And despite the folly of his resolve to forever remain single in his youth, he now regretted not one iota of his decision. It was indeed a worthy trade, a life of wickedness for the bounty of love.
Epilogue
August 1823
Lochslin Castle, Scotland
Scotland was an entirely different place when one knew where they were going and their purpose wasn’t aimed at escaping a dismal fate.
Sophia stepped out of the stone corridor onto the expansive green lawn and glanced behind her toward the majestic castle. Though rustic in appearance on the outside, the lodgings within were luxurious and comfortable. A testament to the efforts of Lady Benton, no doubt, despite her hands being full with two rambunctious boys.
The babe in Sophia’s arms shifted and gave a delicate coo.
“Are you awake, Lizzie?” Sophia bounced her daughter lightly.
Wide blue eyes blinked up at her, a perfect complement to the thick, dark hair Sophia swept gently to the side.
“Is she rousing already?” Kendal appeared next to Sophia and reached for their little girl.
Lizzie’s small hand locked on his pinky, making it look massive by comparison.
“It would appear so,” Sophia said with a laugh.
Kendal turned to her with a glint in his eye. “Thankfully now and not half an hour ago.”
Her cheeks blazed with the knowledge of exactly what they were doing a half-hour before while their little Elizabeth slept in the nursery and they had found themselves alone in their bedchamber with more than a few moments to spare.
“Sophia,” Penelope called out, waving them over to the pond where she and her husband, Lord Oakhurst, lounged alongside Lord and Lady Benton and Lord Benton’s mother, Madge. “The refreshments have been served.”
“I’ve rather worked up a bit of an appetite.” Kendal gave Sophia a delicious little grin and guided her toward the others.
A platter of various sandwiches and fruits awaited them, artfully arranged on a wrought iron table, along with a fresh pot of tea. Three small boys played at the water’s edge, Lady Benton’s two with their light brown hair glinting in the sun as they poked into the water with a stick, and Penelope’s son, Arcas, who watched them with large, green pensive eyes.
“You eat first, my love.” Kendal reached for Lizzie. “I’ll hold this little one.”
“I’m sure your altruistic offer has nothing to do with how sweet she is when she first wakes.” Despite her teasing, Sophia allowed him to pull their daughter into his arms.
Lizzie gazed up into her father’s face and gave a broad smile, revealing two small teeth along her bottom gums. Warmth effused Sophia’s heart, the way it always did when she observed how enamored father and daughter were with one another.
“Colin, leave the stick be,” Lady Benton admonished one of her sons.
Her other son, the taller of the two, sighed. “I’m Colin. He’s Connell.”
“You know very well who I meant.” Lady Benton rolled her eyes heavenward. “Why on Earth did we give them such similar names?”
“You thought it would be endearing.” Lord Benton winked at his wife.
“Well, it’s entertaining for certs.” Madge stood up, her frame wiry but strong as she gave a little bark of laughter and ran off to play with the two boys. They squealed with delight and darted toward her open arms as Arcas gingerly lifted the stick they’d been playing with.
Penelope smiled as she observed her son. “Who would have thought that running whisky so many years ago would lead us all here now?” She reached out for Lord Oakhurst’s hand. “Happy and with the most beautiful children.”
“Though thankfully some of us did not become involved in the whisky distilling venture.” Kendal slid Sophia a meaningful look.
“I regret nothing.” She held a strawberry to his lips, which he promptly bit into. “It led me to you.”
“I’m indeed grateful for that.”
“And here I thought you’d vowed to never wed,” Oakhurst said with a lift of his brow.
Kendal scoffed. “Follies of youth, my friend. I had not yet met the right woman.”
“As it is with all of us, I believe.” Lord Benton lifted his wife’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. This was followed immediately by the disgusted cries of the two little boys close enough to see their parents' affection.
The adults all laughed as their children played with one another under Madge's watchful eye, with the sweet scent of heather in the warm, afternoon air.
While some vows were meant to be broken, others were made with the need to see realized. When Sophia had promised her mother and sweet little George and Julia that she would live a rich life for them all, never had she dreamed fulfilling it would be so beautiful or so perfect.
What was more, she was grateful to have done so with Kendal, for surely there was no man as caring or loving in all of Britain as her husband. And while not at all boring, he was just the right amount of wicked.
Thank you for reading EARL OF KENDAL! Please know that I read all of my reviews and would love to know how you enjoyed the story, so please do leave a review.
Continue reading for a preview chapter of the next Wicked Earls’ Club book, Earl of Darling by Maggie Dallen and Katherine Ann Madison.
Additionally, I’ve written several books with matches Lady Bursbury has made (The Matchmaker of Mayfair) as well as other Wicked Earls - you can find them here:
Earl of Benton - learn more about Alistair and Emma’s story when a whisky smuggling earl does one last run while trying to save an heiress whose uncle is determined to see her dead.
One-Click EARL OF BENTON
Noah and Helen in MESMERIZING THE MARQUIS where a reclusive marquis finds a woman who just might soften his hard heart…
One-Click MESMERIZING THE MARQUIS
Cecelia’s story in Unmasking the Earl (in the A Midsummer Night’s Romance Anthology) when a matchmaking attempt for Lady Cecelia at a masquerade ball goes terribly wrong…or maybe is a duplicitous matchmaking gone exactly right.
One-Click A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S ROMANCE ANTHOLOGY
Reunited at a house party after a lackluster start to their marriage, the Duke of Stedton attempts to win his Duchess’ heart. Will a sizzling wager be enough to melt the frost between them, or will it truly remain the coldest winter in London?
One-Click DISCOVERING THE DUKE
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Earl of Darling
By: Maggie Dalen and Katherine Ann Madison
Chapter One
Everyone in fashionable society would agree that Miss Evelyn Rathmore was every inch the lady. Which was to say, she had no experience with climbing out of windows.
“Are you certain you know what you’re doing, miss?” Cora asked.