Epilogue

Epilogue

The bitter winter and their struggles were miles away as they looked at each other with adoration. They had enjoyed the voyage to a warmer climate. Their last month of courtship was spent arriving at a row of islands where the sun beat down on the ship.

They had the opportunity to have a summer romance as they got know one another. Though it was winter where they had come from, it was warmer in other places. The voyage would also take so long that they would more than likely enjoy two summers.

They had both agreed on their wedding details, but Lothar insisted that Gemma have the final say on all things. They had seen each other every day and had spent time among family when they had gotten to know one another.

They had seen for themselves that they were both madly in love. Gemma had discovered that money had been taken out of the marriage negotiations. It had only affirmed that she had made the right choice. It made her want to marry him that very moment. They were hours away from being back home where friends and family eagerly awaited their arrival. They had been to many islands and had seen the most beautiful sights in the eight months they had been on their voyage.

They had stayed at the first island for a week before departing to others. By the time they left the islands, they were starting to experience autumn. Though it was not nearly as cold as England, they had their hearts set on a May wedding with their families.

They planned to get married in May and had come home to arrange the final preparations before their wedding.

May

Gemma took one final look at herself as the women in Lothar’s family finished making sure her hair and face looked perfect. Her snow-white dress only left her shoulders bare. The small pink and white flowers that had been braided into her hair matched the bouquet she clutched in her hands.

“How do I look?” Gemma asked the women. They had taken immediately to Gemma and treated her as well as their own. Lothar’s sisters had been there first to greet Gemma. They had spoken like old friends.

“I think my brother is fortunate to have found you.” Charlotte said.

“You look pretty.” Colette said.

“Thank you both of you. I think I am the fortunate one. I am not only just about to marry the best man in the world, but I also get two of the best sisters one could ever want.” Gemma said as they embraced each other at the same time. The other family members, his aunts and two sisters who had settled down and traveled to be at the wedding, all were so kind to Gemma and so pleased for her and Lothar.

They were all so filled with joy that they answered her question with teary embraces. Gemma took a deep breath and made her way out of the changing area and stood in front of the closed doors that led into the packed church. The old wooden doors opened to let her and the sunlight into the church.

Lothar

Lothar spun around the moment he heard the creaking doors. He could never be prepared for the vision who floated toward him.

Is that really her? Lothar thought as he watched her approach him. The sunlight illuminated the room and made her white dress shine. She looked like the maidens in the fairy tales he had heard as a child. Women so rare and beautiful that they had inspired legends that had lived on centuries after.

Lothar was sure he was now witness to a story that would live on for as long as time itself. He could barely see her face under her veil, but he knew she looked a vision. There was something special about today that made everything more beautiful, Gemma was most definitely not an exception. She really was the most beautiful woman there.

He felt more happiness than he could ever have dreamed to feel. With Gemma at his side he knew their new home was going to thrive. Lothar had left strict instructions on how to tend to the gardens using advice from Gemma. The crops had indeed done well and had not succumbed to the cold as the other farmer’s crops had. Lothar had made more than he had needed at the market.

He could now care for his new bride and looked forward to starting their lives together. Their home would soon have their children running around in it and he could not wait. His mother had spoken to him about her excitement at the prospect of becoming a grandmother in the letters she had sent while he had been on his voyage with Gemma.

He remembered how good Gemma had been with the children who lived on her family’s land. He knew their time together would now be filled with happiness. Life would bring hardships though; he knew the reality of it all. He was now ready to face anything and had a reason to face each day.

Lothar could barely concentrate on the words the Vicar spoke to him to repeat. He looked at Gemma and the rest of the world went away. He could still not believe that he was about to marry such a wonderful woman.

They had agreed that writing would fit in well with being a mother and that they were both still free to pursue the interests they had always been fond of. The way Gemma looked at him, as though he was deserving of being with her. In this moment everything was perfect. The church was filled people smiling and weeping with joy

The vows they spoke were the same that had been passed down for generations yet felt personal. Every word made his heart burst with emotion as he looked at the woman who had changed his life and his heart. When it was time, he gently lifted her veil away from her face.

She looked even more beautiful in that moment. The content feeling he had was echoed in her eyes. When the Vicar pronounced them husband and wife, he leaned in to give her a light kiss on the cheek. He would keep their first kiss to a private moment between the two of them.

That fact that she wanted to be his wife and only his, astounded him. Then when rings were exchanged, he felt as though could weep from joy. They made their way out of the church where their guests stood waiting to shower them in congratulations. The air felt thick with the symbolic moment of Lothar and Gemma walking together for the first time as husband and wife.

When Gemma looked up at him with the most radiant smile he had ever seen, he knew that image would live with him for the rest of his life. They made their way to their carriage to make their way to the banquet at their new home. The couple had provided a location though they did not know anything about the evening’s plans.

Lothar looked to Gemma and cupped her face with his hand. “May I finally have our first kiss?” Lothar asked.

“Yes,” Gemma replied, with a smile.

Lothar had waited for this moment and his wildest imagination paled in comparison to the reality. Their lips touched so lightly that he could swear they hadn’t touched at all. Lothar looked into Gemma’s eyes for reassurance that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

She smiled up at him, a look of expectation and joy in her eyes. A joy he shared as he looked into her eyes a moment longer. This time when their lips met, Lothar lingered, savoring every moment of how their brief connection, one that felt more intimate than he had ever felt with a woman. It was made more special knowing she was his wife, and it was more than decent to kiss ones wife.

Lothar felt not only his body react to her touch, but his mind only thought of her. She would be the only woman he would ever want in his arms again. Lothar opened his eyes and hoped to see anything but disappointment in Gemma’s expression.

“Even better than I imagined,” Lothar said with a hopeful look.

“I most definitely agree,” Gemma replied, and Lothar breathed a sigh of relief.

Lothar wanted to kiss her once more but feared they may not make it to the banquet at all. Instead he sat back and took joy in the fact that they had the rest of their lives to be together. Tonight they would celebrate with friends and family who had all done their best to show their support.

Though Lothar had accumulated enough to pay for the wedding, his guests had insisted on helping. Gemma’s and his family had expressed their approval by showering them with a wedding they both loved almost as much as each other.

They arrived to find that someone had gone to the trouble of picking flowers that lined the entrance and were everywhere in pretty bunches all around the banquet area. One large table had been taken outside for all the guests to sit by and enjoy the food. Once Gemma and Lothar were seated, female members from both families came out with a dish they had prepared for the meal.

Most woman of the time would not make something themselves yet, with these families it was obvious they were ahead of their time. It was something precious that spoke of how much independence in women was not frowned upon but prized. They had brought so much food, there was barely any place for them to put their plates down to eat.

Lothar looked at every dish. Some took him back to his childhood and others he could not wait to try. For some it might simply be a hearty feast, but to him it symbolized all the love and care the people closest to them had put into making this day as special as it could be.

He gazed at Gemma who looked equally as touched as he was at the gesture from everyone. They ate and spoke easily. Laughter echoed through the halls. It felt good to be there and it felt right to have Gemma at his side. Further than that, he and his beautiful wife would handle it together.

THE END ?

Do you want to know how the relationship between Gemma and Lothar unfolds in the future?

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(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “The Nanny Who Healed the Earl” , my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)