“You did not know, Mama,” Temperance said softly, as James offered the Duchess a small smile. “There is nothing either myself or my husband hold against you.”
At the name, ‘husband’, James’ heart leapt furiously and he smiled, looking down at his bride.
“This is a day of joy,” he said, quietly. “Lord Barlington, your presence is no longer required here.” He looked back at the gentleman, then cut through the air between them with one hand, dismissing him. “There is nothing more you can say or do in this situation. You shall not have what you hoped for, what youschemedfor. Good day, Lord Barlington. If you will excuse me, I fully intend to take my bride back to my manor so we might begin our life together.”
Without another word, James walked past Lord Barlington, his wife on his arm, and made his way out of the church. Once outside, he turned, gathered Lady Temperance in his arms and, without hesitation, kissed her.
All the world fell away as he held her close. Everything that had hindered, everything that had pulled them back was gone. Lord Barlington had no hold on them any longer, no threats of his could stand. All there was now was their bright, golden future that was waiting for them.
“I love you, Temperance,” he murmured, his words brushing at her lips. “We are man and wife now, are we not?”
She giggled, free from the shadows Lord Barlington had cast over them both. “Yes, Calverton, I believe we are.” With her hands, she framed his face, her eyes melding to his. “And I love you too.”
Epilogue
“Temperance? Where are you?”
Temperance smiled to herself, squinting at her canvas before she turned her head to greet her husband as he walked into the room. He paused for a moment, his eyes going over the scene before him.
“I am afraid that the twins thought they might help me with my painting this afternoon,” she told him, giggling as the twins both looked up at once, smiles of adoration spreading across their faces as they saw their father. They both rushed towards Lord Calverton, their paint-smeared hands reaching out to him.
“Wait a moment, wait a moment!” she cried, as Lord Calverton laughed and dodged his two children with ease, coming across the room to join her. “Here, now. Let the nursemaid clean your hands and then you can have Papa pick you up and whirl you around the room as he always does.” She smiled at them both as the nursemaid quickly came to lead the children from the room, promising that they would return very quickly once their hands were clean.
“Our two boys must be the most beautiful of all children, I think,” Lord Calverton murmured, his arms going about her waist as Temperance melted into him. “You have given me so many blessings, Temperance.”
“As I have been blessed by you,” she answered, reaching up to kiss him. “It has almost been two years since we were wed, has it not?”
His eyes glinted. “It has been.”
“Then I have a gift for you.”
Lord Calverton lifted an eyebrow. “A gift?”
She nodded. “On the day of our wedding, I gave you a painting of a gentleman walking on the beach, do you recall?”
Lord Calverton’s eyes lit up. “I do. Of course I do. It was the most beautiful painting.”
“I have something more to show you,” she said, taking him by the hand and walking over to the easel. “It is still not quite dry but it is finished.”
She watched his eyes as he took in the scene. It brought her such joy to see how happy such a small thing made him. Looking back at the painting, she smiled and tilted her head, seeing the waves and the shore that were so familiar to her. There, standing on the shoreline, she had painted a family of four. She and Lord Calverton stood together, holding one of the twins each by the hand. There was joy on each face, a love which she had tried to paint into each of their eyes – and as Lord Calverton looked back at her, Temperance knew that he felt it.
“I do not know what to say.” His voice was a little hoarse, his eyes searching hers. “You have such a gift, Temperance and you use that gift to bless others. I do not know what to say to this, other than thank you. It is so incredibly beautiful, painting us all in the very place which has become our home.” He swallowed hard and then looked back at it. “I do not regret deciding to make this estate my primary residence because it is here that I have found myself happy. Though, that is only because you are here with me, Temperance.” He turned to her again, his smile growing as he slipped his arms around her waist. “You would make me happy no matter where we lived. Being with you, being beside you and seeing you smile make every day bright.”
Temperance sighed contentedly, reaching for him as her heart flooded with a fresh surge of love. “You speak of my own heart, Calverton,” she answered him, as his hands pulled her tighter against him. “As much as I love this place, as much as I love the wildness of the sea, of the waves and the beauty of the rugged landscape, I would not be contented were you not here to share it all with me.”
“And we have so much still to share,” he murmured, beginning to lower his head as excitement curled in Temperance’s stomach. “I love you, Temperance and I swear to you, I always shall.”
The End
