As she checked Tempest’s bridle, she glanced over at him. “You are watching too closely,” she drawled.
“I am not.”
“You are,” she said, tightening the leather strap. “You look like you are waiting for something to go wrong.”
Dorian considered denying it out of habit, then stopped himself.
“I used to,” he admitted. “Now I am simply admiring my beautiful wife. Is that such a crime?”
Anne didn’t respond immediately. She just nodded once, but her smile was warm, and she was blushing at the compliment.
Even the staff noticed the change, which Dorian felt immensely proud of.
Later that day, a footman bent his head to a maid as they walked down the corridor. “It’s different here now,” he murmured.
“What is?” the maid asked.
“Everything,” he replied, before they disappeared around the corner.
Dorian heard it but didn’t react. He simply kept walking. Anne did glance at him, though.
“What?” he prompted.
“Nothing,” she said. “I simply had not expected them to notice so soon.”
“They notice everything,” he replied. “It is only that they no longer feel the need to hide their thoughts on the matter.”
Anne let out a quiet laugh in response.
Even Tempest changed. One morning, as Dorian adjusted the saddle, Anne hesitated before speaking.
“He trusts you more now. I cannot quite believe it.”
“Nor can I. I never disliked him, but I will admit that I wanted to change him. I should not have done that, not when embracing who he truly is was what made him so successful.”
“Can I confess something?” she asked, and he nodded. “I do not hate the name you chose for him as much as I said.”
“Diamond was a good name, but not for him. Tempest suits him perfectly, only now the storm arrives when he is on the track and never off of it, which is precisely what I wanted.”
She laughed at that and leaned against his shoulder, and he loved how familiar her weight against him had become.
As they walked back from the stables, Anne slowed slightly beside him.
“It feels different,” she murmured.
Dorian looked toward the house ahead of them. “It does. It was a house before, and now it is a home I shall take great pride in building with you.”
Anne fell quiet for a moment, then nodded once as they continued walking together.
At last, Dorian did not feel as though the life ahead of him was something he might lose if he held it too tightly. All the same, he intended to hold it close to his chest, for it was most precious.
EPILOGUE
Anne found Dorian in the study as she often did. She leaned against the doorframe without entering, her gloves already fastened.
“You have been finishing that for ten minutes.” She smiled. “Will you be ready to join me soon?”
“I am thorough. You know that.”
