“I didn’t come here for your opinion on anything,” Reeves told the man. “I’ve made up my own mind about Bridget, and nothing you can say to me will change it. I refuse to listen to you speak ill of the woman I love for a moment longer. Make your choice. Will you give us your blessing?”
Bridget gripped his hand tightly.
“I see you don’t intend to give me any real choice in the matter,” the baron said. “Very well. Since you’re determined to do as you like regardless of what I have to say about it, you may as well proceed. You have my blessing to marry my daughter.”
“Thank you very much.” Reeves couldn’t manage to make his voice sound grateful.
“I suppose we’ll see you at the wedding,” the baroness chimed in.
I wouldn’t count on it.“Do you have anything more you wish to say to Bridget before we take our leave? We have a child to get back to, after all.”
The baron and baroness looked at one another, but they seemed at a loss for words.
Bridget stepped forward. “Farewell, Mother, Father,” she said. “I suppose I owe you a debt of gratitude for doing this one thing for me. You have my thanks. And you will never have to worry about me again; I pledge you that in return.”
Now, at the very last, Bridget’s parents seemed to comprehend that they were losing her. “You know we’ve always been proud of you, Bridget,” her mother said with a note of desperation.
Bridget didn’t even bother to acknowledge that. She turned to Reeves. “We should go,” she said quietly. “Emma is waiting for us.”
Reeves nodded and took her arm once more, and together the two of them left Stonemere behind.
EPILOGUE
“Auntie Prudence, do you like my wedding dress?”
Prudence and Bridget laughed in unison as Emma threw up her hands and twirled, causing the skirt of the new dress she’d gotten for the wedding to flare out. “It’s beautiful,” Prudence said. “Though no one could hold a candle to the bride, of course.” She beamed at Bridget. “You look radiant. I’ve never seen you so happy as long as I’ve known you, Bridget, and I can’t tell you how happy it makesmeto be here on your wedding day. I know you never thought this day would come.”
“I don’t think anybody did,” Bridget laughed. She turned to admire her ivory gown in the looking glass once more. It was the finest thing she’d ever owned, to the point that it made her slightly uncomfortable to be wearing it now. There was a not-insignificant part of her that would have said her vows in one of the plain dresses she’d worn at the orphanage. In the end, she’d agreed to the gown because she had known it would mean something to Emma, and because she hadn’t wanted to spendher whole wedding day explaining to everyone why she wasn’t dressed for the occasion.
Now that she saw herself in the gown, she was glad she’d made the choice she had. This was perhaps the only day of her life she would ever spend in such a beautiful garment, and she felt rather like a princess. It was an enjoyable moment, and it was good that she had taken it for herself.
She turned away from the looking glass. “You look wonderful too,” she told Prudence.
Prudence laughed and rested a hand on her belly. “I feel as big as a house,” she said. “I can’t imagine what this will be like when I come to the end of this pregnancy. I’ve spoken to my sisters about it, but they’re so romantic about me being with child that I don’t feel as if I’m getting any real information!”
“Well, you’ll have to remember every detail of what it’s like so that you can tell me when the time comes,” Bridget said.
“Do you mean that you and Reeves have already…” she glanced at Emma. “You’ve decided that?”
“We haven’t spoken about it,” Bridget said. “And I won’t be heartbroken if he decides our family is complete as it is. I’m thrilled with what I have. But… I wouldn’t mind adding to it, either. It’s an option, as far as I’m concerned.”
“And I suppose fate will decide in the end,” Prudence said. “Well, I just hope you get what you want, Bridget. Whatever that turns out to be.”
Bridget smiled. “So far, it seems that I have,” she said. “More than ever before, I have faith that there’s a force in my life working for good, and I trust it to help me find my way to all my dreams coming true.”
“Are your dreams coming true by marrying Papa?” Emma chimed in.”
“Yes, love,” Bridget laughed. “Your papa—and you—are the things that have let me know the world wants the best for me. I’ve never been happier in my life.”
Emma beamed. “I’m going to tell Papa you said that,” she teased.
“I hope you do,” Bridget agreed. “And I’m also going to tell him myself.”
“Emma,” Prudence said, “what would you say to coming to stay at my house for a week after the wedding is over?”
“At your house?” Emma repeated.
“I have a new horse,” Prudence said. “Bridget tells me you love horses.”
