Epilogue
Jeremy sipped his champagne slowly, watching Evie above the frothy bubbles tickling his nose. Her chestnut curls glimmered as she moved through the dance, her sherry eyes aglow with that special light, full of love and happiness. All night, he found it difficult to look away, to concentrate on anyone else.
She made her turn, nodding to Jack and Torie, then reunited with Myran, or rather Stephen Spencer. He flashed a grin, creating quite the stir among the young ladies watching his every move, as he held Evie’s hands.
Jeremy gave a brotherly sigh of pride and glanced over to his mother sipping lemonade between Phyllis and Freddy, who had his arm around Mother’s waist. His other hand held tight to his new cane, having thrown the old one out the day he left his sickbed and dismantled the Viper Nest. All the adders had been set free, as well, at Mother’s insistence. She’d take no chances on her grandson, the new little Lord Montague, getting hurt.
Ignoring the invitation in Lady Hartley’s sultry smile across the room, Jeremy turned back to his wife and brother and nestled a shoulder against the marble column. Just as he was planning exactly what to do to Evie once he got her home in a few hours, someone stepped right up to him and cleared her throat.
About to tell the chit to shove off, that he could no longer be enticed with anyone but his wife, as he’d had to do dozens of times in the last two months, he glanced down and swallowed back his words. “Your Grace,” he said instead, inclining his head.
The Duchess of Claremont folded her arms and glared up at him.
“Careful, pet, lest you find yourself stuck for all time with such a scowl.” He peered around the room, wondering where the deuce Nick had gone. Couldn’t he come fetch his lovely wife? When she still hadn’t moved, he sighed. “All right, Megan, what is it now? What have I done this time?”
The frown slowly melted away and her arms slid down to her sides. “Is it for real, Jeremy? Or are you just playing games with her?”
He straightened from the column and leaned forward so she could see the seriousness in his eyes. “The Rogue is gone for good. I love Evie and intend on spending the rest of my life showing her just how much.”
She stared hard for a moment, then nodded, a grin spreading across her lips. Tapping him on the arm with her ivory fan, she said, “It took you long enough.”
“Yes, unfortunately.” He gazed over Megan’s head to watch Evie make the next turn in the dance. “And I will regret every lost moment.”
She lifted up and he leaned forward, thinking she had another threat to whisper. Instead, she surprised him with a kiss on his cheek. “I am happy for you both.” Then she drew back and walked away, a smile spreading wide over her lips.
A champagne tray was presented to him and Jeremy shook his head, lifting his near full glass. When the tray didn’t move, he glanced over, about to blister the man’s ears, but stopped when he saw Ghost’s grinning eyes behind the disguise. He leaned back against the column. “You working tonight?”
A sigh sounded. “I’m not supposed to say.”
Jeremy’s heart picked up speed and he took a sip of his champagne. “But you need something.” When Ghost didn’t reply, he glanced over and lifted a brow, knowing he was on the mark.
Looking none too happy about it, the man nodded his disguised head.
Jeremy watched Evie for several more seconds. “What do you need?” If it was anything beyond information, he would tell Ghost to go hang.
Before the man could answer, Evie marched up to them and lifted a glass of champagne from the tray. “What’s going on?” she whispered, glancing from him to Ghost. “Are you stuck on a mission?”
Ghost groaned. “You aren’t supposed to recognize me.” He adjusted the gray wig on his head.
Evie waved away his concerns. “You look fine. Just tell me what is going on.”
Jeremy realized she was actually eager to hear about the Guardians as much as he.
With a glance around, Ghost said, “Someone is trying to restart the Hell Fire Club here.”
Evie pulled a face and Jeremy settled an arm around her waist. “I thought everyone had been caught,” he said.
“In this area, yes,” Ghost said slowly.
“This area?” Evie gasped. “You mean there are other groups?”
“In this country, plus a few others, I am afraid.”
Jeremy was about to tell his friend to stop speaking and leave. He was scaring Evie and that could not be tolerated. But she spoke first.
“What do you need help with?” she asked with a very determined glint in her eye.
“Oh, no.” Jeremy shook his head. “We had an agreement. Taking on assignments would keep us apart, remember?”
“Not if you two worked together at all times,” said a man’s voice from behind.
Jeremy turned and found Elder and Belle standing there, arms folded. “What do you mean?” he asked, glancing from one to the other.
Elder sighed, then stepped forward. He looked down to Evie then back at Jeremy. “We simply do not have anyone better than the two of you. You are incredibly effective, but damn near invincible when working together. We’d like the two of you to return to the Guardians.” Jeremy started to speak and Elder held up his hand. “There would be no solo assignments. You would work together on everything.” He glanced over to Belle, who smiled her encouragement. “I made the mistake of not implementing this idea once and do not intend to make the same mistake twice. What say you? Will you at least give it a try and see how it works out?”
Jeremy’s heart nearly leaped right out of his chest and he realized he wanted to agree. But the decision was not his alone. He glanced down and found Evie crossing her arms, glowering up at Elder.
“Rogue is gone,” she said, “and he isn’t coming back.”
Releasing his breath, Jeremy drew her close and pressed a kiss to her temple, understanding her words perfectly. “I can have a new name, little bird,” he chuckled.
Elder relaxed his stiff shoulders and nodded. “What do you suggest?” he asked Evie.
Still glowering, she said, “Married.”
Jeremy’s lips twitched. “Doesn’t have a nice ring to it.”
“Neither did Rogue,” she grumbled. Then she went still and her eyes lifted to his. She stared for several long seconds and a smile slowly spread over her lips. “What better way to combat hell than with an Angel?”
“Perfect, Cherie,” Belle said and Elder agreed.
“It fits,” Ghost said with a grin. “He’s as pretty as an angel.”
Jeremy frowned over at his friend. “Go fix your nose. It’s crooked.”
Elder leaned forward. “Meeting tomorrow morning at ten.” He flashed a quick smile. “Angel.” Then he turned to Evie and gave a slight bow. “Falcon.”
When the three Guardians departed and he was left alone with his wife, he turned and pulled her behind the column. “Are you happy with this? Truly?”
She wound her arms around his neck. “I am happy with you.”
Jeremy pulled her close and gave her the longest, deepest, most delicious kiss he could, promising much more to follow when they got home.