Epilogue
One Week Later
Michael stood in the place where he had first declared his love for Emmeline as a child, his heart heavy with the feelings that threatened to overwhelm him. He and Emmeline had at long last declared their love for one another and shared an impassioned kiss, but he had avoided her since.
She is wed and belongs to another. Norman Livingston may be in prison, but he is still alive. She will never be mine as long as he draws breath. He prayed that his actions had not already caused her an unrecoverable scandal.
Turning, he walked across the boundary of their neighboring estates and made his way toward the Frampton country manor house.
He found Emmeline and Rebecca embracing and crying in the garden behind the house.
Pausing for a moment to ascertain what might be wrong, he saw that they were smiling, and Colin was standing off to the side, beaming with joy.
“I take it that Rebecca said yes to your proposal,” Michael noted as he approached his cousin.
“She did indeed,” Colin replied, his entire face glowing with the intensity of his happiness.
“Congratulations.” Michael smiled, shaking Colin’s hand in celebration. “I am pleased to see that she has recovered well,” he noted, watching the two sisters.
Colin nodded. “The physician said that she is healthy and that there should not be any residual effects from her imprisonment. He said that nightmares are a perfectly normal response to all that she endured, and that someday those, too, will fade.”
Michael nodded. “That is good news.”
Colin gave his cousin a side-eyed look of inquiry. “Where have you been? We have not seen you since the day that Norman Livingston was apprehended.”
“I had much to think about,” Michael admitted. “I also felt that Rebecca and Emmeline deserved to recuperate without an audience.”
Colin chuckled. “You cannot keep those two contained enough to recover. They are indomitable. They both spoke at Livingston’s trial with such authority and surety. It was quite something to behold.”
“I gave by statement to the Bow Street Magistrate. He did not feel that my testimony would be needed, given the number of witnesses that they already had acquired.”
Colin nodded. “Livingston did a great many people wrong.” He turned to look at Michael. “Did you retrieve your paintings?”
“I did.” Michael nodded. “Most of the paintings have been returned to their owners.”
Colin and Michael stood together in silence for a moment, watching the women they loved.
“What are you going to do?” Colin asked, at long last.
Michael shook his head. “The only thing that I can do.”
At that moment, Emmeline noticed Michael’s presence. Her eyes were a mix of joy and uncertainty upon seeing him. “Michael,” she greeted, brushing the tears from her cheeks as she moved to stand in front of him.
Rebecca joined her, and Colin wrapped a loving arm around his future bride-to-be.
“I was concerned when I did not see or hear from you for a week,” she said.
“Might we have a word in private?” Michael asked respectfully.
“Of course,” Emmeline agreed.
“Colin, would you and Rebecca act as our chaperones but remain enough behind to not overhear our conversation?” Michael asked, not bothering with mincing words.
“We will,” Colin agreed, giving his cousin a sympathetic look.
“Thank you.” Michael inclined his head in gratitude, then offered his arm to Emmeline. Emmeline took it and they walked side by side for a time along the garden path. “I wish to apologize to you for my behavior,” Michael began.
Emmeline looked up at him in question. “Are you referring to your recent absence or something else entirely?”
“I am referring to the kiss that we shared on the docks of the Port of Dover,” Michael explained.
Emmeline’s confused look turned into one of hurt. “You regret kissing me?”
Michael shook his head. “I will never regret kissing you a day in my life. When my last breath leaves my body, it will be that kiss that is my last thought on this earth.”
Tears sprang to Emmeline’s eyes as gentle pressure from her hand brought him to a stop. “Then why?”
“You, my dearest love, remain a married woman, and as long as that is so, you cannot be mine to kiss and hold as I please,” Michael explained sorrowfully, his own eyes threatening to fill with the intensity of his emotions.
“I have the family solicitor looking into the matter as we speak. I am expecting word back from him at any moment. Surely, there is something that can be done, given the circumstances. If Norman agrees, we might be able to obtain an annulment, perhaps due to his fraudulent criminal activities.”
Her voice held a hopeful tone that touched Michael’s heart.
“The solicitor promised that he would speak with Norman right away about the matter. He is still awaiting the conclusion of his trial and sentencing.”
Michael knew that the granting of a dissolution of marriage was unlikely, but he loved her all the more for having hope and taking action upon it.
“I love you,” he whispered, reaching up to brush a whisp of hair from her cheek. “No matter what happens in the days to come, never forget that.”
Emmeline leaned her cheek into his hand. “I love you,” she whispered, a single tear slipped down her cheek to wet his hand. “I do not want to be forced to live without you.”
“I will always be here, come what may, but I will not have your reputation destroyed because of me. I pray that my actions thus far have not already placed you in danger of ridicule.”
“I would take all of the ridicule in the world if it meant that I was able to be with you,” Emmeline admitted stubbornly.
Michael smiled down into her eyes. “You are one of the bravest women that I have ever met.”
“My lady,” a voice called out for Emmeline from the back of the manor house.
Emmeline and Michael turned to find Ezra Hardy standing at the garden’s edge.
“Mr. Hardy,” Emmeline called back in surprise. “I did not realize that you were to join us from London.”
“It was not the original plan, my lady, but news came to the townhouse, and I knew that you would wish to hear it with all haste,” Mr. Hardy informed her.
“What is it? Is it news from my solicitor?” Emmeline asked hopefully.
“Indeed, it is,” Mr. Hardy confirmed. “He has sent a letter.” He handed the folded paper to Emmeline, as he bowed respectfully to both her and Michael.
Emmeline took the paper with trembling hands, her eyes searching out Michael’s. “It is the solicitor’s seal,” she confirmed.
“Do you wish to have a moment alone to read it?” Michael asked, wishing to be supportive, no matter what the letter revealed.
Emmeline shook her head. “I would like for you to be with me.”
Michael nodded in understanding and moved closer to her side. “I am here.”
Emmeline smiled up at him appreciatively. She broke the wax seal and opened the paper. Inside was a brief message.
Lord Norman Livingston, Marquess of Worthington, is dead. He succumbed to illness while imprisoned. I have confirmed the body with my own eyes. You are now a widow, and free to do as you will.
“He is dead,” Emmeline breathed, a cacophony of emotions descending upon her. “My husband is dead.”
She handed Michael the letter, and he scanned it for himself.
“I am free.”
Michael’s heart pounded fiercely in his ears as he read the words thrice, before dropping the letter to the ground and taking her up into his arms and kissing her soundly.
“Marry me,” he breathed against her lips. “Society and mourning be damned. Marry me here, now, forever.” He pulled the ring that he had carried for over five years out of his pocket and held it above her ring finger. “Marry me and make me the happiest man on this earth.”
“Yes!” Emmeline exclaimed as she allowed him to place the ring on her finger, then threw her arms around his neck in jubilation. Michael swung her around and around in celebration, both of them laughing as they had done all those years ago together as children.
“What is going on out here?” Theodocia Frampton emerged from the house, followed by Emmeline’s friend, Louisa, who had accompanied Emmeline to the country from London.
“I have asked your daughter to marry me,” Michael announced proudly. “And she has consented to be my wife.”
Louisa squealed and came forward to embrace Emmeline. “I am so very happy for you both!”
“That is perfectly lovely, young man, but she is wed to another, as you well know,” Theodocia reminded him, undaunted by the excitement of others.
“Not anymore,” Emmeline replied, bending to pick up the letter from the ground and handing it to her mother. “Norman Livingston is dead. It has been confirmed by our family solicitor.”
Theodocia read the letter and looked up at her daughter. Nodding, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her gaze to Michael. “You have my blessing.”
Michael nearly fell over in shock. “Thank you,” he murmured, not knowing what else to do or say.
Theodocia nodded as she handed the letter back to Emmeline. “I came out to inform you and your sister that we have a guest awaiting us in the green drawing room.”
“A guest?” Emmeline questioned.
“One of your father’s associates has come to pay his respects. He has requested to speak with both of you,” Theodocia answered, then turned and reentered the house.
“Do you know anything about this?” Emmeline asked Louisa.
Louisa shook her head. “He said that his name was Obadiah Andrews. That is all that I know.”
Emmeline and Rebecca exchanged a look, then entered the house together. Michael and Colin followed. They moved through the manor house until they reached the green drawing room. As they stepped over the threshold, an elderly gentleman arose and greeted them with a smile.
“My, how you have both grown. I would almost not recognize the pair of you.”
He spoke to them as someone familiar with their family, but Michael did not remember ever meeting him before.
Emmeline moved forward, smiling warmly at the man. “Mr. Andrews, it is good to see you again. What brings you here?” She gestured for him to take a seat once more, as she sat in the chair across from him.
“I heard about the art thefts and wished to make certain that your father’s collection had not fallen prey to the scoundrels.”
Emmeline smiled sweetly. “All is well and secure.”
The man gave a giant sigh of relief. “I was afraid that your father’s greatest treasures had been plundered.”
Emmeline shook her head. “Everything that my father valued is safe,” she reassured him.
“It is a shame that there was not an actual treasure in the chest that your father left you,” Colin noted.
“But you have to respect the man for his affections. I know that I agree with his assessment of what his most valuable treasures were.” He gave Rebecca a kiss on the top of her head as he held her close.
“I do not understand,” Mr. Andrews questioned. “The chest was empty?”
“It was not,” Emmeline answered. She explained about the mirror that was in the chest.
“There should have been more than a mirror in that chest,” Mr. Andrews informed her. A concerned look returned to his face. “Did the criminal steal your inheritance?”
Emmeline shook her head. “He did not.” There was a glint in her eyes that Michael recognized as her look of being up to some sort of mischief.
“What is it?” he murmured, bending to take a seat beside her. “I recognize that look in your eyes.”
“There was more in that hole that we dug underneath the chest that Norman never saw. Louisa and I went back after our return here to Frampton House and continued digging. What I had seen a glimpse of that day was another chest with a grand treasure filled with diamonds, gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and the like set in the most exquisite of artifacts.”
“Oh, good,” Mr. Andrews breathed a sigh of relief. “You found it.”
“Where is it?” Rebecca asked, just as surprised as the rest of them.
Louisa and Emmeline exchanged an excited look. “We hid it so that we could make a game of finding it with Rebecca as a celebration of her return.”
Rebecca smiled. “As Father used to do.”
Emmeline nodded. “As Father used to do.”
“What do you plan to do with this great treasure?” Mr. Andrews inquired. “I know that your father wished for his daughters to be secure and cared for.”
“I have been inspired by Rebecca’s kindness and have decided, with her agreement, to donate the funds from the treasure to those in need, such as those who suffered in the Woolery Mill fire,” Emmeline announced.
“Truly?!” Rebbeca cried out, rushing forward to take Emmeline’s hands in hers.
“Truly,” Emmeline confirmed, smiling warmly at her sister.
In that moment, Michael was more proud of her than he had ever been of anyone. “I am honored that such a beautiful lady of grace and intellect has consented to be my wife.”
As the sisters embraced and the tears fell, Michael felt as if his heart would burst with joy. At long last, the woman that he had loved for his entire life would share the rest of his. True love had, at long last, won the day.
THE END