Godric stared at the offered hand as though it were the most precious thing in the world. Then he grasped it firmly, and Nora saw tears gathering in the corners of his eyes even as he tried to blink them away.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “You have no idea what this means to me.”
“I have some idea,” Cecil said with a smirk. “Now, if you two are quite finished making eyes at each other, perhaps we could discuss the particulars of this engagement? Such as when the wedding will take place, and whether I need to have a conversation with your uncle about attempted murder before or after the ceremony.”
Despite the gravity of the subject, Nora found herself laughing. And as Godric pulled her close and Cecil rolled his eyes but didnot object, she felt something settle in her chest that she had not felt in a very long time.
Hope. Pure, shining, uncomplicated hope for the future.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. And that, she thought, was all that truly mattered.
EPILOGUE
The morning of her wedding dawned bright and clear, as though the heavens themselves were celebrating the occasion.
Nora stood before the mirror in her chambers, hardly recognizing the woman who stared back at her. The wedding gown was a masterpiece of ivory silk and delicate lace, the bodice fitted perfectly to her form before flowing into a skirt that seemed to shimmer with each movement. Her hair had been arranged in an elegant style, with small white roses woven throughout, and a veil of the finest lace cascaded down her back.
But it was not the dress or the flowers that made her look different, she realized. It was the light in her eyes, the flush in her cheeks, the smile that seemed impossible to suppress no matter how hard she tried to maintain some semblance of bridal composure.
She looked like a woman in love. Because she was.
“Oh, Nora,” Jane breathed from behind her, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears. “You look absolutely radiant.”
“Like a fairy princess,” Penelope added, though her usual sardonic tone was softened by genuine emotion. “Though I suppose that makes Ironwell your beast, which is rather fitting given his temperament.”
Nora laughed, turning to embrace both her friends. “Thank you. For everything. For standing by me through all of this, for supporting me even when I made questionable decisions –”
“Questionable?” Penelope interrupted with a raised eyebrow. “Darling, falling in love with a man who was plotting revenge against your family goes slightly beyond questionable.”
“And yet here we are,” Jane said gently, taking Nora's hands and squeezing them. “And I have never seen you happier. That is all that matters.”
A knock at the door interrupted their moment, and all three women turned as Valerie and Isobel swept into the room, their own elegant gowns rustling with the movement.
“Darling” Isobel exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth as she took in Nora's appearance. “Oh, look at you. Our baby sister, all grown up and getting married.”
“I am hardly a baby anymore,” Nora protested, but her voice was thick with emotion as both her older sisters descended upon her in a flurry of embraces and tearful exclamations.
“You will always be our baby sister,” Valerie said firmly, pulling back to study Nora's face with the critical eye of someone who had helped raise her. “And we reserve the right to be ridiculously emotional about this, regardless of how composed you think we should be.”
“I would not dream of denying you that right,” Nora said, feeling her own tears threatening to spill over.
The next few minutes passed in a blur of final preparations, with her sisters fussing over every detail of her appearance while Penelope and Jane offered cheeky and helpful remarks. By the time they declared her ready, Nora's cheeks hurt from smiling and her heart felt so full she thought it might burst.
“It is time,” Valerie said softly, straightening Nora's veil one final time. “Are you ready?”
Nora took a deep breath, thinking of Godric waiting for her at the church. Godric, who had spent the past weeks proving his devotion in countless small ways. Who had faced her father with humility and sincerity, apologizing for his initial intentions while declaring his love for Nora with such conviction that even Gregory had been moved. Who had worked tirelessly to repair his friendship with Cecil, never once complaining about the difficulty or expecting immediate forgiveness.
Godric, who loved her with an intensity that still took her breath away.
“Yes,” she said, her voice steady and sure. “I am ready.”
The journey to the church passed in a haze of anticipation. Nora was vaguely aware of the crowds that had gathered to catch a glimpse of the bride, of the flowers that decorated every surface, of the whispered comments about the scandal and romance of it all. But none of it truly registered, because all she could think about was the moment when she would finally see Godric waiting for her at the altar.
The carriage came to a stop, and Cecil appeared at the door to help her down. He looked impossibly handsome in his formal attire, but there was a suspicious brightness in his eyes that suggested he was fighting his own emotional battle.
“You look beautiful, sister,” he said quietly, offering her his arm.
“Thank you,” Nora replied, slipping her hand through the crook of his elbow. “And thank you for this. For your support, for accepting Godric, for –”
