Epilogue

Epilogue

“I wish it wasn’t so cold,” Mathilda said as she shivered, looking out at the snow floating past the window. “It’s a dreary day for a wedding.”

Amelia laughed.

“It’s not that bad. Besides, we’re not outside in the snow, are we?”

“No, but looking at it still makes me feel cold.” Mathilda grimaced. “I love snow, but only to look at.”

“Oh, Mathilda.” Margaret giggled as she slipped an arm through the girl’s arm. “Aren’t you the one who talked about running around outside throwing snowballs and building snowmen?”

“When I was a little girl!” Mathilda protested. “I haven’t done that in a long time.”

“I’m sure Edmund will disagree with that,” Amelia replied, looking across the room at her husband. He was talking to Blackwood and Downe, the two men seeming to be getting along better than they used to. “What if I go over to him and ask about you and snow?”

Mathilda rolled her eyes.

“He’ll just lie and say that I adore snow before throwing me outside to prove it.”

Amelia could see Edmund doing that, although only half of it. He did like to tease his sister. She gestured at the thick snowflakes outside.

“Well, don’t worry about it too much. At least we can be warm in here and watch it go by.”

“A perfect setting for a wedding,” Margaret declared. “I didn’t think it could be as picturesque as this.”

Amelia had to admit that she hadn’t thought it would look this good, either. She had been a little worried when Edmund suggested having their wedding so close to Christmas, especially when the snow was going to make things complicated, but she was glad that she had followed what he suggested. Although there was a part of her that wondered if he chose the date so he didn’t forget when it was; it was ten days until Christmas Day.

Then again, it would make it a magical month for all of them.

“Look, Lord Sutton is over there,” Margaret commented, pointing over to where Sutton and a few of Edmund’s friends were talking. “Why don’t we go over and join them, Mathilda?”

“Do you think we should?” Mathilda bit her lip. “He looks busy.”

“You know Lord Sutton won’t mind at all if you join their conversation. I’ll come with you.” Margaret nodded at Amelia. “I’ll look after her. You enjoy yourself, and we’ll join you later.”

“Have fun,” Amelia replied.

She watched her friend and sister-in-law approach Sutton, who saw Mathilda walking towards them almost immediately. He broke away from the group and bowed to Mathilda, who suddenly looked shy.

Margaret seemed to be directing the conversation, but after a few moments she didn’t need to do anything as Mathilda and Sutton began to talk without her help. Smiling, Margaret winked at Amelia and moved away to talk to Lady Blackwood and Lady Babington nearby.

Amelia watched Sutton for a moment. It had been some months since she was told about the bet and Sutton tried to embarrass her in public, but they had talked since then. Quite a few times. Sutton was aware of how his issues with his family were being put onto other people, including her, and he was apologetic about it. He worked hard to earn her forgiveness, which Amelia eventually gave.

She understood his background a lot more after what Sutton and Edmund told her about it, although she was still a little annoyed that she had had to deal with that. However, Sutton had apologized, and he was genuinely remorseful, working hard to show that he was serious about it, so Amelia couldn’t be cross with him for too long. He was really trying.

It was a shame not everyone was like him. Lady Colette, for example. She had been furious that the plan hadn’t worked, nor that Sutton wouldn’t stand up for her when she tried to plead her case. There was no remorse in her for what she did, declaring to anyone who would listen that she deserved to have Edmund and not Amelia.

Her mask slipped a little, and she ended up saying things that she shouldn’t have in a social gathering, which had shocked many people who overheard. Her parents were humiliated by her actions, but Lady Colette wouldn’t apologize for her part.

She might not have been a part of the bet, but she was determined to dig her heels in on her involvement. After a few weeks, it was clear that nobody was on her side, and she was being ostracized by everyone around her. She had no friends supporting her, and her parents were up in arms about her behavior.

Amelia had heard all of this from Margaret, who found it amusing that the plan to embarrass Amelia had backfired so badly. The last she heard about Lady Colette was that she had left London. Whether it was to her family’s country estate or to another country, she wasn’t sure; that changed depending on who was telling the story. But she wasn’t coming back to London anytime soon.

Hopefully, someone would be able to get it through Lady Colette’s head and make her realize that her actions were awful. Maybe she would feel remorse eventually, but she was incredibly stubborn. Amelia didn’t think that would happen anytime soon.

But it wasn’t her problem anymore. She didn’t have to worry about the girl who tried to hurt her.

“What are you thinking about?”

Amelia jumped. Edmund was at her side, slipping an arm around her waist. Despite knowing that they shouldn’t be this close even though they were now married, Amelia leaned into him.

“Just anything, really. Plenty of thoughts want to be at the forefront right now.”

Edmund chuckled.

“Anything of interest?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“I bet it was about one of your hobbies you’re neglecting for our wedding.”

Amelia poked him in the stomach.

“That’s not fair.”

“Oh, really? You’re not thinking about your next activity to do with the snow outside?”

“Not right now!”

Edmund grinned at her, kissing her temple.

“If you carry on with all of your hobbies, you won’t have much time for anything else, will you?” he teased. “I’ll be surprised when we have children that you’ll remember they’re present.”

Amelia stared at him.

“Children? Of course, I won’t forget about them! I’m not that distracted.”

“I’ll hold you to that. But that’s not something we need to worry about right now.” Edmund’s expression softened as he looked at her. “It’s something I want in the future, you know that, but I won’t let it take you away from what you love doing. I’m not jesting with that, Amelia.”

“I know you’re not.” Amelia leaned her head on his shoulder. “I love that you’re thinking about my other hobbies as well.”

“Your personality and life should center around who you are, not on how many children you can have.” Edmund tilted her head back with his fingers under her chin. “We’ve got plenty of time for that. We’ll find a happy medium in it all.”

“I’m glad you want that.”

“Anything for my lovely wife.”

Amelia squealed as he kissed her quickly.

“Careful! We’re in a room full of our guests!” she hissed. “We shouldn’t be kissing.”

“Given we’ve only been married a few hours, I think we’ll be given a reprieve.” Edmund kissed the tip of her nose. “I don’t want you to forget that I love you, after all.”

Amelia giggled, hugging him around the waist as she smiled up at him.

“I don’t think I’ll be forgetting that anytime soon.”

THE END