Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1)

Epilogue Two

"Father, tell me again how you met Mother."

Victoria was sitting in Theo's lap, clutching his arm intently. At seven years old, she was growing a little big to be bouncing on his legs, but he still allowed it. Theo would be the first to admit that he was a pushover when it came to his daughter. She was gazing up at him through the same soulful eyes that his mother had.

It was ironic because, at that moment, Victoria rather looked like her mother did when Theo had happened upon her in St. Giles. Victoria's pinafore was streaked with dirt that she had undoubtedly picked up on some outdoor adventure. And while Mrs. Combs had painstakingly pinned Victoria's hair that morning, now her blonde locks were hanging limply around her face.

Theo thought she looked adorable.

"Well, my little princess," he said, gathering her in his arms. "Your mother was walking in the streets when my carriage drove by, accidentally splashing her with mud. I don't suppose a carriage drove by you today, Victoria?" Theo raised his brows in an appraisal of her dirtied dress. She at least had the good grace to look sheepish before leaning forward with rapt curiosity.

"Was she very upset with you?"

Theo thought back to the first time he had seen Addie. Even though she had been covered in grime, she had just shrugged at him with disinterest when he had popped his head out to apologize.

"In fact," Theo replied, "she wasn't very upset. That was why she intrigued me so."

"What happened next?" Victoria urged him on.

"Well, she seemed rather lost. So, I offered her a place to work and live."

Victoria sighed dramatically. "And then you fell in love."

Theo chuckled and tucked a hair behind her ear. "There were a few other things that happened, but yes, that's the gist of it."

Victoria jumped off his lap and spun around in circles, making her dirtied dress billow around her. They were sitting in the parlor at Bushy House, and Theo suddenly noticed his daughter was trailing mud about the oriental carpet. "One day, I shall find a prince to fall in love with," she declared, and Theo barely refrained from laughing.

"You know, I haven't always been a prince, little one," Theo pointed out.

Victoria's face scrunched up adorably.

"You haven't?"

"No, I used to be a duke. But then, I married your mother. And since she was Queen, I became Prince Consort."

Victoria seemed to consider that for a moment. "Well, then I suppose I could fall in love with a duke, too!" Her determined look was so admirable.

Raising Victoria was an extended test of his willpower. He longed to hide her away from all the harms and horrors of the world. Theo's overprotective nature was so often hard to push away. But Victoria was the future Queen of England, and she needed to be strong without him.

Which, incidentally, she already was.

"Darling, you're going to give your father a heart condition if you keep talking about growing old and falling in love," Addie's voice came from the doorway, immediately drawing Theo's attention. As usual, she was dazzling. Her hair was swept up elegantly, and amongst the golden strands sat a simple crown. She smiled down at him, and Theo's chest involuntarily lurched.

Turning toward Victoria again, Theo said, "Your mother isn't wrong. We can revisit this conversation in, oh, about fifty years."

Victoria fell into a laughing fit on the floor. "Fifty years! I shall be older than even you by then, Father!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Theo gasped, faking indignance. "Even older than me? Why, I am not that old."

"Oh, dear." Mrs. Combs had arrived in the doorway behind Addie. "Your Highness, you have already wrecked your pinafore! That is the third time this week, young lady." The housekeeper held out a hand to Victoria, whose face fell at the admonishment. "Come along," Mrs. Combs urged.

Victoria reluctantly obeyed, following Mrs. Combs through the doorway. Theo couldn't help but chuckle.

One would think that the capable housekeeper might struggle with the realization that the young maid that had once worked for her was, in reality, the queen. But Mrs. Combs had barely batted an eye at the revelation, instead instantly accepting Theo's request to come work for them at Bushy House.

Theo should never wish to play poker with Mrs. Combs.

"I hope you're not encouraging her, Theo," Addie said, giving him a stern look.

Theo stood, striding through the room toward her. "I would never dare. That would mean crossing Mrs. Combs. And you, my dear."

Addie rolled her eyes. "And you've never done that before."

"Of course not," Theo said, simply. But then he winked at her.

The corners of her mouth indented as she repressed a smile, and Theo decided he couldn't keep from kissing her. Because honestly, he would never tire of kissing his wife. His mouth moved across hers, coaxing her to open for him so he could taste inside of her. Addie released a little whimper that was wholly satisfying to Theo, and he continued to devour her lips.

"Theo, we're in the parlor," Addie protested weakly.

"And?" Theo gasped.

"It isn't proper," Addie replied, though she continued to kiss him back.

"You know I've never been very interested in propriety," Theo whispered as he cupped her face and kissed her deeper.

He could feel her smile beneath his lips and broke away, leaning back just long enough to say, "Have I told you today that I love you?"

Addie paused. And then, "I don't believe you have, actually."

"Well, let me remedy that. I love you, Adelaide," he breathed.

Theo loved Addie more every single day. Since becoming queen, she had only grown stronger—in her compassion and in her convictions. But her journey to the throne, the trials she went through, were what created the queen that she was.

The power that she wielded, and the way she used it, was remarkable. Awe-inspiring. Every day, Theo was impressed with Adelaide as a ruler.

But to him, she would always be the Addie that he fell in love with before she ruled.