Epilogue
“Frances!”
She heard Grace call from inside, meaning the guests were arriving, but she had one more flower to cut.
“How did I know I would find you out in the gardens?”
Nathaniel came behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed the side of her neck.
“It’s where— one of the places where I’m happiest,” she explained, correcting herself because, on occasion, she had to force herself to leave their bedchamber, or even just the couch in front of the fireplace in his study so she could tend to her greenhouse.
Her plants would be almost entirely neglected if Nathaniel didn’t frequently offer to help her.
“Should we call it off? Retreat to the country?” he suggested. “My favorite part of this dress, when you first tried it on, was how easy it was to take off.”
“Nathaniel.” She blushed. “Your entire family is out there, as well as my sisters, and Stevens has been planning this for weeks, if not years. He’d be devastated.”
She turned to face her husband. It was her idea to reinstate the Sutton ball.
Mostly. There’d been lots of encouragement, and suggestions from Stevens, and others who remembered the excitement and merriment of previous years.
Nathaniel also explained how his mother and aunt had used the ball to raise money for war relief to help their brother in the colonies, followed by medical supplies for impoverished areas that couldn’t afford a physician.
Not to mention, it was at home balls that Grace most remembered her parents.
“I think Sarah laced it too tight.”
Nathaniel ran his fingers along the seam of her dress, which was nearly bursting from her bosom, which, while contained, still seemed slightly risqué.
Then he moved to the back of the dress, ideally to give her room to breathe, but most likely using it as a ruse to have his way with her in the greenhouse.
It wouldn’t be the first time, but never when anyone was home, let alone when they had a ballroom full of guests, as the structure was made of glass.
“That won’t be necessary.” She stopped him.
“I don’t care about the latest fashion. I’d rather have you breathing.”
“It’s only tight in that one area because they’ve gotten bigger. The rest of the dress fits fine.”
“They’ve gotten—” His hands froze at her back. “My love.” He turned to face her. “Are you…”
“I’m with child.” She beamed, but she was also crying, though she wasn’t the least bit sad. Thankfully, Nathaniel had tears in his eyes as well. She’d waited a full three months of missed courses before believing it, just in case she was wrong like last time.
“I want to bring you upstairs and hold you and make love to you now. I’m telling them to leave. Immediately.”
“Nathaniel, you can’t.” She laughed and put her hand on his arm to keep him with her, realizing this was what true, giddy, unabashed happiness felt like.
“Everyone will know. I can’t keep my eyes off you. There is so much to do, to prepare.”
“For now, all you have to do is love me, love this child, and go greet our guests while I deliver these flowers.”
“That’s more than usual.”
“Grace and Abigail deserve a floral touch as much as those who are actually attending.”
“Have I told you recently how very much I love you, and how proud I am to be your husband?”
“You have,” she assured him, because he did, multiple times a day. It would be terribly annoying if it didn’t make her so happy. “But I never tire of hearing it.”
“I love you,” he said again, giving her a kiss that would make their guests blush and had her reconsidering his offer to send them all home.
“I love you, my Nathaniel.”
Thank you so much for joining me and the Sutton Family for Nathaniel’s and Frances’ story.
I have always loved history, even studied it in university, and I am so grateful for this opportunity to tell stories with a historical backdrop.
I absolutely love the Suttons, and can’t wait to tell you how each of them finds their true love. Next up is Elizabeth.
Thanks for reading,
Amanda