EPILOGUE
INARAWANDEREDOVERto the windows of her and Cassius’s private study and peered out into the garden. Roman, their son, had disappeared yet again and his tutor was getting tetchy. Inara had an important meeting with one of her ministers that afternoon, but she wanted to find Roman first, plus she had something to tell Cassius.
Sure enough, the pair of them were outside, staring critically at one of the rose bushes. Cassius pointed at something and Roman, who was getting tall even at only eleven, frowned and nodded.
Inara smiled. Her son loved these moments with Cassius, both of them focused on soil conditions and pest control, and whether the flowers needed more fertiliser. It didn’t happen often, as Cassius was very busy, but he always made time for his son, especially as the boy hated sitting still as much as his parents did.
In the corridor outside came the sound of girlish voices arguing. The twins were shouting about whose turn it was to be the prince in the game they were playing. Neither of them wanted to be the princess, to Inara’s eternal amusement.
She turned from the window, thinking she might have to adjudicate before the hair pulling began, but then she heard the door to the garden open behind her. Roman dashed past to join his sisters in the corridor, and then a strong arm wrapped around her waist, a warm mouth pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck.
‘Have I told you today that I love you?’ Cassius murmured. ‘I feel I haven’t.’
Inara sighed, the warm contentment and joy she always felt in her husband’s presence filling her as she leaned back against him. ‘You have. Only an hour ago, in fact. But feel free to tell me again.’
‘I love you, little one.’ His mouth moved to the side of her neck, his hands beginning to roam. ‘I love you for ever.’
‘I’m glad.’ A little bolt of excited happiness sparked inside her. ‘Because I have something to tell you.’
‘If it’s about the twins and the frog they put in the nanny’s—’
‘No, it’s not about the twins and the frog.’ Inara turned in his arms and stared up into his beloved face.
His eyes were glowing the way they did when he wanted her, all smoky amber and heat, and his mouth was curving in that warm, wicked way. ‘Then what is it? Be quick. I feel I might be about to ravish you in the garden if you’re not careful.’
‘I’m never careful; you should know that about me by now.’ Inara smoothed the lapels of his jacket. ‘How would you feel about being a father again?’
His smile was slow and devastating and full of joy, and even all these years later it still had the power to set her on fire. He bent his head and kissed her hard, then murmured against her mouth.
‘I feel that nothing else would give me greater pleasure.’
It had been a long road, a difficult road, but they’d journeyed it together.
One by one he’d let go of his guilt and his grief, allowing his family finally to be free. Allowing himself to be free too. And, while that had been hard, it had also been worth it.
He was worth it. He always had been.
‘Little one,’ he said quietly. ‘You make me so very happy. Every single day.’
*****