Epilogue
One month later…
The salty air of the sea whipped against their faces as Lily, Julian, her parents, and Juliette and Julian’s mother stood on the dock.
Seagulls screeched over ahead, and the nauseating smell of fish permeated the air, yet Lily could not think of another time in her life when she had ever been happier.
Arabella stood bedside Benedict, utterly content with the fact that she had married the man of her dreams. It had only been a week since the wedding, yet Benedict’s ship stood ready to take her maiden voyage.
“I could not be happier for you,” Lily embraced her best friend. “And I am going to miss you. Promise that you will write every chance that you get. I do not care which country you find yourself in.”
“Of course I shall write, and you must promise to do the same. I want every single detail of your life, no matter how mundane it may seem,” Arabella responded with tears in her eyes.
Chiming in, Benedict put on a hurt tone. “Are you saying that months at sea with your new husband will bore you so much that you will not know what to do with yourself?”
Arabella laughed, shaking her head as Benedict placed an arm around her shoulder.
Lily let go of Arabella and allowed herself to be pulled to Julian’s side, where she tucked herself under his arm and placed a hand on his chest.
The rest of the group engulfed the happy couple as they began to offer their congratulations and heartfelt advice. It was a joy to see how well things had turned out for them all. Even Juliette had grown close to Arabella, whom she now regarded as one of her closest friends.
Her happiness, however, was short-lived as she looked to the side and saw Oliver being guided onto a ship to the left.
“He is being sent to Australia to serve his sentence in a mine,” Julian said from above her as he gave her arm a gentle squeeze.
Just then, Oliver turned to look at them, his eyes full of anger and hatred as he glared at her.
I forgive you.
Lily felt the burden of her past lifting as the warmth and safety of Julian’s embrace surrounded her.
She never would have thought that she would ever utter the words, yet something inside of her had changed.
She no longer felt the need to resent Oliver or even Eleanor for what they had done to her.
She had found Julian in the end, and despite everything they had been through, they had only grown to love each other more.
The moment between them was broken as a guard stepped forward and shoved Oliver up the plank.
Lily turned her gaze, focusing instead on Arabella and Benedict, who had just begun to board. The plank was removed by an eager young man whom Benedict had hired, and the anchor was lifted.
It felt like a fleeting moment that was bittersweet for Lily as she watched the sails being lowered. And soon enough, the ship on her maiden voyage began to pull away from the docks.
“I am going to miss you,” Lily mouthed the word through tears and blew her friend a kiss.
Catching the kiss, Arabella held it to her heart and began to cry along with her.
Julian gave Lily a gentle squeeze from the side as they watched the ship sail into the distance.
It was Julian’s mother who spoke up first as she turned her back on the ship. “Well, now that it is all said and done, shall we all travel back to Redding Hall for some fun? I simply hate long, drawn-out goodbyes.”
Everyone agreed and began to make their way back toward the carriages. Yet Lily could not help but steal another glance over her shoulder as she silently wished her oldest friend good luck.
***
The portrait of Lily and Julian hung magnificently in the foyer as the small group watched the servants straighten the frame.
“You know, I do not think it is big enough,” Julian teased as she looked at the portrait that stretched from the floor to the ceiling.
“Indeed,” Lily’s father added. “I think you should have chosen a bigger wall. Why not just simply build an entire room dedicated to the portrait?”
Everyone laughed, and Lily found herself staring into her own eyes as she sat regally beside Julian with her hand in his.
There could not have been a greater testament to their love if Lily had attempted to paint it herself.
The artist had captured the look in Julian’s eyes that always made her crumble and bend to his will.
Construction at Redding Hall continued as Julian and Lily had decided to add on two wings for their parents’ private lodgings whenever they came to visit.
But what stood out for Lily the most was the progress that had been made in the gardens. Several species of American flowers had been planted along the borders of the house, and her favorite of all, red cardinals, stood tall and proud.
Breaking the silence that had settled on the little group, Juliette spoke up. “I heard that Miss Everet has gotten married.”
“Oh?” Julian and Lily both turned to her at the same time.
Juliette nodded, happy to oblige them with the latest gossip she had heard.
“I heard it was to the last-born son of a baron. Her father had wanted her to marry someone with a larger title, but she had insisted on marrying for love. I guess I am not the only one who has been inspired by your love match,” she said assuredly.
“Does that mean that you are done experiencing the Season and would like to settle down?” Her mother asked hopefully.
A light susurration of laughter rippled through the group as Juliette lifted her chin defiantly in the air. “Only if it is for love. I want what Lily and Julian have and nothing less.”
Their mother rolled her eyes and shook her head, but Lily’s parents seemed delighted by the response as they gazed at her and Julian with a loving glance.
Breaking the moment, Julian stepped forward. “Shall we all have our tea in the gardens? The weather outside is lovely.” He placed his hand behind Lily’s back and discreetly moved his fingers in circles.
The sensation sent shivers of pleasure down her spine, and Lily could not recall the last time she had been that happy. She would have given her life for Julian but had never considered happiness such as this for herself.
“I think that is a marvelous idea,” she said and smiled up at her husband.
They all began to make their way from the house to a small section of the garden where a pergola had been built with lattice-work sides.
Hanging back slightly, Julian held her hand, pulling her to a secluded section of the garden behind some shrubs. The others hardly seemed to notice as they became lost in their own conversations and waited for the tea.
“And now, my lord, is something the matter?” Lily laughed as she allowed him to pull her against him.
Circling his arms around her body, Julian beamed down at her. “Yes, I wish to report a great failing on my part.”
“Oh, and what failing might that be, my lord?” She teased him back, placing her hands flat against his chest.
“I am afraid that I have failed to kiss my wife as often as I would like. And having realized this shortcoming, I wish to make good on the matter and rectify the situation.” Julian held her a little closer as his eyes swept over her face, causing heat to flood her cheeks.
“While I acknowledge the shortcoming, my lord, I hesitate to remind you that we are not alone. Propriety dictates that we wait until a better time and place before attempting any reparations.” She giggled softly when he ran his hands up her sides.
Drawing his lower lip between his teeth, Julian smiled down at her.
“As honorable as your rebuttal is, Lady Barnard, I would like to remind you that we are on our own estate. And while we are not entirely alone, we are out of sight.” He glanced around at the secluded section of garden where they were hidden entirely from sight.
The small nook had been designed purposefully by Julian with a single bench surrounded by dozens of asters and all kinds of cardinals. A single fountain in the middle provided just enough ambiance to make them feel as if they were entirely alone in the world.
He turned his gaze back to her with a smile. “And, Lady Barnard, knowing that we are safe from prying eyes, will you still deny your husband the pleasure of a simple kiss?”
Heat crept up the back of her neck as she shyly averted her gaze and looked down at her hands. “If you must claim your prize, my lord, then I shall not stand in your way.” Her lips parted, and her eyes fluttered shut as he placed his finger under her chin and tilted her face toward his.
Their lips met in a soft embrace, more delicate than the fluttering of a butterfly's wings.
Lily could feel her soul coming alive again as she deepened the kiss and leaned into her husband. Nothing else mattered in the world beyond the union of their love.
“And that,” he pulled away ever so slightly and whispered against her lips. “Is what I call a prize.” He smiled against her lips, teasing her softly before kissing her again.
The moment between them seemed to last forever until Lily drew back and gazed into his eyes. “I hope we grow old together and spend the rest of our lives stealing moments from one another.” Her heart felt full and content as she slipped her arms around his waist and held him tight.
Julian used the back of his knuckles to stroke the side of her face. “And I hope to spend the rest of my life making you feel as if this is your home. I know it is not a farm in Ohio, but I hope by this time next year that the garden will be full of red cardinals.”
Lily shook her head. “Although I appreciate the sentiment, I do not need cardinals to feel as if I am home. You are already my home, Julian, and I want to spend the rest of my love proving to you just how content I can be. I want us to have children and watch our grandchildren playing in this garden. I want us to design a maze where we can chase them through the passages and laugh until our sides hurt.”
He sighed contentedly. “How on earth did I get as lucky as to have you for a wife? You not only restored my faith in love but made me see just how possible it is to dream for more.”
She leaned her head against his chest and listened to the steady beating of his heart as he held her close. “I am not certain that luck had anything to do with it, but I cannot see how things could be any more perfect than they are right now.”
THE END