by Fanny Finch
“He would be proud of you, you know? Your father?”
She looked at him, a small smile on her face.
“Yes. He would be. There’s still so much we don’t know. I have so many questions. Did mother eventually find out that she had married the man who rendered her a widow? I imagine she would have been so heartbroken. My goodness! I cannot believe he could have done so many terrible things. I am just glad it is all over.”
He took her into his embrace then, unable to help himself. She came willingly and he held her.
“As am I. Most of all, I am glad that you are safe, and here in my arms.”
She pulled away to look up at him… “When did you know it was Nora?”
“Not quickly enough, I am afraid. Thankfully, not too late, either. Although, from the start, I knew something was wrong. I just didn’t think it was so… wrong. When I learned that you had been locked up in there… goodness! I was so afraid for you!”
She smiled, it was a small smile. “It was not altogether terrible. No harm came to me. It simply almost drove me mad, being in one place for so long.”
“I know. I know how much you love to be free. To be roamed. I am sorry you had to go through all of that.”
“As am I. Sebastian… my stepfather, he had no right. No right to hurt us the way he did. I am so certain he shall get what he deserves.”
“I will make certain of it, with everything in me. You can be rest assured. Come here.”
He drew her into his arms again, placing an affectionate kiss on her head.
“When this is completely done with and you have been made my wife, I shall take you on a trip. It would be a good way to forget all the long days you spent locked up in that chamber.”
“I would love that very much, Sebastian. However, I do not remember agreeing to be your wife.”
He could hear the smile in her voice. It made him smile too.
“That is because I am yet to ask, but in a moment, I shall rectify that.”
Pulling away, he dropped to his knees. He had gotten his mother’s ring back from Nora. And now, it would be worn by the right hands.
Holding the box out to her, he asked, softly, with all the love he felt shining in his eyes.
“Liliana, I love you. I have for a very long time, and before I knew that I loved you, I knew… I knew that you are the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Nothing would make me happier. Please, do me this honour.”
Her eyes hushed with tears, but unlike before when she cried, his heart did not break. It simply warmed. These were happy tears, he was certain.
“Oh, Sebastian! I love you too! I have for the longest time now!”
Now, his heart blossomed. All of him radiated with joy from within. Oh, he could grow accustomed to hearing her say those words.
“It would appear that we both have been holding out on each other. Only fair, I suppose. So, my dear Liliana, is that a yes? You will marry me?”
“Of course! Yes!”
He needed to hear nothing more. In one smooth move, he slipped the ring on to her finger and rose to kiss her. This time, on her lips.
It was a chaste kiss, yet, it held promises of more. So much more.
As they pulled away, Sebastian could see it all over her. The magic that was love, making her glimmer inside out. That must be the way he looked too. He found it, he did not mind one bit. Not one bit.
“Oh Sebastian, it’s beautiful!” She exclaimed, staring at the amethyst rock on her finger.
“You are beautiful,” he replied and she turned to look at him again. Eyes hushed with more tears.
This time, when he kissed her, it was more… and it held promises of forever.
Chapter 37
It took three months to get all of them sentences they were deserving of. All of them were going to spend a long time in jail. Rothwell, was going to spend a lifetime, and he still would not finish his sentence.
The crimes found against him were numerous. With many witnesses to testify, there was no way he could come out of it and he had tried. Oh, he had.
So many strings had been pulled, but too many people had witnessed his arrest. The whole of London had known what had happened by the next day. Not to mention, Sebastian had the support of the crown.
A lot more had been uncovered in the cause of the hearing, including the fact that Walsh was in fact, Lord Rothwell’s illegitimate son. His mother, only a tavern maid when Rothwell had met her.
Of course, Rothwell had not wished for anyone to know as that scandal would have affected his aspirations to the top of society, so he had kept it a secret and his son close.
It explained a lot of things. Why there was so much mystery concerning Walsh, and why he had always been at the Rothwell’s country home as the girls grew.
Rothwell, aware that there was no way out of this, had confessed to all the crimes and pleaded guilty, eventually.
His partners had been disappointed and shared that they would have killed Longcross but Rothwell had stopped them, insisting that he was valuable to them alive.
For whatever reason Rothwell had spared Longcross’s life, they were glad. He had brought him to his end.
The men’s wealth had been shared equally. A percentage to the partners they had duped in business. Another to the crown, and the larger part, to the people of England.
With all of that finally behind them, Sebastian had decided that it was time to have another wedding. A real wedding.
Of course, Liliana had agreed. After waiting so long for a proposal, she was beginning to grow weary of waiting for her wedding.
Nonetheless, as she walked down the aisle to the man whom she loved, she knew without a doubt in her heart that it had been worth it all. Every one-more-day.
Now, she could say I do, having made peace with her past. Her parent’s death and Rothwell’s treachery. Also, having made peace with her sister.
It had not been easy but she and Nora had managed to get back the relationship they shared before it had all happened. She knew that this affected Nora more than herself, so while it was not easy, she tried.
They had eventually found that love, friendship and easily camaraderie that had always existed between the two of them. Liliana was all the more glad for it.
Sadly, Rashford had fallen in love with an American on his trip away and had gotten married. It meant that Nora would be living with Sebastian’s mother until she found a husband of her own.
Lady Leighton had taken them both into her wings and taken care of them like a mother hen. She would hear nothing of Nora leaving.
The girls were all the more grateful for that. Though it would take a while for Nora to forgive herself and get over her grief, Liliana knew she would in time and she was happy that Nora would be with her, until then.
They needed one another, now more than ever.
There was another wonderful side to all of these. Nora, Nora finally believed in love.
She came to a stop then, right in front of Sebastian, and turned to look at him.
Once again, they were standing this way. Only this time, they were not in London and they were not in church.
They were by the swan lake. With only a few guests in attendance. Lord and Lady Leighton, Sam and Evelyn, Mr Ramsey, Nora, The priest. They were all the people Sebastian and Liliana needed.
And of course, the swans. The thought of it made her smile.
Where best to say her vows, than this place where it sort of all began? It had been the obvious choice.
The priest cleared his throat but as he started to speak, Sebastian cut him off, howbeit politely.
“Skip to the part where we say our vows, father, for I find it, I cannot wait to make this woman my wife, any longer. We have waited far too long.”
Liliana was certain she was a blushing tomato, but she could not help it. Not when he said words like that, and stared deep into her eyes, as though she were all he saw.
Sebastian was entirely adorable.
The sweetest man she had ever met and he was hers, all hers.
The priest cleared his throat, but he was smiling too. Grinning, even.
“Oh, alright then, Sebastian Leighton, do you take Liliana Swan to be your lawfully wedded…”
“I do… I take Liliana Swan to be my wife. By the laws of God, and by the laws of man. I shall protect you, for I am your guardian. I shall adore you, for I shall be as your father. I shall cherish you, as a friend, and I shall love you, as a husband, through sickness, in health, sunshine, or storm. Every moment, of every day, for as long as we live, until death do us part. I shall never leave your side and not one day would go by, when I won’t love you, Liliana. With my words, with my deeds. I will always love you.”
She had reckoned she would keep the water works at bay today but that was a hopeless thoughts. How could she? When he had said such beautiful words, staring into her soul?
Everything in her tingled, her soul sang and her heart… it danced in joy.
“Lady Swan? Do you…”
“I do…” she replied, cutting the priest off as well. “I, Liliana Swan take Sebastian Leighton as my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold, to cherish, and to adore. You shall be my Lord, and I your lady. I shall hold you when the storms bellow, and walk by your side when the sun comes out. Every moment, I will love you. In words, and with my deeds. I will cherish you, and adore you. I promise to give you all of me until death do us part and if there is life after that, then, even beyond.”
“If no one here as any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, by the power vested upon me, I thee pronounce, man and wife.”
“Husband…” Sebastian corrected. “Husband and wife.”
“Yes. Indeed. You may kiss the bride.”
Sebastian wasted no time. Unveiling her, he drew her to him and sealed their vows with a kiss. One that made her heart flutter, belly rumble, and toes curl.
Their family cheered, even the swans chirped, and Liliana knew deep within her heart, that there would never be another day like this. It would live forever in her memory.
Epilogue
“Today, mother decided to make dinner for everyone. Can you imagine that, Hanson? Mother… in the kitchen!” Sebastian laughed. “Of course, it was a disaster. None of us could tell her though. I mean, this is mother we are speaking of. We all ate it like it was the best thing we ever tasted, and afterwards, made her promise to stick to managing the household.”
He paused, aware that someone was walking towards him. He knew who it was and was grateful for her presence as always.
“We leave for Northcott tomorrow, brother. I do not know when we shall be visiting again. Soon, I hope.”
“If you have anything to do with it, I’m certain.” his wife chimed as she joined him. Her hand linked itself around his arm and he knew that gesture was as natural breathing to her.
“Dear wife, I thought that was you.”
“Hmm… is that so, dear husband?” she asked, smiling. She did not wait for a response. “I knew you would be here.”
“Yes. I decided to come visit him for a while. We leave early tomorrow. We would not get the chance.”
She nodded. He knew she understood. She always did. It was one of the things that had made his marriage to this woman beautiful, every day. They were connected in more ways than he could explain.
She knew what he felt, what he thought- most times, and it was the same for him, with her.
To share something so deep and profound with someone, it was simply so… magical. There was no other word for it.
Silence reigned and like it always was between them, it was comfortable. Sebastian released his arm from her hold, so he would put it around her and draw her closer.
There was a time he had been unable to visit this place, his brother’s resting place. Now, he visited as often as he could.
He had made a promise and though it had taken a while, he had fulfilled that promise. And when it had been all over, he had come here.
This woman by his side, she had been with him then. She had stood quietly, knowing he only needed the comfort of her presence.
So, he had taken it as he told his brother of all that he had been up to. How he had brought Rothwell and his partners to justice. How the country had honoured himself and Ramsey for their valiant efforts. How he had found true love, and gotten married.
After he had told all that story, he had broken apart. He had broken apart and let himself cry. Let himself grief and she had been here still. Holding him, rocking him as the tears poured, whispering sweet nonsense in his ears. She had cried with him.
His woman.
Married eight months, and not one moment had he felt the slightest bit of regret. He was happy and he knew this feeling would continue for the rest of their lives.
He had found his home. Right beside her. With her. And all the children they would have together.
Speaking of children, he reached for his wife’s growing belly with his other hand.
“He is getting bigger.”
She smiled. “You are so certain it’s a boy.”
“Yes. I am.”
“And if it’s a girl?” she asked
Now, he turned so he could hold her gaze. Something in him trembled as he did. Goodness, he would never be able to get over how beautiful they were.
“We shall name her Liliana. Just like her mother. Then, I would be blessed a second time.”
“Oh, Sebastian! You’re so adorable.” she leaned into him, rubbing her nose against it. He returned the gesture, for it was always a very special moment for them.
“As are you, dear wife. As are you.”
They remained there a while, and when the night air began to grow chilly, they turned to return to the house, side by side, as they would always be.
Extended Epilogue
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An Enduring Love for the Lost Marquess
Preview
Chapter 1
1817
Drakmore House sat on 131 acres of land. There was the main house, and a three-bedroom dower house, which had once housed her grandmother before her passing. The property had a two-bedroom stable cottage, two flats, and a stable with an outdoor riding arena. The grounds also featured the tennis court, a bowling green, and the woods with a stream that traveled through to the Drakmore Lake.
It was a place of dreams to many, but for Evelyn, it was the place where her dreams died.
Evelyn sat silently as Geneviève did her hair. Her nineteen-year-old companion was four years her junior, but there were greater differences between them than just their age. Firstly, Geneviève smiled a lot. Her hair was shiny and brown, while Evelyn’s strawberry tresses seemed dull now. Everything in her life seemed dull.
Geneviève was silent as she twisted Evelyn’s hair atop her head. Evelyn did not look up to see what she was doing. It did not matter what she looked like. It was all the same to her.
“Do you wish to take a walk this morning?” Geneviève asked in her gentle French accent as she continued to coif Evelyn’s hair. “We could go to the greenhouse. I heard Mr. Babcock planted some new fruit trees. I am not sure of the kind, but we could always find out once we get there.”
Evelyn could hear Geneviève’s eagerness, but she didn’t feel it. She felt very little since Jonathan’s death. He left the earth, and with him, he took a part of her. The world held no joy anymore. The only good thing she had was her thoughts of him and Geneviève’s never-failing company.
She felt sorry for the young woman. She met her at the worst possible time in her life. Evelyn had done her best to recover from her loss
, but her heart could not accept it. Inside, she wanted to believe Jonathan was alive, that he had not left her, and that one day, he would return. Reality told her otherwise.
“That sounds fine,” she answered solemnly. “I’d like to see what Mr. Babcock has done.”
Geneviève smiled at her reflection in the mirror. “Wonderful.” She patted the braids that tangled around the bun atop Evelyn’s head. “All done.”
Evelyn nodded as she got to her feet, the black dress she wore felt heavy, like the weight on her heart. She walked slowly from the room with Geneviève close behind her. She could hear the gentle sounds of her companion’s lavender dress as she walked. Even that sounded cheerful.