Epilogue
Matteo’s carriage arrived at the church, followed not too long after by the Ayles’ carriages, the Thornscroft’s carriage, and the Harken’s carriage, thanks in whole to the efforts of Roberts, the footman.
When Helena woke up that morning, never could she have imagined that her day would progress like this. As she walked down the aisle, her eyes saw the faces of the people she loved, all smiling back at her, all happy for her own immense happiness.
And there, in front of her, was Matteo, the love she never thought she would have. The love that she had deemed impossible was there, smiling at her as if she were the only woman in the world.
Her heart, which had been an empty shell at the start of the morning, was now overflowing. And it was Matteo whose name it called.
Matteo watched as Helena walked towards him. Was it just him, or did she bring the sun whenever she went? It was certainly her light that chased away his shadows, her life that showed him that people lived not just for themselves, but for others as well.
He had been so used to being alone that Matteo quite forgot, or perhaps had never known, the feeling of joy brought about by the deepest of connections. Matteo knew the treasure he found; he knew what she was worth. In all the days of his life, he would cherish her; this was his own personal vow.
In their matching attire of silvery blue, they were proclaimed husband and wife.
It seemed that everything happened in a rush.
Their family and friends, confused but mostly ecstatic at the news, had rushed to the church following Matteo and Helena’s notes to them.
The hapless Roberts, being the messenger, had had to answer numerous questions that he hardly knew the answers to.
“Where are Helena and Matteo now?”
“How do they plan to get married today?”
“How can they possibly accomplish it?”
“How did they declare their love for one another?”
“Did Matteo get down on one knee to ask Helena to marry him?”
It was Chastity who had put an end to all their questions.
“There is no time for that now!” she had said urgently. “Let us go to the church!”
The clergyman who was to officiate in the wedding proceeded with the ceremony, not knowing that something significant and life-changing had just occurred between Matteo and Helena.
The only sign of confusion he displayed was a frown as he read the names on the special license that Matteo produced and handed to him.
The bride’s first name seemed to have changed.
But as there did not seem to be any other concern from the couple themselves nor from their family and friends, the ceremony carried on and finished splendidly.
Celine and Helena kept smiling at Helena knowingly. Helena imagined that she would not hear the end of it from those two.
But when they rushed to her after the wedding, she laughed as she was enveloped by two sets of arms.
“I had no doubt that it would happen!” Dahlia said laughingly.
“What do you mean? You worried over them something fierce!” Celine teased her friend.
“Yes, I confess I had,” She chuckled. “But that was probably due to my pregnancy.”
“But tell me,” Celine asked. “How did you come to be wearing matching attire? You could not have had time to change on your way to the church.
“Would you believe me if I told you that we had not planned it at all?”
“I think yes, I do believe you,” Celine replied
“I told you, Helena,” Dahlia said softly, “Fate knows what she’ is about.”
“Yes, I just needed to have faith,” Helena said, hand on her chest.
A few feet beside the ladies, Peter gave Matteo a great clap on the back.
“There is still hope for you after all, Duke,” he chuckled.
“You know that this is all thanks to you, Duke.” Matteo said earnestly, “Had you not invited me to Iceadale Castle and played the part of a charming host, Helena and I would never have found each other.”
“Well,” Peter said. “You did tell me that you planned to give her some fun.”
They turned to look at their wives, who stood together laughing with their friend.
“Are we not the fortunate ones?” Matteo asked his friend.
“Indeed, we are,” Peter said with a smile on his face.
Soon, all of them climbed into their carriages and drove on to Huntington House.
The wedding breakfast proceeded according to plan as well. That was, of course, with one minor adjustment, the bride herself was literally a different woman.
Surrounded by the people they loved, enjoying delicious food, everyone was in high spirits. They all felt the hand that fate played in Helena and Matteo’s story.
The morning moved on into the afternoon. One by one, the guests said their congratulations, their best wishes, and their goodbyes, until only the earl, the countess, Chastity, Faith, Grace, Helena, and Matteo remained.
“You know, Your Grace,” Grace said to Matteo. “You must plan a wedding trip.”
“You must call me Matteo, sister.” He grinned at Grace. “And yes, you are right, Helena and I must have a wedding trip.”
With a grin, Grace continued.
“Perhaps it is time to show Helena the view from your uncle’s chateau.”
“That is one of your more brilliant ideas, Grace,” Faith said.
Grace frowned at her sister.
“All my ideas are brilliant, if you please.”
Matteo smiled at Helena and wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“That is a very good idea. What do you think, duchess?”
Helena’s heart skipped a beat, and she beamed at him.
Helena Castor, Duchess of Valen.
That was her name now. She looked at Matteo, who stood beside her, handsome and tall; he was her reality now. All the whispered wishes of her being had come true, wishes and dreams that she had not dared to speak even in the recesses of her heart.
Helena had always lived for others first. She had thought that she would only ever live vicariously through her sisters. But now she found that life, her life, was laid out before her, bright and promising.
“Yes, I would like that. I would love to see it very much.”
Matteo winked at her.
“And so we shall.” Matteo laid his hand on his heart. “And I promise not to let my cousin play my uncle’s prank on you.”
They all laughed at his words.
“Helena dear,” Lady Clarissa called to her daughter.
Heart-warming at her mother’s use of the endearment, Helena looked towards her.
“Yes, Mama?”
“I have gone ahead and instructed Sally to prepare your things.”
“My things?”
“Well, yes, I had assumed that you would be leaving with the duke…”
In all the haste and surprise of the day, Helena had not thought to consider that arrangement. The abrupt change evoked a myriad of feelings from her. That she should leave behind the only life she had ever known, that she should start a life with Matteo, the mere thoughts took her breath away.
Her mother faltered.
“Have I decided wrong, I can—”
“No, Mama, I have only failed to consider those things. Thank you,” she smiled at her mother.
The pleased look on her mother’s face showed Helena that indeed, things were changing in the Ayles family.
“Helena,” Matteo, who had watched their exchange, spoke to her in a low voice. “There is no rush. You do not need to come to Valen House with me today. Everything happened so fast, it is very understandable that—”
“I am your wife. I shall come home with you today.”
“Helena,” Matteo whispered fiercely. He looked at her with such intensity that she felt her knees weaken.
His wife.
“Come with me,” she whispered.
With a blush spreading across her cheeks, Helena took Matteo’s hand and led him away from everyone else. They rushed, smiling and laughing, and stepped out of the house, their feet instinctively bringing them to the gardens.
Matteo took her hand, and they walked to the Pergola.
How different everything was since the last time they stood there together, the two of them. She had thought then that she could give Matteo up. How utterly and completely wrong she was. For how could one give up their heart?
Under the roses, they simply looked at each other for a long time. Matteo reached above them and plucked a rose bloom. Carefully, he removed the thorns and handed it to Helena as he had done a lifetime ago, it seemed.
She took it and brought the petals to her lips, a clear invitation for him to kiss her.
Obligingly, Matteo leaned down towards her. Their lips were a mere inch apart when he stopped and pulled back.
Frowning, Helena looked at him. Why would Matteo not kiss her? Despite herself, she felt a little hurt.
“Is- is anything wrong?” She asked.
Suddenly laughing, Matteo gathered her in his arms.
“Apologies, my love.” Matteo grinned, not looking at all apologetic. “I am reminded of my impertinent offer to you that received its just answer.”
He took her hand and rested it against his cheek.
“A slap,” he chuckled, then turned his face to kiss her palm.
“It was the most impertinent offer that I had ever received, you know.”
“More impertinent than my offer of a false engagement?”
“Oh, yes, decidedly so.”
Matteo looked incredulous.
“Really? And why is that?”
“For one thing, the false engagement made sense. Mutual benefits and all that.” Helena tapped his chin playfully.
“Did you come to love me because of those benefits?” Matteo jested.
Helena, suddenly serios looked him in the eye, she framed his face with her hands.
“I love you not because you were of help to me. You are loved because you have always been worthy of being loved.
Matteo swallowed at the thickness in his throat.
“Although I shall admit that having your help made this considerably easier for me,” Helena admitted smilingly.
“And the offer to hide together?”
“Now that deserved a slap. Because” color rose in Helena’s cheeks, “had I not, I probably would have kissed you instead.”
Matteo’s jaw dropped at her admission. A smile grew into a grin. Surprise replaced by pleasure and mischief.
“Really?” Matteo’s self-satisfied smile made Helena laugh. “Well, if that be the case…”
Matteo moved his mouth close to her ear.
“… if you prefer hiding, Your Grace, I shall be your most willing companion.”
He kissed Helena softly, tenderly, and she answered him just as softly, just as tenderly.
My husband.
The thrill that ran through her was something that she had never known before. She felt herself overflow with the love she had for Matteo.
“I love you, Matteo,” Helena whispered against his lips.
Matteo marveled at his good fortune. He held Helena’s face in his hands. His eyes roamed her face.
“How can you be really here with me? How can you be here telling me that you love me?”
“I am here,” Helena said.
“I love you, my Helena,” Matteo said in a voice suddenly thick with emotion. “Beyond anything that words can describe.”
The End?