Epilogue

Marie stared down at the perfect little bundle of joy wrapped in a pink blanket in her arms. The birth of Elaine Elizabeth Harding — Ellie for short — had been a long and arduous one, yet she would have done it all again to savor the feeling of holding her daughter for the very first time.

The baby gurgled in her sleep, turning over as she wrapped her chubby little pink fist around her mother's finger. Her little pink head boasted a soft layer of blonde hair that promised to be just as curly as her mother's when she grew up.

"You know, little girl, I don't think you realize just how loved you are. You are more loved than any little girl could ever hope to be. One day, when you are older, I will gladly tell you all about it. I will tell you how Mommy and Granny had to endure many hardships before Daddy came along. Then I will tell you how difficult it was to convince your Daddy that he was actually wrong, and Mommy was right."

Her heart felt full as she ran a finger along her daughter's cheek. The tiny suckling noises that her daughter's puckered lips made as she slept filled her heart with joy.

"I don't think you should be lying to our daughter like that when she isn't even a day old yet." Dominic appeared in the doorway holding an armful of white roses.

"I didn't lie; it took several people close to you to convince you that love does exist." She gently rocked her daughter back and forth in her arms as he came into the room.

"You are wrong on that score as well. It didn't take several people. It took one stubborn matchmaker with a fiery personality and a set of gorgeous eyes." He leaned over and kissed her forehead, presenting her with the bushel of roses. "White, just like you carried on our wedding day."

"You remembered." Marie beamed and nodded toward the table beside her bed.

Taking the cue, Dominic placed the roses on the table and came to her side, perching on the edge of the bed with his eyes on his very first child.

"Would you like to hold your daughter now, Your Grace?" Marie looked up at him with a tired smile.

Seeing his eyes fill with panic, she encouraged him gently and held their daughter out to him. "You'll be just fine, Dominic; she's been waiting to meet her father.

Swallowing hard, Dominic opened his arms and allowed his wife to place the little bundle in his arms.

His expression changed to one of surprise when he lifted her against his chest. "She weighs practically nothing." He looked at Marie, confidence brimming in his eyes.

"Well, I can tell you that it certainly didn't feel like nothing. I had quite the time last night, I'll tell you that. I'm not sure if you still want that army of yours, but I can't see myself doing that again very soon," Marie grumbled and repositioned her back against the hoard of pillows that both grandmothers ordered for her.

Elaine had insisted on staying in their house while she carried on with all her potions and tonics. Yet she spent so much time at the mansion that Elizabeth had convinced her to accept a room.

"Not even one more?" Dominic looked up at her with concern.

Softening beneath his gaze, Marie managed a tired smile. "Well, I didn't say never, I only meant not soon. I think I could manage a few more if the opportunity presents itself."

Dominic winked at her. "Oh, I think the opportunity may very well present itself a lot sooner than you think. In fact, I'm almost certain that opportunity will be knocking on your door in no time at all."

She couldn't help but laugh. "I think opportunity needs to rein in its horses. I won't be ready or presentable for quite some time."

"Not even for a kiss?" He winked at her again, giving her his most charming smile that never failed to win her over whenever they got into an argument.

Her heart melted as she stared into his eyes. "You may kiss me, Your Grace, but gently."

Allowing a broad smile to crack his lips, Dominic came forward and placed a lingering kiss on her lips, eliciting a heavy sigh of contentment from Marie.

Marie opened her eyes for a moment and whispered tenderly, "I think the opportunity may very well present itself sooner than either of us expect."

Dominic held her gaze with a warm smile before their daughter began to complain in his arms. Taking a step back, he shushed her gently and began to rock her back and forth as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I hate to break it to you at a time like this, but I don't think you can be the only woman in my life anymore. It seems as if you will have to be competing for my attention from here on out."

Marie laughed as her heart filled with warmth. Seeing Dominic soothe their first child made her long for her parents. They should have been there to witness the birth of their very first granddaughter, but deep down, she knew that they were there in spirit.

"Are you happy?" Dominic met her gaze with a worried frown.

"Always! I was just thinking of how great it would have been if our parents were here." She hoped that her reminiscing wouldn't make him too sad. The topic of their parents wasn't one that came up too often, and when it did, they both dealt with it in their own ways.

Dominic let out a heavy sigh and looked down at his daughter. "I think they are here. They sacrificed so much in life to get us to this point that I like to think they aren't ever too far away."

Her heart filled with gratitude as she watched Dominic speak freely of his parents without getting upset or breaking down. She looked forward to the day when she would be able to tell their daughter all about her grandparents. They had both come a long way since the start of their journey, and the fact that Dominic was facing his fears head on made her immensely proud to be his wife.

He no longer hid in his room when a storm was brewing on the horizon, and carriage rides had taken on a whole new meaning for them both. She was glad, if anything, that their past fears wouldn't be passed on to their daughter.

"Do you think she will grow up to follow in her mother's footsteps?" Marie asked with a warm smile, thinking of all the possibilities for their daughter's future. It did her heart good to think that her daughter might even grow up to be the next great matchmaker. It wasn't exactly an honorable profession for a young lady, but it was an exciting one.

"I think the sky is the limit when it comes to her future. As a father, I would like to hope she will become a nun and never even think of courting, but if she does grow and fall in love, I hope she has the good sense to recognize it when it comes along. Other than that, I wish her nothing but cloudless skies ahead." He cooed over his daughter without looking up.

His sentiments made her giggle as he rocked her back and forth, staring down at her with all the love in the world that a father could have for his daughter.

"I think she will be just fine if she chooses someone like her father; I know she will be just as lucky as I am."

Dominic looked up with a loving smile, meeting her gaze. "Oh, before I forget, I went to check on things at the shop just as you asked. There was someone there who was dying to see you." He carefully took a step back with Ellie in his arms and opened the door.

A familiar meow suddenly made her look up as a pure black cat came sauntering into the room, his tail flicking back and forth.

"You found him! I was worried he'd run away after being gone for so long!" Marie exclaimed excitedly and ran her fingers over the cat's spine when he jumped onto the bed.

"I know you didn't have any cats at your old house because the space was too cramped and your grandmother's allergies, but I think we could manage here," Dominic announced proudly and watched as the cat instantly made himself comfortable beside her on the bed.

"Thank you, my love, you don't know how much this means to me." Marie glanced up at him, feeling as if nothing could be better. All of her hopes and dreams were suddenly coming true.

"If you love me for that, I suspect you are about to love me a great deal more." The corners of his mouth curled into a cheeky grin.

Marie frowned at him, feeling herself melt beneath his gaze. "Go on?"

"I have purchased that old shed for the cats, I am having them cared for in the barn until the shed and all the leaks have been repaired. You can turn it into your own little house for strays as soon as you are back on your feet." He held her gaze for a moment, their eyes conveying all the love and gratitude they felt for one another.

"You are a wonder, Your Grace. I didn't think it was possible to love you any more than I already do, but I can see I was mistaken."

Looking out of the window, Marie noted the cloudless sky and dreamed of the endless possibilities for their daughter, and the family that only seemed to be growing.

The End?