Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Two Weeks Later…

" I s this true?" Phoebe gasped, her hands on her hips.

Daniel, standing at her side, put his arm around her shoulders as if he meant to hold her back from lunging at Dickie. Although it was Ellen she was staring at in horrified disbelief.

"I refused him," Ellen said quietly, shooting a pointed look at Caroline.

Caroline shrugged in reply, smiling sweetly. She had been momentarily furious with her good friend for revealing her secret to Dickie who had, in turn, revealed the secret to Max. But it had not lasted long, considering it was the very thing that had kept them from making a terrible mistake.

"But you have been courting in secret? Is that true?" Phoebe pressed, looking like she might faint or scream.

The rest of the Spinsters' Club and their husbands were gathered in the beautiful drawing room of Cedar House, where they had all been invited to spend a week with Max and Caroline, who were in the process of purchasing it.

"It will be a welcome reprieve from the strain of London society and the incessant gossip of the scandal sheets," Caroline had explained, putting on her most desperate voice as she did. "It will be good for the children, too, to get some fresh air away from the city."

The Spinsters' Club had jumped at the opportunity, not realizing that there was a plan afoot. Namely, to get Dickie and Ellen together again. Although, in this deceit, Max had insisted on being equally complicit, wanting to reward his brother for trying to do the right thing by finding him a wife that he loved, and who had feelings for him in return.

"We were not courting, Phoebe," Ellen insisted. "But we… happened upon each other quite often, and when we did, it was… very pleasant."

Phoebe paled, leaning against Daniel for support. "Unchaperoned?"

"Occasionally," Ellen murmured, grimacing. "But when he proposed marriage, I knew you would not approve, so I refused him. I had heard you talk about his reputation and though I believe he is different from what you have heard, I did not do anything foolish. I could have eloped, but I did not."

Anna stepped forward with Percival on her arm, casting a pensive look at Phoebe. "Dearest Phoebe, I know I cannot persuade you to ignore Dickie's reputation when I have remarked upon it often enough, but… I have never seen him like this before. Nor have I ever heard of him actually proposing marriage to anyone." She raised an eyebrow at Dickie. "If he were to ever hurt her or embarrass her, he would not survive my wrath—I can promise you that."

"Indeed, he must know that he would have all of us to contend with," Matilda added, flashing Dickie an even sharper look as he stood, head bowed, beside Ellen.

Percival raised a hand. "If I may, I have known Dickie for many, many years, and I have never seen him like this either. I had thought it odd that he had not mentioned anyone for what seemed like an age, but now it makes sense. He was already besotted with Ellen here."

"And how many times has he been ‘besotted' before?" Phoebe asked desperately, wafting her hand in Dickie's direction. "Goodness, I could not bear it if he broke Ellen's heart."

"I never would," Dickie said, raising his head. "I have never felt this way about anyone. I am filled with a sense of… utter calm when I am near to her, and everything becomes maddening when I am not. When she speaks, I hear no one else. When she smiles at me, it is like the sun is shining on me and me alone. And… I love her, Phoebe. I know that my stupid, youthful actions have made it impossible for you to believe that I am sincere, and I will accept a thousand refusals as punishment for my wayward antics, but it will never change the fact that I love her."

Phoebe groaned, pushing her palm against her forehead. "Do you love him, Ellen?"

"What?" Ellen straightened up, a flush of pink blooming in her cheeks.

"Do you love him?"

Ellen cast a sideways glance at Dickie, who offered her a shy smile. "Yes," she said quietly. "Yes, I do love him. I have tried not to, but I cannot help it."

"And if he were to ask for your hand in marriage again," Max interjected, flashing a discreet wink at Caroline, "do you think you would accept?"

Ellen gulped. "Only with my sister's blessing."

"What am I supposed to say to that?" Phoebe muttered, looking to anyone else for an answer.

Olivia shrugged, hiding a smile. "You could give your blessing."

"Dickie has certainly been warned of the consequences," Leah agreed. "And if Max and Caroline can weather the chaos of their continued happiness, I am certain that Ellen and Dickie will too."

Matilda made a noise of assent. "For reasons unknown, society adores Dickie. He can do no wrong, even when he is doing wrong." She paused, tapping her chin in thought. "Actually, if he were to marry Ellen, I am sure there are hundreds of mothers who would sleep easier. They would celebrate such a thing, not spurn anyone for it."

"And though it is of less importance," Anna said, "it would certainly help Caroline and Max too. But, as the Matchmaker, I have to say that I can feel the love between your sister and my brother. I am rarely wrong."

Phoebe rolled her eyes, while everyone else tried not to laugh. "Fine!" she blurted out. "You have my blessing, but I swear upon all that is good and true that I will chase you down with my heaviest saucepan if you ever, ever do anything to hurt her, Dickie. I swear it."

"As I swear that I am not the man I once was," Dickie replied, "and that has everything to do with your sister. I will love her and cherish her—and only her—until I am gray and old. And it will be the honor of my life to do so."

Phoebe pulled a face. "Yes, well, I hope your pretty words match your actions." She jabbed a finger at Caroline and Max. "As for you two—you had best get someone to start pouring drinks, for I desperately need one. And… if I have not said so already, this is a very charming house. While we are all making grand gestures, I really think you ought to buy it."

At that, the room erupted into laughter, and Max put his arm around Caroline's waist, pulling her into his side.

Leaning down, he whispered, "I happen to agree. What do you think?"

"I could not agree more," Caroline whispered back, for this was the house where he had first kissed her. A special, magical place that could only belong to them.

Three Months Later…

It seemed that all of high society had gathered at Westyork for the wedding of the century, the guests milling about the wintry gardens and sipping mulled cider to stave off the chill. Meanwhile, indoors, lively music drifted from the grand ballroom where couples were dancing and gossipmongers were hunting for the next scandal, while a crowd of children held their own ball in the sun room, watched by governesses and grandmothers.

Apparently, Matilda had been correct in her assumption that society would celebrate the auspicious event of Dickie Dennis finally being turned into an honest gentleman. Anyone who was anyone had been desperate to gain an invitation, and in the furor of it all, the scandal of Max and Caroline had been all but forgotten.

"Does she not look ethereal?" Caroline sighed, resting her head against Max's chest as he held her to him.

They had decided to take a private wander in the gardens, just as Ellen had come out onto the terrace to catch some fresh air. In the hazy glow that heralded sunset, Ellen really did look resplendent in a gown of cream silk with snowdrops in her hair.

"There shall never be a bride as ethereal as you were," Max replied, chuckling. "Goodness, no one has ever seen an angel scowl as you did."

She cast him a mock withering look. "I might scowl at you again if you continue to tease me."

"In truth, I was thinking that we ought to have another celebration," he said, steering her along the gravel path and into the famed walled gardens of the Westyork Estate. "A small gathering so we can have the wedding we should have had. At Cedar House, perhaps. Just friends and family."

Caroline's heart leaped. "In the summer?"

"If that is your preference."

"Oh… I think that would be a lovely thing indeed," she urged, filled with a sudden giddiness. "It certainly would be nice to have my wedding to you where my mother was not weeping for the wrong reasons. And it would be pleasant to replace the memory of me resembling a cornered fox with something more voluntary."

Max laughed. "For me, too."

"As bizarre and messy as it was, I will never regret it," she told him, slipping her hand into his for warmth as they continued through the somewhat bare gardens.

It was not even close to springtime, the buds and blooms hiding in their cozy soil beds, but there had always been a charm to the garden's winter display that Caroline cherished. It was quieter as if everything was slumbering or lying in wait for the day that the flowers could burst forth again.

The moment they stepped into the square of the walled garden that contained the cedar tree, Caroline pulled Max underneath the wide-spread boughs.

"You are not going to climb it, are you?" Max asked, smiling. "Powder Puff will be terribly jealous when you tell her all about it upon her return. And she is already none-too-happy about being left behind with Mrs. Whitlock."

The poor cat had a keen sense for when she was about to be temporarily abandoned, wailing at the top of her lungs and pacing in front of the door to stop Max and Caroline from leaving. Once or twice, it had been enough to keep the pair at home, which had only made Powder Puff bolder.

Caroline shook her head. "I am not going to climb it, but our children might want to when they visit their grandmother and uncles."

"Children?" Max's eyes widened, his hand falling to her stomach. "Are you with child?"

She chuckled at him. "Not yet, but I continue to pray for it." She hesitated. "There is something about weddings that makes me think about it more than usual."

"Especially one where the children are threatening to take over? You mark my words, once they have had enough lemonade, they will make their attack on the main ballroom." He turned to face her, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, his words amusing while his expression was serious.

"How many would you like, if you could choose?" she asked, pressing her palms to his chest as his arms encircled her, keeping her warmer than any cloak or pelisse could hope to.

He pursed his lips, contemplating. "Five. Two boys and three girls, or one boy and four girls. Or five girls."

"Five?" Caroline's eyes widened.

"Too few?"

She had to laugh, playfully thumping him on the chest. "I think two would be enough." She paused. "Why do you want more girls than boys?"

"Because imagine if we had five boys and they were all like Dickie. You would be driven to madness, and I would have to strongly reconsider becoming a hermit surrounded by dogs." He smiled. "But if we had five girls, each like one of your beloved Spinsters' Club, I would be the proudest father in England. Or if I had five daughters exactly like you."

She raised on tiptoe, smoothing her hands up his chest and neck until she held his face. A gesture of affection and warning. "Well, we are certainly not having five. Three can be a compromise."

"We shall see about that," he replied, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her lips.

She kissed him back, sinking into the graze of his lips and the strength of his powerful arms around her. There was no feeling like it, and though she kept expecting the novelty to wear off, it had not yet. Indeed, if she did not have prior engagements and things to do, she would have happily spent the entire day kissing her husband.

That intensity of love was what Max had feared for so long, but there was one difference between them and Max's parents—they had both agreed to love their children more than they loved anything. And when they were finally blessed, Caroline knew that their children would never feel ignored or like they were second best. How could they, when they would be the best of both of them?

"I love you," Max whispered, pausing their kiss for a moment. "Have I told you how much?"

Caroline played along, shaking her head.

"I love you more than you know," he said, sighing contentedly. "And I cannot wait for the day that our children climb this tree, though I pray they are better at it than their mother."

She smacked him lightly on the arm. "I am an excellent climber."

"And an exemplary faller," he teased.

"Only when it comes to love," she said, kissing him again. "And I am grateful for the day that I fell for you."

He held her tighter. "As am I."

Beneath the cedar boughs, enveloped by the tree's sweet scent, they kissed and swayed to music that only they could hear, lost in their love for one another. And as a chilly wind blew through the gardens and rustled the fronds of the grand cedar, it sounded as if the tree was sending their story up to the heavens, paying back the fate that had brought them together.

If Max brushes my cheek, we will be happy like this for the rest of our lives, Caroline prayed, just to be sure.

A moment later, she smiled against his lips as his thumb stroked the rosy apple of her cheek, confirming what she already knew.

The End?