Epilogue

Epilogue

As a few months passed, Philip realized something very important, which was that the ton never forgets.

He thought that he would be affected far more by the people that were appalled by his appearance, that felt as though he should have remained hidden away, but as time went on, he never once felt that way. Quite simply, their opinion did not matter to him, though he was grateful for those that congratulated him for his efforts and considered him brave.

He wanted to say that he was not brave, that anyone else would have done the same thing, but he also wished to revel a little. After all, it had taken him long enough to get that far.

They had not heard from Ophelia since the ball, which he could only consider a blessing. In fact, hardly anybody could say anything about her at all, which was strange given the way she seemed to exist as the center of attention. Again, however, he had bigger things to concern himself with.

Lucien also stayed away since that night, and seemed bitter on the odd occasion that they did cross paths. Philip was sad that their friendship ended so terribly, given their history, but he knew that he could not compromise his happiness for his friend’s selfishness. He also never apologized, which Philip had to admit that he might even have accepted had he done so, because they truly had been such good friends.

Fortunately, Jackie did not blame herself for that for too long. Philip worried that she would consider herself responsible for all that had transpired, when in fact she had dealt with it all perfectly. He couldn’t have asked for more from her.

Philip also realized, while Jackie was at her family’s home settling matters before the wedding, that he had made a fatal error.

He had not proposed.

He hadn’t thought of it for a long time, but then he remembered that she simply began wearing the ring one morning and nobody questioned it. She had never mentioned it to him, but he knew it was the right thing to do, given that she would only be married once, and so it was only fair that she received at least one proposal. It was easy enough to find a musician to accompany him to Somerset as a surprise, and the following day they arrived.

“Oh!” she gasped upon seeing him. “Philip, I wasn’t expecting you!”

“Might you find some time away from your usual duties to accompany me to a hall?”

“Well, I have settled all of our financial matters, but I do still have my sister’s engagement to help with.”

It had taken some time, but at last Lord Greene’s parents had relented and allowed him to marry Elizabeth. Philip wondered if they had finally decided that they wanted an heir for their son, so they had no choice but to give in. Regardless, they were at last able to marry, and he couldn’t have been happier for the two of them.

“My engagement is going perfectly well,” Elizabeth called from nearby. “So do not let that stop you!”

“Thank you, Elizabeth!” Philip called back. “Come along. You will love it, I assure you.”

There was a dinner arranged, and in the corner of the room stood a pianoforte, the musician already sitting at it and playing. He watched as Jackie tried to decipher which piece it was, though he knew she couldn’t.

“Is this one of the musician’s pieces?” she asked. “It is beautiful, and so happy too. I always like when music communicates emotions other than sadness, especially the pianoforte.”

“This piece is about a man that realizes he is in love, and doesn’t know how to say it with words. It was written for his fiancée, though she was not his fiancée at the time.”

He watched her as she thought, and then suddenly…

“Did you write this? About me?”

“Indeed I did,” he confessed. “When I first realized that I had feelings for you, I began composing a piece. I was useless with my words, and so I used music instead. I wanted it to say everything that I couldn’t.”

“You certainly achieved that, though I must say that you have no issues telling me how you feel now.”

“You made it easier. Speaking of which, it is about time that I do something that I should have done months ago. Could I see my mother’s ring for a moment?”

“What’s the matter? Are you going to take it back?” She teased.

“For a moment, yes, but you shall have it right back.”

She handed him the ring, and he placed it into a ring box under the table before leaving his seat and getting down on one knee beside her.

“Oh, Philip,” she sighed, laughing gently. “I had forgotten that we didn’t do this!”

“We have certainly been unconventional,” he agreed. “But it is time to rectify that. And so, Lady Jacqueline Winterbourne, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Nothing in the world would make me happier!”

Nothing has really changed, Philip thought, and yet everything has.

***

“Diamonds or pearls?” Elizabeth asked, holding two necklaces against Jackie’s neck.

She thought that every aspect of her wedding had been planned, even arranging it for months away, in April, so that the Dowager Duchess could have the spring flowers that she wanted. However, the finer details were continuing to appear, even on the morning of the wedding itself.

“Diamonds,” the Dowager replied for her. “Poor Jackie has been waiting for long enough, she deserves an extra special gift.”

“Truly, I have not minded the wait. It gave me more time with my family before becoming a wife—which I am of course excited to become!”

“It is not as though you will be vanishing,” Elizabeth joked. “You can see us whenever you choose, or invite us to see you. Besides, Rupert and I shall be married soon enough regardless.”

“I know. Do you suppose that Father will be lonely?”

“He will have more than enough to do. Ever since his debts were cleared, he has made some good friends.”

“And I hope that it stays that way.”

“Either way, it is as I said. He can visit. Now, we shall have to make our way to the church soon. Are you ready?”

“I couldn’t be more prepared if I tried! As we said, it has been a long engagement, and I cannot wait for it to be over so that I can return home with my husband.”

It was still a strange word to say, even though she had told herself the same word over and over hoping that she would adapt.

As she walked down the aisle alongside her father, Philip looking at her as though she was the most beautiful woman in the world, she wanted everything to freeze. She wanted to feel that way for the rest of her life, but she also wanted to reach the part where they were married and so she had to continue.

At last, the time for vows came.

“Philip Churchill, Duke of Creighton” the vicar began. “Wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded Wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will,” Philip replied, his gaze not leaving hers.

“And Lady Jacqueline Winterbourne, wilt thou have this Man to thy wedded Husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

“I will,” she nodded affirmatively, meaning every word.

Philip took her right hand, and took his turn to say his vows. He was terrified of saying it incorrectly, he had already confided in her as much, but she knew that he would do it perfectly.

“I, Philip Churchill, take thee Jacqueline Winterbourne to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

It was a vow that they both knew that they could keep, given that they had already been for richer and for poorer on her part, and in sickness and in health on his. There was no question about them being able to keep to it.

“I, Jacqueline Winterbourne,” she said proudly, taking her turn, “take thee Philip Churchill to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth.”

Neither one of them stumbled over their vows, and she could see Philip become visibly relaxed at the realization that that part was over with. They were married, and at last the festivities could begin. Just as soon as the register was signed, of course, but such a thing did not involve speaking before a church filled with people.

Lord Greene hosted the wedding breakfast, as he had become a good friend to both of them. He had made an incredible effort, and already the guests were discussing what a beautiful ceremony it was, and how meticulously planned everything else had been. Jackie smiled, sitting down to eat.

After a while, however, she felt a hand graze her arm. It was Philip, and he was looking at her with a mischievous glint in his eye.

“You know, Your Grace,” he mumbled. “We are yet to share something very important.”

“Oh? And what might that be, Your Grace?”

“You shall have to come with me if you wish to know.”

It was not customary to leave one’s own wedding, but then they had never been too strict with societal expectations, and so she followed him into Lord Greene’s house and they hid away in his library.

“Now you can tell me, surely?” She asked, and he pulled her into his arms.

“I can indeed. Jackie. We are yet to share our first kiss.”

She giggled, and he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, her first of many, she hoped.

“I will love you,” he promised her, “through every trial and tribulation that could possibly be thrown at us, and I shall do so with a smile on my face.”

“And I shall do the very same. You have my word.”

“And I shall also love you,” he continued, “through every triumph. No matter where we are in the world, it shall be a steadfast constant. This is my promise to you as your husband.”

“And my promise to you as your wife is that you shall never face anything alone again. I will be by your side always, which is exactly where I shall always want to be.”

“Then we are both going to be very happy people,” he smirked.

“Very happy indeed. Now, shall we return to our guests before they believe something untoward has happened?”

“There is no longer any such thing as untoward for us,” he grinned. “For we are married, and only the Lord himself shall dictate the manner in which I treat my duchess.”

“Your duchess,” she breathed. “I can hardly believe it!”

“Well, you shall have the rest of our lives to come to terms with that.”

And with one final kiss, they agreed to return.

THE END ?

Do you want to know how the relationship between Evelyn and Nathaniel unfolds in the future?

Then make sure to check out this complimentary short story featuring our beloved couple!

Click the link or enter it into your browser

http://daphnepierce.com/jacqueline

(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “A Bride in Her Sister's Place” , my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)