Epilogue
One year later
The Duke and Duchess of Redfield walked along the Devonshire beach on the first anniversary of their marriage.
They had rented the very same house where they had met, and both sides of their family were coming to stay, along with a few friends.
The most important guest of all, baby Sophia, was nestled in Elizabeth’s arms, wrapped up warm against the sea air, as she and her husband took in the views.
At only four months old, baby Sophia was still too young to see out into the distance, but her mother and father enjoyed the vista, and the duke said to his duchess, “Now, you’re not going to make me jump in after you, are you?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I hope you are not going to strip naked where our guests could see you.”
“Only for you, my love,” he said with a laugh, as they breathed in the salty air and contemplated what the year had given them.
Their beautiful daughter—who was thankfully very healthy, for having come only eight months after their wedding.
If anyone suspected that the baby was in fact born at full term, they didn’t say anything.
And a love which neither of them had expected, which had grown in the year since the sea had brought them together.
“I wasn’t going to come to the house party, you know,” Elizabeth said wistfully. “But I’m very glad I did.”
“I wasn’t going to, either,” Freddie said with a chuckle. “Too wary of the Duchess of Tewkesbury and her forceful matchmaking.”
They both laughed.
“But there’s no way the duchess could have known that you would strip off and dive in the sea,” Elizabeth said.
“Or that you wouldn’t be able to swim,” Freddie rebutted.
“Well, perhaps this week you can teach me, once our guests have gone. If we can find somewhere no one will spot us…”
“I’m sure I can manage that, my love.”
And as the waves crashed lazily against the shore, and the house above them filled with their family and friends, the Duke and Duchess of Redfield kissed and rejoiced at the wondrous gifts the sea had brought them.
The End