Epilogue
Notfelle Estate, Huntingdonshire
Kitty knelt upon the freshly scythed grass, the lime tree dappling the graves in the summer breeze.
Upon her mother’s grave she set a cup of tea and on Daisy’s a decadent pile of lettuce.
Easing down beside her, Julian rested a bouquet of corncockles at the foot of Andrew Jameson St. Clair’s headstone.
Brought home by his father from Scotland to be with his family, Kitty could hear Andrew in Georgiana and Oliver’s children running over the lawn in the sunshine, some giggling, others arguing over childish concerns.
Today was their son Thomas’s first birthday, named for the man who was surely Kitty’s father, but who Kitty would never pressure for the truth.
They had arrived two days prior from Southampton, where they spent much of the year managing St. Clair Shipwrights.
By the exuberant greeting Kitty had received upon her return to the yard, Julian hadn’t exaggerated Sam and the men mourning the loss of her.
She was also certain that sacking Mr. Adam Turner and reviving her ownership scheme had much to do with it.
Julian set Thomas to his feet and clasped Kitty’s hand. Tommy, as he was affectionately known, bowed and steadied himself, and then stole a piece of lettuce from Daisy’s grave and toddled off.
Julian shook his head, grinning. “What a scoundrel.”
“Just like his father. When was the last relayed how much I love him?”
“It’s been at least an hour. Right before Daniel lifted his leg on the settee.”
Georgiana’s son fancied himself a dog, much to his mother’s exasperation and everyone else’s amusement.
Julian grinned, illuminating her heart brighter than the sun. “I am undeserving of your love. But being the selfish man I am, I gladly take whatever you give, and deceive myself into believing I am worthy.”
“You are worthy.”
“Mm-hmm.” He nudged her nose and pulled her into his arms. They watched Tommy wave the lettuce at Ollie who snatched the leaf and darted off toward to the edge of the wood to tear it to pieces.
Julian nestled his chin atop her head. “You know, we could have had the life we had laid out. Amidst the sprawling fields and woods, in the Fairy, with the wind luffing our sails.”
Kitty knew well of what he spoke. “Do you mourn it?”
“No,” he said and kissed her deeply without caring for their audience. “Because just as you said it would be, I found a better love. We found that love, didn’t we?”
THE END