Epilogue
The Duchess of Hartwood. Arabella still couldn’t get it to sink in. It sounded strange.
She wondered how long it would be until she got the hang of her new title. Especially when she was suddenly given a lot of responsibilities. Alastair and his mother, Marianne, promised that they would look after her and show her what to do, but Arabella was still nervous.
“You don’t need to fret so much.” The dowager duchess appeared at her side. “You’re going to snap the glass into pieces if you keep fiddling with it.”
“Oh.” Arabella put the glass down on a nearby table. “I guess I’m just still coming to terms with what’s just happened. I never thought this would happen.”
“That you would find love?”
“I wanted to find love, but I didn’t believe I’d find someone who would accept me for who I am. I thought I would be told to change to fit a mold instead of being who I am.”
Marianne smiled and squeezed her arm.
“That’s a sign of a good man. When you are able to remain as yourself and you don’t need to change fundamentally. I know Alastair would be upset if you did.”
“Do you think I’ll be able to manage being the duchess? I know it’s a big step from what I was before…”
“You’ll be absolutely fine. You’re a fast learner, and I think you’ll fit in absolutely fine. If you’re worried, then I’ll be there to help you.” She held up a hand. “I’ll be letting you take charge, but I’ll be around if you need someone to back you up.”
Arabella smiled.
“Thank you. I never expected this, either. You and I… actually being friendly.”
Marianne sighed.
“My children have both talked to me about it. I carried a lot of bitterness from my marriage, and what my husband did I took on as my own personality. I turned into someone I didn’t recognize, and I didn’t realize until they both scolded me for the way I was behaving.
It was how my husband acted when he was alive, and that made me ashamed of myself.
I was never like that. So I resolved to change it all for them. For me.”
Arabella could tell, and she could see the change.
Marianne Vaughn was so different to the woman she’d met before.
It was like she was talking to someone else.
The dowager duchess from before had been stiff and strict, disapproving and cuttingly rude, whereas Marianne was warm and friendly, understanding and calmer.
The turnaround was quick and sudden, but Arabella wasn’t about to complain.
She was just happy to have a mother-in-law she could get along with.
“Oh, that’s my sister-in-law, Martha,” Marianne said suddenly, glancing at someone who’d just entered the room. “I think I’d better go and talk to her. She’s still suffering from the backlash of what Sebastian’s done.”
Arabella didn’t need to ask. Martha Vaughn was Sebastian’s mother, and she would’ve been at the docks today to see her son off to the penal colony in the Americas.
It felt almost fitting to have her wedding day on the same day as he left England, but she didn’t dwell on it.
At least Sebastian couldn’t ruin anything.
She was glad he was leaving though. She had been nervous about walking around London and coming face to face with him.
There were people in the ton who were still watching her warily, as if she’d been responsible for everything going on.
Arabella did her best to ignore them; she was more interested in moving forward and doing her best to forget about what happened.
She missed Pa, and she missed him every day. But knowing what happened that night, and how he’d defended her until the end, gave her a sense of closure. It felt like she could move on.
And Arabella knew she wanted to do that with Alastair.
She could see him across the room, talking to one of his distant relatives. The older man was laughing loudly and clapping Alastair on the shoulder, his wife nudging him and trying to get him to quieten down.
Arabella observed her husband in silence, admiring how handsome he was in his best suit.
She recalled the moment he saw her at the altar when she walked to him, Philip escorting her.
Her heart had skipped a few beats to the point she felt lightheaded, and Arabella couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
He was her husband. The man she loved. And Arabella felt as if she’d found a treasure chest.
“Don’t start gawking at him!” Helena’s voice made her jump as she appeared at Arabella’s elbow. “Why don’t you go over and talk to him? Maybe rescue him from Cousin Wilfred.”
“I…”
Her sister-in-law giggled and hugged her. “You look stunning, Arabella. I’m so glad to call you my sister now.”
“And I you.” Arabella looked up at Edmund, who was standing behind his wife. “How are you enjoying the day? I know you were saying Helena wasn’t too well, and I didn’t want you to push it too much…”
“You don’t need to worry about that.” Edmund smiled and put a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “We’ve already told Alastair, and we wanted to tell you before we let Marianne know.”
“What?” Then Arabella saw how Helena was rubbing her stomach, and that the dress looked a little fuller on her figure. She gasped. “You’re having a baby?”
Helena nodded, her eyes shining.
“I can’t wait to see if we’re having a boy or a girl. It’s a shame we can’t find out before then.”
“The baby will be loved whichever gender it is.” Edmund kissed her head, his eyes twinkling at Arabella. “If someone had said we would be married and starting a family by the end of the year, I would’ve thought they were mad.”
Arabella laughed. “I know what you mean. I don’t think I’d have believed it of myself, either.”
“At least you finally admitted how you felt about Alastair,” Helena said with a wink. “I knew when I saw you together how you felt. You just took a long time to admit it.”
Arabella wasn’t going to argue with that. She was just happy that she finally had something of hers that she wanted. It was a shame her father wasn’t there to see it, but she knew he would be proud of her.
Then she caught sight of Philip, hovering near the open door out onto the terrace.
He was holding his drink, watching everyone as if he wasn’t part of the group.
Arabella felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Philip was easily led, and he’d been manipulated into what Vaughn wanted, and it had almost cost their friendship.
She was still annoyed that he didn’t tell her about the note, otherwise they would’ve found out about Pa’s death a lot sooner.
But that was gone now. They had to move forward, and Arabella wanted her brother to be happy as much as she was.
Excusing herself from Helena and Edmund, she made her way across the room, moving around a group of laughing young gentlemen to join her brother. “Not enjoying yourself?”
“It’s not that.” Philip sighed and sipped his drink. “I’m just beginning to realize that things are changing and at a pace I’m not prepared for.”
“How do you mean?”
“Because you’re leaving home and starting your own life. I’ll be on my own in the house.”
Arabella smiled. “You’ll be able to visit. We’re not that far away.”
“You know what I mean. It’s not the same.”
“I would’ve thought you’d be delighted to have me leave the house and not bother you again.”
Philip gave a half-hearted shrug, still looking over the crowd with a solemn expression.
He didn’t look like someone who was celebrating his sister’s wedding.
But Arabella could see his point. At the start of the year, they had been a family of three.
Then Pa was killed, and now, almost a year later, she was leaving home to live with her husband.
Philip was naturally going to feel lonely.
She squeezed his arm. “We’re always going to be family, Philip. I’ll not forget about you.”
“I know you won’t.” He gave her a lopsided smile.
“I’m very concerned, though. I don’t want to lean back into my old habits.
Alastair was very kind to pay off the debts and set the record straight on everything, and I don’t want to ruin that for both of us, and not for Alastair, either, after he put a lot of his trust in me. ”
Arabella could understand that. When Philip was stressed, he tended to start gambling and playing cards. He was much like their father in that aspect, and his debts had been bad as well. Arabella didn’t want him to go down that route again.
“You need to find yourself a hobby,” she said. “What about painting? You used to do it a lot when we were children, and you were very good at it.”
“Painting?”
“Why not give it a try? You can go with Clara. I know she knows of the best places to paint.”
That got his attention, and he stared at her like she’d gone mad. “What did you say that for? Why Clara?”
Arabella giggled and nodded toward her friend, who was standing with Helena, seeming to be congratulating her on her pregnancy.
“I’ve noticed that you’ve not taken your eyes off her since we came in here. I’m not completely blind, you know.”
Philip scowled, but his cheeks were turning bright red. “You sound as if you’re trying to matchmake us, Arabella. That’s not happening.”
“Why not?”
“Because I know her as my sister’s annoying friend. Why would I consider her?”
Normally, Arabella would be offended that Clara was talked about in that way, but she knew her brother. She had seen how he’d been looking at her for a long time when he thought nobody else would notice. He found Clara attractive, that much was clear. He just wouldn’t approach it.
“It doesn’t matter if she’s my friend. You should see if anything happens. You never know,” she added with a sly smile, nudging him. “You might find that the feeling in mutual.”
“Arabella…”
“How’s my darling wife?” Alastair walked over, beaming at Arabella as he slipped an arm around her waist. “You’re not bothering your brother, are you?”
“Why would I be bothering him?” Arabella laughed.
“Well, I don’t know. That’s what siblings do, isn’t it?” Alastair winked at Philip. “I’m going to steal my wife away, Philip. I’ll be back shortly.”
Philip grunted and walked away, finishing off the rest of his drink in one go. Alastair arched an eyebrow at Arabella.
“What’s the matter with him?”
“He’s just grumpy because I’ve tried to match him with Clara.”
“Why would he be grumpy? He clearly has a liking for her.”
Arabella shrugged. “It’s something in my family. We’re incredibly stubborn.”
“Oh, I know about that. I’m married to you.”
Arabella groaned, which turned into a giggle as Alastair kissed her neck, brushing his stubble against her cheek and neck. How someone could grow stubble so quickly after having a close shave, she had no idea.
“Alastair! We’re in public!”
“I think we can be forgiven for now.” He pulled back and winked. “How about we go outside? It’s getting warm in here, and I think you and I need a moment alone.”
Arabella wasn’t about to argue. It was freezing outside, and the snow was still on the ground, but she would be glad of a moment away from the festivities. It was too warm inside with the crowd of people, and she was beginning to feel a little breathless.
Holding onto Alastair’s arm, they stepped through the open doors and out onto the terrace.
There was still a dusting of snow on the ground, covering everything in white.
It was beautiful with the clear blue sky and the sun shining.
Definitely a perfect day for a wedding, and Arabella loved it.
She tilted her face to the sun and closed her eyes.
There was no breeze, but the cold was still resting on her cheeks. It felt nice.
“Have you heard about Sebastian?” Alastair asked, moving to stand beside her, his arm around her waist.
“That he’s off to the Americas? I was aware of it.” Arabella shook her head. “I do feel for your aunt. She wanted a quiet life after losing your uncle, and now her son has ended up being a criminal.”
“She’ll be fine. Mother will make sure she’s looked after.
And it’s not her fault Sebastian turned out how he was.
” Alastair shrugged. “I think it was down to my uncle. He was good at card games, and he knew how to manipulate people with money. It seems like Sebastian learned a few things from him.”
Arabella shuddered. She was glad that she’d never been introduced to Alastair’s uncle. If he was anything like Sebastian…
She wasn’t going to think about that. It was a happy day, and she was going to focus on that.
“Anyway, he’ll be gone for good,” Alastair continued. “He’s been warned about coming back, and I know he won’t want to risk it. He’s never coming back.”
“So I’m safe?”
“You are. And you’re with me.” He kissed her cheek, her nose, and then her mouth. “And Sebastian knows that if anything happens to you, I’m going to come after him. I won’t let anyone come for my wife.”
Arabella smiled and kissed him back. “I don’t know whether that’s possessive or sweet.”
“A little bit of both.” He smiled at her, his expression warm and affectionate.
“Just so you know that you don’t have to worry about anything when it comes to being looked after.
I’m going to make sure that I look after you.
You won’t have to worry about struggling for anything.
I’ll treat you like the duchess you are, like you deserve. ”
“I didn’t think you were someone who would start trying to wax lyrical,” Arabella teased, kissing him sweetly.
His smile turned into a grin, and he hugged her to him, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Anything for my wife. Whatever you want, you can get from me.”
“Are you sure you should say something like that? You’re not worried about me taking advantage?”
“I know you, Arabella, and I know you wouldn’t do that to me. I trust you.” He rested his chin on her head, his arms tightening around her. “So whatever you want, I’ll get it for you.”
He meant it, Arabella could tell. She smiled, feeling happy at the knowledge that she was going to get someone who loved her as much as she loved him. She looked up at her husband and kissed his jaw.
“There is something we could start on, but you don’t need to spend any money. Not yet, anyway.”
“Not yet?” Alastair sounded amused. “What were you wanting that wouldn’t need any money in the beginning?”
“A family.” Arabella straightened up to look at him properly. “I want to have a family, become a mother. I want to know what it’s like to be a parent, to have my own children.”
Alastair blinked in surprised. “That wasn’t what I was expecting you to say.”
“That’s what I want.”
He stared at her, and then he smiled and kissed her.
“Your wish will be granted, my lady.”
THE END