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Now she only needed to get through Christmas and the wedding. Then social obligations would be fulfilled, and she and her husband could go about the business of living their lives.
She lifted her head and glanced in through the windows of Sherring Cross as laughter spilled into the air. She smiled at the joyous sounds and shrieks from Lady Jocelyn’s young brother and sisters, and her own sister, Phoebe, as they romped. Phillipa’s entire family had traveled to the duke’s country home for the holiday feast and the wedding. Constance and Anthony’s mother and his true father, Lord Radcliffe, were also both present. It had been poignant watching the tentative and growing relationships of the new family emerge. Connections once hidden, and now highly unconventional, had wrought some awkward moments. But overall, nearly everyone seemed overjoyed at the possibilities for the future.
Lady Jocelyn’s family was also present, her father and sisters and her brother. Phillipa liked them tremendously.
Laughter and joy had burned bright as they exchanged gifts on Christmas morning, played parlor games, and simply basked in each other’s presence. Phillipa had never felt so content and hopeful.
“What on earth are you doing out here? It is too cold. You’ll catch your death.”
She shifted, her heart swelling with love as Anthony made his way into the garden. She gathered the small bouquet of red roses in her lap and held them up to her nose. “I cut these for Payton’s room.” She tilted her head toward the solarium, where her sister sat despondently. “Her heart is breaking.”
He glanced toward Payton. “I wish there was something we could do or say to make things better for her.” He sat beside Phillipa and drew her close.
She snuggled into his side, the vital heat radiating from his body warming her. “Lord St. John has not retracted his offer, but he is notably cooler. I am happy she does not blame me for the change in him. But if your parentage is the reason he is behaving so stupidly, then he values society’s opinion more than he values Payton, and it’s best she knows that now, before they are married. Still, I hurt for her.”
Anthony’s hand tightened around her shoulder. “He is young. It often takes some years of living to learn what true honor is all about.” He glanced at her with an ironic smile. “And yet, the young are not the only ones so easily misguided by narrow-minded censure.”
She sighed, glancing at her sister, aching for her. “Honor is a difficult lesson not everyone learns. I hope for her sake he comes to understand what is truly important in life.”
“Either way, we will be here for her, and for Constance, until the scandal dies and is forgotten.”
She nestled closer. “I pray you are right, and it all goes away.” She doubted she would ever understand why Society was so hypocritical, condemning behavior that everyone ignored but knew was going on. As long as marriages were made for political reasons rather than for love, men and women would continue to pursue illicit alliances outside the marriage bed. To ostracize anyone for doing so was to deny the basic human need for love.
Speaking of which…
“Lady Jocelyn is lovely,” she said with a smile. “And your brother…when he looks at her, I see they are the perfect match. We have that, too, don’t we?”
“We do, my love.”
“I so want Payton and Constance to find their perfect matches, as well.”
“They will, you’ll see. Just give them time.”
He kissed her forehead, and contentment Phillipa had never known filled her whole being. “I do love you so.”
He dipped his head and met her lips. “I’ll spend my life endeavoring to be worthy of that love.”
“I have never doubted it. You are my heart, Anthony.”
“And you are mine, my sweet wife.”
She smiled and sent a prayer of thanks to the heavens that they had found each other. Her life before Anthony had been so dull and unfulfilled, with only a lifetime of restrictions and disappointments to look forward to.
Anthony promised her love and excitement and endless adventure. They would tour the four corners of the world together, free as the wind.
But she also knew, even if she never traveled more than a mile from home, she had already embarked upon the journey of a lifetime…for a lifetime. So far it promised unending delight, the grand adventure of being loved and cherished by Anthony Thornton.
And that was the best adventure of all.
