Epilogue - New Beginnings
|New Beginnings.|
Duke peeked into their matrimonial suite and grinned at his wife, boyishly.
"Are you ready now?"
"As I could ever be." She replied, as her maids finished making the final touches to her deep red gown.
The bodice was made of crystal beaded lace, with a scalloped neckline and cap sleeves, before culminating into a flowing silk satin and lace skirt that had an embellished hemline.
"You look exquisite!" Her husband remarked, fingering the loose lock of her hair that had escaped from her half up hair do.
"You're just saying that because I Am your wife." Malisha retaliated.
"Indeed, my wife is a very exquisite creature."
She looked at him and babbled up with laughter.
"So shall we get on going?" She finally asked as she rose up from the white baroche vanity seat.
"In a minute. Just one more thing." He still her, gently pushing her back to her seat before pulling out a red case from within his suit jacket. He flipped it open to reveal a diamond and ruby choker, with a matching set of tear drop earrings.
"Oh Duke! They are beautiful." She exclaimed as she moved her hair to one side to allow him to put them on.
"You like them?"
"Like?" Malisha gawked."No, I love them!" She told him, jumping to give him a hug as he finally clasped on the Choker.
This was the fifth jewellery set that Duke had commissioned for her in the few months that they had been married and it made her feel spoilt rotten, but she loved it.
Contrary to what she had expected, things had kept getting better and better each day. Of course, they still had their little fights every now and then, but their faith in God had helped them move past the more serious ones and by grace they both felt genuinely happy for the very first time in a long time.
It was like now she was harvesting the first fruits of her very hard life, the beauty for ashes, joy for the bitter food of tears that she had shed in her past and looking back at all of it, as she had told Duke, it was totally worth it. As for Duke, he was happy to spend the rest of his life making his wife happy. Seeing her smile made him happy and the support that age offered him made him believe things that once upon a time he never thought possible.
"Mmh...somehow I imagined myself getting more than a hug for those." Duke said feigning a disappointed contemplative look. Malisha swatted him with her hand and he pouted again which made her fall into yet another fit of giggles.
"I would give you a kiss, but then you would have lip stick smeared all over your face."
"Does it look like that would bother me?"
"No, but we have that presidential ball tonight and we don't want your guest asking questions."
"I'm sure they would understand. I am a married man after all and my wife is a stunning woman. Can't blame me for not getting enough of her."
"Fine. I rest my case!" She gave in, letting him sweep her into one of his dizzying kisses.
"Now, that wasn't so bad. Was it?" he asked cheekily, hooking her arm into his, before leading her out to the waiting limo.
Malisha blushed and shook her head, smiling brightly.
"Good evening Phaedra, Domina." The chauffer greeted with a smile as he opened the door and let them inside the car.
The Phaedra nodded back at him but his wife Malisha smiled and returned the chauffeur's greeting.
"Good evening Matthews." The chauffer grinned from ear to ear in appreciation as he turned to close the door after them.
"Quit flirting with the driver!" Duke admonished and Malisha frowned.
"Are you jealous?"
"Shush, he may hear us!" Duke whispered back.
Malisha burst out laughing and soon after Duke joined her as well.
"You are really cheeky Phaedra. You know that?"
"Only with you Domina. Only with you.".
..................................................................
'THE LENTON-CARISLE AFFAIR HAS BEEN THE TALK OF THE TON FOR MONTHS NOW. THE PICTURES AND COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOODING LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ARE ENOUGH PROVE OF THAT."
Katrina started reading the article, but stopped herself. She laid down the Veterum Vanity back on the glass coffee table and released a laboured breath. She was still holed up in her father's mansion while her husband continued to ignore her. Probably lost in some drunken hole, somewhere. She picked up the magazine once again and stared at the beautiful couple, her heart latching at how happy they looked.
To her, that girl, her former bestfriend had everything. A loving husband, a lovely son, money, power, stature and exes that willed to go to great lengths to get her back. Even if it meant ignoring their wives, and running off to another country.
She wanted to hate her, despise her even, but it was not in her nature. Malisha was now happily married and she could only pray that this meant that her husband was finally coming back home. Hope. That was all she had left and the growing bump that was the key to her future.
Fin.
Look out for the next book in the series. Book Two in Courting Trouble Series,
Rose of Sharon.