Ford don’t attempt to weaken our resolve, I’m going to take myself far away from the two of you for a while. Caleb will have to fend you off on his own.”
“Where are you going?” Caleb asked, as surprised as Hugh was by the news.
“Scotland, if you can believe it.”
“Scotland? Whatever for?”
“For my father. It seems one of his dearest friends is near death. He asked that Father send someone he trusts to Scotland to get something in particular that he wants Father to have.”
“Do you know what it is?” Hugh asked.
“No, but evidently it’s very valuable.”
“How long do you anticipate being gone?” Caleb asked.
“No more than two or three weeks, I’d imagine. Not so long that you’ll run out of friends to put up with you,” Jeb teased.
“If our friend gets bored in London,” Hugh said, wrapping his arm atop Caleb’s broad shoulders, “he can always visit me in the country.”
Hugh laughed when his friends groaned. “You’ll be careful, won’t you, Jeb?” Hugh said, not knowing why he thought to say something like that. Perhaps because Jeb had nearly died during the war when he was captured behind enemy lines. Perhaps because Jeb still bore the emotional and physical scars from the time when he was imprisoned and tortured. Perhaps because, even though he was the strongest and most formidable of the four of them, he was also the most vulnerable.
“Of course. I plan to leave from here first thing in the morning. Father hinted that I mustn’t delay since his friend’s end seems near. Once I get what it is he wants Father to have, I’ll return straightaway.”
Before Jeb finished his sentence, Nellie walked toward them alongside Ford and Callie. Hugh was glad to see Nellie get along so well with Ford’s wife. He would make sure they invited Ford and Callie to Red Oaks often.
“Are you three solving the world’s hefty problems?” Nellie asked, looping her arms through Hugh’s.
“I tried,” Hugh answered, “but neither Jeb nor Caleb have the slightest idea what’s going on. Their existence consists solely of London’s gaming world.”
“That used to be your world, too, Hugh,” Jeb teased.
“And I have this wonderful lady to thank for showing me a much better life.”
Hugh lowered his head to place a kiss on Nellie’s forehead. The look Nellie gave him caused his heart to swell with love for her.
With his friends watching, he placed his finger beneath her chin and lifted it until her gaze caught with his. Then, he lowered his head and kissed her again, only this time on the lips.
He was the most blessed of men. He would always love having her in his life.
“Darling, it’s time to toast Edward’s future,” Nellie reminded him.
Edward’s future.
Hugh pulled Nellie shamefully close against his side. He could toast Edward’s future. All he had to do was wish the child a future with a woman who could set his world aright and make her home in his heart. A special woman. An extraordinary woman.
A woman just like his Nellie.