Epilogue

The carriage stopped in front of her childhood home as Isabelle descended the steps. It seemed unreal to her that she had left as a captive but was now standing on the brink of marital bliss.

I am getting married to someone I love.

She would have pinched herself to check if it were all real, yet she stopped herself just as Richard came bounding down the stairs towards her.

“Isabelle, is that really you?!” Tears streamed down his tired face as Richard embraced his sister, swinging her around in his arms before putting her back down.

“Richard, I can’t breathe,” Isabelle said gently before pushing him off.

Looking her over, his eyes filled with sadness. “I have just got word as to what happened with Lord James. Will you ever forgive me for wanting to marry you off to such a beastly man?”

“How on earth did you hear about it before we reached London?” Isabelle frowned and cocked her head to the side.

Taking a step forward, Henry placed a hand on her shoulder. “You know how the gossip mill turns quicker than the beating of a horse’s hooves, my darling.”

The term of endearment made her cheeks fill with colour.

Richard’s expression suddenly changed to one of surprise as he looked from one to the other. “My darling?” His tone lacked the anger that had been present when they’d last spoken.

It was strange to Isabelle that she no longer hated her brother for her choices. She hadn’t forgiven him, yet she no longer felt the need to fight with him.

Clearing his throat, Henry smiled. “I hope you don’t mind me jumping the gun, My Lord, but I was hoping to ask for your blessing…”

Richard raised his hand and stopped Henry before he could continue. “Please, there is no need to explain, Lord Ashford. If anyone deserves my sister’s hand in marriage, it is you. I only hope that the two of you can forgive me for my actions. I saw how you felt about each other during that dance, but I placed our family name above your happiness.” He turned back to Isabelle with a heavy sigh of regret.

Isabelle was about to respond when Caroline spoke up from behind.

“Isabelle, are you hurt?” Her voice was timid and low, softer than Isabelle thought was possible.

Turning around, Isabelle faced the tear-stained cheeks of her future sister-in-law. “I am quite well; how have you been?” The interaction still felt awkward to her until Caroline threw her arms around Isabelle’s neck.

The moment caught Isabelle off-guard as Caroline began to sob. “I am so sorry for trying to force you to marry that horrid man. It wasn’t until you went missing that I realized just how wrong I had been. Will you ever forgive me for placing your life in danger?” Her words were almost inaudible as she continued to sob.

“There, there, I think a lot has happened that everyone would like to take back. I will forgive you if you promise to forgive me for my heartless and thoughtless words. Do we have an agreement?” Isabelle gently patted her back before pushing her away at arm’s length.

Sniffing back the rest of her tears, Caroline attempted a smile, making her seem far less formidable than she ever had. “I think I can live with those terms.” She nodded gratefully before cautiously glancing at Richard over Isabelle’s shoulder.

“Miss Sedgewick, I …” Richard began but found himself being cut short by Caroline.

“Let’s have tea next week. I heard the happy news, and I hope you will allow me to help,” she said, addressing Isabelle without looking at Richard.

“Of course, I would love nothing more than to have your help.” Isabelle felt utterly confused by Caroline’s interaction with her brother.

Has she still not forgiven him after what I said?

“Wonderful. I will be in touch to confirm a time and place.” Carolien curtsied to them all before practically running away.

Turning back to her brother, Isabelle looked to him for an answer.

“I am afraid that it isn’t just you whom I have neglected in favour of the family name. I would like to say that it was because of your words to Miss Sedgewick, but the fault lies with me and me alone. I have not done my duty by Miss Sedgewick as her fiancé. I cannot tell you her favourite colour or anything about her past. Somewhere along the line, I have lost sight of what it means to appreciate a person without being bound by honour.”

Sadness filled her chest as Isabelle realized that the engagement between her brother and Caroline may very well have ended. She had never been fond of the young woman, but she could see how Caroline was a good match for someone like her brother.

“I’m sure that things can be mended in time. You will just have to try a little harder in the future.” Isabelle embraced her brother and put to rest the decades of family disagreements that had kept them apart.

Clearing his throat, Henry drew the attention back to himself. “I hate to interrupt such a touching family reunion, but if we are all in agreement, then I shall go ahead and arrange a date with the vicar. Does a week from tomorrow sound good for everyone?” He looked from Richard to Isabelle.

“I think that sounds wonderful,” Isabelle managed to speak despite the overwhelming emotions in her chest.

“A week from tomorrow, it is then.” Richard took both their hands and placed them on top of one another. “And may this union signal the start of something quite marvellous for us all.”

***

One week later …

The dress fit her figure like a glove, and Isabelle couldn’t help wondering if her mother and father were smiling down at her from heaven. She hadn’t seen much of Henry in the week leading up to the big day, but she knew in her heart that it was only going to work out after the wedding.

She took a deep breath and checked her reflection once more in the carriage mirror. Her cheeks were filled with bright colour while her hair had been pinned to the back of her head in an elaborate style.

“Are you ready?” Richard offered her his arm for support.

Taking a deep breath, she took his arm and faced the chapel, feeling the cool afternoon breeze through the thick fabric of her tule dress. “Ready as I ever will be, but before we start, have you had a chance to discuss matters with Caroline? I haven’t seen the two of you together in a while.”

Richard’s eyes filled with sadness as he glanced at her. “Never mind all of that now; you have a wedding to focus on, and I don’t think that Lord Ashford will thank me if we keep him waiting.”

“No, I don’t think he will.” Her heart suddenly began to race again as she focused her mind back on her wedding. Whatever happened with her brother and his bride would have to wait until after she said I do.

The large chapel doors swung open as they climbed the steps, revealing a handsomely attired Henry in his navy suit.

Her heart raced with anticipation as she hurried down the aisle, practically pulling her brother beside her. So much had happened since she and Henry had met on that fateful night that she felt the need to speed things up before anything else could happen. The stems of her pure white roses began to wilt the tighter she held them to her chest.

Henry looked up and met her gaze for a moment that would stay with her for the rest of her life.

I am waiting, his eyes seemed to say to her as she reached the altar.

Turning towards her, Richard gave her his blessing before stepping aside and allowing Henry to take her hand.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting for too long?” she asked him almost breathlessly as they faced each other in front of the altar.

“You were worth the wait.” Henry winked at her, filling the pit of her stomach with an intense fluttering sensation. It was strange to have a man wink at her and enjoy it. It was nothing like what she felt when James had winked at her. She felt happy and even a little flirtatious when it was Henry who was doing the winking.

The vicar came forward and addressed the two witnesses along with the bride and groom. Henry and Isabelle had opted for a small wedding with just Richard and Caroline to witness. Aunt Alice had declined the invitation, which had saddened Isabelle, but she knew in her heart that her aunt was not willing to face the fact that she had been wrong about Henry.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone should object to this union, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

Isabelle’s hands began to tremble slightly as Henry gave them a gentle squeeze.

The moment seemed to linger on for a little too long before the vicar spoke again. His white robes with the purple sash fluttered slightly in the light breeze that floated down the aisle.

“Do you, Henry Alfred Montague, take this woman, Isabelle Sutton, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto her for as long as you both shall live?” the vicar finally asked Henry as Isabelle held her breath.

“I do,” he answered without hesitation while keeping his eyes locked on Isabelle’s.

“And do you, Miss Isabelle Sutton, take this man, Henry Alfred Montague, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both shall live?”

“I most certainly do.” It felt like a weight had lifted off her chest when she was finally presented with the opportunity to profess her willingness to marry the man of her dreams.

“By the power vested in me by God and the holy church, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” The vicar took a step back, allowing them a moment of privacy to seal their union with a kiss.

Isabelle’s heart raced uncontrollably as she closed her eyes, feeling the gentle fluttering of her lashes against her cheeks as Henry lifted her veil. It seemed as if an eternity had passed until she felt his lips pressing against hers, strong and firm at first before softening into a gentle caress.

Everything seemed to fall into place as her soul felt united in his warm embrace.

“I think that is more than enough to seal the union,” Richard teased them gently, breaking the spell that had formed between them.

Opening her eyes, Isabelle blinked back the strange sensations of longing that flooded her body when Henry pulled back.

Caroline came forward and embraced her, offering her congratulations with a tear-filled hug. “I couldn’t have been happier for you, dearest Isabelle; may you both be blessed with many more years of happiness.”

Isabelle accepted her embrace, thankful for the friendship that had developed between them. It was hard to find a friend that could be trusted among the ton, yet Isabelle was grateful that she and Caroline could finally find that in each other.

Pulling away, Caroline gave her a sad smile before glancing at Richard. “True happiness and love are hard to find even when both parties are willing. Make sure that both of you cherish one another for the rest of your lives.”

Looking away, Richard seemed to be filled with regrets as he looked out over the empty chapel.

“Well, I think I shall leave you two to it then.” Caroline offered Henry her heartfelt congratulations before glancing at Richard and going down the aisle. She seemed more secure in herself than before, but Isabelle couldn’t help wondering if she wasn’t secretly in love with Richard. It was even possible that she had been from the start.

“That’s my cue to leave as well, but before I go, I would like to thank you for helping our family, Lord Ashford. Your being willing to help us out of our financial difficulties speaks volumes of your character.” Richard faced them both with a warm smile before heading down the aisle.

Henry turned to Isabelle with a frown. “You know it’s funny. I thought he would have had more to say to us.”

Looking down the aisle at her brother’s retreating figure, Isabelle smiled. “No, I don’t think there is more to say. He’s said all he’s needed to say in his blessing. Richard has always been a man of few words, and I know he will make better decisions in the future. We all appreciate your kindness; that is all that needs to be understood.”

“Very well, I guess I will have to get used to it since I have married into the family. The time to express my doubts has passed.” Henry chuckled heartily before offering his arm to usher her down the aisle.

“Henry Montague, don’t you dare tease me like that, not after everything we have been through together.” She slapped his arm with her bouquet, sending a small waterfall of petals tumbling to the ground.

Pulling her closer to his side, Henry began to lead her away from the altar. “You know, I was thinking that roses make you look lovely, but a bundle of books would have been better. Now, I’m just glad that I didn’t follow through with the notion. Books would have caused far greater damage than the roses.”

Throwing her head back, Isabelle laughed from the pit of her stomach. Marriage no longer seemed like a burden to her, not now that she was marrying her best friend in the whole world.

“Do you think we should head somewhere exotic for our honeymoon? Like Paris or Scotland, or even Italy. Everything happened so fast that it never occurred to me to ask what your preference would be?” He glanced to the side, examining her face.

“I think your country estate would do quite nicely. That is if you promise to take me to the Evergreen at least once a week.” She nuzzled a little closer to his side and placed her cheeks against his shoulder, stealing a moment of happiness in the abandoned chapel.

“And that answer, Mrs Isabelle Montague, is why I can rest assured that you will make a perfect wife for me.”

The pit of her stomach fluttered uncontrollably as she looked up at the man she loved. The future had never seemed brighter than when Henry was by her side. All she could have ever asked or hoped for was present in the man she had married.

THE END