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“You smashed all my preconceptions and beliefs, about myself and society.”

“Hmmm,” she said. Her eyes smiled at him.

“You left me in a strange world.”

“As long as you’re with me, I don’t care what world we’re in,” she whispered.

It wasn’t until they stopped kissing that Silvester clarified the new world in which they both lived: one that had nothing to do with titles, but was built around love, fidelity, loyalty, and honor.

But mostly love.

Epilogue

Three years later

London

Stella smiled at the footman guarding the entrance to the Earl of Lilford’s family box in the Theatre Royal.

“Your Grace,” he said, dropping into such a low bow that he almost let fall the velvet curtain he held open.

She walked into the darkness. At the front of the deep box, Yasmin and Giles were seated beside each other. Yasmin was giggling, tapping her husband on the shoulder with a fan. Her golden hair was piled high on her head, her neck glinted with jewels, her shoulders gleamed in the box’s candelabras.

Most of the audience would be ogling the countess, but that didn’t matter a pin to Stella. To her, Yasmin was not a leader of the ton, but one of her closest friends, as beloved as Merry and her mother-in-law.

“One smile and that poor sod of a footman went weak at the knees,” a deep voice said in her ear. “Why am I here again?” Silvester’s hands settled on her waist as he pulled Stella back against him just enough to ensure she understood that he’d prefer the bedchamber to the theater.

Stella turned her head to smile up at him. “Because you love me, and I love plays, and Yasmin is expecting again, and I want to know how she’s feeling.”

Silvester nipped her ear. “You had tea with her two days ago. You know how she’s feeling. Tired, according to Giles.”

“Benjamin is naughty,” Stella informed her husband. “He still wakes up at night. We’re lucky that Leo is such a contented baby.”

Silvester’s arms wrapped around her as he kissed her neck. “Leo is perfect. Almost as perfect as his mama.”

At that moment, Yasmin turned around and caught sight of them. Her face lit up. “Stella!”

Silvester’s arms slid away, and they walked to the front of the box.

“I found this delightful shawl for you,” Yasmin said once they were all seated. She held up a confection of gossamer silver lace. “You must wear it with that rose-colored morning gown we ordered last week.”

Stella laughed. “You are a darling,” she said affectionately. “You’ll never turn me into a fashionable lady like yourself, but thank you.” She leaned over to kiss Yasmin’s cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“Nauseated half the day and exhausted the rest. Like an imbécile,” Yasmin groaned. “Benjamin is finally sleeping. Why, why did I let this happen? Another child? Why?”

Stella glanced over Yasmin’s shoulder at the earl. She liked Giles much better now than she had when they were supposedly courting. The Earl of Lilford’s deep ethical stance was obvious, but he smiled and even laughed sometimes. And always he watched his wife with deep, true love in his eyes.

She raised an eyebrow at Yasmin. “Do you really want me to answer?”

Yasmin sighed ruefully. “How is Leo? Sleeping soundly?”

“Yes,” Stella confessed. “He’s a sociable babe, so he tries to stay awake, but he can’t manage it.”

“Whereas Benjamin is so much older, and still wakes at dawn, if not during the night,” Yasmin groaned.

Silvester leaned forward. “If there’s an imbécile in this box, it’s your husband after that absurd debate at the House of Lords yesterday.”

“It wasn’t absurd,” Stella cried, swatting her husband with her fan. “I thought you offered a brilliant compromise under the circumstances, Giles.”