Epilogue
William slipped quietly into the doorway of Angelina’s ground-floor bedroom.
His darling Felicity sat on the bed beside her sister, reading a book aloud.
Angelina’s health had continued to deteriorate in the months since they’d left London.
It was a slow decline, but an undeniable one.
Still, there was peacefulness in the Banburys’ home, a soft and quiet love that filled every moment and every corner.
William considered himself blessed to be part of it.
He stood in the doorway, watching the two of them, remembering with a smile the many years of childhood exploits they had undertaken together and the laughter they’d shared since being reunited during the Season.
He regretted having stayed away as long as he had, but fate had seen fit to cross his path with Felicity’s once more. He was unspeakably grateful for it.
Felicity closed her book, having finished a chapter, and looked over at Angelina. “You look tired.”
“I always look tired.” Angelina’s humor had not dwindled in the past months despite her energy having inarguably done so.
“And I always look a bit slapdash,” Felicity answered with a laugh.
From the doorway, William said, “At least the two of you are consistent.”
That brought their gazes to him. They had such similar smiles, as many sisters did.
“I have come to kidnap Felicity.” He pretended to be in great earnest. “Are you shocked and horrified?”
“Utterly.” Angelina’s dry declaration emerged noticeably more feeble than her words of a moment earlier.
Felicity saw her sister comfortably situated. “I’ll bring him back for supper,” she promised Angelina. “And we can torture him with artichokes just as we did when he was twelve.”
Angelina smiled over at him. “Have you not yet gained a liking for artichokes?”
“I have,” he said, “but I pretend otherwise because Felicity is adorable when she is ‘torturing’ me.”
Felicity set her hand in his, and the two of them walked out of the room. “Where are you taking me? I am assuming it is somewhere miserable, seeing as you have labeled this a kidnapping.”
He slipped his hand free and wrapped his arm around her, tucking her against his side as they walked on. “To the miserable, horrible, impossible-to-enjoy . . . conservatory.”
She laughed, just as he hoped she would. “Why are we going to the conservatory?”
“Because my spies sent word that something I have been waiting for has finally occurred.”
“This is mysterious.” Her grin was just what he’d anticipated. Felicity had always enjoyed a lark. Indeed, she had a remarkable talent for turning even the most mundane things into an inarguable adventure. “Who are your spies? And what have you set them to spying on?”
“You will see, my dear.” He pressed a kiss to her temple, something he’d made a habit of in recent weeks.
Though Angelina was inarguably slipping away, she had very firmly insisted that William and Felicity fully enjoy the courtship they were undertaking, finding joy in being together, in being in love.
She had told them that it was her new wish, more important to her than the six they had worked so hard to fulfill.
Happiness. And love. And a joyful journey into the future.
Their hearts were heavy, but they had taken her wish to heart, and they were determined to honor it.
Upon reaching the conservatory, William took her directly to the corner of the glass-walled room where he’d sent his “spies” every day for nearly a fortnight.
Felicity looked around a moment before her eyes pulled wide. “Strawberries.”
He finally let loose the laugh he’d been holding back. “They have been threatening to ripen for two weeks now. They took ages.”
“And you desperately wanted me to come see them so I could recreate the famous Strawberry Incident of our youth?” She bumped him with her shoulder. “I have grown so mature since then.”
“No, you haven’t.” He hunched low and carefully plucked a strawberry from the plant.
“Are you complaining?” Felicity asked.
“Not in the least.”
William stood. He took hold of one of her hands and lifted it, palm up. As if it were the most precious of treasures, he set the strawberry on her upturned hand.
“I will cherish it always, William.”
Felicity looked from the berry to him with a look so somber that he laughed out loud once more.
“You have always made me laugh, my dear. And I suspect you always will.”
She took a bite of the strawberry as they made a slow circuit around the conservatory. “What would your parents think if they knew their son was entrusting these infamous berries to the little girl who caused such mischief all those years ago.”
Before reuniting with Felicity, William hadn’t been able to speak of his parents. He’d struggled with the pain of simply remembering them. That grief was beginning to heal.
“They would tell me to stop wasting precious time.”
Felicity finished her strawberry. “Stop wasting time doing what?” Far from offended or worried, she sounded curious. It was another thing he adored about her; she gave him the benefit of her good opinion.
He took her hands in his, facing her. “Wasting time waiting to tell you how much I love you.”
“You have told me, William. Many times.”
He raised one of her hands to his lips and kissed it tenderly.
“And you have told me, which I do not take for granted.” He kissed her other hand.
“I love you. I love you, Felicity, and I want to build a life with you. I want to make a home with you. And my parents would tell me to stop waiting to tell you that, and to stop waiting to do that.”
Without warning, Felicity flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. Kissed him enthusiastically. William’s shock lasted less than a fraction of an instant, and he joined her in the effort.
After a moment, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Do not take this as a complaint, because it isn’t one. While I do have my own interpretation of that response, I have to point out that you didn’t actually give me an answer.”
“And I have to point out, my dear, that you did not actually ask me a question.”
He chuckled. “Marry me, Felicity?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
***
Carlisle Manor had not hosted a wedding breakfast in thirty years, not since the day William’s parents were married.
How grateful he was that Felicity suggested the festivities be held at his home rather than hers.
The house needed every bit of happiness and joy it could be granted. Too many years had passed in mourning.
“Why do you keep looking at me that way?” she asked with a smile from her seat beside him.
“What way?”
“As if you were a little shocked to see me here, but pleased at the same time.”
“Perhaps because I am yet perplexed at my undeserved good fortune and also unspeakably happy at this morning’s events.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. “If your fortune holds, I will not come to my senses any time soon.”
Oh, how he adored her. She made him laugh, brought him joy and comfort. If he hadn’t stubbornly remained away in the years since his parents’ deaths, he might not have been consumed by his grief for so long.
“Thank you for being so understanding about the wedding trip,” she said quietly. “I am certain you would have preferred more time to ourselves.”
He kissed the top of her head. “There will be time for that, my dear.”
His gaze slid to Angelina, seated nearby between her parents. The doctors did not believe she had much time left. Felicity, understandably, wished to remain close. William had no desire to take from her the last remaining weeks or months she had with her sister.
“You have only just begun emerging from the cocoon of your earlier grief,” she said. “Are you equal to facing even more?”
“Together, I believe we can face anything at all.” He meant the bold words. Yes, there would be sorrow; there would be difficulties ahead for them. But neither of them was alone.
She looked up at him, happiness evident in her eyes despite the heaviness of their topic. “There is one destination I would like to formally request we visit.”
“Anywhere in all the world.” He waited to hear what place could mean so very much to her that she would request it specifically. Europe? The Americas? Someplace farther afield?
“Almack’s. The real Almack’s.”
He laughed, as he so often did with her. “I fear you will be sorely disappointed.”
“Never fear, my love. Together, I believe we can face anything at all.”
No matter that half the neighborhood was watching, no matter that doing so was likely to be met with shocked whispers, he kissed her. He kissed her fully and wholeheartedly, filling the gesture with the promise of years to come—years filled with laughter, with strength.
With love.