EPILOGUE

Six weeks later…

Verity could not believe that this day was here. It was a day that she never dared dream of, but also that she had been silently wishing for ever since she first laid eyes on Philip. It wasn't so long ago that she had never laid eyes on the Marquess of Eilendale, but he had very quickly become the most important person of her whole life. How had that even happened? It was a mystery, even to Verity, but one that she very much enjoyed unraveling.

It was the day when she could finally wear the beautiful white gown that had been styled to fit her body exactly. It was the day that she could finally walk down the aisle of the beautifully decorated church. The day that she stood in front of the love of her life and finally committed herself to him for the rest of her life. She had feared her wedding day when she was scared that her brother might marry her off to Ambrose. It only caused her anxiety and made her incredibly unhappy. But now, she could not think of anything better than this.

As she stood, waiting to be invited into the church with her gown flowing gracefully around her, Verity felt a surge of happiness and contentment. The intricate lace and delicate embroidery of the dress made her feel like a princess, and the soft veil cascading down her back added a touch of ethereal beauty. She could hardly believe that this was real, that she was about to marry the man who had captured her heart so completely.

"You look absolutely stunning, Verity," her mother said, tears glistening in her eyes as she waited with her daughter to be wed. "Philip is a very lucky man."

Verity smiled, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. "Thank you, Mother. I feel incredibly blessed to have found him."

The sound of music filled the air, signaling that it was time for the ceremony to begin. Verity took a deep breath, steadying herself as she prepared to make her way down the aisle.

As she walked down the aisle, Verity's eyes locked onto Philip's.

He stood at the altar, looking impossibly handsome in his suit, his eyes shining with love and anticipation.

As soon as she was close enough to him, Verity reached out to hold his hands. Surrounded by close friends and family, a glow of warmth spread through her. She could feel the intensity of the love in the air between herself and Philip which only made her grin much wider.

I am the luckiest woman alive, she thought to herself as her brain flickered back through all of her memories with Philip. I will always be so very happy.

Dancing at balls, talking over flowers, sharing looks… it was always leading up to this beautiful moment. All the hardships were worth it, to be here now.

"We are gathered here today," the wedding officiant began. "To celebrate the union between Lord Philip Easton, the Marquess of Eilendale, and Lady Verity Sinclair."

Those words… they filled Verity with such joy. The title she did not care about, it had never been about that for her. Even if this man had nothing, she would have still fallen very much in love with him.

As they recited their vows and exchanged rings, Verity truly felt like her heart might explode with love and joy. She could not stop the tears from cascading down her cheeks, but these were happy tears. This was a feeling that she never wanted to end.

Once the ceremony was over, it was time to head back to Verity's mother's home where the wedding breakfast was to be held.

Elizabeth was incredibly excited to hold this for her daughter. Verity could see that her mother had been just as excited about this as she was. She could hardly keep the smile off her face. But the best part of all of it was being able to freely hold Philip's hand all the time. She no longer had to worry about gossip and the scandal sheets.

They could no longer say anything about her that would upset her and ruin her whole day again. She had finally found her place in the world, and it felt wonderful.

The well wishes and congratulations from everyone in attendance came thick and fast, and Verity was grateful to receive them. She knew that this could have been a very different story, if both her and Philip were forced to marry people that they did not love, which only made her appreciate this even more.

"What is going on?" she whispered to Philip as she noticed a kerfuffle by Georgina after the breakfast was consumed. "Do you think that there is more news in the air?"

Philip paused and watched the same scene as her, curiosity filling his expression. "I am not sure. Shall we find out?"

Verity nodded excitedly, hoping that there was more excitement for the day ahead. She was basking in the gorgeous glow of love and truly hoped that could spread further. Now that she had Philip on her arm, she could enjoy anything that anyone else had to say to her.

"Georgina," Philip asked gently as he touched his sister's arm. "What is happening?"

Verity was delighted to see a bright smile on her new sister in law's face. There was a sparkle in her eyes that Verity recognized all too well. She was quite sure that she was wearing the same sparkle herself.

Georgina had been nothing but kind to her. Nothing but sweet and lovely, so Verity wanted her to be as happy as she felt.

"Lord Darlington," she declared happily. "He has asked me to be his wife."

It seemed like their own love story had blossomed in the wake of Verity and Philip's happiness, which was such wonderful news. Philip embraced Georgina first, before Verity.

"You should make the announcement now," she whispered to her sister-in-law.

"Oh no, I would not like to take any attention away from you today."

Verity pulled back and stared at Georgina, both of them beaming with joy. "Oh no, you absolutely must announce it. Join in with our celebration, I would absolutely love that."

Georgina giggled. "Are you sure? Oh, Verity, you really are wonderful. I am so grateful that my brother was smart enough to marry you. That might be the best decision he has ever made."

A warm glow radiated through Verity. It had been a long time since she'd had someone, she could consider a friend. Of course she had Faye, but she would love the idea of widening her social circle some more. But she had been closed off because of what Daphne had done to her. But Georgina was a genuine sweet soul, and Verity was happy to build a friendship with her. This was someone she wanted in her life because she knew that she would bring nothing but light and joy.

She nodded and stepped back, pulling Philip back with her, so Georgina and Lord Darlington could make their announcement to the crowd surrounding them. It was very obvious to Verity that the pair of them were very much in love and going to have a wonderful happy marriage.

The room buzzed with excitement as Georgina and Lord Darlington stepped forward. The guests, already elated from the wedding festivities, turned their attention to the couple, eager to hear what news was about to be shared. Georgina's cheeks were flushed with happiness as she took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Lord Darlington's.

"Everyone," she began, her voice trembling slightly with emotion, "I have some wonderful news to share. Lord Darlington has asked me to be his wife, and I have accepted!"

A chorus of delighted gasps and applause erupted from the crowd. The guests were thrilled to witness yet another union forged in love. Verity squeezed Philip's hand, her heart swelling with joy for his sister. Philip leaned in, his voice low and filled with pride, "It seems love is truly in the air today. It's lovely to see, is it not? I feel like everyone is getting swept away in it."

Verity nodded, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness. "Indeed, it is. I could not be happier for them."

Georgina and Lord Darlington shared a tender kiss, sealing their engagement with the promise of a future filled with love and happiness. As the crowd congratulated the newly engaged couple, Verity and Philip stepped back to give them their moment in the spotlight.

Thomas, having witnessed the joyous proposal, turned back to the lady he was charming, and they exchanged knowing smiles. It seemed he, too, was inspired by the happiness surrounding them. He leaned in and whispered something into her ear that made her blush and laugh.

As the festivities continued, Verity noticed her brother, Henry, approaching her with a hesitant expression. The jovial atmosphere around them contrasted sharply with the somber look on his face. Verity's heart tightened slightly. It had been a long time since Henry had shown any vulnerability, and she wondered what could have prompted this. Henry stopped a few paces away, his hands clasped together. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"Verity," he began, his voice unusually soft, "may I have a moment?"

Verity nodded, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension filling her.

She gently excused herself from Philip's embrace and walked a few steps away with Henry, finding a quieter corner of the room.

"Henry, what is it?" she asked, searching his eyes.

Henry looked down, unable to meet her gaze immediately.

"I owe you an apology," he said finally. "For everything. For trying to force you into a marriage with Ambrose, for not seeing what was right in front of me. I have been a fool."

Verity blinked, taken aback by his sudden admission. "Henry, I... I don't know what to say."

"Just listen, please," he continued. "I was blind to what Ambrose truly was. I thought aligning with him would secure our family's future, but I was wrong. He is on the verge of bankruptcy, and his true nature has finally been exposed. He is not the man I thought he was. And more importantly, I failed to see what you truly wanted, what would make you happy."

A wave of emotions washed over Verity. She had longed for her brother's understanding and acceptance for so long. Hearing him admit his mistakes and apologize was something she never thought she would witness.

"Henry," she said softly, placing a hand on his arm, "thank you for saying that. It means more to me than you know. I always longed for your approval, but I also wanted you to trust my choices. Philip is everything I have ever hoped for, and I am so happy you can see that now."

Henry finally looked up, his eyes brimming with regret and relief. "I can see that he loves you deeply. And I see now that your happiness is what truly matters. I am so sorry for all the pain I have caused you."

Verity felt a tear slip down her cheek, but this time it wasn't out of sorrow, but relief and reconciliation. "What is important is that you are here now, and we can move forward together."

Henry nodded, his expression softening. "I promise to support you and Philip from now on. You are my sister, and I want to see you happy."

Verity pulled him into a tight hug, feeling the weight of past tensions melt away. "Thank you, Henry. That means everything to me. I hope that one day we can be as close as we used to be as children."

As she embraced Henry, Verity felt a sense of closure and newfound hope for their relationship. Their hug lingered, filled with unspoken forgiveness and the promise of a better future.

Returning to Philip, Verity felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She was greeted by his warm smile and gentle touch, and she knew she could now fully enjoy the rest of their special day.

"Everything alright?" Philip asked, concern flickering in his eyes.

Verity nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude. "Yes, everything is more than alright. Henry apologized to me. Today truly is a day of new beginnings."

Philip kissed her forehead. "I am glad to hear that, my love. You deserve all the happiness in the world. Do you know what I just overheard? That Lady Rosalind is being courted by an elderly Duke. Hopefully, that will make her far happier than she ever would have been with me."

Verity chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Oh, the ever-ambitious Lady Rosalind. I hope she finds what she is looking for. It seems love is finding its way to everyone today."

Philip smiled, pulling Verity close as the laughter and chatter of their guests filled the air around them. "Indeed. Love has a way of surprising us all."

The End

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