Epilogue
“Do I sense your hand in this house party too?” Max asked Sophia as they stood by the window gazing out at the rear gardens.
He didn’t envy Mr. Foster and his lads. Trees were down, shrubs bent, and flowers stripped of buds.
Sir Winfred claimed the storm would blow itself out by morning, so Max would offer Hugh, the villagers, and Mr. Nester shelter for the night.
He could only hope the manor and the dower house would be spared the worst of it.
Sophia shrugged, wrinkling her elegant dove grey gown. “You cannot expect that we would stand idly by while you tried to arrange our lives.”
He nodded to where Ben and Claudia had their heads close together, then to where Georgie leaned against Hugh’s shoulder. “I seem to have done a rather good job of it.”
“Oh, you have,” Sophia acknowledged. “Both Claudia and Georgie deserved a happily ever after. And I dare to hope we may have found a teacher for Tyneham School in Georgie. She hesitated as duchess, but no one would find fault with the vicar’s wife teaching.
However, your matchmaking can stop now. You won’t dredge up any convenient suitors for me, and I don’t want one. My last choice was disastrous.”
He couldn’t like the look that came over her whenever her duke was mentioned. “Yet I cannot help thinking you’re hoping to match me to one of these ladies you’ve invited, none of whom I’ve ever seen.”
A smile played about her pink lips. “We’ve come to know you well, Your Grace. I think you’ll find the three ladies we’ve chosen talented, intelligent, caring, and lovely. Excellent candidates for duchess.”
He leaned closer. “And if I refuse to choose one of them?”
Her smile blossomed. “There is no dearth of eligible females eager to wed a duke, sir. Especially one with a sterling character who’s not unkind on the eyes.”
She praised his character and even his looks? Did she not notice his interest, his hope?
Max regarded her. “I suppose we’ll just have to see if this house party reveals my bride and you a suitor, then.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Let the games begin.”
* * *
Thanks for reading Georgie’s and Hugh’s story.