Epilogue
Two Months Later
‘There we are,’ Charlotte fastened the last of the white pearl buttons that ran down the back of Arabella’s stunning white silk wedding gown.
Arabella took a deep breath as she stood before the full-length gilt-framed mirror and released it with a contented, happy sigh. ‘Thank you, Charlotte.’
‘Why, just three weeks ago today, you performed exactly the same duties for me!’
‘Three weeks ago …’ Arabella mused. ‘Whoever would have thought that we would marry two best friends, just three weeks apart!’
‘Not only sisters, but sisters-in-law, also!’ Charlotte giggled. ‘Do you feel ready?’
Arabella’s eyes sparkled in the mirror as she spoke to the reflection of her sister, who stood behind her. ‘I have been ready since the day I met him!’
The sisters were interrupted by the door opening, and Lady Wellwood stepped in, looking taller than she ever had—gone was the aged stoop—she walked with purpose and arrived with a radiance about her.
‘My goodness, the midnight blue of your gown is divine!’ Charlotte declared.
‘Thank you, Lady Carrington.’ Margaret smiled and turned her attention to Arabella. ‘But the belle of the ball today is this beauty here! How lucky I am! Today, my son gains the life he always deserved, and I gain the daughter I always wanted!’
‘Oh, Lady Wellwood!’ Arabella embraced Margaret warmly.
‘As of today,’ Margaret instructed, ‘you must call me ‘Mama.’’
***
Arabella held on to Margaret’s arm as she walked her down the aisle. Ahead of her, Arabella could see the back of Alexander as he and Thomas stood together, facing the front. Thomas turned to peek and discreetly nudged Alexander to turn around.
Alexander turned, and as he saw Arabella in her full white gown, her red hair pinned gracefully back, with cascading curls, it seemed he could hardly take a breath. He did not blink—his wide eyes focused upon her as though she were the only one in the chapel.
As Arabella reached him, she felt as though she were coming home; after years of separation and the legitimate risk of losing each other forever, this union felt like the most enormous blessing. A love she had never believed would be viable, yet here she was, becoming the new Lady Wellwood.
***
Alexander and Arabella circulated the dining room together after their wedding breakfast. So many people had gathered to offer their congratulations and express their joy for the newlywed couple.
Old friends were yet to meet with Alexander again, following years of believing him to be dead, and tenants rejoiced that their rightful lord had returned home to adopt his role in caring for the estate and nurturing it to regain its former glory.
Captain Morrison was in attendance and had just raised a toast to honour love’s triumph over adversity, when Thomas approached amidst the cheers and clapping, asking to speak with Alexander outside.
‘Arabella comes too …’ Alexander took her hand.
‘Of course,’ Thomas welcomed her, and the trio stepped outside onto the veranda, where Margaret already was waiting. The autumn afternoon light was dimming into evening, and a brisk wind picked up a flurry of dry leaves.
Alexander pulled Arabella close to him, drawing his arm around her to keep her warm.
‘I received news,’ Thomas told them sombrely. ‘I did want to dampen your wedding day by injecting this cold reality, but I concluded you would rather be informed.’
‘Of course, Carrington. What is it?’ Alexander asked with increasing concern.
‘The magistrate sent word to advise that Marcus has been declared mentally unfit for trial and committed to Bedlam.’
Alexander, Margaret, and Arabella looked at each other in absolute shock.
‘I understand this will bring mixed emotions …’ Thomas looked guardedly between them, unsure of how to balance empathy and bitterness. ‘He will not face justice for the murders he committed …’
‘But he was very unwell,’ Arabella justified, placating Margaret and searching her husband’s eyes for his reaction.
‘It is only right,’ Alexander nodded assertively, ‘that his mental illness is recognized, and taken into account. He will never leave Bedlam, and so it is a prison sentence, of sorts.’
‘His tortured mind is the worst kind of jail,’ Margaret added sadly. ‘May God forgive his wretched sins and may his mind be peaceful.’
Arabella and the two men nodded in mournful agreement.
Margaret lifted her eyes to them all. ‘But this is your wedding!’ she announced cheerily. ‘Go and dance!’
Arabella squeezed Alexander’s hand in anticipation of their future together.
‘The fear is over,’ she told him.
Alexander nodded as they left the veranda to rejoin the party. ‘Now we can truly begin.’
THE END
(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “An Earl for the Wrong Sister”, my Best-Selling novel!)