“Be thankful, Lord Wembley,” he said, “that I was feeling charitable. But I must warn you, if by some miracle you manageto avoid the punishment that you deserve, I will be watching, and I will be waiting.”
“As will I be,” Lord Whitcombe added.
The authorities arrived shortly after, and they promptly arrested Lord Wembley. He blubbered as they did, pleaded his innocence, but he did not fight them.
Lady Whitcombe stood with Amelia, her arm around her in support. And Lord Whitcombe stood with Marcus, glaring daggers at Lord Wembley as he was carted away.
“I cannot believe it,” Lord Whitcombe said once they were gone. All four of them stood in the foyer, and the atmosphere was awkward and tense. “Lord Wembley… he seemed so… so perfect for Amelia. How could he have done this?”
“I am sorry,” Lady Whitcombe spoke up as she held her daughter. “For all of this.”
“It is not your fault, dear.”
“It is,” she sighed, her expression softened and filled with remorse. “It is no secret how I have treated Lucy. Since I came into this home…” She shook her head with regret. “I spoke unkindly to her, and about her in front of Lord Wembley. This is as much my fault as anyone else’s.”
“That is kind of you to say,” Marcus said. “And I will tell Lucy you said so.”
“If she wishes to… to not forgive me, I will understand.”
“And me,” Amelia added. “I did this. I… I… Oh, I am so sorry.” She shoved her face into her mother’s chest and wept.
Marcus watched the scene with extreme reservation.
On the surface, he wanted to feel anger for these people. He knew of how they had treated Lucy for her entire life, and while Lucy wished to forgive them, he thought it absurd and not something that they deserved.
To look at them now, however, he saw the truth in their sorrow. Lady Whitcombe was not perfect, she never would be, but she was indeed sorry, and maybe one day she and Lucy could develop a relationship. What was more, he knew that despite everything, Lucy still wanted such a thing.
The past does not have to define us. It might force our actions, it might cloud our judgement, but we can overcome it. This here is proof… proof that I so sorely need.
“Might I make a suggestion?” Marcus started. “This scandal, for that is what it will be, will not go away quietly. I recommend the three of you take a long trip, somewhere far from here, for at least a year. By then, hopefully, people will forget, and Amelia’s future will not be stained by this unfortunate event.”
“That is a good idea,” Lord Whitcombe said.
“And when you return…” Marcus allowed a smile. “Please, come and see Lucy and myself. I know how much she wants such a thing, just as she wants us all to be a family.”
Lady Whitcombe looked skeptically, still unable to believe that she might be forgiven – that she deserved such a thing. But Amelia beamed, and Lord Whitcombe nodded his thanks.
It was done.
It was not the way that Marcus would have handled it, but Lucy had insisted, and for her there was little he would not do. And now that this was behind them, there was but one more thing that Marcus needed to do for his wife, and himself for that matter.
It was time that he put himself before her, asked for her trust and her forgiveness, and prayed that she gave it. Finally, he was ready to start his life anew, with the woman he loved, and he hoped that she saw the truth in this… and that she accepted him, once and for all.
