EPILOGUE
The wedding was beautiful. Eugenia and Marco had married as soon as the banns were read. While some whispered about them still, they chose never to hear the whispers. Let people talk if they would. They were far too absorbed in their love for each other to care.
Now, everyone who mattered to them — save Eugenia’s youngest brother, who was away at Eton — had gathered in Thistlewayte Hall’s drawing room after the wedding breakfast.
The young married couples all stood, conversing together. Lord and Lady Billington, Lord and Lady Seabury, and now Lord and Lady D’Asti, all chattered animatedly.
“Did you ever find the clue to begin Matilda’s part of the Calthorpe family treasure hunt?”
Edward cocked his head, studying Eugenia closely.
Her cheeks flamed bright red.
“Yes, as a matter of fact I did. Grandfather apparently had a bit of a twisted sense of humour because it was in an oilskin pouch on the back of the most scandalous painting in the entire collection.”
Her face was downright crimson by the end of her explanation, and Marco let out a mischievous chuckle, which Lord Billington and Lord Seabury shared.
“Have you given the clue to Matilda yet?”
Eugenia shook her head.
“I’ve been waiting for an opportune moment, but things have been such a whirlwind since the Elkington Ball that I’ve hardly had time to think on it. Should I give it to her now?”
Marco looked at Matilda, one of his many new sisters-in-law, hovering slightly apart from everyone else in the room, save for Susan and Georgiana’s sister Eliza. The two of them both looked as if they found the gathering utterly dull, and would far rather be elsewhere.
“Yes.”
Edward nodded.
Marco pressed a kiss against Eugenia’s temple with an indulgent chuckle.
“It looks as though Matilda will die of ennui without something to occupy her mind, and it looks as if the youngest Miss Wingfield shares her situation.”
Eugenia smiled.
“I hope that they become fast friends, just as Susan and I did.”
Susan nodded, a bright smile curving her lips.
“It looks as if they are well on their way to that friendship already.”
“I am glad of it.” Georgiana chimed in, one hand absentmindedly caressing her growing middle. “Eliza is so shy. It will be good for her to have someone to confide in, now that Susan and I have both married and moved into our own homes.”
Eugenia waved at Matilda to get her attention, then, once she’d finally managed to catch Matilda’s attention, motioned her over to where they were standing. Whatever she and Eliza had been discussing seemed to have absorbed them both completely.
Matilda drifted over to join them, and brought Eliza Wingfield with her, their arms linked as if they’d been friends their entire lives.
“You have need of me?”
Matilda seemed almost annoyed, as if eager to leave and get back to the conversation she’d been sharing with the youngest Miss Wingfield.
Eugenia and Edward exchanged a look — the kind of look that communicates volumes between siblings without a word ever being spoken.
“We have something for you. Will you join us in the library for a moment? Eliza, too.”
“Very well.”
Matilda had replied for both of them.
In the library, Eugenia passed Matilda her letter from Grandfather, the one which would contain her riddle and lead her to her own portion of the Calthorpe family treasure hunt.
“Is this what I think it is?”
Matilda clutched the envelope, bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet.
“If you think it is your clue for the treasure hunt, then yes, it is exactly what you think it is.” Eugenia grinned. “Susan was such a great help to me during my portion of the treasure hunt, it occurred to me that Eliza might well be of help to you during yours.”
Matilda squealed delightedly, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
She turned to Eliza with a broad grin.
“This is going to be fun.”
The married couples went to re-join the party in the drawing room, leaving Matilda and Eliza to their own devices.
They would help the younger girls with Matilda’s hunt if they asked, of course, but Eugenia rather thought it would be good to give Matilda and Eliza the opportunity to bond over puzzling the mystery out, by themselves.
Marco tugged his bride to his side and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“I adore you, Lady D’Asti.”
“And I you, Lord D’Asti.”
I hope that you enjoyed ‘The Count Courts an Heiress.’ You’ll find a preview of the next book in this series ‘The Duke Wins a Wallflower’ just after the About the Author section.