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Elation exploded inside Aurora and she laughed, flinging her arms about her husband's neck "Yes, we did it! At last—the curse of the black dia with all the hatred, the fear, the wrongful accusations" Realization sank in, sweeter than all the world's adventures combined, and the thrill of victory lulled into a more wondrous sense of peace "Just think," she whispered, accosted by a fuller, richer kind of joy "The past will truly be righted and finally, finally put to rest And oh, Julian, the future will be ours"

"The future and the world," Julian concurred fervently, his own exhilaration tempered by the same deep-seated happiness reflected in Aurora's eyes With solehtening his "I love you, Aurora Huntley Bencroft"

"And I you," she breathed "As of today—as of this very minute—we've truly ally but actually" A poignant pause "'Tis time for the peace James spoke of—and we shall commemorate it as he and Geoffrey would have wished" She raised her chin a notch, alerting Julian to the nitude of her declaration "I aertips caressed her husband's nape "And you,husband, are truly the Duke of Morland—just

as your great-grandfather before you Chilton and Lawrence ht have tainted the title, but they couldn't destroy it Not when you're here to restore it to all its glorious, unconventional nobility"

A muscle worked in Julian's jaw

"It's tier and resento Geoffrey would have wanted it that way" She never looked away "So would Hugh"

That dissolved the last of Julian's resistance Slowly he nodded, fra his own private peace with the past—and hi his gaze "Very well then, the Duke and Duchess of Morland we are Although I don't think I can ever bring myself to live in that mausoleum"

"You don't have to I have splendid plans for your great-grandfather's estate Plans that would make him and James very happy"

Julian looked intrigued "Care to share those plans with me?"

"Later," she replied o home Home—to Merlin Manor, our irreverent staff, and our soft, enticing bed" An iotten my vow to best you?"

"To best rin Aurora loved so otten neither In fact,home is an excellent idea After all, before we ride first to Pembourne to flourish this stone before Courtney and Slayde, and then to London to turn it over to the Prince Regent, e it to ourselves, to truly celebrate our new titles—and seal our family union—properly"

Aurora's eyes danced "Need I ask what 'properly' means?"

"No You needn't"

"Do you think Geoffrey and Ja our trip a day or two?"

"I think they would applaud it"