A Duchess’ Irresistible Tutor – Extended Epilogue

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“My love, I am home!” 

It was the same thing that Philip called every night upon returning from Oxford. And the thrill he felt at seeing his wife appear from the library was always the same. It made him tingle from head to toe and left him breathless at the sight of her. 

Yet this night there was something different about Mrs Radcliffe. Heavily pregnant as she was, she was glowing just as she had been for months, with one hand cupped under her swollen stomach to take some of the weight of their child from the base of her spine. Yet the brilliant smile upon her face was even more radiant than usual and the air about her seemed filled with an excitable energy.

“My love, are you well?” Philip asked, concerned for his wife and child. “You are not having pains, are you?” 

“No, Doctor Radcliffe.” Daisy chuckled, rolling her eyes at him. Philip couldn’t help smiling in response. It felt good to be called such a thing. 

“I am not quite there yet,” he reminded her, placing his pocketbook on the table beside the front door to their townhouse, which was situated right across the crescent from the Lockhart townhouse. 

“You will be in a few short weeks,” Daisy reminded him, stepping out of the library doorway. Philip noticed that she kept one hand behind her as if she were trying to keep something from him. “And then you shall be prepared to help me deliver this baby.”

Philip cringed at that. Though he had all the necessary education to deal with a labour, he wasn’t at all sure he would be able to handle Daisy’s labour. After all, he struggled not to fall apart when she so much as cut a finger. The thought of his wife bleeding or in pain, made him feel quite ill, though he would never say it out loud or even allow it to show upon his face. 

“I thought we had decided that Doctor Lewis would be in attendance?” Philip reminded her with a raised eyebrow as they came together and he placed a hand upon her swollen stomach, kissing her on the forehead. 

“We did.”

“Then I do not wish to step on another doctor’s toes and get in the way,” Philip pointed out, and this time it was Daisy who rolled her eyes. 

“I thought, husband, that you had learned by now I do not follow society’s rules,” she pointed out, her smile continuing to grow. “If you believe you can take it easy and spend most of my labour drinking with your friends, then you are quite mistaken.” 

“If you believe I would ever leave you in such a vulnerable position, then it is you who is mistaken, Mrs Radcliffe,” Philip assured her, and he took her hand from beneath her stomach, using his free one to support her belly while he lifted her knuckles to his lips to kiss them with affection, gazing into her glimmering eyes, which were still filled with excitement. “Why do I have the feeling there is something you are not telling me?” 

At his question, his wife looked about fit to burst, and finally, she removed her other hand from behind her back. 

“Mr. Pilling’s son arrived with it just an hour ago!” she exclaimed, shoving the leather-bound book into his hands. Her excitement was palpable now, and Philip gasped the moment he saw the name Daisy Radcliffe written across the front. 

“A beginner’s guide to medicine for women!” Philip exclaimed, reading the title of the book that had been almost a year in writing. He flipped through several pages, amazed at the detail and the illustrations, gob smacked even though he was well aware just how intelligent his wife was. 

“I cannot wait to read it!” he announced, already beginning to read the first few pages. 

“Philip, you read the manuscript cover to cover.” Daisy chuckled, offering him an incredulous expression. “Though I do believe there is one thing you have missed.” 

Having skipped past the table of contents and the introduction, Philip watched with fascination as his wife took the book from him and returned to the very first page, the dedication page. 

When she spun it around and placed it back in his hands, she instructed him, “Read it aloud, please.”

“This book is dedicated to my husband, Philip Radcliffe, the son of the Duke of Elgin, who has been my tutor, my friend, and my greatest support. I could not have written this book without his help,” Philip read as Daisy read the words aloud as if she remembered them by heart. 

Philip’s own heart swelled as he read them and even felt tears pricking the corners of his eyes. 

“Oh, Daisy, I do believe that this is the most beautiful, most valuable book I have ever laid my hands upon,” he announced, looking at her with all the love and affection that had only grown and grown since they first promised themselves to each other. 

Daisy stood proudly and said, “You are now the husband to a published author, Mr Radcliffe. How does that make you feel?” 

The pride and happiness on his wife’s face threatened to floor him, and he leaned forward to press his lips to her cheek before he whispered into her ear, “It makes me mightily proud. We must celebrate. “ 

Daisy returned his kiss with one of her own upon his lips before she announced, “Then you shall be pleased to know that I have already invited all of our family to dine with us this evening.” 

Philip’s heart skipped at beat at that. His idea of celebrating had been retiring to their bedchambers so that he could offer her a massage and an early night, to help her off her swollen ankles and give her rest before her impending labour. 

“Are you certain that is a good idea, my love?” he asked, offering her the book back so that he could place both his hands upon her stomach once more. “Will having our entire family here not tire you out?” 

“I am certain I can handle one dinner,” Daisy replied with a scolding tone. She looked at him with a deep scowl upon her face and added, “Besides, it has been so long since we have all been together in one room and it is not often we are all in Oxford at the same time. It seems too good an opportunity to miss.” 

Determined not to upset his heavily pregnant wife, Philip smiled and kissed her cheek. “As you wish, my love, so it shall be.” 

And so that evening they welcomed their entire family into their home. Both their fathers arrived with their wives, Philip’s brother and sister arrived with their partners and their children, Bertha and her husband also came, and even Jennifer and her husband joined them. 

There were several questions about why they had all been gathered there, and it appeared that half the family had thought they would arrive to the surprise that Daisy had gone into labour earlier than anticipated. Several of the women looked quite shocked to see her still round with child and up and about. 

Petunia’s boys seemed unconcerned with the impending arrival of their cousin while the son and daughter of Philip’s elder brother appeared most excited to hopefully have another little girl to play with one day. 

“We shall have to wait another few weeks to be sure,” Philip had told them all with a smile, reassuring all the adults as he and his wife welcomed them into the dining hall. And when they all finally sat at the table, looking like one very large and very happy family, Philip rose to his feet and started to speak once more. “I am sure that by now you are all wondering why my wife and I have invited you here this evening. “ 

“Yes, Philip, and I know I speak for everyone when I say we are all quite disappointed not to be meeting my grandson this evening!” his mother announced from halfway down the table where she was sitting beside Lady Balfour. Though the two had not got on for some time after Daisy’s stepmother’s involvement in keeping them apart, the two appeared to be becoming much closer at the prospect of sharing a grandchild. 

“Mama, you are well aware there is no way of knowing whether we have a son or daughter until they arrive,” Philip reminded her before adding, “and you well know that Daisy has already requested your presence when the day does come. I hardly think you would only just be finding out if our little one had arrived this day.”

The Countess of Elgin looked quite pleased with her son’s answer, and all fell utterly silent as they awaited the news that Philip and Daisy had to share with them. 

“My wife and I have brought you here tonight because we wish to celebrate a monumental  achievement,” Philip announced, and he reached out to place his hand upon his wife’s shoulder as she sat at his right hand. He then gestured the butler forward with his free hand and the man stepped forth to hold up the book that Daisy had shared with him only a few hours earlier. 

At first, their family looked quite confused, several of them squinting from the far end of the table before the butler began to walk around the table to show everyone. 

“Papa, has Auntie Daisy written a book?” Petunia’s eldest son asked as he read the name of the author upon the leather cover. 

“I thought only men could write books,” the second son commented, and Philip glanced quickly at his wife, concerned on how she might react. The moment he saw her, he knew he ought not have worried. 

“Anyone can write a book, Reggie, if they are so inclined to do so,” she announced with a happy smile, though it was clear from the way she leaned back in her chair with her hand atop her stomach that she was already quite uncomfortable. 

“I want to be like Auntie Daisy and write a book!” Olivia, Philip’s niece announced eagerly, and Philip couldn’t help laughing as the little girl was only five and had not yet properly learned to read and write. 

“Then perhaps one day you shall if you put your mind to it,” Daisy assured her. For a moment Philip worried that his brother or his brother’s wife might scold Daisy for putting fanciful thoughts in their daughter’s head, but when he looked at them, they were both smiling as proudly as anyone else at the table. 

“Philip, son, might I have a moment to speak?” 

The question came from Lord Balfour, and although they had always shared a fine relationship, Philip was still surprised to be called son by the man, especially after the circumstances with which he had become just that. 

“Of course,” Philip assured him and sitting back in his seat, he gestured for his father-in-law to take the attention of the room. 

Lord Balfour stood, pushing his chair back with the backs of his knees and clearing his throat as he straightened his dinner jacket. The man who had grown a few shades greyer since they had first met, ran his fingers through his hair before finally raising his wine glass from the table and saying, “I wish to propose a toast, if I may?” 

He looked respectfully over to Philip, awaiting the man of the house’s permission. Pleased by this, Philip smiled and nodded, intrigued to know what the duke might wish to toast. 

“I wish to toast my daughter, Mrs Daisy Radcliffe, on a most glorious accomplishment,” he announced, and everyone raised their glass to cheers to his words even before he could finish what he was saying. “You have made me prouder than I ever hoped to be, Daisy.” 

And just when Philip thought he might stop and sit down, the duke turned to Bertha and Thomas who were sitting at the very far end of the table beside Jennifer and her husband, where Daisy had placed them so not to upset Lady Balfour who appeared to have come to terms with her daughters marriages though still at times was quite sensitive on the matter. 

“I also wish to toast  my youngest, Bertha,” the duke announced. “The two of you have shown me that women are quite as capable as us men for going after what we want in life, and I am extremely proud of you both and the fine gentlemen that you have chosen to align yourselves with.” 

Philip watched out of the corner of his eye for any sign that Lady Balfour did not agree with what her husband was saying, but to his astonishment, he found that she was smiling, raising her glass as though she wholeheartedly agreed. 

“You have shown that young women can be a most valuable part of our society,” the duke continued to gush, and when it was clear that he was beginning to grow overly emotional, his wife began to urge him down. 

Philip was even more surprised when Lady Balfour looked at him and asked, “Perhaps I might add to my husband’s words?” 

Anticipation and a little reluctance edged Philip’s tone as he nodded and said, “Certainly, Lady Balfour.” 

Though she did not get up from her chair as her husband had, she did lift her wine glass, turning her full attention to Daisy in the process. 

“Daisy, though I am well aware we have not always seen eye to eye in the past,” the lady said, her words clear and genuine, “I wish for you to know that I am as proud of you as ever your father has been and I hope that we can all put the past behind us as we await the newest member of our family and the newest chapter in all our lives.” 

As she said those final words, she turned her gaze down to the end of the table and looked at Bertha hopefully. When nobody said a word, everyone seeming to hold their breath, Lady Balfour added, “And Tom, though I have not always been pleased at your joining our family, I wish you to know that I have noticed the happiness you have placed in my daughter, and I wish you both the best.” 

The silence spread through the room once more, and Philip’s back grew so tense it was almost painful. He was most relieved when Thomas finally lifted his glass in return to Lady Balfour and said, “Thank you, Duchess.” 

“Perhaps we might both begin calling you mother now?” Philip suggested lightheartedly in the hopes of easing some of the tension in the room. 

“I would not go that far!” Lady Balfour exclaimed, but when she started to laugh, everyone else joined her, and Philip felt the atmosphere beginning to shift. Finally, he felt as though he could breathe properly for the very first time since his wedding day, having been well aware of the conflicts their marriage had caused with certain members of the family. 

“Now that is all aired out,” Lord Elgin announced with good humour, “might I say that I am famished?” 

Again, everyone began to laugh heartily and Lord Balfour reminded his friend, “Harold, you are always famished and yet your waistline always appears to be growing!” 

Had the words come from anyone else, the earl might have taken offence, yet the two men glared at each other playfully as Harold responded, “I do believe you need to look in the mirror, old friend!” 

“I thought we had come here for a nice family dinner?” Harold Junior, Philip’s elder brother exclaimed, and again, everyone laughed. Relief washed over Philip once more as he came to realise that the wounds of the past were finally beginning to heal. 

“Please, bring in the first course before my father begins to waste away,” he instructed the butler with great humour, and the entire table fell into easy conversation. Even the children who were not ordinarily invited to share the adults’ table for such occasions were trying their best to keep up with all the topics and jokes. 

It was after the first few courses had been demolished, while they were waiting for dessert to be served, that Philip placed his hand on Daisy’s on the table and leaned over to whisper in her ear, “Are you happy, my love?” 

Daisy turned to him with a look of quiet confusion, looking as if she were shocked he would even need to ask such a thing. Squeezing his fingers in return, she smiled and assured him, “I am the happiest that I have ever been.” 

Kissing her upon the cheek, he whispered again, “Then you are not unhappy that you have been forced to marry?” 

He wiggled his brow at her, having shared similar conversations before. 

“Oh, Philip, haven’t you come to realise that it is you who was forced into marriage and not I?” Daisy replied, the amusement in her tone quite clear. Together they laughed until Philip felt like his ribs were going to break, and finally, he replied. 

“If I had known being forced into marriage would be this good, I would have entered into it years ago.” He chuckled, and Daisy sucked in a breath, tapping him scoldingly. 

“If that were so, then you might well have missed me, Mr Radcliffe,” she pointed out, and Philip squeezed her silken gloved hand as he looked her right in the eye and stated, “Then I am most glad that I waited for just the right woman to come along.” 

“And I am glad I waited for the right man in which to help me pop out babies,” Daisy whispered quietly but clearly in Latin into his ear, reminding him of one of the very first conversations they had shared together and one of the many reasons for which he had fallen in love with her. 

“You are a terror, Mrs Radcliffe. Whatever shall I do with you?” he exclaimed, and the suggestive look she offered him in response was enough to make them both chuckle. “I am afraid you shall have to wait for that, My Lady.”

“Philip, would the two of you stop acting as though the rest of us aren’t here and tell us when you are finally going to get that degree of yours?” his brother called from the middle of the table, reminding Philip that they did indeed have guests. 

With one final squeeze of his wife’s hand, Philip breathed in love and happiness, and turned to respond to his brother, feeling for the first time as if everything had finally fallen into the perfect place in his life. Looking down at all the happy and smiling faces, he knew without a doubt that no matter what came next, they would all share in it together as one united family. 

Even as he responded to his brother, he couldn’t help thinking of the days over two years ago when he had sat in his classroom, watching the strawberry blonde mystery woman from the window. Back then, he was certain, if someone had told him that he would one day be married to her, he would never have believed them. She is much too beautiful a woman for the likes of me, he might have told them, and yet here he was, made quite possibly the happiest man in the world.

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