“Oh, we would never think of it, my lord,” Mrs. Warbler promised, except there was a gleam in her eye. “Come, ladies. Let us give them their privacy.”
Clarissa didn’t care who saw them or knew they were in love. For the first time, she felt truly valued, and as Mars took her hand to follow the villagers into the church, she believed she was the most blessed woman alive.
As for her husband, well, he must love her because he attended the Sunday service. He sat beside her as Reverend Summerall gave his most rambling sermon ever.
In the middle of it, Mars laced his gloved fingers with hers. Clarissa looked down at their joined hands. There would be trials ahead. There always were... but she was no longer alone.
Epilogue
I’ve made my peace with the Matrons of Maidenshop. We do it their way and all is happy.
—Book of Mars
Maidenshop
May 1816
It was the best Cotillion Dance in anyone’s memory.
The world was finally at peace. Napoleon had been safely locked away, and soldiers and sailors were returning home. The mild winter had led to a good lambing season and a feeling of abundance abounded.
On this lovely May night, most had sheared their wool and the seeds had been sown for good crops. The time had come to celebrate.
Of course the Matrons of Maidenshop who decorated and made all major decisions for the Cotillions had everything in hand. The barn was filled with boughs of greenery andcandlelight and everyone claimed the decorations had never appeared better. Even the musicians on the dais playing one lively reel after another sounded better than they had in previous years.
Or it could be, Mars surmised, everything seemed so fine because his brain wasn’t fuddled with drink as it had been for every dance during the years before. He’d always believed he’d held himself together and made a good impression, but there had been one lady who had seen right through him, and today, she was the only one he wanted to please.
His countess. His Clarissa. Her name was the rhythm of his life. He couldn’t imagine living without her.
As he’d suspected, his actions over the Chairman of the Committees had meant that he’d been pulled into politics. He didn’t mind.
He and Clarissa were now considered guests of the first order on every important social list. He didn’t mind that either. It rather made him proud.
For her part, Clarissa had turned out to be quite adept at managing different personalities. Her popularity amongst thetonwas growing, making his duties easier. Apparently being a minister’s daughter was excellent training for politics.
And women knew more than he’d ever imagined.
They took Dora with them to London now because of the length of time they had to stay. His little “precious button” was turning out tobe a handful. She had a sense of determination and Mars gloried in it. His daughter was as headstrong as himself. She’d do well in life. After all, hadn’t he been the same as a child?
Of course, the place he and Clarissa enjoyed most of all was Belvoir and Maidenshop. This was their home. They would no more think of missing the Cotillion than missing an audience with their monarch.
Tonight, Gemma and Thurlowe had hosted a lovely dinner for Mars, Clarissa, Kate, and Balfour. Gemma was at least six months gone with child and she glowed with happiness.
That wasn’t Mars’s observation. Clarissa had said as much when they left the house to walk to the dance, and watching his friend’s wife move gracefully through the crowd in spite of her size, Mars agreed.
He almost always agreed with his wife. It was a blessing for a man to be married to an intelligent woman. An absolute gift.
However, now he, Balfour, and Thurlowe had an important announcement to make. He waited until the reel was over. Clarissa gave his hand a squeeze for luck, a habit she had started every time he was called upon to speak in front of a group. Her faith in him was unwavering. It gave him the courage to step to the forefront.
The musicians had already been prewarned to expect an announcement. At the sight of the three men moving forward, they brought the music to a halt.
Mars stepped up on the dais. His friendsflanked him. At one time, they’d been known as the Three Bucks, the most eligible bachelors in the parish. Smiling down at his wife, Mars marveled at how things had changed.
The crowd become quiet, expectant as they readied to hear what he had to say.
“We have just one announcement to make. As you know my great-grandfather started the Logical Men’s Society several decades ago. I have been a proud member until I joined the ranks of the married.Happilyjoined the ranks of the married,” he corrected to a murmur of laughter in the room.
“Now the Logical Men’s Society, which prided itself on promoting fellowship amongst bachelors, has become more of a bowling club—”
