Epilogue

Six years later…

What a beautiful morning. Grace walked along the garden path, her bonnet, shoes and stockings in hand, and looked at the beautiful land surrounding her. Stonebridge Park was her home now and she loved it here more than any other place in the world.

She smiled as she heard her daughter laughing and calling her name from somewhere behind the bushes.

"Mummy, Mummy…"

Five year old Mairi ran around the corner of a hedge, shoes in hand, her long hair streaming out behind her.

I wonder where she gets it from?

Mairi laughed gaily as she ran into Grace's open arms.

Almost immediately, Ambrose came running around the corner giving chase, laughing and, yelling, "I'm going to get you, love."

He halted at the sight of his wife tapping her foot, her arms folded across her chest. She looked down at him, one brow lifted questioningly. Mairi stood to the side, watching their interaction.

"Ahem…Is this the appropriate conduct becoming a duke and the example you set for our daughter of proper behavior and decorum?" Grace said in her most haughty voice. She sounded full of disapproval.

Ambrose grinned ridiculously. He was in his shirt sleeves—sans coat, waistcoat, and cravat—and his valet, Bryans, was probably having an apoplexy right now over the grass stains on his knees and elbows. She tried hard to look stern.

"Of course, not, dear. Now, this…this is the proper behavior of a peer of the realm…"

And Grace screamed delightfully as he tackled her to the ground. Of course, both of them laughed uproariously at his silly antics. Mairi, not wanting to miss out on all the fun, jumped on top the melee, laughing merrily as well. They were, at last, a happy family; full of peace and joy. Love and life. For ever and ever.

The End