27. Epilogue

Epilogue

Two Months Later…

“ W e’re bound to have forgotten something,” Alicia said, glancing up at the carriage, loaded now with trunks and boxes.

It was the day of their departure on a grand tour of Europe, but it was also – due to various delays and administrative blunders – the day of the opening of the school for the blind children in the dower house. Isobel had come to help, charged with taking care of the school as its headmistress, whilst her brother and Alicia were away. Various members of staff had arrived from Manchester – two teachers and a matron – and Isobel was looking forward to seeing the fruits of her brother’s – and Alicia’s – hard work come to fruition.

“It doesn’t matter if you forget a few things. You can always buy what you need there,” Isobel said, and Alicia nodded.

“I feel awful leaving you like this, Isobel. It was all meant to be up and running by now – the school, the boarding house. Perhaps we shouldn’t go,” she said, but Isobel was adamant.

“Nonsense, Alicia. It’ll be all right. I know what I’m doing,” she said, and her sister-in-law smiled.

“I’m sorry, Isobel – I need to remember I’m not indispensable, and neither’s Ernest, either,” she said, glancing over to where Ernest was standing with the Duke of Lancaster and several other dignitaries, including Isobel’s father, waiting for the opening.

It was to be a small ceremony, attended by only the first pupils, their parents, and a number of benefactors. Ernest had wanted to open the school quickly, and without a fuss, and teaching to begin immediately.

“It’s all right, Alicia. But everything’s in hand, I promise. I can look after things until the appointment of a headmistress – or headmaster – and when you return, you’ll find everything in order, I promise,” she said.

Alicia smiled and placed her hand on Isobel’s arm.

“Thank you,” she said, as Ernest called the gathered parties to order.

“My Lords, ladies, and gentlemen, welcome, and may I first of all thank his Grace, the Duke of Lancaster for his kindness in offering the dower house to be the setting for our school. We already have a dozen pupils on the roll, and here, they’ll receive all the benefits of an education provided with the understanding of the difficulties faced by those afflicted by sight loss. Growing up, I saw those difficulties for myself in the problems faced by my father, and since then, I’ve wanted to do something to help those less fortunate than myself,” Ernest said.

Isobel admired her brother. He did not always accept praise, but he deserved it for what he had done to help so many in the district – not only the blind, but the poor and needy, too. When his speech was concluded, both the Duke of Lancaster and Isobel’s father said a few words, thanking Ernest and Alicia for all they had done to bring about the school, and provide an education for those so often left behind. Children from the orphanage, and those from the local district were to attend, and when the ribbon had been cut, a round of applause went up from all those gathered.

“Now, don’t waste a moment. You should be on your way to Venice,” Isobel said, as Ernest came up to where she and Alicia were standing by the waiting carriage.

“It’s very good of you, Isobel. Are you sure…” he began, but Alicia stopped him.

“She’s sure, Ernest. Now come along, we should be going – we’ve got a long journey ahead of us, first to London, and then on to the continent,” she said, taking her new husband’s arm and leading him towards the carriage.

Isobel followed them, kissing them both, before they climbed into the compartment.”

“You’ll write, won’t you?” she said, and they both nodded.

“Every day,” Ernest replied, and closed the door. Pulling down the window, he and Alicia leaned out.

“They’re going now,” Isobel called out, and the others turned to wave them off.

“Goodbye, Ernest, goodbye, Alicia,” Isobel’s mother called out, and the duke raised his hand and waved.

“The happy couple, off on their adventures – enjoy your grand tour. I want every detail of it described to me when you return – and to the children, too,” he called out.

Ernest grinned, waving from the carriage window, and Alicia caught Isobel’s eye.

“Be happy, Isobel – I know you will be,” she called out, and the carriage now drove away.

The school was open, and the teachers were ushering the children inside, under the watchful gaze of the matron. Isobel had a great deal to do, but she was confident in her own abilities, and grateful to her brother for placing his trust in her as he had done. She wanted to do the best she could, and now she approached the mother of Timothy Powell, smiling at her, as she placed her hand on Timothy’s shoulder.

“We’ll take good care of him, Mrs. Powell – you can visit whenever you wish,” she said, noticing the woman had tears in her eyes.

“Thank you, my Lady. You’ve been so kind. I know he’s going to have the best start in life. I wonder…he’s not been feeling very well these past few days. It’s probably just nerves, but…could a doctor look at him?” she asked.

As it happened, Isobel was expecting the doctor Ernest had hired to care for the poor of the district at any moment, and she assured Timothy’s mother he would be well taken care of.

“I’ll let you know what the doctor says,” Alicia promised, and taking Timothy by the hand, she led him inside.

The rest of the crowd had dispersed, and the children were now being introduced to their new surroundings, allowed to feel their way along the walls, where ropes had been attached to aid their movement. Isobel knew the school would make a huge difference to their lives, and she was proud of what her brother and Alicia had achieved.

“And I, too,” she told herself, for Isobel had worked tirelessly to bring about the good works so many would now benefit.

She was about to close the door, knowing she had a great deal of paperwork to see to, when the sounds of an approaching carriage caused her to pause. Glancing along the road, she saw it, and now she watched as it came to a halt outside the dower house. The driver jumped down, hurrying to open the door, before unloading a large trunk from the back. Isobel watched as now a figure emerged from the carriage – a tall, strikingly handsome man, with short black hair, dressed in a black frock coat, over a white shirt, with a black necktie, and wearing black breeches. He carried a bag in his hand, and stepping down from the carriage, he caught sight of Isobel standing at the door.

“Good day to you. I understand you need a doctor,” he said, smiling at Isobel, who smiled back at him, somewhat lost for words at the sight of the handsome man, now arrived in their midst.

The End

Alicia and Ernest lived happily ever after! But What about Isobel?

Meet Isobel, a woman devoted to her brother’s blind school, and Dr. Simon Wilkinson, a guarded doctor with a hidden past—will love heal their wounded hearts?

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