“Our home,” he agreed. “I don’t want a marriage of convenience anymore, Sophia. I don’t want to pretend that this marriage means nothing. I want you in my life from today until my very last. However that might look, whatever that might mean, I want it for us.”
“As do I.”
The orchestra sang behind them. The sun, somehow, shone even brighter. Cheers were had. People clapped and shouted their joy. The world itself exploded as if in celebration. And Sophia, unable to control herself, kissed her husband once more in full view of the public.
This marriage, for how it had started, was finally real.
EPILOGUE
ONE MONTH LATER…
“Mother, Father, I am so glad that you made it.” Sophia greeted her parents in the foyer as they stepped through the front door. She stood with Gabriel, holding hands, beaming in a way that she knew would annoy them.
“Yes, well, we were glad to come,” her mother said, sounding not at all as if she was glad to have come.
“Your Grace.” Her father walked forward and extended his hand for the Gabriel to take. Gabriel did just that. “Thank you for inviting us into your home.”
“Happy to do it,” Gabriel said with a smirk. “Just as we are so happy that you were free today. It would not be the same without you.”
“For our daughter…” Her father struggled to maintain composure. “Anything. Have the other guests arrived?” He looked around the empty foyer.
“They have,” Sophia explained. “They are upstairs now, patiently waiting. You two are the last.”
“We are right on time,” her mother protested.
“A few minutes late,” Sophia shrugged. “But it is no bother.”
Her mother’s eyes widened with annoyance. She hated being late, just as she loathed being told that she was. And while she likely knew that she was on time, as said, politeness demanded that she not argue.
Is it so wrong that I am taking such pleasure in this? In my defense, I feel as if my parents deserve the mockery. It’s about time they find themselves on the right end of it.
“Shall we…” Sophia took Gabriel’s hand again and he made sure to kiss the back of it. Both her parents balked at the gesture, as they were never much for public displays of affection.
Next, Sophia walked ahead with Gabriel, leading her parents through the manor, up the stairs, and toward the music room where the other guests were already waiting. There were ten all together, and they were happy to stand about and share in drinks and light chatter as they waited for their hosts.
“There they are.” Alexander Sommerton moved through the crowd. “I was about to send a search party.”
“Forgive my parents,” Sophia eased him. “They were running a little behind, but they are here now.”
Again, she saw her mother’s lips purse with frustration. No doubt she wanted nothing more than to defend herself, but she would never do that. Not in front of so many as that would risk creating a scene.
Sophia caught sight of her husband grinning and she winked playfully.
“Gabriel, if you would…” Sophia gestured to the busy room.
“Ah, yes.” He clapped his hands together. “I’ll take care of this lot, and you seat your parents.” He moved into the room and began to whisper into ears, directing the guests to the seats which were placed around the pianoforte at the room’s center.
“Mother, Father…” Sophia turned to face her parents. “Your seats are this way, at the very front.”
“Thank you,” her mother said politely.
“Lead the way,” her father added.
She led them through the small crowd to the seats at the very front. They were positioned just to the right of the pianoforte, placed so that Sophia would be able to see them as she played. Her father was sure to pull the seat out for his wife before taking his own, and it was just as her father sat down that the other guests began to do the same.
“What will you be playing today, dear?” Sophia’s mother asked.
Sophia could hardly contain her smile. “Oh… I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
