London's Most Wanted Rake (24 page)

Epilogue

L
ondon’s finest rake had married splendidly. It was the best kind of wedding: big, spectacular, complete with a handsome groom, a beautiful bride and enough gossip to make it interesting. Among the guests were the bride’s parents. Her father gave her away, her mother cried and her sister stood up with her in a pretty dress of primrose. But London had turned out to see the other two sets of guests: Nick D’Arcy and his wife, Annorah, and Jocelyn Eisley and Cassandra. Even with such notoriety in attendance, it had regretfully not been enough to deflect any attention away from the main focus.

Alina assured Channing he’d better get used to it. A beautiful woman and a handsome man were always interesting. Alina had garnered all the attention. She’d worn her signature colour, the bright blue that brought out her eyes, and people were already speculating about the enchanting blue-eyed children that would come of that union sooner or later. One of those children would come into that world rather promptly, Channing thought, if Alina was correct. It was a bit early to tell, but Channing hoped she was right.

They would spend their honeymoon at the Deveril hunting box in Scotland, enjoying the autumn colours of the Highlands in peace and quiet. But there was a stop they needed to make before they could leave London behind.

* * *

Channing’s travelling coach pulled up outside Argosy House. He helped Alina out. ‘What are we doing here?’ she asked.

Channing merely grinned and opened the door. ‘You’ll see.’ Inside, a great round of applause went up. Everyone was assembled in the hall from the footmen to the escorts, Nick and Jocelyn at the head of each column. He was moved, he really was. ‘Is this your idea of a quiet drink?’ Channing joked, taking a glass of the champagne that was circulating on trays. Nick and Jocelyn had asked them to stop by, but Channing had not expected this. It was the perfect way to go out.

Channing drew Alina to him and raised his glass. ‘A toast, everyone, to new beginnings. I am the luckiest of men today to marry the woman I love. I will leave the agency a happy man. But there is still a job that needs doing and the League must go on. I leave that task to the most capable Amery DeHart. Cheers.’

Glasses clinked, men clapped Amery on the back in congratulations and good-humoured teasing. Over their heads, Channing’s eyes met Nick’s and Jocelyn’s in mutual accord and in farewell. Their journeys were complete and they were satisfied men. He bent to Alina’s ear. ‘Let’s go. The future awaits and I can hardly wait to get there.’ They slipped out to the carriage, a clean getaway just the way the League preferred.

* * *

Except for one pair of eyes. Nothing escaped Amery DeHart’s attention. He watched the carriage roll down the street. He might have imagined the carriage rocking slightly, but he didn’t imagine the laughter floating back to him. That was real enough. He raised his glass in a silent salute to his friend and his mentor. In the falling dusk of evening, Amery DeHart drank to his vow. As long as women were in need of pleasure, there would be a League of Discreet Gentlemen.

* * * * *

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ISBN-13: 9781460329757

LONDON’S MOST WANTED RAKE

Copyright © 2014 by Nikki Poppen

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