Hearing Lewis' words, the constables hesitated, glancing at one another in uncertainty, and the crowd that had formed began to murmur. Amelia used this opportunity to wrap her trembling hands around Gideon's frame to calm him. The haze of anger that had consumed him just moments ago seemed to dissipate at her touch, and he looked down at her, his face softening in relief.
“He was protecting his wife. As any good man ought to have the right to do,” Lewis explained, “It ishimyou want,” he added, pointing to the Earl of Talley who had not yet moved from the cobblestone.
"Aye, it was him," a burly onlooker declared, his voice cutting through the murmur. "That blackguard Talley struck the lady clear as day!”
"And in broad daylight!" added a woman in a bonnet, her tone fixed with horror. "Attacked the poor miss like a mad hound!"
“About time he paid for his misdeeds,” another hissed scornfully.
The constables, urged on by Lewis, approached the prone form of the Earl, who lay on the ground. He was alive, but barelybreathing. Lewis gave Gideon a meaningful glance before joining the officers, prepared to ensure that the Earl would face the consequences of his actions.
With the scene under control now, Amelia turned her attention to Dorothy, who stood a short distance away, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sight of her husband being led away. She noticed Amelia's gaze and hurried over, her expression a mix of confusion and concern.
"Amelia," she breathed, her voice trembling. "What... what is going on? Who is this man?"
"I’m sorry, dear sister. I should have told you earlier," Amelia murmured, gesturing to Gideon, who had released her from his embrace but still stood protectively at her side. "This is Gideon Terrell, the Duke of Stanhope—my husband. Gideon, this is my sister, Dorothy."
Gideon extended a hand to Dorothy, his expression filled with remorse as he spoke. "Dorothy? You are..." He suddenly pulled away and bowed deeply. “I must apologize for all the pain I have inflicted upon your family.”
Dorothy's gaze flicked between the earnest expression on Gideon's face and the retreating form of her husband. Swallowing hard, she finally shook her head and managed a weak smile. "No need to apologize, Your Grace. In truth, Norman had this coming for a long time."
"It’s—it’s not for what happened today that I am apologizing," he said, his voice taking on a more somber tone. "It's for what I did to your father. I was blinded by revenge against the men who had wronged my family, but that does not excuse the pain and suffering I have caused to innocent people."
Dorothy exchanged a confused glance with Amelia who offered a nod and a reassuring smile. Gideon continued, his words heavy with remorse. "In my quest for revenge against those who wronged my family… my brother, I blinded myself to the suffering I inflicted upon others. My wife and yourself are some of many who were caught in the crossfire of my foolish sense of justice." Upon seeing Dorothy’s confusion and recognition all the same, he continued, “I am the man who put your father in debt and caused your inevitable marriage to the Earl. It was my doing. And for that, I cannot express my sincerest of regrets.”
He turned to face Amelia. “If you grant me the chance, I swear on my honor to spend the rest of my life making amends to you and your family. And seeking forgiveness from your sister,” he added, glancing at Dorothy.
“Although I do not understand completely, my marriage to Norman was not your doing, Your Grace. And his cruel treatment does not fall on your shoulders,” Dorothy replied automatically, eyes wide in cold-edged astonishment.
“Then, please, allow me to make it up to the two of you as a forgiveness for all my past transgressions.”
Amelia's heart swelled, a tapestry of emotions woven through with threads of past pains, present forgiveness, and future hopes, all entwined around the man before her. With a surge of emotion, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Gideon before he could react. "You don't need to make it up to me, Gideon. I forgive you, on one condition - that you let go of your baseless need for revenge and come back."
In a moment that seemed to halt time itself, Gideon leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a searing, passionate kiss. Around them, the bustle of the world seemed to dissolve into a distant hum, their embrace becoming an island in a sea of timelessness. A small crowd had converged, each person wearing varying expressions of curiosity and bewilderment. But neither Gideon nor Amelia cared about the audience; they were simply too lost in each other.
EPILOGUE
1 month later
“How many times must I apologize before I am forgiven, Lord Stubbornsbur—Janesbury?”
Lewis rolled his eyes to the frescoed high ceiling of the grand ballroom in Castle Stanhope. Gideon mimicked his friend, exasperated. He crossed his arms and watched as his ball guests milled about and mingled with each other while he waited for Lewis to arrive at a decisive judgment.
“Three more times?” Lewis suggested at last.
“I apologize. I apologize. I apologize,” Gideon drawled immediately.
Lewis let out a sigh. “I do not sense any sincerity but I’m afraid I have no option but to accept your words, lest I end the night with a megrim.”
“Excellent.” Gideon was tempted to grin, knowing that Lewis was only being playful. He met his friend’s eyes instead. “But just know that I am serious. I pushed you away when you were only trying to get me to see reason. I should have trusted your judgment.”
“I trust you won’t repeat that same mistake,” Lewis said with a light laugh, then added, “I’m still astonished that you took ownership of the letter the Duchess sent to me apologizing on your behalf…”
“I did nottakeownership, I simply refrained from correcting your assumption,” Gideon replied with a sheepish grin. “Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand.”
“You are hopeless, Stanhope,” Lewis declared with another roll of his eyes. His expression suddenly grew more serious upon noticing two figures approaching the pair.
Gideon had hastily organized this ball soon after returning home with Amelia, after setting her family’s affairs straight in Brighton. Though it was set up as the backdrop of a fruitful up-and-coming winter season, its true purpose was to make their marriage official. And he certainly wasn’t surprised by the huge turnout despite the eleventh-hour notice.
