Epilogue

Epilogue

SIX MONTHS LATER

“Is it not a lovely day?” Genevieve remarked, her voice light as they strolled through Hyde Park, the sunlight soft against their skin.

Wilhelm’s lips curled into a tender smile. “Indeed, my love,” he replied, his gaze meeting hers. “The sun always feels warmer when I am with you.”

Genevieve gave him a shy smile, her gaze briefly dropping to the ground. “Oh, Wilhelm,” she chided playfully.

He chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant foliage and passersby.

“I must confess,” he began, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I find myself rather enjoying these outings.”

Genevieve’s lips curled into a playful smile. “Is that so?” she teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Can you two ever stop flirting?” Marianne laughed beside them.

“It is their turn now, darling,” Owen said with a grin, rubbing her seven-month-pregnant belly.

“I have to say, Ravenshire,” Kenneth teased, “I never thought I would live to see the day when you would be out in broad daylight. It was always a clouded room or a dark stuffy study and ‘revenge this, enemies that’…”

Wilhelm’s expression softened into mock solemnity. “What revenge, my friend?” he intoned, earning a laugh.

“It seems our endeavors have borne fruit,” Kenneth remarked, a sly grin spreading across his face.

Wilhelm’s lips curled into a subtle smile. “Indeed,” he agreed, his eyes sweeping over the men, a hint of satisfaction in them. “One by one, they have fallen.”

“Even our dear Alfred,” Kenneth drawled. “It seems he has driven himself to ruin. Did not even need our help.”

“Not much of it, in any event.” Wilhelm’s smile widened, a glint of triumph in his eyes. “He was always his own worst enemy,” he added, the satisfaction evident in his voice.

Kenneth’s grin grew wider, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “And yet,” he said, “he played his part perfectly.”

Wilhelm’s lips twitched, a chuckle escaping him. “Indeed, he did,” he agreed, grinning widely at his friend.

Kenneth chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the group. His eyes lingered on Marianne, whose hand rested protectively on her swollen belly.

A loud, melodic laugh suddenly rang out.

Genevieve and Marianne were both clearly amused by something. Genevieve’s face was bright with mirth, and Marianne was clutching her belly as though she could hardly contain her laughter.

The sound was contagious, drawing the men’s attention away from the conversation as the two women exchanged glances filled with understanding.

“What is all this merriment about?” Wilhelm inquired, his eyes sweeping over the group, his lips curling into a playful smile.  

Genevieve blushed, her gaze flickering towards Marianne, who could not stop giggling.

“We are conspiring,” she confessed.

“Conspiring?” Kenneth echoed, arching an eyebrow in mock surprise. “Against whom, pray tell?”

Genevieve bit her lip, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. “Against… you, I am afraid,” she revealed.

Kenneth’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Against me?” he exclaimed, clutching his chest dramatically. “But I have done nothing to deserve such treachery!”

Marianne giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, Kenneth,” she teased, her voice playful, “we simply want to find a nice lady for you to marry.”

Kenneth widened his eyes, dramatically placing the back of his hand over his brow. “An impossible task, I daresay.”

Genevieve smiled, her voice light and teasing. “Do not be so modest. You are quite the eligible bachelor, you know.”

Kenneth gave her a wry smile. “Bachelor, perhaps,” he conceded. “But I do not know about the eligible part,” he said self-deprecatingly. “You have carved out a difficult task for yourselves.”

Wilhelm glanced sideways at him, then dashed towards Genevieve and grabbed her hand. “Come on,” he said, pulling her towards the white marble fountain.

Their laughter rippled through the park, unburdened and free.

When they reached the fountain, Wilhelm spun her gently before drawing her close and planting a soft kiss on her lips.

Genevieve’s pulse quickened at his warm touch, her heart swelling. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still, leaving only the gentle splashing of water and the harmonious birdsong that flowed from the canopy of trees around them.

“Do you recall our little game of questions?” Genevieve asked mischievously, her voice teasing and her eyes sparkling.

Wilhelm’s lips curled into a tender smile as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

“How could I forget?” he replied, his gaze fixed on her, steady and full of affection. “It was the start of us, was it not? More than I had ever expected to get in my lifetime.”

Genevieve chuckled, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “You were so serious,” she teased. “I never thought you would play along.”

Wilhelm’s expression softened as he stroked her hand with his thumb. “Serious or not, you were captivating. I could not resist.”

Genevieve shook her head, laughing. “Captivating, wasn’t I? You were utterly maddening, answering every question with a challenge of your own.”

Her cheeks flushed at the memory of his teasing question—whether she found him attractive, whether she considered him to be a good kisser. They had startled her back then, and even now the thought sent a small thrill through her.

Wilhelm tilted his head to the side, feigning innocence. “And yet, here we are,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate. “Married, laughing by a fountain, and happier than I ever dared to hope.”

Genevieve leaned against him, her smile softening. “It is hard to believe, sometimes,” she admitted, her voice almost a whisper, “how far we have come.”

Wilhelm kissed the top of her head, pulling her closer. “It is only the beginning, my love,” he said, his voice steady and full of promise. “There is so much more waiting for us.”

They stood there for a while, the sun casting a golden glow over the fountain, their laughter and whispered words blending with the gentle hum of the park around them—a moment they would cherish forever.

Genevieve smiled, her cheeks flushing with a rosy hue. “Indeed,” she agreed as she raised an eyebrow, her eyes challenging him. “And you still owe me a favor.”

“A favor?” Wilhelm sighed in mock despair. “But what could My Lady possibly demand of me?”

Genevieve tapped a finger on her chin thoughtfully, her gaze dancing over the sparkling water of the fountain.

“Promise me,” she said, a hint of seriousness in her voice, “that no matter how strong or untouchable you might become, you will always let me in when you need me.”

Wilhelm’s expression softened, his gaze locking onto hers, his voice filled with sincerity.

“That’s a favor I will gladly grant,” he vowed, taking her hand in his and pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles. “For the rest of our days, you have my word.”

Genevieve smiled, her heart swelling with a love that had weathered the storms of adversity.

She leaned closer. “Then it is a good thing I asked,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. “Because you will soon have someone else to whom you must keep that promise.”

Wilhelm tilted his head to the side, his expression confused. “What do you mean, someone else?” he asked quizzically.

Genevieve briefly lowered her gaze, her hand resting on her abdomen as she met his eyes again.

Wilhelm’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat as realization dawned on him. For a moment, he simply stared, overwhelmed by the enormity of her announcement.

“Genevieve…” he whispered, his voice tremulous as joy bloomed across his face.

She nodded, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Yes,” she said softly.

Wilhelm’s smile grew slowly, blossoming into a grin that split his face. “You have made me the happiest man in all of England.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her in a silent vow of love that needed no words.

The End?