“I suppose if Papa will not allow her to stay at Branigan Manor she might be able to occupy one of the rooms. Until she has other accommodations.” The thought of her mother living with them after everything she’d just found out did not sit well with Penelope. However, neither did the idea of her living in poverty.
“Well, I am sure you will come to a conclusion that will serve everyone. Now, I must bid you farewell.”
Mr. Percival was about to mount his horse again when Daniel stepped forward and called him back.
“Have you found employment already?”
The man shook his head. “I have not. However, I have a cousin in Derbyshire who will take my wife and I in for now.”
Daniel looked at Penelope. She knew just what he was thinking. With a grin, she winked at him.
“Well, it just so happens that I am in dire need of a steward. If you are interested.”
Mr. Percival chuckled at this. “I will admit I had hoped you might ask. And, it will make the news of my being let go by the Duke much easier for my wife to accept. Thus, I thank you, My Lord.”
“We will discuss the terms at a later time. I believe my wife and I have matters that need discussing.”
“Of course.” He paused, before addressing Penelope. “As for your mother, time might be of the essence. I believe if no arrangements are made, she will be departing very soon. Within the hour, I suspect.”
Mr. Percival nodded and mounted his horse, riding away into the distance. Penelope pressed her lips together, knowing that her mother would leave if she did not make the decision to ask her to stay. She looked at Daniel who smiled at her.
“You look even more beautiful than usual when you are deep in thought. I have wanted to tell you this for some time.”
“I have been in thought a lot lately. And it seems I have yet another important decision to make.”
He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her.
“I think that in your heart, you already know what it is you want to do. And I will support you in whatever decision you make. If you invite your mother to live with us, she will be welcome here.”
She rested her head against his chest and held onto him tightly.
“You are right. I want to ask her to come stay with us, at least a while.” She paused and looked up at him. “I’ve too often ignored what my heart wanted. We both have.”
She felt his chest rise and fall as he ran his hand over her hair. “Yes, we have. But no more. Now that you are my wife, I will never let anything or anyone come between us again. I love you, now more than ever. My beautiful Penny, you are more than my wife, you are my best friend, and you are my heart.”
“And you are mine. I never want to lose you again.”
He lifted her chin gently with his finger. “You will never lose me again.”
He placed his lips on hers, and in that moment, she realized that it didn’t matter what decisions she made in her life and in her future, as he would be beside her. He would walk beside her and lift her up, strengthen and support her, just as she’d always dreamt he would. For, at last, they truly were man and wife. United in both heart and mind.
Epilogue
Nine weeks later
They walked along the path leading to Amberley Hall while her mother kicked a fallen acorn playfully along the road.
“I missed this, the Oxfordshire fall season. It is pretty in Devon, but not as nice as here. The air is fresher here, too.” She inhaled deeply, closing her blue eyes as she relished the air. Penelope smiled. While she still felt a sense of resentment linger within her over the way her mother had left her, she was growing to like the woman who now lived with them.
The more time she spent with her, the more she understood the decisions she’d made, and the regrets she faced. She hardly ever spoke of her life with Daniel’s father, too painful were the memories. It had not been a happy life; that much she knew. The burden of their decision had extinguished the love they fought so hard for.
How lucky Daniel and I are. While we suffered for our love, we found our way to each other while still young. We did not leave a trail of destruction toward one another. Not like our parents who ruined not only their own lives, but the lives of so many other people, as well.
She shook her head and thought of her father. She’d found it easier to forgive her mother. Mr. Percival’s words lingered in her mind. Her mother had little options. She was a woman in a world that did not treat women as equals. She had to marry whoever her father chose, and she had to obey her husband. And then the one time she chose for herself, the result had been a calamity. Her father, on the other hand, was a man in a man’s world, and a Duke to boot. He had every advantage in life. Wealth, title, lands, influence—and yet he’d acted despicably to get the things he wanted. He’d lied and betrayed her. No, so far Penelope hadn’t found a way to forgive him. Perhaps she never would.
She sighed heavily, drawing her mother’s attention. The Duchess linked her arm through Penelope’s.
“What is it, dear? Are you worried about seeing your friend?”
