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“At once, Your Grace.”
Matthew mounted his horse, but Glover remained with the constables to ensure that no mistakes would be made. There was one more matter he had to deal with, and that was Lady Dervin.
He rode back to Ashford and arrived shortly after Diana but he only called for Albert and they departed for Lady Dervin’s house in a carriage at once. When they arrived, a maid opened the door for them and informed them that Lady Dervin was having dinner alone in the dining room.
Matthew marched past her and made his way inside. Lady Dervin shot to her feet, her eyes darting from him to Albert. “Your Grace, what a pleasan—"
“Save your pleasantries, Lady Dervin,” he cut her off. “I am here to take you to the magistrate’s office to face your crimes against Diana.”
“I beg your pardon?” She began to blink in quick succession.
Florence appeared in the doorway just then, a puzzled frown on her face, but she curtsied and bowed her head, looking as though she carried shame for her actions. “May I ask what is going on, Your Grace?” she asked, looking from him to Albert.
“Your mother tried to have Crawford snatch Diana away to marry her in Scotland,” he responded before turning to Lady Dervin. “You will face prison or exile for what you did to her. I know everything, so do not trouble yourself explaining to me.” Matthew stepped away from the door and waved for Lady Dervin to precede him out of the house. He had no business with Florence right now because, after a long conversation with Diana, they had concluded that she had been forced, and were willing to forgive her.
“Mother, what did you do to Diana?” Florence demanded, her eyes widening in shock. Lady Dervin fell to her knees and started to beg for forgiveness.
“Now you ask for mercy?” Albert asked. “You should have thought of that before you decided to embrace cruelty.”
“Your Grace, my daughter is yet to marry!” she wailed. “Who will take care of her? Think of her reputation!” Despite everything, Lady Dervin was still trying to manipulate the situation. She was not even showing that she regretted harming Diana.
“Do not pretend you care about me!” Florence spat. “I should feel sorry for you, but I cannot after everything you did to me. I have no dowry and nothing more to do with my life. Father would be ashamed.”
Appalled, Matthew did not respond to Lady Dervin, and having heard enough, he turned on his heel and walked out. A moment later, the baroness quietly stepped out of the house, likely because Albert had apprised her of the consequences of refusing to cooperate.
All he wanted now was to conclude this horrendous affair and return home to Diana.
Epilogue
“Ido not think I can ever leave you until I marry,” Emma said, squeezing Diana as she hugged her for the… Well, she had lost count of how many times Emma had hugged her since her return.
Diana giggled, appreciating her friend even more. “You can stay for as long as you wish. I would prefer you to stay.”
“Then I shall.” Emma grinned, rising from the sofa. “Sleep well, Diana.”
“You too, Emma.” They had spent an hour talking and it was almost midnight. She watched the door for a minute after Emma’s departure and thought about going to find Matthew.
Diana had seen him when he returned from the magistrate’s office after taking her aunt there himself.
It was yet to be decided but Crawford would likely be spending the remainder of his life in prison, while Margaret and Annabelle would live in exile. Diana will never see any of them again, and she was satisfied with the justice she had received. For the rest of their lives, they would think of this day, and she would forget.
Her mother had cried when she returned, and her father had seemed deeply ashamed. Diana had decided to forgive them, but it would take a very long time for their relationship to be mended…if it could be mended at all.
Her door was opened just then, and Matthew walked in as though he had been waiting for Emma to leave. He was in a shirt and breeches with a banyan over them, and he lingered by the door to simply admire her.
She did not have the patience to wait, so she rose and ran into his arms, threading her fingers through his dark hair as he lowered his head to kiss her. It was a soft and slow kiss at first, but it quickly grew, and their hands roamed each other’s bodies.
“Diana, I cannot wait until we are married,” he whispered, his voice fevered, “even though I am going to request a special license.”
“I do not want to wait.” She pushed his banyan from his shoulders, her heated skin in desperate need to feel him.
He drew his shirt over his head as they moved toward her bed, their eyes locked together. He was so perfect, a dream that had become real, and he was all hers. She started to remove her nightrail but he stopped her, lowering himself onto his knees. Slowly, he raised the hem, kissing every bit of skin he exposed.
When he reached the place her thighs joined, he kissed her soft folds until her legs began to tremble, then he continued his way up, suckling each nipple with careful attention. Her fingers traced the perfect planes of his chest, slowly moving down the hard ridges of his abdomen.
She heard him breathe in sharply before he let out a groan. Encouraged, she touched his manhood through his breeches, and his body jerked. Her patience fractured, and she grasped his bare shoulders, pressing her body against his. “Make me yours,” she whispered.
Matthew stepped away to quickly remove his breeches, then picked her up and laid her on the bed, covering her body with his as his hands caressed every curve they could find. He pulled away slightly to look down at her. “There are not enough elephants in Africa to keep me from loving you.”
