Epilogue

It was a little startling how easily Kitty had gotten used to married life. She found that she and Seth, having been such good friends, were naturally good and amiable companions as well. For all the strife of their unusual courtship, their marriage was as quiet and devoted as though they had been naturally made for one another.

Of course, this is what the ton thought, for it was all that they saw; what they did not see, what Kitty would never let them know, was that behind closed doors, it was full of passion and laughter, her delight in her husband matched only by his delight in her.

The only real qualm that either of them really had was a vague sort of restlessness that took root in Seth. Kitty could feel it in the way that his eyes would go distant and soft as he looked out of a window; she could see it in the way that he would rise sometimes before dawn, pacing quietly but steadily through the house.

If she were being honest, she, too, had a peculiar sort of itching in her bones that would not give her rest. It was well and fine to be a lady of society again, with a closet full of beautiful dresses…but it was somehow not enough.

"Seth?" she asked him one night as they lay in bed together, her head pillowed on his chest. She felt rather than heard him respond, a sleepy, affirmative rumble. "If I asked you for something, you would give it to me?"

"Of course," he murmured, pulling her a little tighter against himself.

"I should like it very much if we might go and visit the Americas together. I'm not sure that either of us are content here anymore," Kitty said hesitantly, thinking the words as she spoke them.

In the dark room, Seth sat up, letting Kitty slip from her spot curled up against him. She pouted a little at the loss of his warmth, which he naturally could not see. He leaned over, rummaging about in the nightstand for something. Naturally curious, Kitty attempted to peer around him, which he playfully thwarted.

He returned at last, holding a small box in his large hands. "When I was alone there, it was you that guided me back. You were the star that brought me home." Slowly, he opened the box, revealing a silver pendant in the shape of a many-pointed star. In the centre, a diamond winked and sparkled in the cool moonlight that filtered in through the window. "Wanted to ask you to go with me myself," he added, a little sheepishly. "Shouldn't be surprised you got there before me again—you've saved me so many times already."

Kitty, a naturally happy creature, was so overcome with pure delight in her husband, her life, and, yes, it must be said with beautiful, sparkling things, that she found the only acceptable response was to throw herself at her husband. She covered his face with a thousand kisses, leaving them both breathless with laughter and love.