You might have prepared me sooner. I had no notion you were looking for a bride this year. I would have happily joined you in London to offer my assistance. You know how much I prefer the country, but for my beloved firstborn, I would have made the sacrifice.
* * *
I will be departing as soon as possible. And since your brothers are newly arrived home from Eton, they’ll be joining me. Pray that I survive the trip down. You cannot imagine what a trial it is sharing a carriage with those three boys.
* * *
The house is in an uproar as we make the preparations. You should know that your brothers are already making plans to turn London upside down. I will have to rely on you to help me with them.
* * *
With much love and kisses from your devoted mother.
XXXXX
* * *
Postscript—If I make the trip all the way to London only to learn you’ve already married by special license, I will be most aggrieved.
Epilogue #2
August 1819
Clarington Estate, Kent
Sitting on the edge of a picnic blanket, Lucy basked in the bucolic scene that surrounded her. She loved visiting her brother’s estate, and it had been far too many years since she’d been able to visit the house in which she’d grown up.
She smiled. Watching the children play and run around brought back happy memories of her own childhood, playing on these very grounds. But today there were decidedly more children. All her brother’s friends and their families were visiting, and the estate was filled with laughing children. Some were giving chase, but she didn’t miss the small group of girls who were off to one side. They were whispering to each other and giggling while they cast what they thought were surreptitious glances at another group of boys. They’d find out soon enough what the girls were planning. That was the good thing about children. They couldn’t hold back their secrets for long.
Their parents had all paired up and were strolling through the grounds. They took turns standing on the opposite side of the open area in which the picnic had been set up to ensure none of the children wandered too far afield.
Lucy remembered well the panic she’d felt when she’d snuck into the maze when no one was watching and then been unable to find her way out. Alex had found her an hour later, hopelessly lost and crying.
Feeling eyes on her, she glanced over to the opening of that maze and found her brother standing there, barring the entrance. And she had the uncanny thought that he was remembering that exact same moment.
Holbrook joined her on the picnic blanket then. He dropped into position behind her, his long legs stretched out on either side. She leaned back into him, enjoying the way he surrounded her. The feel of his hard body, his scent filling her nostrils, never failed to soothe her.
He placed his hands over her still-flat belly. “How are you and the little one, my love?”
She sighed and closed her eyes. “Exhausted. Charlotte warned me I’d be tired during the beginning months, but I never imagined I’d be this tired.”
He dropped a kiss on top of her head, and she hummed with pleasure. She could fall asleep just like this.
After a minute Holbrook spoke. “I never expected I could be so happy.”
Joy blossomed in her chest. Neither had she. But with Holbrook, safely held in his arms and carrying their child… “I never imagined I could have everything I’ve ever dreamed of. But you’ve made that possible.”
She turned to look at him, and he dropped a kiss onto her lips. “We’ve made that possible together.”
Epilogue #3
Clarington stood in place at the entrance to the maze. Today was a happy day, and he didn’t want anyone wandering into the maze and getting lost. Soon enough he’d ask a footman to take over the duty, but for now he enjoyed standing back and taking in the happy scene before him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his wife sweep into the middle of the open area and knew she’d be collecting children for their game of pall-mall.
His gaze met Lucy’s, and a quiet moment of understanding passed between them. She was remembering that day as well. It was an unsettling thought that he’d allowed her to be lost and unhappy for far too many years, but she’d finally found her way out of the tangled maze of despair her life had been.
Holbrook joined her, and Clarington watched them together. Lucy’s eyes were closed, and she rested against his chest. Holbrook held her as though she was the most precious object in the world.
He heard footsteps approach, but he didn’t have to turn to see who it was.
