Epilogue
There was joy in the townhouse for the first time in Evelyn’s life, at least as far as she could recall.
She could hear Luke amiably discussing the wedding with a couple of the guests that he had invited, but it was the laughter inside Evelyn’s bedchamber that she would cherish for a long, long time.
It had been a miracle that Evelyn had managed to acquire one friend to make life less lonely, but now that she had two, one of whom was about to become her sister-in-law, it truly felt as if she had won the greatest prize in all the world.
And that was before she thought about the man she would be marrying today.
“He did not!” Octavia shrieked, flopping back on the bed as she laughed heartily.
Selina, perched on the window seat with a mischievous smile on her face, nodded. “He did, I assure you. You would not believe some of the things that the ton’s gentlemen have said to me or done for me, thinking themselves so very unique in their grand gestures.”
She had been regaling Octavia with a tale about a rather weaselly son of an earl who had decided that it would be oh-so romantic to deliver a hamper of doves to Selina’s house. What the gentleman had not realized was that the hamper would almost certainly be opened inside the house.
“We were finding doves for weeks.” Selina grinned. “And there was filth everywhere. My poor father was beside himself. I am surprised he did not insist on us returning to the countryside and me never entering society again.”
Behind Evelyn, Margery chuckled at the story as she slotted little purple-blue forget-me-nots into Evelyn’s hair.
“I shall remind my brother not to purchase any doves,” Octavia said, rocking upward.
“Tell him to purchase diamonds instead,” Selina urged.
“Although I doubt our Evie ever intends to take off the first necklace he bought her. It is beautiful, make no mistake, but it is rather too simple for a duchess. A duchess should be wearing so many jewels upon her neck that no one can look at her without being blinded.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes. “I am quite happy with simplicity.”
“You do look happy,” Selina said, her smile softening.
“I never thought I would see the day where you seemed so… utterly giddy. In truth, I often worried you were not capable of giddiness, but I see now that it required a gentleman to coax it out of you. I would be offended if I were not so pleased about it.”
Evelyn laughed softly, and caught her friend’s eye in the reflection of the mirror. She knew Selina meant it, for they had spoken after the events in Hyde Park, and Selina had assured her that there were no hard feelings.
“I only wanted to make myself feel better after finding out that Sir Anthony was every bit the scoundrel you said he was,” she had explained.
“Sometimes, one needs distraction to forget such a thing. If I had known you favored him, I would never have attempted to pursue him. Why did you keep it to yourself? You know I would have supported you.”
“Shame, I suppose, that I had bid on this gentleman for you, and then fell in love with him by accident,” Evelyn had replied shyly. “I did not want to lose your friendship if you became angry with me.”
She had asked for Selina’s forgiveness anyway, and Selina had given it freely, while insisting that it was not necessary.
Since then, Evelyn’s dear friend had been a revelation in organizing everything so that Evelyn did not have to panic about the wedding: she had let Evelyn borrow another gown, she had arranged flowers to be sent to Evelyn’s house and the church, she had lent two cooks from her own home to help with the wedding breakfast, and she had written all of the invitations, among other things.
As for Sir Anthony, the letters had ceased entirely and, as far as anyone was aware, he was somewhere on the Continent with a French chanteuse.
“They always say that one wedding begets another,” Margery said, putting the finishing touches to the curls at the nape of Evelyn’s neck. “Perhaps it will be one of you next.”
The housekeeper had become fond of Evelyn’s friends over the course of the past week, the two of them forever at Evelyn’s side, guiding her through the rigmarole of planning a wedding. And Octavia always had a message from her brother to pass on to Evelyn.
She had seen Hugo at the tea that her father had invited him to, but she had not seen him since.
It was one of her father’s terms of agreement, that Hugo was to stay away until the wedding.
Evelyn suspected it was a last effort to try and claw back some control, but she did not mind too much.
After today, she would never have to come back to this townhouse again or see her father or Matthew again.
Although she would make the effort to see Luke. She still did not know what had caused the change in him, but it was worthy of maintaining a relationship. He had finally become a proper brother when it had mattered the most, and she would never forget that kindness or that courage.
Selina pulled a face. “It will not be me.” She shook her head effusively. “I shall need at least a year before I am ready to search for a husband again.”
“But you will not be the diamond next year,” Octavia pointed out. “And the Season is not yet over. Perhaps someone will pique your interest.”
“I no longer wish to be the diamond. I wish to be left alone at balls and parties and dinners. Indeed, I think it shall be good for me to be more of an observer for the rest of the Season,” Selina replied.
“We shall stand together, dear Octavia. Two wallflowers who want nothing to do with society’s gentlemen. Not this year, at least.”
Octavia smiled at that. “That sounds rather lovely.” She hesitated. “Maybe, like you, I shall be able to muster the courage to search for a husband by next year.”
Evelyn smiled to herself, warmed by the friendship that was forming between Octavia and Selina. It was a stark difference to how they had begun their acquaintance, but Evelyn had always known that Selina would warm up to Octavia eventually, and vice versa.
“I hope that I shall be attending both your weddings, when they undoubtedly happen, and I hope that you shall both be as ‘giddy’ as I am today,” Evelyn said, as she turned on the vanity stool. “Now, be honest, how do I look?”
She rose to her feet to give the full effect of the exquisite gown: a beautiful creation of the same midnight blue that Hugo had so enjoyed before, but embellished with a veritable sea of silver spangles and beads that shimmered when she moved.
It was, without doubt, the most remarkable thing she had ever worn.
“Oh, Evie…” Selina clasped her hands together, her eyes wide.
“Goodness…” Octavia joined in, covering her mouth with her hand.
Evelyn grimaced. “Is it that terrible?”
“It is not terrible at all!” Selina cried. “Indeed, you look every bit like a duchess.”
“Even with my simple necklace?” Evelyn asked, her heart full.
Selina chuckled. “Especially with that simple necklace.”
She jumped down from the window seat and hurried over to Evelyn, throwing her arms around her and hugging her tightly. Feeling giddy once more, Evelyn hugged her friend in return, her joy spilling over into a joyful peal of laughter as Octavia joined in, embracing them both.
“Now, there is nothing to do but actually make you a duchess,” Selina said, teary-eyed.
As if summoned, Luke’s voice bellowed from downstairs, “The carriages are ready! We should leave if you do not want to be late!”
“Well then,” Evelyn said with a deep breath, “I suppose it is time for my wedding.”
Even though it had only been a week since she had learned that she would be permitted to marry Hugo, the occasion still could not come soon enough.
“That is the dress you have chosen?” Evelyn’s father scrunched his face in disapproval as he met her at the church doors, for he had gone on ahead with Matthew to greet more of the guests.
Evelyn had known her father would have something to say about the dark color, and that he would not be complimentary. He had altered his opinion entirely when it came to Hugo, and the fact that his daughter would now be a duchess, but the habits of two decades could not be undone so easily.
“It is my beloved’s favorite,” she said with a smile, for she would not allow anything to dampen her joy today.
Her father pulled a face. “Very well. I suppose it is too late for you to change now anyway.”
I was just about to say the same thing about you… She chuckled to herself and, as her father held out his arm to her, she took it without hesitation. The sooner she walked into the church with him, the sooner she could walk out of the church with her husband.
As the organist began to play, father and daughter entered the church, a surprisingly large congregation rising to their feet. Considering everything had been planned in a week, Evelyn had expected a much smaller contingent of guests.
She spotted Frances and Dominic close to the front, and Joan and Laurence.
Dominic’s grown-up daughter, Harriet, was there too, alongside another young lady whom Evelyn presumed to be Joan’s younger sister, Victoria.
Octavia and Selina too, of course, who looked as proud as true sisters as they stared, misty-eyed, at the bride.
Luke, too, seemed to be on the verge of tears as he smiled at his sister, and she smiled in return.
Then, Evelyn set eyes on Hugo, and the rest of the church and its guests disappeared.
There was only him, looking unfairly handsome in a tailcoat of matching midnight blue, so tall and athletic, his brown hair combed and pomaded.
He remained the most beautiful man she had ever seen, and she could not believe that she got to marry him.
Excitement set her heart racing, her pace quickening until she was practically tugging her father down the aisle.
Soon enough, she was at the altar, where her father turned to her as if he might say something. Instead, his forehead furrowed into a frown, and with a shake of his head, he passed Evelyn’s hand into Hugo’s.
She liked to think that, perhaps, her father had been about to say something kind, but he had not been able to manage it.
“You look breathtaking,” Hugo said softly, a bright smile upon his handsome face.
“You look rather nice yourself,” she replied, blushing.
Maybe one day she would become accustomed to compliments, but not yet.
“I missed you,” he whispered, raising her hand to his lips and placing a tender kiss upon her glove.
“I missed you too,” she confessed, her heart soaring. “Who knew that a week could be so long?”
“Has it only been a week?” He shook his head. “No, it cannot have been so short. It has felt like months.”
She grinned. “Well, the wait is over now.”
“Indeed it is, my love.” He glanced at the priest, who promptly stepped forward to begin the ceremony.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest said, to the loud delight of the congregation.
Evelyn’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much, happy tears filling her eyes as she held tightly to her husband’s hands.
Hugo beamed back at her, and as he weaved her arm through his, he began to lead her back up the aisle toward the outside world, so they could start their life as husband and wife, the Duke and Duchess of Ravenvale.
However, the exit from the church was not so smooth as the entrance had been, because friends surged forward to be the first to offer their congratulations.
“What a beautiful pair you are!” Joan cheered.
Frances nodded effusively. “Congratulations to you both! We shall have to steal you once you are finished with your honeymoon, Evelyn. Indeed, you must come and help us with our charitable endeavors, for we are always arranging something interesting.”
“Like an auction?” Evelyn asked, flashing a wry grin at Hugo.
“The best decision I ever made!” Frances cheered, as the couple continued on.
Luke stepped out and, somewhat shyly, leaned in to press a kiss to Evelyn’s forehead. “Be happy, would you?”
“I shall do my best,” Evelyn replied. “Thank you, brother.”
Luke bowed his head and stepped back again, allowing the couple to proceed toward the doors, bombarded with congratulations and cheers from every angle.
Indeed, it was quite the relief when Evelyn and Hugo finally made it out into the fresh air, hazy sunlight beating down upon the London streets. The carriage awaited them just ahead, and they hurried into its cool shelter, the driver not hesitating to snap the reins and pull away from the church.
“My duchess,” Hugo purred, as they settled onto the squabs, his arm around her.
Evelyn peered up at him, so overwhelmed with happiness that she did not know whether to laugh or cry. “My duke. My love.”
“How do you feel, my darling?” he asked, his other hand coming up to cradle her cheek.
“Like I am in a dream,” she replied with a contented sigh, her palm coming to rest upon his firm chest.
“It is no dream, my love,” he told her with a smile.
She bit her lip, feeling the steady thud of his heart. “But how can I be sure?”
“Well… perhaps this shall convince you.”
Slowly, he leaned in, and as his lips grazed hers in a stirring kiss, she was not sure if it proved that this was all real, or if it felt even more like the most wondrous dream. A dream she got to spend the rest of her life living.
She smiled against his mouth as she kissed him back, grateful for the privacy of the carriage.
Her palms smoothed over the hard contours of his chest and up the sides of his neck, her fingertips gliding into his hair, relishing in the novelty of being able to kiss her husband as fervently as she pleased.
For a moment, he pulled back, his eyes shining. “Do you know how much I love you?”
“I have… some notion,” she replied.
“I love you with all of my heart, my darling,” he said softly. “I love you with everything that I am, and I mean to spend the rest of our lives showing you how much.”
“I love you more,” she teased, gently stroking her thumb across his jaw.
He shook his head. “Impossible.”
“We shall see. Indeed, we have a lifetime to find out,” she replied, as she pulled him close and kissed him again.
The End?