Epilogue
“Fitzroy already tied it, Honora,” Leonard said, fighting a smile. Her head bobbed in front of him as she straightened his already impeccable cravat knot. She loved fussing over him. And as her husband, who was he to stop her?
With an impatient huff, her eyes flicked up to his. “It was crooked.”
“I don’t think it was.”
She straightened, ready for war until she saw his smile. “I only want us to look our best.”
“Are you nervous?” Leonard put his arms around her back, pulling her close. She didn’t fight him. Instead, she propped her chin on his shoulder and nestled in.
“I am,” she admitted. “I haven’t met Charles, Rowan, or their wives. What if they don’t like me? What if they have heard—”
Leonard took her shoulders in his grasp and pulled her back so he could look into her eyes. “They will love you.”
Her shoulders drooped. “How do you know that?”
“Because everyone loves you. You even won over my parents, and that is no easy feat.”
Honora’s chin lifted. “That is true. And I won your heart, which is also no small feat.”
“See?” He ran his fingers along the exposed skin on her arm. “You have nothing to worry about.”
She gave her lip one final chew before taking another step back and twirling in a circle. “How do I look? Presentable?”
Leonard’s eyes washed over her deep blue evening dress. Slowly.
“Leonard,” she said. “If you keep looking at me like that, we will never make it to Andrew and Sophie’s on time.”
“We can be late.” He took a step closer to her, lifting a curl from her neck and placing his lips against her throat.
She paused, a small sigh escaping before she pushed him back. “No. We must go.”
He stumbled back with a huff. “Fine, but you cannot blame a man for trying.”
She glared at him, then turned toward the mirror and fiddled with her hair again.
Part of Leonard wished she wouldn’t worry so much, but he understood.
How could he blame her when this world was still so new to her?
All he could do was love her the best he could through it all.
And appreciate everything she had done for him and his family.
Now, they were closer than they had ever been.
Close being a relative word. Honora had convinced them with her smiles and charms that Samuel would thrive with more outings.
And amazingly, over time, they had listened.
And Leonard had listened as well. While he still did not agree with everything his parents did or the way they went about it, he was no longer so bitter and angry inside.
If Honora could learn and grow from her past—of which Leonard now knew so much more—then how could he not rise above his circumstances as well?
“All right,” Honora said, nodding. “I think I am ready.”
“Let us go.” Leonard put his hand to her back, leading her to the door.
When they made it downstairs, Samuel was entering through the front door, a circle of pink on each of his cheeks and his light brown hair mussed.
They had caught him just after his daily walk.
“I appear to have made it back in time to see you off,” he said, coming over and giving Honora and then Leonard a quick embrace. ”
Leonard pulled back and took in his brother’s frame, now stronger and sturdier than it had been eight months ago. The progress was minimal and slow, but Leonard was grateful for every day he grew stronger.
“Why don’t you come with us,” Honora suggested, clasping Samuel’s arm. She had taken up the role of sister like it was the most natural thing in the world for her. Though sometimes she seemed to forget Samuel was the older brother. But he always took it in stride.
Samuel shook his head. “No. You two go. I’ve tagged along enough.”
“Never enough.” Honora grinned. “But I will allow it this time.”
Leonard again pushed her toward the door, knowing she would need a bit of encouragement to get on their way. He threw a smile at his brother over his shoulder, then Evans handed them their things—Leonard’s hat and gloves and a shawl for Honora. Evans loaded their trunk on the back.
Honora tucked herself against his side once in the carriage, pulling a blanket across their laps. “Are you excited to see the estate and school all finished?” she asked, breaking the quiet.
“I am,” Leonard said with a nod. “Andrew and Sophie have put so much work into it, and I’m glad we can celebrate the finished product with them.”
Honora didn’t reply, staring mutely out the window instead. But something was working in that mind of hers. Instead of pressing her about it, he wrapped his arm about her and held her close, content to just be with her in the quiet.
Thirty minutes later, they were crunching their way over the drive toward the estate. When they came to a stop, Leonard descended first, then offered a hand to his wife. He was pleased to see the trepidation was missing from her features and in its place, a gleam of intrigue.
Leonard handed the doorman his card and was immediately escorted inside.
They were shown down the hall to a private, comfortable, drawing room.
As his eyes swept over the room, he noticed several of his friends and their wives were already seated—Ambrose and Susanna, Andrew and Sophie, and Charles and Marie.
And while the room that encompassed them was by no means opulent, it had a certain charm that made one feel welcomed.
“Leonard,” Andrew said, springing to his feet.
Before Andrew could utter anything else, Charles stood. “You’ve had your chance to heckle him. I, however, have not.” He turned to look at Leonard with a smile that greatly reminded him of Tristan. They were twins after all.
Leonard and Honora walked further into the room, and Leonard clasped her hand in his, giving it a small squeeze.
“So, you are the lady to win over the gloomiest man in London,” Charles said, smiling.
Leonard grinned, taking the tease in stride. “Charles, this is my wife, Mrs. Honora Stanton.”
Charles dipped into a ridiculous bow, making Honora’s own face light with a large smile.
“My pleasure, Mrs. Stanton,” Charles said. “And might I introduce my wife, Mrs. Marie Shepherd.” A tall, slender woman with dark hair and eyes sidled up to Charles.
She offered a quick dip to Honora. “A pleasure to meet you.”
Honora’s smile widened. “A pleasure to meet you as well.”
Everyone else made their greetings, then took their seats. Soon, Tristan and Caroline arrived, as well as Rowan and Arabella. The only one missing from their meeting was Thomas, the instigator of it all.
“Look at us,” Tristan said, relaxing into his seat. “It’s been just over a year and all of us have married.”
“I can hardly believe it,” Charles agreed. “While I didn’t have a choice in the matter,” he said, throwing a wink to his wife, “the rest of you fell rather easily. I’m more than a bit disappointed in everyone’s lack of ability to withstand the allure of a good woman.”
Mrs. Susanna Hartley leaned forward, meeting the eye of Mrs. Marie Shepherd. “Is he always this incorrigible?" Her voice held a note of teasing.
Charles's wife shook her head with a wry grin. “Yes.” Then she shot a wink back at her husband.
A scoff rose from Ambrose. “It was not easy in the least.”
In response, his wife Susanna seemed to be fighting a smile. “Only because your plans were terrible.”
“Not terrible. Perhaps shortsighted where you were concerned,” Ambrose drolled. “Though, in the end, it all worked out to our benefit, wouldn’t you say?” He raised a triumphant grin to his wife.
“I am of Ambrose’s mind,” Andrew said, his brow furrowing. “While I loved Sophie for years,” he enunciated, “it took some time to get her to love me back.”
Sophie’s mouth fell open as her head swung toward Andrew. “That is not true.”
“It is, too,” he insisted, eyes wide.
Sophie lightly rolled her eyes. “I believe it was two weeks. That is not so long.”
“Well, it felt like an age.” Andrew grinned as Sophie’s hand smacked him on the chest.
“I think I win this competition,” Tristan said, arm draped over his wife’s shoulder. “I asked Caroline to marry me, and she flat-out refused me.” He glanced at her. “What did you say, exactly? You would sooner marry a toad?”
Caroline covered her mouth as a laugh snuck out. “Goodness, did I really say that? I suppose I have to rescind the threat.”
“At least you all had a choice,” Marie Shepherd cut in. “I was forced to marry the most childish man, who then planned to annul our marriage.”
“And how lucky you are that I made you fall in love with me instead.” Charles beamed proudly. “It really wasn’t that hard. All I had to do was move a few trunks about the house so she could admire me.”
Marie laughed, then tilted her head as she studied Charles's frame, taking his teasing in stride and joining in with the joke.
Rowan took a deep breath, as if readying for a speech. “I had to rid my wife of the wrong man before she would consider me.”
Arabella lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “You might have attempted poetry instead of your half-absurd theatrics.”
Rowan slipped his arm around her shoulders. “But surely the ability to quote verse and provide entertainment recommends me as a most well-rounded husband?”
She sighed. “I regret speaking this aloud, but . . . yes. I suppose it does.”
Rowan’s brow suddenly puckered. He rose to his feet and strode over to the small bookshelf on the far wall. “Andrew, these books are in horrendous condition.” He turned back to the cluster of them. “Please tell me these are not a product of your own purchase.”
Andrew narrowed his eyes, as if that would help him better see the spines along the wall.
But before he could retort, Sophie interjected, “That would be my doing, Mr. Ashworth. I salvaged those from the previous owner’s collection.
The rest are over in the library that will be used by the students. ”
Rowan’s mouth turned down, but he nodded as if seeing the merit in such a decision.