Epilogue
One month later …
Esther looked outside her carriage window and noticed the serenity of the morning.
She had imagined this day since she was a little girl but couldn’t believe that it had finally arrived.
What was even more unbelievable was that she was marrying the man that she loved with all her heart.
The man who was her ever after, her one and only.
She was going to be Ian’s bride, and nothing in the world could make her happier.
“Esther, should we step out darling?” her father asked as the carriage stopped in front of a small church located a little distance from London.
Her mother, sisters, Ian’s family, and a few of their invited family and friends had already arrived.
Esther was supposed to come with her father.
She had made sure that Ian would see her in her wedding dress under no circumstance before the ceremony.
She wished for them to lay eyes on one another simultaneously, so their eyes could meet and time would stand still in the moment.
“Yes, father,” Esther replied and brought her beautifully embellished veil in front of her face. She breathed in, feeling the familiar rush of butterflies in her stomach, and nodded at her father. He stepped out and assisted Esther out.
The church was entirely concealed with large dense trees, and the old building was decorated with shrubs and tendrils growing out from all directions. Esther sighed, feeling as if she were in a small cottage in the middle of the woods.
Her mother was waiting for her just outside the doors, and Esther smiled at her as she walked forward.
“You look beautiful, darling,” she sighed, and Esther smiled at her. “Everyone’s waiting inside, come along.”
Esther nodded and took hold of her father’s elbow.
The two stood just by the church doors and walked inside as soon as the doors opened.
Her heart was racing wildly in her chest and she had never felt more nervous.
This was a new beginning of her life. She walked inside, and her eyes fell to Ian, who was standing at the altar.
Esther sucked in a sharp breath as she noticed how handsome he looked.
From his chestnut brown hair to his hazel eyes, he was plain perfection.
She knew she was the luckiest woman in the world.
Her father handed her to Ian, and the ceremony started, though Esther felt as if everything was happening in the background. The only thing that mattered at that moment was Ian and his hand in hers.
“Do you, Esther Chapple, take this man as your lawfully wedded husband?” The priest asked. This was it; this was what she had waited for.
“I do,” she said softly as a smile spread onto her face. She noticed as Ian’s handsome face broke into the most gorgeous smile too.
“With the power vested in me by God and the Crown, I now pronounce you man and wife,” The priest continued, and Ian moved in quickly to kiss Esther. The small crowd invited to the private wedding ceremony cheered loudly, and Ian felt as if he was on top of the world.
Esther looked beautiful, and she still looked more beautiful every day to him.
Her white gown was embroidered and embellished with little pearls, and the low neckline revealed her slender neck.
Ian had never found her more endearing and couldn’t believe that she was finally his.
She was his wife, and no power in the world could separate them any longer.
As he stared at Esther, all he could think about was her being the woman of his dreams. They stepped down from the altar and greeted everyone.
“How are you feeling, my dear wife?” Ian asked Esther, feeling as if he would never grow tired of calling her that. It felt as if he had waited an eternity to be with her, and now that she was his, he would never let go.
“Like the happiest bride in the world,” Esther replied, smiling at Ian. She had never thought that she could experience happiness this pure and untainted.
“Should we get going?” Hildred asked everyone.
She had arranged a small wedding breakfast in honor of the newly wedded couple.
Neither Ian nor Esther wished for a large wedding after what had happened at the engagement ball, even though their families initially fought them over it.
Thus, a small ceremony and breakfast had been organized, although their families had made sure that everything was done luxuriously and in the best way possible.
Once everyone left the church, they all settled into the waiting carriages, and soon reached Hathershire Manor.
As Ian stepped into the garden he had seen countless times, he couldn’t believe it was the same place.
The entire area was transformed into a beautiful forest setting that had a huge table in the center. It was a sight to behold.
“This is magical, Esther,” Ian commented.
“Yes, mother and father truly went all out,” Esther laughed, and Ian couldn’t help but almost swoon over the musical sound.
Ian’s eyes went over to Adam and Lisa, who were already seated at the dining table.
Adam had been his best man, and Ian couldn’t believe that things were once again right between them.
It was true that they had still not reached the same camaraderie they had shared earlier, but Adam’s apology had worked wonders to make amends between them.
Ian had even forgiven Lisa, and the two could converse casually now.
He knew it would take him some more time, but with Esther beside him, he felt he could conquer the world.
She made him feel at peace with his life. There was something about Esther that made him unabashedly happy, something he couldn’t pinpoint.
“Ian, can I tell you something?” Esther suddenly said, and Ian turned to look at his wife. She was an emblem of perfection, and Ian felt he was the luckiest man in the world to have her by his side.
“Anything,” he answered turning his undivided attention towards Esther.
“I love you,” Esther said with a small laugh, and Ian joined in.
“I love you more,” he whispered, knowing perfectly well that the love he felt for her would continue increasing with every passing day. He couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with her.
But there’s more…