Epilogue
Three years later…
“Reggie, hurry, they’ve just arrived!” Lucy rushed toward the front door, feeling ungainly in the late stages of pregnancy, but so full of joy.
Reggie leaned out of his study door. He’d been working on his new proposal for the railroad board of directors he’d joined. Lucy was so happy he’d found a pursuit that challenged and satisfied him.
“Have you seen Madeleine?” she asked.
“I heard her in the garden earlier. I’ll go find her.” He gave her a swift kiss and hurried through the foyer toward the rear of the house.
Lucy hesitated. She knew how Madeleine would feel if she wasn’t the first one at the door. So she waited, even though there was another insistent knock. Laughing, she sent their startled butler away.
Reggie finally joined her, and they swept open the door. Madeleine stood beside her husband George, holding their new baby boy, both grinning.
Her little namesake Madeleine squealed and tried to fly from Reggie’s arms, reaching for the baby.
They all laughed, and Reggie said, “I think we’ll have to keep a watchful eye on our girl or she’ll put your baby in her dollhouse.”
George put little Madeleine up on his shoulder, following Reggie toward the drawing room and neighing like a horse.
Lucy and her dear friend Madeleine hugged over the baby, then both looked down at the angelic beauty of his sleeping face.
“Oh Madeleine, I’m so happy for you,” Lucy whispered.
With tears in her eyes, Madeleine said, “And I feel the same for you, dear friend.”
Lucy sighed. “We have everything we ever wanted.”