Edward Waverley, Duke of Townsend sat at the head of the table in his formal dining room and let his gaze move over the gathering that filled both sides of the long table. Today was his wedding day, a day he never thought he’d have again. But, here he was, surrounded by the people who meant the most to him…his family.

He looked at his grown children and realized he was no longer a young man. But since he’d met Alyssa, he felt far younger than his two and fifty years. He looked down the length of the table and smiled.

He doubted any bride was more beautiful, although he thought perhaps each of the male members of his family would argue with his assertion. That hardly mattered. He considered himself the most fortunate man on earth.

He couldn’t reconcile how he’d been blessed. The journey he and Alyssa had traveled to get here had been difficult at times, and filled with its share of turmoil. But through it all, she’d shown him that finding love again was possible.

He was happy. Truly happy. She was the perfect woman to make his life complete.

As if his eldest son and heir realized what his father was thinking, Gideon, Marquess of Sheffield, stood and raised his glass.

“To Father and his bride, the Duke and Duchess of Townsend.”

The men at the table stood and, together with the women who remained seated, lifted their glasses, and drank a toast to the Duke and Duchess of Townsend.

Lord Sheffield remained standing after the men returned to their seats. “It falls upon me to say a few words for this special occasion.” He turned until he faced the head of the table. “There are several things I could say to you and your bride, Your Grace, but you are already aware of how each of us feels. You already know how happy we are for you. And how eagerly we accept the woman you chose for your duchess. So I am going to say two very important facts we have each been remiss in telling you. I would first of all like to thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”

A round of heartfelt cheers echoed in the room.

“Being a father to the four of us was not always easy. The circumstances of our lives didn’t make life easy for you. But through even the darkest days, your inherent strength and your unswerving integrity came to the forefront. You not only survived what you were forced to face, but you mastered every travesty.

“Each one of us, including yourself, Father, and you, Duchess, found an everlasting love that was cast in scandal. And the choices we were forced to make were oft-times difficult.”

His oldest son paused and lowered his gaze to where his wife sat beside him. The adoration in their eyes warmed Edward’s heart.

“Because of you, Father, and the example you set for us, these scandals didn’t destroy us, as they would have weaker individuals. Nor did they tear our family apart. Because you wouldn’t allow it. In our darkest hour, you reminded us all who we were.”

Gideon turned his head and looked at his brother. “You may not remember Father’s words, Benjamin, but I will never forget them. It was shortly after we discovered the scandal that could have destroyed our family. Father reprimanded us for our doubts and our weakness. He told us not to forget who we were. And you asked him who exactly that was. And he answered, ‘You are…’”

“‘…my son, Benjamin,’” Benjamin recited with Gideon. “‘You are a Waverley, an heir to the Townsend Dynasty. You seem to have forgotten what that means.’”

Benjamin rose. “And you continued your lecture with this warning. ‘You seem to want to carry the burden for your mother’s mistakes and I will not allow it. You also seem to have forgotten what being my son requires of you.’”

Benjamin swallowed several times, and Rachael reached for his hand and held it. “You reminded me that we were not weak like some others are weak. Then I asked you how you could bear to look at me, knowing what my mother had done. And you ordered me to stand in front of you. When I was close enough, you opened your arms and gathered me to you. And you called me your son. Your son. You told me that you loved me more than life itself. That I was a blessing when my mother gave me to you, and that I was more of a blessing that day than ever before. Then you told me that you loved me, and always would.”

Edward let his tear-clouded gaze move around the table. To his right, sat his son and heir, Gideon Waverley, Marquess of Sheffield and his brilliant Lady Eve. Next was his eldest daughter, Lady Winnifred and her courageous Nick.

His wife’s daughter Lady Elizabeth sat at the end of the table, and across from her was her intended, Joshua Winslow.

Next to Joshua sat Edward’s youngest daughter Lady Anne and her husband, the Earl of Montroy.

And finally, on Edward’s left, Lord Benjamin sat with his lovely Lady Rachael.

Tears filled the eyes of every family member gathered around the table, as well as the sniffling sobs of most. Edward had never been so moved as he was at this moment. He’d never been as proud of his family as he was today. To be loved so completely was a blessing beyond anything. To know that what he’d instilled in his children would continue to the next generation filled him with pride.

To realize that while they ate, the nursery above was crowded with an abundance of grandchildren and heirs who would carry on the Townsend dynasty for generations to come caused his heart to swell in his chest.

Only one person was absent from today’s gathering. The person who’d played the largest role in his finding Alyssa and allowing him to realize that love was still possible. The woman who’d rescued Joshua and saved his life. Who’d given Joshua’s ring to her sister who worked in the Queen’s kitchen so the Queen would know he was still alive. The woman who’d placed the note in a duke’s carriage so they would know where to find Joshua. The person who’d made everything that had happened possible. That person was the mysterious Maude.

Even though Edward had searched for her, he’d been unable to find her. He imagined she was long gone from Conner Street. And Edward knew that there were many places the elusive Maude could hide where she would never be found. But at least she’d appeared long enough to allow them to find and rescue Joshua Winslow. And for him to meet and marry the love of his life.

Edward could not let this moment pass without showing his children how much he loved them.

He rose, then stepped to his right where his eldest son and heir stood. Gideon had perhaps suffered most. Surviving what his stepmother had done to him gave Gideon an inner strength that few others possessed. When Edward reached him, he opened his arms and Gideon stepped into his embrace. Edward wrapped his arms around Gideon and held him for several long seconds. “I love you, Gideon.”

“I love you, Father,” Gideon answered.

When he released his son, he turned to Gideon’s wife and held her. Eve had given Edward back his son. She had saved Gideon from the terrible fate his stepmother had planned for him.

Edward moved to the next chair where Winnifred stood with her husband. He wrapped his arms around the daughter who’d risked her life to keep the scandal involving her mother from reaching Society’s ears. Tears ran down her cheeks, and Edward brushed them away. “I love you, Winnie,” he whispered before he released her.

“And I love you, Papa,” she answered.

He turned to his son-in-law and shook his hand, then moved to the next chair, but not before casting a grateful look into the eyes of the man who had walked into danger with him.

Lady Elizabeth stood with Joshua Winslow, who’d stepped around the table to stand beside his betrothed. Edward watched the tears stream down Lady Elizabeth’s cheeks. She possessed a courage so like the bravery exhibited by each one of his children when faced with scandals that were not of their making. Edward opened his arms and gathered her to him. “I love you, daughter,” he whispered before releasing her.

“I love you, Father,” she whispered.

He turned to Joshua Winslow and shook his hand. The Queen’s ring had been restored to its rightful owner and felt warmly eloquent against his palm. He walked to the opposite end of the table where his bride sat.

Edward held out his hand and Alyssa rose. “My wife,” he said. “My love.” Alyssa stepped into his embrace and he kissed her. “I love you with all my heart.”

“As I love you. And always will.”

With Alyssa at his side, he made his way up the left side of the table. First to his youngest daughter, Anne, the daughter he’d tried to shield from discovering the scandal because he didn’t think she was strong enough to survive knowing the truth. How wrong he’d been. He should have known none of his children were weak. He brushed a tear from her face, then gathered her in his arms. “I love you, Annie,” he whispered.

“And I love you, Papa.”

When he released her, he shook hands with her husband, the Earl of Montroy and clapped him warmly on the shoulder.

Lastly he moved to where Benjamin stood with his arm around his wife. First, he kissed Rachael’s cheek, then he let his gaze lock with his son’s. He opened his arms and Benjamin stepped into his embrace. “I love you, Benjamin.”

“And I love you, Father.”

Then, he turned to let his gaze rest on the gathering around the table. “I will repeat what I said to Benjamin all those months ago.” Edward paused. “Only this time it is meant for all of you.”

Edward swallowed hard. “I love each and every one of you more than life itself. You were a blessing on the day you were born, and you are more a blessing to me now. I love you today. I will love you tomorrow. And I will love you into eternity.”

Then Edward turned to his bride. “As I promised I would love you.”

Alyssa stepped into his arms and Edward lowered his head and kissed his bride.

A roar of cheers and well wishes echoed in his ears.

Pure joy, pure love cast scandal from the room that night.

And nothing could have made him happier.