Epilogue
Stoneleigh House
Sophie sat in the library, having finished its renovations before the parlor.
As she sipped on her tea, her friends caught up with each other, especially Elsbeth, who was showing her pregnancy and missing all that the Season offered.
Lady Rose was regaling the others about her exploits so far.
She had almost not been able to come, but Dory had swayed her husband to convince his parents to allow Rose a short time away from London.
Ellie had answered Sophie’s invitation immediately, always the mother hen, and had written her sister-in-law Lissa that she must come. There was only one of them missing from the first year at the Belinda School for Curious Ladies, and she was the reason for the gathering.
Perhaps she’d overreacted, but Sophie was very worried, and her friends had always been able to come up with solutions when they tackled a problem together.
As she viewed them, she smiled. They looked like a garden in spring.
Ellie was stunning in her blue dress as she sat on the settee next to Rose in her mauve one.
Both Dory and Elsbeth wore shades of purple, and each sat in a wingback chair on either side.
Lissa, who sat with Sophie, wore a warm green that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair.
As for herself, she no longer wore white. Now that she was married, she’d chosen a coral-colored dress. Tam loved her in the color. He said it made her appear like a fairy creature about to cause trouble.
“Sophie, you’ve been quiet as usual, yet you are the one who called us together. Perhaps now would be a good time to tell us why.” Ellie’s voice, always the loudest, caused all conversation to cease.
Sophie put down her teacup and clasped her hands. “I did indeed, and I wish it were under better circumstances. As you may have noticed, one of us is not here.”
Lissa spoke up at once. “Georgie. Did something happen to her? Is she well?”
“She is healthy. However, she is not well. She was duped by a lord into thinking he would ask for her hand, and so she allowed him the ultimate liberties.”
Everyone in the room nodded except Rose. “Oh, Georgie. All will be well, though. He will marry her and none will be the wiser.”
Sophie shook her head. “I’m afraid that is not the case. Though he wooed Georgie, he’d signed a betrothal contract for another lady.”
“Who is he? I will give him the cut direct. He needs to be called out for what he’s done.” Rose’s fierce scowl boded ill for the lord.
Dory laid her hand on Rose’s. “That would not reflect well on Georgie. If no one yet knows of her fall from grace, then we cannot in good conscience share the man’s duplicity.
We must believe in fate, that ill will befall him, as is deserved.
Though fate can be a fickle mistress. But Aristotle believed that our fate was made of our choices. Hume agreed, and—”
“I am not as concerned about the lord as I am about Georgie.” Knowing that Dory could discuss fate and even the universe for two days at least, Sophie had to interrupt.
“Sophie’s correct.” Ellie shook her head. “Poor Georgie. All she’s ever wanted was someone to love her. Her heart’s desire was to marry and be able to give all that love she has closed up inside her to someone.”
Everyone nodded as silence filled the room.
Elsbeth broke that silence as she placed her hand on her enlarged belly. “Do we know if she is with child?”
Lissa spoke up. “Yes, Sophie. Tell us that you know so that we might find a way to help her.”
Sophie thought back on the letter she’d received.
“I only know what Georgie wrote. She has not been allowed to leave her parents’ townhouse and had to bribe a servant to post the letter.
As you know, she can’t keep a secret, and she is so heartbroken that she tells me she can’t get through the day without crying. ”
Rose waved her hand. “Meanwhile, that libertine is no doubt dancing away his evenings.”
“Rose, I understand your anger, but we must focus on Georgie. She told me that her parents plan to arrange a marriage for her in an attempt to avoid a scandal. Since her four brothers and three sisters have married, her parents don’t want her actions to reflect upon the family.”
Lissa wrinkled her nose. “Mon Dieu, the priorities of that family.”
“That’s why we have been Georgie’s family.” Ellie set her hand to her chest. “Sophie, you obviously believe there is something we can do to help.”
“I do, though I’m not sure what. I’m afraid all the characters in the books I’ve read that have been in this situation did not handle it as well as it needs to be handled. I hoped between the six of us, we could come up with a plan.”
Elsbeth smiled. “You’re right. We are smarter together.”
“I feel so awful for poor Georgie.” Ellie’s eyes lit with an idea just as her knee hit the small table in front of her, setting the tea service to rattling.
She looked at it in surprise before continuing.
“Perhaps I can call on her. I am a married matron with children, so her parents may allow me to see her. If I have to, I can indicate I will keep any secrets Georgie shares. The poor woman has no one who will be sympathetic to her, and we all know she greatly needs that even when there is no crisis.”
Immediately, Sophie felt better. “I know Georgie would appreciate that.”
“You stated that Georgie’s parents were going to arrange a marriage for her?”
She nodded to Elsbeth’s question.
“Then, since we all know her the best. What if Dory, Ellie, and I asked our husbands for possible contenders?”
“Elsbeth, that’s an excellent idea. I’ll ask Tam as well.” She was quite sure Tam would know many men since he was so popular.
Lissa cocked her head. “It would have to be someone who needs to marry. Finding a gentleman in difficult straits, either financial or in need of an heir, that would be not only willing to take a soiled bride, but possibly raise her child, and be sympathetic to her plight, will be difficult. That means we have time to recommend someone to the Edgertons, but the task will not be an easy one.”
At Lissa’s grasp of the true situation, Sophie’s hope started to dwindle.
“Lissa, that’s where you can help.” Dory grinned.
“You and Lord Bellamore are excellent investigators. You could search out possible men in that situation and relate them to us. Then we could decide on the best match, and whoever’s husband is closest to the man could make the suggestion to the Edgertons.
It would have to be done subtly, in casual conversation, otherwise they will know we know. ”
“Oh, I do like that idea.” Sophie smiled, already feeling much better about Georgie’s prospects.
“What can I do? I don’t have a husband.” Rose’s eyebrows lifted high in expectation.
An answer came to Sophie immediately, and she gave her friend a sly grin.
Ellie took notice. “Sophie Crauford, what are you thinking? I’ve never seen such a diabolical look on your face.”
Sophie laughed because Tam had said the same thing the other night in their bed. “I’m thinking that Rose can do what she does best.”
Elsbeth frowned. “Heal people?”
“Though she does that very well, the duchess is still the best at that. But no one is better at pranks than Rose.”
“I don’t know. I’ve sworn off pranks since you fell through the ice.”
At Rose’s statement, a flurry of questions assailed Sophie, which she’d finally answered to everyone’s satisfaction without blaming her friend. “Rose, didn’t you say you wanted the lord to pay for what he did? What better way than a prank or two? Nothing dangerous, of course.”
Rose set her chin on her knuckles and thought. It was mere moments before a grin appeared on her face. “I do believe I can help with that.”
“Excellent.” Sophie snapped her fingers. “Then it’s settled. We all have our tasks. I just knew you could help.”
As the conversation turned to happier topics and everyone shared the latest news in their lives, Sophie lifted her teacup to her lips, her mind wandering to Tam and how his meeting with a new tenant was going.
She marveled that an hour couldn’t go by without her thinking of her husband.
She couldn’t wait to tell him of their plan.
When she’d shared the news with him, he hadn’t been surprised about Ashfield, as among the men there had been rumors.
He did say that Lord Ashfield being married wouldn’t stop his proclivity for tupping virgins, but at least Georgie hadn’t married him.
She deserved her husband’s loyalty because she was so loyal herself.
It wasn’t long before Sophie’s friends all needed to leave for Town or their estates in order to arrive back before it was too late.
As the house returned to silence, Sophie settled into the settee by the fire and picked up Rob Roy, determined to finish the book so Tam could finally read it.
Discussing books they’d both read had become one of her favorite pastimes when not overseeing small improvements in her new home.
She’d barely read three pages of the twenty she had yet to go when she heard Tam enter the house. Dropping the book back on the small table, she rose, anxious to tell him her news. Before she took three steps toward the library’s doors, one opened and Tam stepped in, a broad smile on his face.
“It went well, then?” She strode toward him.
“Very well. I couldn’t be happier with our new tenant. My steward has excellent judgment.”
She looped her arms around his waist. “I guess we commoners can be an asset.”
He chuckled and pulled her closer. “They are priceless.” He kissed her to prove his point, causing her toes to curl. Then he released her but took her hand and walked to the large desk at one end of the room.
She squeezed his hand in hers. “Speaking of commoners, I promised Mrs. Boyd I’d visit a month after our wedding, and it’s getting close to that time.”
He halted and looked at her. “Has it really been a month already? It feels like only a sennight at most.”
She gave him a soft smile, thrilled that he was still happy to have married her. “Yes, it has. Look at all we’ve done so far. This room, a complete set of tenants, and even a full set of servants, which, I admit, I did not expect.”
He led her to the chair and sat, pulling her onto his lap. “My last investment did well.”
“I know you don’t want to, but my dowry is available to use. You fought so hard for it, and I hope you will use it for our home.”
He shook his head. “I want to do this on my own, without your dowry. We’ll save that for our daughters. I have a plan, and I believe in two years, the estate will be sustaining us and not the other way around. That is, if you can be patient.”
“I’m always patient.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and dropped a chaste kiss upon it. “Not always. You seem to lose all patience in our bedroom.”
She laughed, unable to counter his statement. “It’s hard to be patient when you make me feel so good.”
His eyes darkened.
She scrambled from his lap. “Oh, no. I know that look.” She walked around the desk, putting it between them. “I have news to tell you first.”
He rose from the chair. “First? Then you’d best tell me now.” He stalked around the desk toward her, and she ran behind the chair he’d just vacated.
“The Curious Ladies came up with a plan to help Lady Georgina.”
“They did?” He halted. “To be honest, I’m not sure what can be done.”
“Oh, there is much to be done. Ellie will give Georgie someone to talk to while Lissa investigates who would be most willing to marry her, and then whoever is closest to the man determined the best fit will drop his name in the Edgertons’ ear.”
His brows rose. “That’s much better than I expected. What will Lady Rose do? Play a prank on Lady Georgina to lift her spirits?”
“No, she’s going to play a prank or two on Lord Ashfield.” At his frown, she waved away his obvious concern. “Nothing too untoward. My guess is it will embarrass him.”
“You didn’t give her parameters?”
“She still feels guilty about the ice. I didn’t want her to think I don’t trust her, because I do.”
“Hmm.” He started toward her. “Did you know a letter arrived this morning from the duchess inviting me to teach at the school?”
“She did? What will you say?”
“I will thank her for the opportunity and tell her I must decline as my estate requires my full attention; however, I would entertain the idea of being a guest lecturer, which was another option she mentioned.”
“Oh, Tam. That’s wonderful. That she sees you as so worthy is a very high compliment.”
“It also speaks to my cunning.” He grabbed her hand. “Now I’ve got you.”
And he did. He had her for the rest of their lives. “Always.”
“Good, because you have me with all my faults, quirks, and cracks.”
“Cracks?”
He held up the back of one hand. “My knuckles, of course.”
She smiled as she looped her free arm around his neck. “And you have me with my base background, ladylike airs, and need for damson tarts.”
“Is there anything else you need?”
She pulled his head down until their lips were but a hairsbreadth from each other. “Just you.”
As his mouth met hers, nothing else mattered but the man who’d swept her away on an amazing journey and given her the best happily ever after.
The End