Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Galway, Ireland

Three Months Later

“ T his is your cottage for the time being,” Alexander said, waving his hand in a circle before pointing it with a flourish at the beautiful whitewashed cottage before them.

“This is a cottage?” Arabella chuckled. “It looks more like a house.”

Her brother shrugged and winked at her. “Well, I think ‘cottage’ sounds a little cozier than ‘guest house.’ But I suppose that’s what it is.”

The house before them was a two-story building with a thatched roof and a porch. Boards had been hammered together to make a ramp for Helen’s wheelchair, something Arabella found touching, especially since none of them had asked Alexander to do this.

Helen wheeled herself forward in her new wheelchair, which was easier for her to use, especially now that her arms had grown stronger thanks to the efforts of a nurse they had hired.

“This used to be all gravel,” Alexander said, pointing at the path that led from the cottage to the main house and the stables. “We’ve done our best to make it as flat as possible, and I trust that the sand won’t cause too much trouble for your chair.” Then he turned to Mrs. Hollingsworth. “Mrs. Hollingsworth, I’ve taken the liberty of having the upstairs bedrooms turned into a space for you and the other servants. They’re arriving soon?”

“Yes, they’re just a few days behind us,” Mrs. Hollingsworth replied.

Five servants had eventually accompanied Helen and Mrs. Hollingsworth to Ireland.

“Very good. You’ll see that the path also reaches down to the lake and the stables. We’ve placed ramps where we could to make it easier for you to navigate. But do let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

“Thank you very much, Lord?—”

“No, no, no Lord here. Alexander,” he corrected, smiling.

“Very well, I suppose we are brothers now, after all,” Harry relented.

Alexander flashed him another smile. “We are. And I do hope that we’ll all be close now.”

“I cannot wait to go inside,” Helen said.

Harry took that as a command. “Well then, we should go inside. Do you wish to come with us, or would you like to stay out here?” he asked, glancing at his wife.

“I’ll stay here,” Arabella said.

Harry nodded, aware that she hadn’t yet had a chance to speak to her brother in private.

Alexander had met them at the gate when they had arrived, and she had to admit she’d been awfully nervous to see her brother again after all this time. But what struck her immediately was how happy he looked. She was used to her brother appearing as though he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, but that was no longer the case. He seemed younger somehow, which was odd, since several years had passed after their last meeting at their aunt and uncle’s home. He wore a smile on his lips, and his blondish hair had streaks running through it, evidence of much time spent outdoors.

Arabella had noticed that everyone in his household seemed fond of him, alleviating her fear that he might have turned into her father.

“I am glad you’re here,” he said, drawing her from her thoughts. “I mean it. I was worried that you might change your mind after our last correspondence.”

“I was angry with you,” she huffed, unable to keep the irritation out of her voice.

“I know, but I knew you didn’t want to hear it. You wouldn’t have listened, would you?” he asked.

Arabella shook her head. “Perhaps not. But it would’ve helped me if I had known you made inquiries about Harry.”

“Well, some of those inquiries didn’t yield results until after you were married, but what I knew of him, I thought was enough. Besides, I thought it was important that you get out of Hayward Manor. Speaking of Hayward Manor… how is the old curmudgeon?”

“I haven’t seen him in weeks, but from what I’ve heard, he hasn’t changed. He’s been thrown out of every club in London, he drinks to excess, and I do not know what will become of him. Emma and Hanna are staying with us most of the time, and I hope they too can find husbands very soon.” She paused for a moment. “Do you think you will ever come back?”

“Yes, when the old man is buried. I’m sorry, but I will not come before then. I do not want to see him ever again. He has done me so much harm, and it has taken me so long to build this, to make myself into the man I am today. I have money and success that I have built with my own hands. This estate? It is mine because I made it mine, not because I inherited it.”

“It is a beautiful home,” Arabella noted. “And I can see that you are happy. But pray, why didn’t you get married?”

He scoffed. “I shall never marry, Arabella. I’m afraid the line shall die with me. After seeing Mother and Father’s marriage, I vowed never to marry. I’m sorry that you and our sisters did not have the autonomy to make such a decision on your own and you were forced into marriage, but I shall make use of my privilege and not marry.”

“Then the roster dies with you,” she said, unsure of how that made her feel.

“It shall, but I do not mind. Perhaps I will be elevated to Marquess or Duke.” He winked, but then his expression softened. “I truly am happy that you’re here. There has been so much acrimony in our family, and I cannot wait for all of us to be united again.”

“I missed you,” she admitted at last. “Especially when Harry and I got married. For the second time.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Married for the second time? You’ve barely been married for six months.”

“Just before we left for Ireland, we had a second ceremony in the back garden, with only our friends and family. It was lovely. You were the only one missing.”

He sighed. “I am sorry that I’ve missed both of your weddings. But that simply means you’ll have to renew your vows once more so I can be in attendance. You could make it a yearly event.”

She laughed. “I do not think that Harry will want to arrange a wedding ceremony once per year.”

“What do I hear about wedding ceremonies?”

They turned to see Harry standing there. He had come out of the house quietly, and neither of them had heard him.

“I was just telling my dear sister that I managed to miss both of her weddings. The two of you shall have to get married once more, this time with me in attendance. I suggested a yearly ceremony, but my sister disagrees.”

“Well, perhaps every five years?” Harry suggested, and Arabella realized he was serious. “I think it would be a lovely tradition. It would remind us of our vows, certainly, and we could add personalized vows each time.”

“I think that would be a lovely idea,” she agreed.

“Well, look at that,” Alexander remarked. “You’ve barely arrived, and already my ideas have improved conditions.”

“You have improved quite a lot,” Harry said, his tone serious now. “I can’t tell you how grateful we are that you’ve taken in Helen.”

“Of course. To tell you the truth, it is as much for my benefit as it is for hers. I’ve felt terribly guilty for leaving home when I did, leaving my sisters behind. If I can protect Helen from her father, perhaps it will help me get over my guilt.”

They stood quietly for a moment, lost in their thoughts, until Alexander snapped his fingers. “Well, I must go find young Miss Helen because I have something special to show her. I’ve taken it upon myself to arrange a tour of the estate for her. You’re welcome to join if you like, but I’m afraid we’ll have to take a second carriage. I do not think Miss Helen, myself, and Mrs. Hollingsworth will all fit in.”

“That is quite all right, Alexander. Take the two of them—they’re eager to see more of the estate. We will join later.”

Alexander nodded before leaving.

“Harry, I don’t know how to thank you. It feels so good to see my brother again. I was afraid this whole time that I would be angry when I saw him, but I’m relieved. Relieved that he seems happy and healthy and that he has done well for himself.”

“Sometimes we have expectations about certain situations, and then things turn out quite differently. I did not say it out loud, but I was quite worried about crossing the sea. I thought I was going to be terrified and haunted by thoughts of my parents, but I wasn’t. I felt a strange sense of peace.”

“Closure. A book I read referred to it as closure. We have these things that haunt us all our lives, but then when we confront them, we’re able to let those fears and worries go.”

Harry took her hand and kissed it. “You are right. I’m glad that I had you with me to confront this particular fear and that I could be here for you as well.”

She stepped closer and embraced him, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight with her head pressed against his chest.

“I am so grateful that I have you,” she whispered.

“And I you,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “This is the beginning for us. Soon, we will bring the whole family together.”

“I would love it if Emma and Hanna could come here, but I do not think Father will allow it. We will have to wait until they are married.”

She felt his cheek brush against the top of her head.

“I know it. But one day, we will all be reunited. Your siblings, you and Helen, and I will all be in the same place. We will not have to worry about my uncle or your father, and all will be well. But until then, we must enjoy what we do have.”

Arabella looked up at him. “Do you think Helen will be safe here? He won’t find her?”

“I do not know that he will come looking for her.” Harry paused, and Arabella could sense the weight of his thoughts.

Then, as if deciding to let go of the worry, he leaned down and kissed her deeply, wrapping her in his warmth and love.

When they finally pulled apart, Arabella’s eyes shone with a newfound confidence. “Harry,” she began, her voice trembling with emotion. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

He looked at her, furrowing his brow in concern. “What is it, my love?”

She smiled softly, placing a hand on her belly. “I’m with child.”

Harry’s eyes widened with joy, and he pulled her into another embrace, lifting her off the ground. “We’re going to have a family,” he whispered, tears of happiness shimmering in his eyes.

“Yes, we are,” Arabella murmured, her heart overflowing with love. “Our beginning is even more wonderful than I could have imagined.”

The End?