Epilogue
5 years later
Castle Point, England
“Mama, I have a present for you,” the little girl yelled.
Olivia looked up to see her daughter running toward her. “What is it, my darling?”
The four-year-old held out her hands, which were full of yellow dandelions. “I picked them for you,” she squealed.
Everett, who was sitting on the blanket with his wife, gazed at his daughter. “Annabelle, that was very sweet of you.” He reached over and took his newborn son, Grayson, from his wife’s arms.
The little girl rushed into her mother’s lap. “Do you like them?”
Olivia hugged her child tight. “I love them.”
She’d believed that she’d never have the joy of holding her own child, but life takes strange twists and turns, and she cherished every day with her children.
For the past five years, their lives have been filled with happiness. Their growing family even spent a few summers at Castle Point, although Everett wouldn’t allow sailboats on the estate. She respected her husband’s wishes, especially since it had taken him a few years into their marriage before he’d agreed to even visit his country seat.
“Where’s my precious girl?” a voice behind her asked.
Olivia looked behind her to see her mother Dorothy walking toward them and smiled, her heart soaring with love at seeing her mother finally happy after everything she’d suffered during her marriage.
After Olivia and Everett had been married for a year, she got a cryptic letter from her mother who must have somehow found out they had wed. The letter left her feeling that something was decidedly wrong and she worried about her mother’s well-being. She didn’t have to do much to convince Robertson to take her back to her childhood home to investigate… and to finally confront her father for selling her to Armstrong. She finally felt strong enough to stand up to her tyrant father.
When they arrived, her mother had been overjoyed to see her, but her father was his usual obstinate self, standing in the foyer glaring at her. She hadn’t seen him in years and was shocked at his first words to her.
“I see you’ve managed to snag yourself an earl,” her father said, his lip curled up in a sneer. “What? A viscount wasn’t good enough for you, you ungrateful chit?”
Robertson stepped in front of her father, towering over the shorter man. “Mr. Bailey, I advise you to curb your tongue. Don’t you ever talk to my wife like that again,” he said with a look that could freeze ice.
Robertson was quite impressive when something displeased him, and even her father knew when not to cross the line. One did not insult the aristocracy without severe consequences. As Olivia looked around the house, she noticed that quite a few items from her childhood were no longer displayed. Had her father’s gambling reached the point where he was selling the family heirlooms to cover his debts? That wouldn’t surprise her in the least.
“Let me ring for tea,” Dorothy said. “Please come into the parlor.”
Her father’s backhand across her mother’s face caught everyone off-guard. Dorothy stumbled backward but managed to stay on her feet.
“This is still my house! I decide who visits and who doesn’t,” he screamed at her. “Know your place, woman.”
Olivia had never seen her husband move so fast. His fist slammed into her father’s jaw, and he went down like a sack of potatoes.
“Don’t get up if you know what’s good for you,” he growled before turning toward Dorothy. “Mrs. Bailey, go pack your things. You’ll be leaving with us. There is no need to stay here and suffer such abuse.”
Dorothy backed up, her eyes wide with panic as she looked at her husband on the floor. “My lord, I cannot.”
Olivia rushed to her mother. “Yes, you can, Mama. There’s no need for you to stay here and be so mistreated. Come, I’ll help you pack.”
It only took another minute for her mother to agree. With the help of her maid, most of Dorothy’s things were packed into a traveling trunk in record time, and they left shortly thereafter. Dorothy had been living with them ever since. Her mother had been a godsend with the children, and Olivia was so grateful to Robertson for his decision to offer their home to her. It took time, but eventually, Dorothy told her more about her life. Her mother and father had not been a love match, but there had been respect until Dorothy failed to give her father a son. Too many miscarriages had nearly taken her mother’s life and all her father could do was berate and abuse her for his lack of a son.
Olivia understood. It was what Armstrong had done to her. Every day living with them, Dorothy came out of her shell a little more.
That was four years ago, and Olivia was amazed at her mother’s transformation. She’d gone from a meek and timid woman who startled easily to one who wasn’t afraid to express her opinion. They never heard from her father again after Robertson had punched him. When the family solicitor informed them six months later that her father had passed away, she was glad her mother’s ordeal was finally over. It seemed everyone breathed a sigh of relief that Weston Bailey no longer walked the earth.
The solicitor also informed Dorothy that there was no money left and that Bailey had somehow gained access to and ran through the money set aside for her widow’s portion.
Everett had assured her mother that she would always have a home with them. Whatever she wanted could be hers for the asking. The solicitor had told them that the rest of the items in the house had been sold to settle the last of Bailey’s debts. After years of abuse, Dorothy was now thriving, and Olivia knew her mother was glad to be rid of any remembrances of her old life.
However, it had not been such an easy transition with Robertson’s mother. There was tension in the household once she and Everett moved into the London townhome, and it didn’t take long to realize that the Dowager Countess of Robertson had no intention of treating Olivia with anything but cold disdain.
Robertson would not tolerate that and the best solution to the problem was for him to buy his mother a small house in a fashionable neighborhood where she would be provided for. She could come and go as she pleased as long as she did not disparage either her son or her new daughter-in-law. To the relief of everyone involved, this new living arrangement was best for everyone’s well-being.
Olivia felt sad that her mother-in-law did not want to know her grandchildren, but she always held out hope that maybe some day the dowager countess would change her mind.
“Nani!” Annabelle screamed, scrambling out of her mother’s lap to fling her little body into the loving arms of her grandmother. “I picked Mama some flowers today,” the little girl said, holding up the bunch of flowers.
“They’re very beautiful, my darling. That was a very sweet thing to do,” Dorothy said, showering the little girl with kisses. “I’m sure your Mama appreciated your thoughtfulness very much.”
Olivia smiled as she watched her daughter and mother talking. She scooted next to her husband and sighed.
“My dear, is something amiss?” Everett asked.
She shook her head. “No, my darling. Everything’s perfect, and it’s all because of you. I never believed I could be so happy and have a family to cherish. You made it all happen.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “Your happiness is all I desire.”
“Really? That’s all you desire?” she said with a chuckle. Their son, Grayson, was now eight weeks old, and she missed her husband. She wanted him back in their marriage bed.
“Minx. You’ll see this evening just how desirable I find my beautiful wife.”
“Promises, promises,” she said with a wink. She stretched her arms over her head and yawned loudly.
Everett stood. “Mrs. Bailey, would you take Grayson to the nursery? I fear my wife needs to rest.”
Dorothy looked at them and chuckled before accepting the baby from Robertson. “Of course. It’s time for luncheon anyway. Come along, Annabelle. We’ll put Grayson down for a nap and then go see what Cook has prepared for lunch.”
They watched as Dorothy entered the house, and then Everett grabbed Olivia’s hand. “My darling wife, I always keep my promises. Shall we go and rest?”
Olivia threw her head back and laughed. “Oh, I’m counting on that, my dearest!”
Everett scooped her up in his arms and raced inside. He took the stairs quickly and burst into their shared bedchamber before gently placing her on the bed. She looked into her husband’s loving eyes and knew she’d finally found the peace and happiness that she’d craved all her life.
Who would have ever guessed that she’d make a wonderful life with the Earl of Ice!
The End