Epilogue
“It seems like everything has worked out rather perfectly.” Fiona looped an arm through Catherine’s.
Catherine, Fiona, Louisa and Harriet were in a tea shop. It was the last day before Catherine, Alarica and Oliver returned to Bath and her friends had invited her out.
“It has.” Catherine agreed, resting a hand on her stomach. “If you had told me this is what my life would end up like six months ago, I would have said you were mad.”
Fiona laughed. “We would have agreed!”
“I still cannot believe that woman tried to kill you.” Harriet shook her head. “Truly, she is a monster.”
“She was a monster, ” Louisa corrected.
Catherine shuddered. Marina had gotten the end she deserved two months before. The trial had been swift, and Catherine had been thankful to put the entire thing behind them.
“Well, at least it is over now, and Catherine and her beau can finally get to enjoying married life.” Louisa sipped on her tea.
“You say that like they have not already been doing so.” Fiona gave Caherine a meaningful look that made her choke on her tea.
“Really Catherine, one would have thought you would be a little less squeamish about it by now.” Louisa laughed as she rubbed Catherine’s back.
“Let us see how you react to such a comment when you are married.” Catherine retorted.
“I suspect you will be waiting a rather long time, dear Kitty.” Fiona grinned at her. “Flirting is fun, but I have no wish to tie myself down to a man. Life is for living, and I do not want my wings clipped just yet.”
“And do you think Alaric has clipped mine?” Catherine arched an eyebrow.
“No, but not every man is like your husband.” Fiona pointed out. “There are far too many dishonourable wretches out there.”
“And yet the other week, you were trying to convince me to marry your brother!” Louisa interjected.
“That is because my brothers are decent men, even if they are deeply irritating at times.” Fiona shrugged.
“And Fiona cannot marry her brothers.” Harriet added. “Besides, given all the excitement Catherine has faced, I think we could all do with a break before the next wedding.”
“With any luck, your own marriages will be far more straightforward.” Catherine smiled at her friends.
“Not too much though, I would like at least a little excitement.” Louisa poured them each more tea.
“I think I have had more than enough excitement for one life time.” Catherine shook her head. “I am quite ready for a quiet life.”
“Hear hear!” Harriet raised her tea cup as though to toast.
Laughing, the three friends clinked their cups together and for the first time in a long time, Catherine felt like she was home.
* * *
“I thought you were supposed to be good at this.” Oliver grinned up at Alaric from across the chessboard.
They were sitting in Alaric’s study. The sky outside was a beautiful blue, and Oliver’s slate lay by their feet. He rarely needed it these days, but they kept it just in case.
Daisy was snoozing in a sunbeam, softly snoring as she kicked out a leg. Alaric smiled as he watched her, and his brother tugged on his sleeve, pointing at the chessboard.
“Perhaps I am simply lulling you into a false sense of security.” Alaric picked up one of his pieces and moved it.
Oliver rolled his eyes. “Or you are just hoping I will get bored so you win.”
“I think you will find I am winning, Oliver.” Alaric gestured to the board.
Oliver shrugged and moved his queen, and then laughed. “Check. I believe I am winning now, Brother.”
“I think I liked you better when you did not talk so much,” Alaric grumbled good-naturedly. “You were not quite so good at distracting me when you could only use a slate.”
“He does not mean it, Oliver.” The smell of lavender told him it was Catherine before he even heard her voice. “Besides, it is good for him to lose once in a while. It will keep him from getting cocky.”
“Et tu, Brute?” Alaric clutched a hand to his chest in mock pain. “My wife and my brother conspiring against me. Is that any way to treat your legal guardian?”
“You are my brother first and guardian second,” Oliver chirped. “And you are dilly-dallying again.”
Alaric laughed and moved his rook, capturing Oliver’s queen. He was aware that this was exactly what the boy expected—that the move would end the game and secure his brother’s victory—but he kept a calm expression.
“Darn it,” he swore, trying to act as though he had only just realized his mistake.
Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Catherine roll her eyes and then smile. Oliver appeared not to have noticed; he was far too pleased.
“I win!” He placed his final piece and jumped into the air, dancing around excitedly.
The sight of it made Alaric laugh so hard that he woke Daisy. She let out a disgruntled grumble, yawned, and then jumped into Oliver’s arms. They tumbled over together, and Alaric saw Catherine dart forward to save a vase that was unlucky enough to be in their way.
“Careful!” Catherine ruffled his hair affectionately, one hand lightly brushing against her stomach. “You know you are not supposed to play like that indoors.”
“But...” Oliver began, his eyes going to Alaric.
“I know your brother does it with you, too, that is not the point.” Alaric could tell that Catherine was trying to appear stern, but he could see the smile curling across her lips.
She is so beautiful.
“I have had to scold you both more times than I can count. And the last time you did this, you broke a really nice flower pot from my mother.”
Oliver’s cheeks reddened, and he shifted from foot to foot. “Sorry.”
“Thank you.” Catherine gestured to the beautiful sky outside. “Now, it is a beautiful day outside, and it seems a shame to spend it indoors.”
“We could go swimming!” Oliver looked expectantly at Alaric and Catherine.
“You two should go; the water is far too cold for my liking.” Catherine shuddered.
Alaric saw Oliver’s face fall and added, “Why not ask Cook to prepare us all a picnic? You and I can go for a swim, and Catherine can stay on the shore and read a book.”
Oliver nodded and skipped away, singing a silly song about swimming while Daisy barked beside him. Alaric watched his brother disappear before he turned to Catherine.
“I thought you hated that flower pot.” He arched an eyebrow at her and saw her cheeks redden.
“I did. But that is not the point.” Catherine moved closer to Alaric. “He is growing, and that means that roughhousing does far more damage than it used to. I have started having the tailor make his clothes three sizes too big for him, and still I can hardly keep pace.”
“Well, I am told that is the danger of children. They grow impossibly fast.” Alaric wrapped his arms around Catherine. “And he seems to take after me, so I expect this is only the start of things.”
Catherine laughed and leaned against him. “I am sure it is. To be honest, I frequently find myself wondering if he will be taller than you.”
“A worrying thought.” Alaric shuddered. “I am not used to looking up at anyone.”
“Then it is lucky that you will have some years to adjust to the concept. After all, he is only seven,” Catherine teased.
“He will be eight next week.” Alaric shifted so that he could look at her better. “I thought perhaps we should all go out for a ride, maybe a trip up n orth. He should see more of the estates. Especially Bellweather, I mean to leave that to him.”
“Is it not entailed?” She frowned.
“No. It was one I bought, mostly to spite my father. It is a nice place, it even has a cider press.” He shrugged. He could hear his father’s furious voice, telling him that the place was a terrible investment.
Catherine chewed her lip. “I think seven is a little young for cider.”
“Perhaps.” Alaric grinned. “Though I expect he will love climbing the apple trees. Hale and I used to climb his father’s when we were boys. I wish Oliver had someone his age to play with.”
“Be careful what you wish for, darling.” Her lips quirked into a smile.
“What do you…” Alaric’s eyes widened, and he looked down at Catherine, at the arms she was resting on her stomach. Understanding hit him. “Are you... How?”
“I would have thought that was obvious.” Catherine arched an eyebrow at him and nudged him, causing Alaric’s cheeks to blush.
They had moved into the same room the day he told her he loved her, and they had hardly been apart since. His eyes drifted to her belly.
“Perhaps we should stay in the castle. It looks like it might rain.” Alaric gestured to the sky outside.
“I am with child, not made of porcelain.” Catherine batted at his arm playfully. “It will get rather tiring if you insist on treating me like some china doll.”
“I just want you to be safe.” Alaric nuzzled his nose into her neck. “You and our child.”
“Our child. I like the sound of that.”
“So do I.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I cannot believe I am going to be a father.”
His chest seized, and he felt like he was going to be sick. He had no idea how to be a father. Oliver was his brother, and he was seven. What did one do with babies?
“I can see your mind whirring, Alaric.” He felt Catherine squeeze his hand. “You will be a wonderful father, I know it.”
“How can you be so sure?” Alaric looked at her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “There is no one on Earth I would rather do this with. You are the most kind, competent, and caring man I have ever met.”
“I love you.” He looked into her eyes.
“I love you too.” She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
“I am terrified,” Alaric admitted.
“I am not.” She kissed him again.
“Why?”
“I am too happy to be worried.” She slipped out of his arms. “I have you.”
Laughing, she pulled him out of the room, and they joined Oliver by the lake.
The End?