Epilogue
TWO MONTHS LATER
“Louisa, I feel as if I haven’t seen you in months,” Alexandra said, embracing her sister.
Louisa laughed. “Well, it’s so difficult for me to get out of the house these days!
Rosemary keeps me very busy, as you can imagine.
But Cedric and I are so glad to have you all here this week.
It means the world to us that you came.” She winked.
“I’m looking forward to spending some time really getting to know this new husband of yours.
I know him mostly by reputation right now. ”
Alexandra laughed. “If all you have to go on is his reputation then I’m afraid you don’t know Hector at all,” she said. “He’s nothing like we feared.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Though you know I’ve never set much store by the opinions of the ton,” Louisa added. “It’s our sisters’ opinions I refer to when I say I’ve heard about his reputation. They have plenty of opinions, and I trust those are a little more balanced than society gossip.”
“Perhaps a little,” Alexandra was forced to concede.
Her sisters could certainly be gossips—that was undeniable.
And yet she knew they had, for the most part, been quicker to warm to Hector than she herself had.
She recalled Evelina telling her to take a risk and trust her husband.
Not something a sister would have said if she didn’t have faith that there was something about him worth trusting.
“Look at how Eliza leads those boys around,” Louisa said, indicating Evelina’s stepdaughter—Gabriel’s from his first marriage. Eliza had organized some sort of game with Evelina’s and Margaret’s sons and was giving instructions. “They follow her like ducklings, don’t they?”
“They certainly do,” Alexandra agreed fondly.
“I suspect that by next year, Rosemary will have joined their brood. And by the year after that, Margaret’s new baby will be a part of things as well.
” Margaret was currently expecting her second child, and Alexandra thought her elder sister looked positively radiant.
“And what about the year after that?” Louisa asked, raising an eyebrow at Alexandra.
“The year after that?” Alexandra repeated. “I’m not sure what you mean, Louisa.”
“What I mean is, when can we expect your first child? Now that you and your husband are so happy together, I assume you’ll be talking about starting your own family.
I can’t wait to see your baby, and to add your son or daughter to this little collection we sisters have begun.
” She beamed. “Aren’t you excited for it? ”
Alexandra laughed. “Don’t rush me, Louisa.”
“Well, I’m not trying to rush you! But come along, now, even Flick has had puppies. We’re all starting our families. It’s time for you to join us in that.”
“I may do so when I feel ready,” Alexandra said. “But not until then. One of the wonderful things about Hector is that he isn’t rushing me or pressuring me. He’s allowing me to come to things in my own time.”
“Well, that is lovely, of course,” Louisa said. “But surely you want a child? I know you’ve had hesitations, but isn’t it different now that you’re married to a husband you truly love?”
“It is,” Alexandra agreed, surprised that she found herself able to admit that so readily. It really was different now. And while she was in no particular hurry about it, she did imagine herself having a child with Hector.
There was plenty of time.
“Ah,” Louisa said. “Here comes Father.”
Alexandra felt herself grow tense at the realization that her father was drawing near. Even though things had been much better between the two of them as of late, she was still hesitant about being around him.
But he defended me when Benedict harassed me, she reminded herself. He took it upon himself to come and tell Hector what had happened, and it’s really thanks to him that Benedict was forced out of the country, and I’ll never have to see him again.
It had been a complicated relationship to be sure, but she could no longer tell herself that her father didn’t care for her. He did. He always had.
He approached and put his hand on her arm. Alexandra couldn’t help noticing the pallor in his cheeks. She recalled what Penelope had told her, that he hadn’t been well lately, and frowned. “Perhaps we ought to sit down, Father,” she said.
“That would be welcome,” he agreed, offering her a smile.
She led him over to a pair of chairs, and they sank into them. Her father closed his eyes briefly. “It’s good to be off my feet,” he murmured. “Never grow old, Alexandra.”
Alexandra chuckled. “You’re not so old, Father,” she said, but she couldn’t suppress an undercurrent of worry. Suddenly, he did look old. She hadn’t ever thought of him as such, not really, but his face was lined and weathered, and he looked truly exhausted.
It hadn’t occurred to her that her father’s well-being was something she might have to worry about. She never had before.
But she felt differently about him now than she ever had before. Finally, she was seeing what her sisters had been telling her. He really had changed, and that change really was for the better.
“Alexandra, I know it’s been said, but I really do owe you an apology for the way things have been between the two of us,” her father said.
“You don’t owe me anything,” she told him.
“No, I do. I’m your father,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to take care of you, and I haven’t done that. Not really. I’m so glad everything has worked out for the best, but I can’t take much credit for that. I just hope that you can forgive me.”
She wanted to say there was nothing to forgive, but there was, of course.
She settled for reaching over and taking his hand in hers.
“You and I are going to be all right, Father,” she murmured.
“I know you told Hector about that awful brother of his. I know it’s because of you that he’s gone now, and I’m grateful for that.
Truly. Thank you. It means the world to me.
I never expected anyone to get involved on my behalf, and you did.
You saved me every bit as much as Hector did. ”
He smiled. “You’re my daughter,” he said. “I love you. I always have, even if I haven’t shown it as I should. I’ll always be there for you, and I’ll always do what I can to protect you, no matter what.”
Alexandra couldn’t deny that she still felt some reservations about her relationship with her father.
But things were certainly on the mend. And seeing him like this, with age and illness rising to claim him, made her want to repair what had so long been broken.
“Maybe Hector and I can spend more time at your home,” she said.
“Or even just me, by myself. I would like that, if you would.”
“I think that would be very nice,” her father said.
“What would be very nice?” Hector approached and took the seat next to Alexandra, taking her hand in his. “I’ve been lookin’ for ye,” he added. “Cedric’s been talkin’ me ear off about…” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
She knew exactly what he meant, for they had discussed the fact that they were likely to receive questions about their family plans before they’d made the journey here.
“Louisa has been asking me the same thing,” she said, grateful to him for not naming what that thing was in front of her father.
She didn’t know what his reaction would be, and in truth, it wasn’t something she felt ready to address with him.
Not yet. Not when they were just barely on speaking terms again.
She would make her decision in this area without any input from him.
“I think we’d do well to distract them,” Hector said.
“Father and I were just discussing the fact that I might like to spend more time at his home, visiting him and Penelope,” she said.
“Aye, that could be arranged,” Hector agreed. “Ye’re well aware I’ll do whatever it takes for ye to be happy, Alexandra, and if that means more time with yer faither then that’s what we’ll do.”
She beamed at him. “It means the world to me, Hector,” she said.
“And perhaps you could come stay there with me sometimes.” She’d be happier if he did, she realized.
Even though she was mending her relationship with her father, she would feel more at ease having Hector by her side.
Perhaps she would always feel more at ease with him by her side.
That was an odd realization. Even after all the time they had spent building their relationship into something as good and healthy as it was, the fact that she felt so comfortable with, and comforted by, her husband still had the potential to surprise her.
So much has changed lately that it’s difficult to believe.
Now, Penelope joined them. She was holding a small tea cake, and she took a bite of it as she sat down. “You have to try these, Alexandra,” she said. “They’re wonderful.”
“They do look fine,” Alexandra agreed.
“Louisa says Cedric’s brother Dorian will be returning from war soon,” Penelope reported. “She says that he’ll be looking for his wife in the coming season.”
“Someone for ye to spend time with at balls, perhaps?” Hector asked her.
“Oh, no.” Penelope glanced at her father. “I’ll not be attending any balls. Not for now. Maybe next season, but not this one.”
“Penelope,” her father said, and Alexandra sensed that he was gearing up to deliver a lecture that would turn into an argument between the two of them.
She rose to her feet and beckoned to Hector, wanting to allow her family to keep their affairs somewhat private. “Why don’t we go and see the garden?” she suggested. “The roses should be in bloom.”
Hector followed her obligingly. She led him through the back doors and out onto the garden path, and only when they were a good distance away did she stop and turn to face him.
“Thank you for coming with me,” she said. “I just know they were about to get into a debate over whether she ought to participate in this season. I think she should, but I also understand—she wants to be with Father right now. She wants to focus on his care.”
“Ye wouldnae have had any sympathy for that a few months ago,” Hector noted.
“You’re right,” Alexandra agreed. “A lot has changed since then.”
They stopped walking and turned to face one another. Hector smiled down at her and reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.
“For the better,” Alexandra murmured. “All of it for the better.”
“Aye, for the better.”
He let his hands slide down her arms until he was holding her hands in his.
She searched his gaze, amazed by how open it was.
It was difficult to believe this was the same man who had stepped up to marry her all those months ago, frightening her out of her wits and making her doubt what her future held.
It was difficult to believe that she had fallen so fiercely in love with him.
But she had. And she was thankful for it every single day.
When he pulled her close, she allowed it to happen and tipped her face up to his, feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin. His lips met hers, and that warmth spread all through her body. She allowed herself to become entangled in him, losing herself in the scent and the heat and the touch.
They broke apart, and he touched her cheek wonderingly.
“I love ye,” he whispered, and the words burst like a firework within her.
The End?