Epilogue
There were subtle changes before she even saw anything, just a slight shift in the air, the feel, and the smell of it. And then it was as if the sun was shining a little brighter.
Arabella was glued to the window of the carriage as they drew closer to Brighton. She was vibrating with excitement, and though Gerald had managed to take her mind off the long ride using mischievous ways, she was getting more agitated as they moved closer.
“We are almost there.” Gerald left her side and sat across from her.
“Why did you move there?”
“I want to see your face when you see it.”
“See what?”
“Just wait,” Gerald smiled enigmatically.
He was quite surprised when Arabella had told him that she had never been to the sea.
“Gerald, I have seen the sea in paintings and books, so it’s not like I haven’t seen,”
Arabella didn’t finish her sentence because the carriage turned, and there it was. Whatever she was imagining, whatever her mind had conjured, didn’t even come close to what she was looking at.
Her jaw slackened, and her hands lay motionless on her lap. Before her very eyes, a vast blue unraveled like a carpet made of ever-moving, shimmering thread. She had never seen such a thing before.
“There it is,” Gerald said softly.
“I stand corrected. This is the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“I’m happy you’re captivated, you would hate it in Brighton if you didn’t.”
“Captivated? I am mesmerized.”
“Mesmerized? So would you say that you are very lucky that your husband has bought a beautiful house here so you can see this mesmerizing view every day?”
“My husband has made so many mistakes, one after the other, that he had to make amends with a grand romantic gesture.”
“And is it working?”
“Splendidly,” she said with a smile.
“Everything,” Gerald said and took her hands in his, “everything was worth it just to see that smile.”
“Then all you have to do is keep grand romantic gestures coming, and you shall see more of this smile.”
“Sounds like a challenging endeavor.”
“I am quite sure you will rise to the occasion victorious.”
They finally reached the manor that he had bought. It was right at the sea, with a beautiful white stucco front and wide sash windows stretched from floor to near the ceiling. A sweeping balcony ran along the upper level, its ironwork intricate yet restrained, overlooking the restless waters below.
“Is this the house?” Arabella asked in pure wonder.
“Do you like it?” Gerald asked, agitated, as if everything was hanging in the balance of her answer.
Arabella managed to detach her eyes from the sea to look upon the house once more, and she fell in love with it instantly. She didn’t have to say anything, Gerald was good at reading her face and body, and she was thankful for it.
“Come on, let’s see the inside,” Gerald said and helped her out of the carriage.
They walked inside, and Arabella couldn’t hide her enthusiasm as she squealed. The open spaces, the large windows, the sheer curtains, and the sound of the waves made the house a safe cocoon of cozy happiness.
“You know how much I love the Albury estate,” Arabella started.
“But you love this manor more,” Gerald finished her sentence.
“What can I say? It was love at first sight.”
“Like us?” Gerald teased.
“I can safely say that maybe you didn’t even notice me the first time you saw me, and I can assure you that I hated you back then.”
“And I am in a very good position to tell you that I did notice you that first time I saw you, and I know for a fact that you did too.”
Arabella laughed, and her gurgling laughter mixed with the sound of the sea made the most beautiful of melodies.
She was still looking outside at the view when Gerald came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His chin rested on her shoulder before he turned and left a sweet kiss on her neck.
“You can change anything you want,” Gerald whispered in her ear. “This house is ours alone, and we begin our legacy here together.”
Arabella placed her hand over his as he was still holding her tight.
“I would follow you everywhere, even if you didn’t have the silk carpets or the ebony tables. I hope you know that,” Arabella replied.
“I am very sure that you didn’t marry me for my money, because you were aware of my financial situation when you were trying so hard to avoid marrying me.”
“And look how splendidly that plan worked out,” Arabella scoffed.
“And I have never been happier to see a plan fail.” Gerald smiled against her skin.
He placed one kiss on her neck and then another. Then he licked the skin behind her ear, taking her earlobe between his lips.
“Perhaps I should show you the bedroom,” Gerald growled in her ear. “You must be exhausted from the trip.”
Arabella leaned into his touch, gasping for air. His hold around her waist became insistent, pulling her back to his front, flush against him. She could feel that Gerald hadn’t been affected by their trip, not in the slightest.
“And it seems, your grace,” she replied, panting, “that you wish to exhaust me even more.”
His hands moved from her waist up to her breasts, teasing the hard peaks he could feel over her clothes.
“Gerald…” she whimpered into his touch.
“I have instructed the staff to leave the house empty for the day,” he murmured in her ear.
“That was very…” Arabella was struggling to contain a semblance of coherence, “very thoughtful.”
“Yes, I wanted to make sure you thoroughly examined every nook and cranny of the house.”
Arabella was shaking against him, her head leaning back on his chest, his hands still torturing her curves. She turned suddenly and found herself face-to-face with him.
She looked up into his eyes, and it was as if a spark hit powder. He lifted her by the thighs and placed her on a reading nook with the tall window overlooking the blue waves.
“Let us make this house our own, Arabella,” he said into her neck.
“When I am with you, every place is my home,” she sighed.
He stopped and looked up at her, deep into her eyes. Arabella smiled softly and said nothing, just looked at him with all her emotions open. She was telling the truth. Nothing mattered but just being with him.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” he caressed her hair.
“Allow me to think,” she teased. “Do you need a total tally or just the daily sum?”
“Fine, your grace,” his look got darker. “Tease your husband. I have my ways to make you pay for this insolence.”
A sweet shiver came over her body. His methods of payment were quite delicious indeed. She would love nothing more than to be indebted to him forever.
“Maybe I should open a tab, your grace,” Arabella said, mischief in her eyes.
“No,” he kissed her neck while his hands went for the hem of her skirts. “I demand payment in full. No credit for you.”
His hands went up her thighs and lifted her just enough to align himself with her core. And when they joined together, he looked at her deep in her eyes.
“I love you, Arabella.”
“I love you too.”
* * *
It had been weeks since they first arrived in Brighton. Arabella was looking at the sun reflecting on the sea. Every day that she looked upon that sea, it was as if she were seeing it for the first time.
She was sitting by their favorite spot in the whole house, which was none other than that reading nook where he had first told her he loved her, inside the house that was only for them, without the hurt that sometimes his ancestral house brought to him, the house filled with new, happy memories.
“So, are you ready for our little walk around the pier?” Gerald walked in, fully clothed.
She turned and looked at him as the sun filtered through, making his eyes look even greener.
“Arabella, how are you not ready?” Gerald complained. “Do you need help from Winnie?”
“Come sit here with me.”
Gerald stiffened when he heard the tone of her voice. He was right to be, she wasn’t even sure that she was recognizing her own voice.
“Are you feeling under the weather?” Gerald rushed to her side.
Arabella smiled because she knew exactly what was going through his mind.
He had been hiding from happiness for so long because he thought he didn’t deserve it, and now he does not believe that he will get to keep all this.
So no matter how happy he is, he is constantly worried, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I would like to talk,” Arabella said, her voice trembling.
She tried to be composed because she could see the terror in his eyes. The truth be told, she was not completely calm herself.
“What did I do?” he asked as he took his place next to her. “Whatever it is, you tell me, and I will make it right.”
“Well, you did do something,” Arabella muttered.
“I know I’m not very good at this,” Gerald took her hands in his. “In fact, I am quite terrible at this. Tell me what I did, and I will make sure it never happens again.”
“If I’m honest,” Arabella teased, “I should like for this to happen a few more times, perhaps.”
Gerald frowned in confusion.
“Excuse me, but you’re not making sense, Bella.”
“I am trying to tell you that you did something that honestly cannot be reversed, but I don’t really mind because perhaps we can endeavor to do it again.”
“You’re frightening me,” Gerald said honestly. “If I can’t fix it, so it’s permanent, but you don’t mind doing it again? Is this some kind of riddle?”
Arabella smirked at him. Gerald felt more relaxed since she had a playful disposition, which meant he was not in a hot seat, and yet confusion lingered. It was amusing seeing the Duke this confused, it was a rare occurrence.
“Gerald,” Arabella said, having decided that she had tortured him long enough, “what you have done is permanent. We are both responsible for this, and we won’t see the consequences for nine months at least.”
Gerald looked at her in confusion for just a moment before realization dawned on him. Arabella watched him go from agitated to perplexed before his face bloomed into something beautiful, a wide smile, the widest she had ever seen on him.
“Arabella?”
“Gerald?”
“Please stop teasing me and speak plainly.”
“I had the idea when we were out on the pier, but then I thought if you fainted, we wouldn’t be able to carry you back.”
“Arabella, for the love of God,” he begged.
“Perhaps we should call for a physician, but honestly,” she looked at him with a wide smile, “I can feel it.”
“You are…” Gerald couldn’t even bring himself to say it out loud.
“Yes, Gerald,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes. “We are expecting.”
A long gasp left his lips. He looked at her in total disbelief, not even daring to think that his happiness would be so full. He moved so fast she didn’t even see when he knelt in front of her. He took her hands in his and searched her face.
“We are…?” he said softly, as if the moment would burst.
“Yes, Gerald,” she confirmed, and she couldn’t keep her eyes from tearing. “I am pregnant.”
He exhaled as if he were holding his breath for years, which in a sense was true. One hand moved to cup her face, stroking her cheek in a slow, tender motion. The other hand was placed softly on her stomach.
“A baby,” he said as if to himself. “Is this true?”
Arabella let her fingers go through his hair and then caressed his face tenderly. It made her heart swell to see him so happy.
“You shouldn’t be so surprised with the outcome,” Arabella said, smirking teasingly. “We have been quite devoted to the procedure, so we shouldn’t be so surprised by the outcome.”
Gerald threw his head back and laughed loudly. He did that more often lately, even before he knew of the pregnancy. And right there and then, Arabella promised to herself and to him and to their unborn child that she would make sure they would always find happiness, even in the darkest of days.
“I love you so much, Gerald,” she said and placed her hand over his on her stomach.
“I love you too, more than words can ever describe, but I will make sure my actions speak loud enough.”
He got up and, with a soft, tender move, picked her up and placed her on his lap as he sat down.
The look on his face was that of utter happiness, and Arabella realized that keeping the promise she had just given to their family would be easier to keep than she thought.
She was just sure that no matter what, they would manage to find joy.
The End?