Bonus content: Falling on a Duke

December 2025

It's been two years since I traveled back to my time, only to say goodbye to my sister and return permanently to the arms of the woman I love.

Isabella and I are now married, and our first daughter, whom we decided to name Melissa, will be born by the end of this month. Since our friends are traveling during these last two weeks of the year, we’ll stay home alone awaiting for the baby's birth.

Well... us and Duke, the dog, of course.

He's the one who greets me when I open the flat door after returning from a meeting with my boss. I started working in publishing a few months ago. The job reminds me of the days when I edited articles for the Daily Bath.

I confess that I'm still not used to using computers and digital readers. I print out the documents I need to read and use a pen for my notes—giving up pens was like adapting to boxer shorts, not that difficult.

“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” I greet the dog, who wags his tail at me.

“Ben? Is that you?” I hear Isabella calling from our bedroom.

“I'm home, darling.”

I walk over to her and find her sitting on the bed, focused on her laptop screen. There’s a wrinkle between her eyebrows, indicating concern.

She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.

“What's wrong?”, I ask

She blinks looking away and only then smiles at me.

“Sorry, honey. I was writing in a tense scene. How was your meeting?”

I approach her and give my wife a quick kiss on the lips.

“It went well. I'm going to edit two new books by February.” I touch her protruding belly. “How’s our little one?”

“Restless and eager to be born.”

“How about your story?”

Isabella thinks a bit before answering.

The book she wrote inspired by our love story, “Falling on a Duke,” was published in Brazil by a publishing house. Bella is now working on a new series, but since I don't speak or read in Portuguese, I'll have to learn about the stories only from what she tells me.

“I'm deciding what to do in this second act, so I'll keep you in suspense for now.” She winks at me charmingly. “But I can stop now if it means you'll devote your attention to me, Your Grace.”

Oh, as if I would refuse that suggestion.

So I lean in and bend down, kissing her with all the love I have in me.

***

After dinner, as we do almost every night, Bella and I settled down on the living room sofa to drink some tea.

Bella has Duke on her lap, lying on the armchair with her eyes fixed on the television. Her hands are resting on her belly and she seems more relaxed than ever.

I decided to get a head start on tomorrow's work. Some of the modern information still confuses me, so I put the papers aside and bend over to do some research on the internet.

“Everything okay?” Bella asks me.

“Yes. I just wanted to confirm what exactly a personal stereo is.”

A device that didn't exist in my time, but isn't widely used now either.

“They were popular in the 80s,” Bella explains.

“Yes, I remember them now. There are so many names, and I usually remember better the devices we still use.”

I write something down on the paper, but I feel her gaze still on me.

“What is it, my love?” I ask before finishing writing.

“How do you feel after two years of living in the future?”

I look up at her.

“In the present, you mean.”

“Yes, in the present. We don't talk about it much, and I wonder if you miss home.”

She says the word “saudade” in Portuguese, because there is no equivalent translation in English, but I understand what Bella means.

I think for a moment before answering.

“Well, I miss my sister and Jack, yes. It's... strange that they're no longer with us, even though I know they had a good life. So I like to think that we're just living in different, but parallel times. Does that make sense?"

“Yes, of course.” She smiles at me and takes Duke off her lap, moving closer.

I pull Isabella closer to me and look at her beautiful face.

“Other than that, I'm happier than ever,” I say. “I have you, and that's more than I ever hoped for.” I'm looking forward to meeting our daughter, too. I hope she looks like you.

Bella strokes my hair, brushing it from my forehead.

“What about the title and comfort you gave up?”

“I don't miss any of it. I was rich and lonely, my dear.”

“So you like working and paying bills?”

I laugh, because I have to admit that bills aren't really that much fun.

“I guess there are downsides, but they're worth it.”

Isabella rubs her nose against mine and kisses my lips.

“I really wish Abigail could be here to meet the baby.”

The pain of distance is palpable. I too would love for Abby to meet her new niece. I'm sure she would smile broadly and say that it was good that the girl took after her mother, just to tease me.

Although I hope for the same, since I get grumpy very easily.

"Let's imagine that somehow she knows we're happy. I'll tell Melissa stories about Abigail and Barney.”

“She'll know who her aunt and uncle were. We'll make sure of it.” Isabella smiles and my world lights up.

“I love you, Isabella Waldorf.”

“And I love you, darling Duke.”

My heart is pounding and my love multiplies. The pain dissipates and I just look forward to the years ahead with my family.

I smile, unable to contain myself. And even though it may seem silly, I know that Abigail, wherever she is, is smiling too.