From now on, it seemed as if everything was going to go the way it should.
EPILOGUE
“Father wishes to see you before the wedding,” Matthew said.
Edwina turned away from the looking glass. She had been admiring her gown, marveling at the fact that she was actually standing here wearing it—that she was about to be married. She had never expected to find herself in this situation. She had never believed this day would come for her.
Her father would not be able to make the journey to the church to see the wedding take place. His illness was now too advanced. It was no great surprise, therefore, that he wished to speak to Edwina before she left the house. But Edwina did wonder what he would say to her—what last words he might have before she became someone’s wife instead of just his daughter.
She followed Matthew from the room wordlessly. She had been quiet all day, and she knew it—she was overcome by the intensity of everything that was happening, and it was easier to remainquiet than to try to find the correct words to deal with the situation at hand. It was easier to listen than to speak.
She smiled at the thought of what Allan would say to her when she told him she had felt this way. He would tease her, as he always did, telling her that she had never in her life been at a loss for what to say and that he didn’t believe she truly felt that way now. But the truth was that she really did. Perhaps it was just that she had never been in love before. She didn’t know how to process all the things she was feeling.
Her father lay in a dim room, unable to sit up without being supported by pillows, but he smiled and held out his hand when he saw her. Edwina went to him, noticing that Lavinia was there too, holding her father’s hand. She took his other hand and waited to hear what he would say.
“Edwina,” he murmured, “you look positively lovely, darling. I do hope that Duke understands what a lucky man he is.”
“He does, Father,” Matthew spoke up, and Edwina was grateful. She hadn’t been able to think what to say. “I’ve spoken to him, and I know how much he values Edwina. He will treat her well.”
“I know that you didn’t want them to marry, Matthew,” her father said. “You’ve changed your mind about him, then?”
“I have. He will be a good husband to her. I’m satisfied with the match. And after all, as long as Edwina is happy, that is what matters.”
“I’m just so glad all this has turned out the way it has,” her father murmured, closing his eyes briefly. “I know that I was hard on you girls. Both of you. I never hesitated to let you know how important it was that you should marry.”
“I think Lavinia felt that more than I did,” Edwina said. “You were patient with me.” She didn’t know ifpatientwas truly the word—half the time, she’d felt that her father had simply given up on her, but she understood what he was saying. She had always known that he would have liked to see her married if he’d had his way.
Now, it was happening, and she was sure he was happier with her than he had ever expected to be.
She smiled at him because it cost her nothing to do it. “I’m happy about the way things have turned out too, Father,” she said. “I’m glad to be marrying the Duke today.”
“Both my daughters, married to dukes,” her father murmured. “And soon you will have families of your own, and our line will continue—although,” he added, somewhat sternly, opening his eyes again, “I would like Matthew to have an heir. I would like to see that take place before I die.” He fixed his gaze on Matthew. “I notice that you haven’t yet married.”
“I haven’t found the right lady, Father.”
“A gentleman may take a little longer but not too much,” their father observed. “And you know as well as I that time is fleeting, Matthew. I would like to think that you intend to marry soon.I would like it if you could tell me that I can expect that to happen.”
Matthew averted his gaze. “Today is about Edwina,” he said firmly. “We ought to focus our attention on her. Perhaps you and I can discuss my future later, Father—but for now, let it be enough that Edwina is going to marry. No one ever thought that she would, after all.” And he wrapped an arm around Edwina’s shoulders.
“You had better get to the church,” their father said. “I wouldn’t want to make you late and give the Duke cause to change his mind.”
“He will never change his mind,” Lavinia said reassuringly. “He adores Edwina, Father. He’s perfect for her.”
“Just the match she needs, I suppose?” Their father smiled lightly. “All right, then. Happy wedding day to you, Edwina. You look beautiful. I’m only sorry that I can’t be there beside you today.”
Edwina gave her father’s hand one final squeeze. In the end, she found, she was glad of the fact that she would be making him proud. She was glad to know that he would be pleased with her, and that he would spend the remainder of his life happy with the way hers was turning out. She hadn’t wished to marry for his sake, but their desires had aligned at last. Now, she was marrying for her own reasons, and she had the pleasure of knowing that she had made her father happy as well.
“Well, Your Grace, what did you think of that?”
The ceremony was at an end. Edwina and Allan had left the church and had made their way back out to the carriage that would take them to the ball that was to be held at Edwina’s family’s home before they both left for Allan’s home and their new life together.
Edwina felt giddy. The whole ceremony had seemed to pass in a blur, and now, she remembered snatches of it very clearly—but only individual moments. “I can’t believe we did it,” she said, unable to stifle a giggle. It was as if all the nerves in her body were relaxing at once now that the ceremony was behind them. “We actually did it.”
“We did it,” Allan repeated, beaming at her. She had never seen him look so fully, openly happy. There was not a trace of a smirk on his face, and his eyes shone with obvious joy. “You are my duchess now…Your Grace.”
“That’s the second time you’ve called me that,” she realized.
“I’ve been dreaming of the moment I would be able to for quite a while.” He took her hand. “You can’t imagine how long I’ve waited. It feels like forever.”
