Epilogue
“This will be an occasion that none shall miss. The ton will be alive with talk of this ceremony for a long time,” Lydia said.
“You flatter me, Lydia. I’m not sure it will be all too important though,” Agatha replied.
“You are too modest, Grandmother. Why, I hear even royalty will attend. Who would dare miss the event of the Season when the finest diamond there has ever been gets married?” Charlotte said.
“I certainly hope it’s worth it; we left Florence for this.” Edmund grinned.
“I’m just happy that all the family are together,” Agatha said, taking Lydia and Charlotte’s hands.
She smiled happily, and tears filled her eyes.
“It means so much that you can all be here, especially the children as well. I know they won’t all remember it, some more than others.
” She glanced at Lydia’s swollen abdomen.
Lydia placed her hands on her tummy and smiled.
“Even if they don’t, we will, and we shall tell them about it,” Rose said.
“Make sure you do. These are the days that truly matter, the ones that must be remembered. Look at us all, getting married even when we thought we never would be,” Agatha said, “although in my case it’s getting married again.
” Charlotte and Rose chuckled and shared a glance, for they had been adamant they would never be married until they met their respective husbands.
The irony still struck Lydia. She had been the only one of them to dream about marriage, to want the perfect wedding, and in the end, hers was the only one that was hurried, and the day had been marred with regret, not happiness.
However, so much happiness and bliss followed that the wedding did not matter.
She and Victor had found a natural equilibrium, and now, their lives were ascending.
She loved feeling the child growing within her and couldn’t wait to meet the babe.
“I’ll go and check on the groom,” Lydia said, excusing herself from the room.
They had split the house in two with Agatha getting ready in one half and Theodore in the other.
As she passed through a sitting room, she navigated the children running through hallways then noticed Juliet sitting alone with John in her lap.
John had grown substantially, the country air clearly agreeing with him. Juliet had filled out as well and had rosy cheeks.
“Why are you here alone?” Lydia asked.
Juliet offered a smile.
“John was getting restless with the men, and I didn’t want to intrude on you all.”
“It wouldn’t be an intrusion.”
“It would. This is a family occasion,” Juliet said.
Lydia furrowed her brow and came to sit beside Juliet.
Her heart swelled when she looked at John, but while there was still an element of regret at having had him taken away, it was no longer as sharp or all-consuming as it once had been.
This was mostly due to the fact that he clearly loved his parents, and Harry and Juliet had gone from strength to strength.
“You are family, Juliet.”
Juliet gave a sheepish smile. “I appreciate that, but I feel as though I am an intruder. I suppose it doesn’t help that we live so far away.”
“Have you thought about moving back to London?”
“No, the countryside agrees with us although I have received offers to return to the stage. Perhaps one day…”
“You are always welcome, and you must not feel like an outsider here. We are all an eclectic mix of individuals, but we are all linked by family. There is no need to feel alone,” Lydia said.
Juliet smiled and was then ushered into the room where the others were standing while Lydia offered to take John for her.
As Lydia held the baby she smiled. John gurgled and reached out to her, stroking her cheek.
Lydia chose to interpret this as him remembering her.
“So, Uncle, how does it feel to leave the life of a bachelor behind?” Harry asked with a grin.
“I’m not sure I was ever your typical bachelor, but I am quite looking forward to it. I just hope I can adapt to married life. It will be a change of pace.”
“I’m sure that it will be indeed. I don’t think that Agatha is one to sit around and while away the hours,” Victor said.
“Certainly not. She already has our diaries filled with social engagements and trips. I believe I shall live more in these coming years than I have ever lived before, but I suppose the right woman can do that for you,” he said.
“Hear, hear,” Harry replied.
Victor couldn’t help but agree. Speaking of the right woman, there was a knock at the door, and Lydia entered holding John. Victor’s eyes brightened at the sight of his nephew. He approached Lydia and offered John his finger.
“He’s getting big,” Victor said.
“He is.”
“How do you feel?” he asked. There was a hidden meaning to his words, for he was really asking how she felt about being with John.
“I’m fine,” she replied with a firm smile.
“We will have one of our own soon,” Victor said, “and there will be no doubt about the parenthood.”
Lydia chuckled. Harry then came over and took his son. Victor put his arm around Lydia’s waist and smiled. Soon enough, they were all leaving for the wedding, thinking about the future that was to come and the life they were all going to enjoy together.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered at Stonewood Manor to celebrate the union. Victor couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his uncle, who looked like the cat who got the cream. He had a dazed look on his face, as though he was dreaming. Harry sidled up to Victor.
“I daresay that Uncle Theodore has his work cut out for him. I’ve never known anyone to know so many people. It’s almost as though she’s royalty. Look at how many people spoke to her today! It must be a surprise for Uncle. He’s going to have to become a social butterfly,” Harry said.
“Perhaps he will like the change. And I can’t imagine he would be upset at anything as long as he gets to be with her,” Victor replied.
“How strange it is that all three of us are married now,” Harry said.
He sipped his drink and rocked back on his heels.
There was a broad grin on his face and a shine to his eyes.
Victor felt rotten for having taken away the chance for Harry to feel this sooner, and he was glad for Lydia’s intervention in the end.
“Indeed, but life takes strange turns. And I must admit that we are all the better for it.”
Harry chuckled and lifted his glass.
“Ho! Lydia has melted your icy heart. I am glad to see it brother and glad to see the change in you as well.”
Victor arched an eyebrow and straightened his back. “I have not changed,” he said in a defensive tone.
Harry slapped Victor’s arm. “Yes, you have and for the better! Believe me, if you remained as you were, then a fair creature like Lydia could never be with you. You are much more sympathetic to people’s feelings now.”
Victor curled his lip and scowled, not wanting to admit that there had been anything wrong with him in the first place. However, he could feel the change in himself, and he supposed there was no point in denying it although he wasn’t about to admit as much so freely to Harry.
“I suppose there is always room for reflection and self-improvement. It would take someone who possesses extreme arrogance to believe that they are complete. As Agatha and Theodore have proven, surprises can happen at any stage of life.”
“Indeed, indeed, and I’m sure we can all toast to that. Oh dear, look at him. I am quite afraid he will be consumed by the crowd.”
Victor craned his neck. Agatha, glittering with jewels, was surrounded by old friends and their descendants.
For one more day she was the diamond of the Season again, and this time Theodore got to escort her.
He had a dazzling smile, but Theodore had never been one to assert himself, and so people were barging into him, perhaps not quite realizing that he was the groom.
“Perhaps we should offer assistance,” Victor murmured.
They were about to move, but then Agatha pulled Theodore closer and scolded those around her, telling them to calm down and give them some space.
“Well, there we go. He has someone to help him after all,” Harry observed.
Victor chuckled at this.
“We are all made better by our wives,” he said.
“We are indeed. Speaking of which, where is yours?” Harry asked.
“I think she is with her siblings outside. By the way, I wanted to say that fatherhood is suiting you, as is life in the country.”
Harry smiled.
“Thank you for saying that, brother. See, this is what I meant earlier. Before this, you never would have said anything like that. I doubt you would have even thought it.”
“I would have thought it,” Victor said, although Harry gave him a disbelieving look. Victor didn’t try to assert this point of view either as he wasn’t sure how it would stand up to scrutiny. “And how is Juliet?”
“She is well, but I think she does miss treading the boards. I’m sure we will return to London at some point when John is a little older. I don’t believe she will be able to resist her calling forever.”
“It will be good to have you around, all of you,” Victor said. Emotion crept into his voice, emotion that he did not necessarily wish to reveal. Harry’s smile became more earnest, and he inched closer to Victor, lowering his voice.
“I do want to say again thank you for all you did in taking care of John.”
“You have Lydia to thank for that. I might have sent him to an orphanage,” Victor said, old walls rising around his heart. Harry gave him a skeptical look, as though he could see right through Victor’s denial.