Epilogue
Four Months Later
It was the first ball of the season, and Stephen had been steadily buying her an entire wardrobe full of dresses to prepare for it.
“These are enough,” she would say to him when yet another delivery would be made for her.
“I just want you to have all the choices you can imagine,” he would reply.
“If you keep this up, then I might just own all the dresses in London,” she laughed.
“And what is so wrong with that?” He countered. “You are my wife, and you are the Duchess. And you deserve even more.”
She would blush then. Their relationship had only grown stronger in the last couple of months, and it felt as though she was finally living her fairytale life that she had always dreamed of.
“Did you really think that you would ever fall in love with someone?” She asked him on the morning of the ball.
“Good morning to you, too, lovely wife,” he replied cheekily.
“Answer the question,” she grinned.
“Is this really what you wish to know so early in the morning?” He asked. He was teasing her, and she knew it.
“Yes, well, you know that I always wish to know what is going through your mind, and it does not matter what hour of the day that might be. Wouldn’t you think the same of me?”
He thought over it for a moment.
“Well, yes, I suppose I am always quite curious to know more about you,” he said. “Funny this. Before I met you, I always assumed that there was not much to know about a person after a few weeks of spending time with them.”
“Well, you know that I am always full of surprises,” she grinned. “But now answer my question.
“In earnest, I had always wished for love in a way. But I had never thought that it would happen for me,” he nodded. “In fact, I thought that a match made out of duty was the furthest that it was going to get for me.”
“Hmm, like our match in the beginning?” She questioned. “You thought that it would never grow past that?”
“I had no reason to assume otherwise,” he said. “Life had not really ever shown me examples of what a lasting and healthy love may look like or what shape it can take.”
“Then perhaps we have to be the standard that we set for our children,” she nodded, feeling a sense of warmth inside of her. “We will teach them what love is.”
“I thought that I would have to teach myself too,” he admitted. “But I was pleasantly surprised to see that it comes quite naturally for us.”
She smiled at that. It was these little things that only strengthened their connection even further.
“Now tell me,” he said. “Are you excited for the ball? It is the first one in the season.”
“Oh, I ought to be,” she laughed. “But strangely, I am not nervous either. I am happy that I shall get to see my friends, but mostly I am just happy to be going with you on my side.”
“Oh, you will see that all the other gentlemen there will be jealous beyond repair when they see that you are with me,” he grinned.
“That might just be your love taking,” she smiled.
“It is the truth, either way.”
When it was finally time for the ball, the couple entered together. For a second, Maria felt the old pinch in her stomach.
“You’ll look beautiful, and you’ll do splendidly,” he leaned over to whisper in her ear once.
Perhaps that was the final push she needed. Because she lifted her chin, took Stephen’s arm more firmly, and walked in as if the room belonged to them both.
Her gown was one of the newer ones that Stephen had bought for her. A teal color that complemented the pale of her skin perfectly. Her hair was swept up and set with small pearls. She stood straight, let herself be seen, and remembered to breathe.
Some ladies looked at her sideways.
Perhaps to gossip, she noticed, and then she chose not to care. It helped that Stephen stayed close, greeting hosts.
You are more beautiful than this entire room, and also, we need not stay a minute longer than you wish. He had whispered to her.
“Ready?” he murmured as the first set formed.
“To dance?” she asked.
“To be stared at,” he said.
“I don’t mind,” she answered, and heard how true it was.
“Is that so?” Stephen grinned, seeming pleased at her confession.
“Yes,” she nodded, looking around the room. “I had expected myself to be more nervous, but somehow, it is not so daunting.”
“It is lovely to see you grow more confident in your own self,” Stephen replied, not in a condescending way. Nothing that could come out of his mouth for her could ever be perceived as condescending, for she knew that he only had her best interests at heart always.
“I suppose I feel surer of myself these days,” she smiled. “That must be the reason why I am able to show up in a brighter way to the world.”
“Or perhaps you realized that you were lovely and brilliant all this time,” he countered. “You are acting like the woman whom I always knew you to be.”
“You flatter me greatly,” she smiled.
“I must have caught at least three gentlemen glance in your direction,” he went on. “It is not flattery, if it is the truth.”
“Well, I only have eyes for one,” she said, looking up at him.
They continued to dance together.
“And might I say that you have improved greatly since,” he said. “Since our early days of lessons.”
“That would mean that you are an excellent teacher,” she replied. “Or that we are an excellent team. I could not imagine even dancing with another.”
“Tragic for the rest,” he smirked. “But how very lucky for me.”
When the set finished, they drifted to the side. Maria spotted familiar faces near the edge. Her friends were here.
“I’m going to say hello,” Maria said.
“I’ll fetch lemon water and stand where I can see you,” Stephen nodded. “Don’t be gone for too long.”
“You don’t have to guard me,” she teased.
“I like to,” he said, and kissed her knuckles quickly.
She crossed to her friends. They drew her in at once.
“Look at you,” Temperance said, “You look gorgeous. Stunning, even.”
“She’s right,” Alethea murmured, fighting a smile.
“And those pearls, perfect. You must tell me where you found them. Or better, let me borrow them tomorrow. I’ll call it charity,” she continued.
Maria laughed, easy with them.
“You may both come and try them on. But you must bring cake.”
“Done,” Charity said at once.
They moved together along the edge of the floor, talking softly. Maria told them nothing of the worst weeks. It was no use worrying them, and it felt like that part of her life was so far removed now.
Truly, the last few months had been nothing but bliss, and she only wanted to celebrate each moment.
“Does everyone still stare?” Maria asked lightly, “I cannot decide if this is a good thing, or not yet.”
She had attracted a lot of curious gazes at the ball. It was only natural to wonder what their intentions were, even though she no longer felt self-conscious.
“Ignore them. You look happy,” Temperance said quickly.
“I am,” Maria said, and the words felt clean.
“We should visit you,” Charity said. “It has been a while since we all had the luxury of spending uninterrupted time together.”
“Yes, and I feel as though so much has happened in our lives,” she smiled at her friends. Some of them, she knew, were in courtship stages of their own. And she could not wait for them to blossom in their own love lives. However, she would not push them to reveal more than necessary.
“We’ll come next week,” Temperance declared. “I am in need of air and a change of scene, anyway, and you are always the loveliest of hosts.”
“And gossip,” Charity added.
“And some quiet time for me,” Alethea said, who was the only other one married apart from Maria.
“You may have all three,” Maria promised.
They chatted a little longer, but before long, she could see that Stephen was walking in her direction. He stepped in politely at the edge of the circle, set the lemon water in her hand, and bowed to the ladies.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I am a selfish man. I came to steal my wife.”
“Oh, take her,” Temperance said cheerfully. “Surely, we were not discussing anything of great importance.”
“Noted,” Stephen said. He glanced at Maria. “May I?”
“Of course,” she said to her friends. “You’ll truly come next week?”
“Try to stop us,” Charity said.
They moved away together. Stephen guided her, lightly, along a side corridor and out through a door that opened to a narrow balcony. The cool night air hit her face instantly. He closed the door behind them, not shutting it fully, just enough to make a little pocket of privacy.
“Are you all right?” he asked after a moment.
“Yes,” she said. “Are you?”
“Always when I am with you.”
It was little check-ins like this that she valued dearly. It was as though both of them were always trying to make sure that the other was not in any sort of discomfort.
“You’ve impressed quite a few people tonight,” he said. “I might have heard little whispers.”
“That is nice to hear, but I have come to realize that the only validation that really matters is from those whom I love,” she shrugged.
Funny, she had always wanted to be accepted into society, and now that she was, it was not the most important thing for her.
“I felt you were yourself the moment we stepped in,” he nodded. “You’ve been light all evening. It looks good on you.”
“You are going to make me blush,” she said.
“Good,” he said softly, and then he kissed her.
It wasn’t a long kiss, but it was enough to send an explosion of good sensations inside her. She did not wish for it to end. When he drew back, he stayed close, his brow almost touching hers.
“I want to take you home,” he said. She noticed the shift in his tone. “Soon.”
“Soon?” she questioned, curious about his sudden urgency.
“Very soon,” he said. “I am failing at polite conversation. All I can think about is you in our house, in our room, and the fact that no one else will be there.”
She blushed wildly at the assumption.
“You seem rather...” she started, not knowing what words to say. “Well.”
“In urgency?” he said, “You could say that. It is a need.”
Her face warmed, and she didn’t mind it.
“Stephen.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve not known you this smooth,” she said. “Or so impatient.”
“I’m just being honest,” he said, seeming amused. “I want you to myself and I want us to start trying, if you are ready.”
“Trying?” she echoed, though the implication was clear as day.
“For a child,” he said, “If that still is something that you wish for.”
Her heart lurched at his words. It had been a while since they had spoken about this.
“I do.” There was so much that she wanted to say, but somehow, those were the only words that she could utter.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure about wanting you,” she said. “And to expand our family. We can take our time when we need to. But yes… oh heavens yes.”
“Thank God,” the relief was palpable in his voice.
“You were nervous,” She laughed. The thought of him being nervous about something like this was ridiculous, and yet it was endearing at the same time.
“Terrified,” he admitted. “I was not sure if you had changed your mind. And now that I was sure, I was worried that I would not be able to handle the disappointment of you refusing.”
“You asked well,” she said. “And I want the same thing.”
He touched her cheek again, only briefly.
“I have not ever been one to break a vow, but this one needs to be broken,” he said quietly.
“I know,” she said. “And I will not let that memory rule us. We will rewrite the story that your father tarnished.”
He nodded once. They stood together a minute longer.
A few couples stepped out onto the terrace at the other end, laughing.
Stephen turned, shielding her from view with his body, and kissed her again, a little longer this time.
Her fingers curled in the front of his shirt, and his hand found the small of her back and settled there.
“We should go now,” he said at last.
“Now?” she laughed. “But we can have one more dance.”
“You want to tease me?” he said, laughing now. “Well, I have always liked your fiery side. Another dance it is. I want to show you off to the world.”
“I won’t mind,” she said.
They went back in, and Stephen led her to the floor again. When the waltz turned them past a knot of ladies, Maria saw two familiar faces watching with a new sort of interest. A little envy, perhaps. She met their eyes, smiled, and kept dancing.
How things had changed for her.
But after the dance was over, Stephen was once again possessed with a certain kind of impatience.
“Time for us to go,” he said, already leading her out of the room.
Maria was laughing.
“But I have not even said goodbye to my friends properly.”
“They will understand,” he shrugged his shoulders.
In a rush, they exited to their carriage. Maria was laughing, feeling more carefree than she had in years.
Inside the carriage, Stephen took her hand and didn’t let go.
“You were very sure tonight,” he said at last. “And I find that I love this version of you the most.”
“For once, I didn’t hear every voice in the room in my head. Only mine,” she smiled. “And well, occasionally yours.”
“I heard yours, too,” he said. “It’s my favorite sound.”
“You are getting better at this,” She shook her head, amused and flustered.
“At what?”
“Saying exactly what you mean,” she said. “Who knew you were such a romantic at heart?”
“Truly, it comes as a surprise even to me,” he laughed. “You are a good teacher.”
When they reached the estate, Stephen helped her down and didn’t let go of her hand until they were inside. They climbed the stairs together. When they reached their rooms, Stephen stopped.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
He kissed her temple, and she felt him relax again. “I love you,” he added, simply.
“I love you,” she said.
This was their happily ever after.
The End?