Epilogue

One Month Later…

"Have you seen this?" Ezra announced, flouncing into Leah's bedchamber at Druidstone Abbey without so much as a knock on the door.

Sarah, who was in the midst of weaving dried flowers into Leah's hair, barked at her husband, "Ezra! There are ladies in here doing very important things, and now, I have to begin again!" She clicked her tongue in annoyance. "We have half an hour before we must be downstairs for the party, and I shall never forgive you if you make us late! Indeed, I am surprised you are not pacing the entrance hall, pulling your pocket watch out every two seconds, wondering where we are!"

"There is an article about that awful Viscount," Ezra continued regardless, ignoring his wife's irritation.

"Which one?" Leah quipped, admiring her reflection in the mirror.

Though it was still the dead of winter, she resembled spring and with spring came the promise of new life. It was the perfect demeanor with which to celebrate her new beginning as the Duchess of Bergfield, even though the wedding itself was not for a week. Of course, society assumed the hastened marriage had a different reason behind it, but the truth was, Nathaniel and Leah could not wait, gaining a special license to marry as quickly as possible simply because they loved one another and saw no reason to delay.

"That one you were supposed to marry." Ezra cringed. "Thank goodness you did not!"

Leah and Sarah both turned to stare at him, but he did not seem to notice as he regaled them with the article.

"Apparently, that mining venture we were supposed to enter into together was a swindle. Indeed, it appears that every single one of that Viscount's business ventures were swindles which he tried to con countless lords with," he went on. "I thought you were losing me a fortune, dear Leah, but it appears you saved me from certain bankruptcy! How lucky for us all!"

Sarah sighed, turning her gaze up to the ceiling. "You cannot be serious, Ezra."

"I am quite serious," he insisted, gesturing to the paper in his hands. "Apparently, he is a terrible gambler, too, and has nothing left to his name. His wife must have had enough of it, for it appears that she is the one who had this article published. Why, I hope it is enough for her to gain permission for a divorce, for who would want to be associated with such a fellow?"

Sarah cast her daughter a pointed look through the mirror's reflection, prompting Leah to burst into laughter. A moment later, Sarah joined her, the two women howling until tears streamed down their cheeks while Ezra stared at them as if they had taken leave of their senses.

"This is no joke," he said stiffly as if realizing he might be the source of the jest. "You ought to take note, Leah. Be watchful of Nathaniel's antics, or you might find yourself in the same situation, and I certainly shall not grant permission for a divorce. As far as I am concerned, once you are married to someone, you have made a promise, and you are stuck with it."

Sarah snorted. "How romantic you are, my darling."

"I did not say I was not happy to be stuck with you," Ezra replied, pouting. "Now, what are you laughing about? It is very rude not to share a joke."

Leah regained control of herself. "It is nothing, Father. We are just giddy, that is all." She smiled at her mother. "Finally, I am to be wed, and this time, I am certain, he will be waiting for me. Why, I imagine he will be the one pacing and checking his pocket watch every two seconds this time next week."

"You look so happy, my darling," Sarah cooed, her cheeks flushed with joy.

Leah nodded. "I am, Mama." She paused. "I never thought I would be able to trust anyone with this heart of mine, but… I trust him entirely. Is that foolish?"

"Not at all," Sarah replied, bending to place a kiss on top of Leah's head. "Indeed, I envy you."

"I am still here!" Ezra remarked, making the two women laugh again.

Sarah glanced at him. "Do you remember our wedding day?"

"Barely. I was so nervous I thought I would be sick, and I almost was several times," Ezra replied, a faraway look glazing his eyes. "I knew I was about to marry the most beautiful, witty, intelligent lady in all of England. Who would not be sick to their stomach?"

Sarah beamed, the pink in her cheeks deepening to a pleased shade of red. "Oh, stop it. I was not so remarkable as that."

"You were," Ezra insisted. "You still are. I likely do not tell you often enough, but that is Leah's fault."

Leah shot him a look of pure outrage. "How is it my fault?"

"You have had me distracted for at least three years, worrying about what would become of you. As such, I have been remiss in complimenting my beautiful wife," he replied with such confidence that Leah did not have the strength to quarrel. "Once you are married, I shall resume my affections."

Leah pulled a face. "Oh dear."

"You shall see what I am capable of, my darling Sarah, when I have only you to concentrate upon. It shall be like we are enjoying our honeymoon once again," Ezra said with a sly smile, striding from the room. As he left, he called back, "I shall be in my study until the guests arrive. Do not disturb me."

Leah looked up at her mother. "Please, never allow me to hear such things again. Have I not suffered enough?"

Sarah just chuckled, looking younger and more at ease than Leah had seen her in years. Perhaps, this wedding would be good for everyone, allowing more than just her and Nathaniel to start afresh.

* * *

"I cannot believe this is happening!" Olivia cheered, raising a glass to Leah. "You cannot know how it warms my heart to be back with you all again, celebrating such happy news!"

Leah smiled shyly. "I am just pleased you managed to peel yourself away from your romantic hideaway, for Matilda suspected you intended to be hermits throughout the winter, emerging only when spring came again."

"It has not been that long," Olivia protested, pausing. "Has it?"

Anna patted Olivia gently on the arm. "We do not blame you. We have missed you, that is all."

"We really have," Leah agreed.

Olivia stared down at the floor, somewhat sheepish. "I have missed you all too. Indeed, I am quite furious with myself for missing so much adventure! It sounds as if this London season has been the most exciting of our lives, and I was not here."

"But did you hear about Dorothy?" Phoebe interjected in a hushed tone. "She has left him. Gone back to her family, requesting a divorce. Her father would be a fool not to permit it, considering the shame of it all."

Anna nodded. "I always felt rather sorry for her, defending a wretch like that."

"She did not know any better," Leah said, raising her glass. "As the founding members of the Spinsters' Club, I think we ought to toast to her bravery. It is precisely what our heroine, the Countess of Grayling, would have done."

Anna pursed her lips. "She is not my heroine, but yes, I think a toast would be a fine thing." She raised her glass, too. "To Dorothy: her freedom and her happiness."

The four others repeated the sentiment and sipped in quiet respect before their chatter resumed. There was so much information that Olivia still did not know, and as dinner and speeches would begin soon, there was not much time to tell her.

But just as Matilda and Phoebe were beginning their tale of how they had ventured boldly into the warehouses of the London Docks to find a mysterious man by the name of Bill Hodge, Leah felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Excuse me, ladies," Ezra said. "I thought I might borrow my daughter for a moment."

"Me?" Leah pointed to herself.

Ezra rolled his eyes. "As I have no other daughter, yes, I mean you."

"I shall not be long," Leah promised, following her father out of the Grand Drawing Room and down a labyrinth of hallways until they came to the chapel that was now his study. It was a room that Leah was rarely allowed to enter, making her nervous as she stepped over the threshold.

"Are you going to scold me to ensure I behave before Nathaniel arrives?" Leah jested, sitting awkwardly on the edge of a settee. "I have only ever been scolded in this room. Although, I suppose the same goes for the Grand Drawing Room, and I have been in there for half an hour without a chiding."

Ezra went to his writing desk, opened the top drawer, and removed a wide but thin wooden box. He brought it back to the center of the room and sat on the opposite settee, putting the box on the table between them. "This is for you," he said uncomfortably.

"What is it?"

"You are supposed to open it," he grumbled, fidgeting.

Leaning forward uncertainly, Leah lifted the lid of the elegant mahogany box. Inside, on a bed of blue velvet, was the most beautiful necklace she had ever set her eyes upon: thick gold circles intertwined as a chain, ending in a sapphire pendant the size and shape of a robin's egg, surrounded by an oval frame of tiny, glittering diamonds.

"It is a family heirloom," Ezra mumbled, gesturing absently. "Every bride in my family has worn it. I have been waiting for years to give it to you."

Leah furrowed her brow. "But you did not give this to me when I was due to marry Jonathan."

"No, I did not." Ezra swallowed loudly. "I think, though I could not admit it, that there was a part of me that knew that marriage was not right for you. I kept meaning to give you the necklace, but could not do it. Yet, as soon as Nathaniel asked for your hand and for a special license, I thought of it immediately and knew… it was right. It was time."

Leah pulled the box toward her. "It is beautiful."

"I know it does not absolve me of my bad behavior over the years, but I hope it improves your opinion of me somewhat. Nevertheless, though it may sound strange, I think I shall… miss our quarrels." His voice caught in his throat, his finger coming up to hastily brush something off his cheek. "I think… I think I shall… I think I shall miss you terribly, Leah. It is not… easy to send one's daughter away to be… taken care of by another man. I… worry that I shall… not know what to do with myself."

Leah flashed him a shy smile. "You already told me, to my utter displeasure, what you intended to do when I am gone. However, I do secretly approve." She chuckled. "I think Mama would like some affection again and for you two to remember why you fell in love with one another in the first place."

"We might holiday somewhere," her father said.

"You should. I think that would be nice for you both. Scarborough, perhaps?"

Her father smiled. "Perhaps." He got to his feet. "Well then, I suppose I ought to relinquish you back to your friends. They are not so bad, I have decided."

"Oh, well, as long as they have your approval," Leah replied sarcastically, standing up.

But instead of making her way to the door and to the freedom of her friends, she stepped around the central table and put her arms around her father, hugging him tightly. He stood rigid for a few moments before he relaxed, embracing her in return.

"I really will miss you," he whispered.

Leah smiled, giving him a squeeze. "I really will miss you, too."

And as they stood there, hugging in a way they had not hugged since she was a child, Leah realized that she meant it. Everything was about to change, and though she was looking forward to it, excited to begin her new life as Nathaniel's wife, she knew she would look back on her old life more fondly from thereon in.

* * *

"You are far too popular," Nathaniel said, sneaking up behind Leah on the terrace outside the ballroom, wrapping his arms around her as he bent his head and kissed her neck gently. "I have barely had the chance to have a moment alone with you."

She turned in his arms, smiling up at him. "Do not be jealous. Soon enough, it shall just be the two of us, and then you shall wish for distractions."

"Never," he promised, dipping his head to kiss her lips. "Did you need some fresh air?"

She nodded. "It is too hot in there, and I fear I have imbibed too much."

"I shall hold you if you are unsteady," he told her, tucking a wayward lock of hair behind her ear. "And if you should feel like making any public declarations of love, just know that I shall relish it."

She cast him a mock withering look. "Do not tease me."

"Very well, but allow me to make a private declaration," he said softly. "I love you, my darling Leah. I love you so much that next week cannot come quickly enough."

Leah was about to reply when the sound of smashing glass snapped her attention toward the terrace doors and the ballroom beyond. Phoebe stood in a state of shock, a purple stain spreading across the yellow muslin of her gown. In front of her, Daniel stood in equal shock, his glass shattered on the floor.

"I was right in front of you!" Phoebe squeaked, her face turning red. "How could you not see me?"

Daniel floundered. "I… do not know. I shall, of course, pay to replace your gown."

"That does nothing to help me now," Phoebe retorted, hurrying off. Anna, Olivia, and Matilda raced after her.

Leah sighed. "I should go and tend to her. That was her favorite gown, and though she is not a woman who cares for material belongings, she loved that one."

"Not yet," Nathaniel whispered, pulling her to him. "Please, just a moment longer, for though I shall always encourage you being with your friends, they have had you all evening."

Leah chuckled. "I suppose you are right." She tilted her head, peering up at him. "And how could I abandon such a handsome man? It would be vastly foolish."

"I love you," he murmured, cupping her face in his warm hands.

"As I love you," she replied, her heart so full that she did not know what she had done to get so lucky.

Raising up on tiptoe, wrapped in his arms, safe in his warmth, she kissed him slowly. It was hard to believe that there was a time when she had not known the bliss of being held by him or of kissing him, but now a beautiful eternity of moments like this lay before them, and she could not wait to rush toward that future with him at her side.

He kissed her back with equal fervor, smiling against his lips as they swayed together in the shadows of the cloistered terrace, and though no snow fell from the skies, there was magic in the air. The magic of love, hard won by two people who had made reality out of fantasy, finding happiness and trust in an innocent contract that had become so much more.

"How does it feel to be a second traitor in the Spinsters' Club?" Nathaniel asked, grinning as he paused in their kiss.

Leah grinned back. "Glorious. Indeed, it makes me wonder… who might be next?"

"We might be the last," he said, leaning in to kiss her once more.

She smiled against his lips. "Then, so be it."

Indeed, as long as she was happy, and her friends were happy, and Nathaniel was happy, that would be enough for her in whatever way that happiness manifested. And though she hoped her friends might all find a love like hers and Nathaniel's, she understood that it was not in her hands. All she could do was cherish her own, and she planned to until the end of their days.

The End