Epilogue

O n Monday morning, the twentieth of June, James stood near the altar of the small chapel in Clifton Cross, not far from Clifton Hall, residence of the Earl of Westbury. The vicar, the Reverend Reginald Pruitt, currently stood behind the altar. On James’s right side stood Avery Clifton, the Right Honorable Earl of Westbury, as he had just been addressed by Reverend Pruitt. And James glanced sideways in time to catch his brother-in-law Avery wince at the title.

Seated in the pews were the few individuals who had been invited to attend—Sarah Clifton, the late John Clifton’s widow, and her daughter, Betty, and her parents, who had returned with her when they’d received word from Anna. James could also see Hastings, the loyal steward of Clifton Hall, who had leaped to his feet the moment Avery Clifton had walked through his office door, where Hastings had been meeting with the insistent Ambrose Clifton, and then had proceeded to welcome the true Earl of Westbury with a vigorous handshake. The man had hardly been able to hide his delight in seeing Avery—and in dismissing Ambrose, who had left Clifton Hall the very next day.

Also in attendance was Jeanne Clifton’s father, Monsieur Remy, whom Avery had invited to follow his daughter to England to celebrate in her formal marriage to one of Britain’s nobility. Remy had left his café in the care of a trusted friend, explaining that he would return in a few months. And last but certainly not least were all the servants of Clifton Hall, including, of course, Sparks and Mary, who were particular guests of honor, there to witness the two weddings, as was only right and proper.

The main chapel doors opened ...

And Jeanne Clifton walked forward, followed by James’s own bride.

James had eyes for only Anna, who looked even more the pearl than she had when he’d first met her. Her gown was cream colored—cream, for Avery, bless him, had insisted the brides not wear the colors of mourning, as this was a grand Clifton family celebration, and he felt his father and brother would wish them all to rejoice. And Anna’s hair caught the colors of the stained-glass windows behind the altar and added to her brilliance.

His bride, his Anna.

She reached his side and smiled at him as Jeanne joined Avery at the altar.

“Are you ready?” James whispered softly.

“More than ready,” she murmured back.

“Dearlybeloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation, to join together this man and this woman, and this man and this woman, in holy matrimony,” Reverend Pruitt began.

James attempted to listen to the words the vicar spoke, but he could barely take his eyes from his bride to focus on anything else. He couldn’t have imagined that a mere few weeks ago he would meet the woman for whom he would willingly travel through hardships across an entire country. But he had, and she was gazing at him with those sapphire eyes of hers ...

There was a pause.

Anna’s eyebrows shot up questioningly.

Blast. His mind had wandered too far and for too long. During his own wedding ceremony, no less!

“Wiltthou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?” The vicar’s tone suggested he’d already spoken this part.

“I will,” James said.

He paid better attention as the vicar continued the service, and he listened intently when Anna also said, “I will.”

The rest of the service proceeded, although not speedily enough for James, and finally, they were man and wife.

Man and wife.

After the recessional that included two officially married couples, there were congratulations all around as guests came forward offering handshakes and back slaps to the gentlemen and hugs and kisses to the brides.

“My darling Anna,” James said once they had moved off a bit from the celebratory crowd. “There is one other question I wish to ask you. It is not part of the church service, and I don’t wish for you to feel that I have tricked you into this by waiting until now to ask.”

“Should I be worried?” she asked.

“Possibly,” he said, though he couldn’t hold back a smile.

“Well,” she said. “You certainly have my full attention.”

He smiled. “You may recall that while we were in Paris, there were as many ladies present as there were gentlemen.”

“Yes,” she said, although it sounded more like a question than a response.

“I have always had the impression that you wished to remain here at Clifton Hall, with Avery and Jeanne, after all that you went through to find him. But now I am wondering ...”

“Yes?” she said, and it definitely was a question this time.

“I am wondering if you are willing to ...”

“The answer is yes, James,” Anna said. “If you are asking whether I would return to France and travel to Vienna with you while you serve the Foreign Office, the answer is yes.”

“You would be giving up time with your family,” he said.

“ You’re my family, James. Avery is safely home, and Cousin Ambrose has departed—thankfully before he could do too much damage to the Westbury estate. You and I will be together, and that is what matters most to me.”

“I cannot tell you how much your words mean to me,” he said. “So, now I have another question: Would you be greatly relieved if I told you I had already sent a letter to Castlereagh, informing him that my time in the Foreign Office must come to an end? For I have a greater calling that requires my full attention at present. Here, at home.”

“Oh, James!” she cried, throwing her arms around him and then burying her head in his shoulder—no doubt so she could hide from all the curious looks their guests were now giving them. “Truly?” she whispered in his ear. “You will not regret remaining here, when being in Vienna would mean so much to your associates and to Castlereagh?”

“Who knows when the Congress will officially begin? This autumn perhaps? And what if you are with child? I could not bear to leave you if that were the case, and I would not have you travel in such a delicate condition. No, I will not regret it at all.”

She heaved a great sigh and pulled back just a bit so she could look him in the eyes.

“My dearest love,” he said. “May I kiss the bride?”

“Yes, please,” she said with a smile.

And so he did. More than once.

The servants of Clifton Hall had prepared a sumptuous luncheon for the brides and grooms, families, and guests of both weddings. Anna didn’t know how they’d managed it, for they had all been in attendance at the wedding ceremony. But everything was ready for them when they arrived back at the manor house.

She looked about her in awe and gratitude. How could it be that a mere few weeks ago, she had been thrown into utter grief and despair over the loss of her brother and her father? That the chance her only other brother was still alive was dubious, at best? That her family home would fall into the hands of someone who cared little for the family and saw it only as a means of satisfying his own desires and greed?

Who could have imagined that she would find the courage to travel across England, across the Channel, and then across France in search of her brother or that, more to the point, she would find him? Or that despite the new family he’d created for himself, he would agree to assume his rightful role as earl? Or that his lovely French wife would be agreeable to living in England for his sake?

And who could have imagined that upon their return, the chapel would be filled to overflowing, as all the townspeople had come to witness the simultaneous marriages of an earl to a French girl and his sister to a complete stranger?

Anna could not have imagined any of these things. Yet they had all happened and more. She knew she’d remember them all, especially in the quiet moments, the peaceful moments ...

And there would be peace. And joy.

And so much love.

“You are deep in thought, my dearest,” James whispered into her ear as he came up next to her.

“It has been a beautiful day thus far, has it not?” she said.

“It is the best of days, for you are truly and fully mine, by law and by the grace of God,” he said.

“Oh, James!” Anna said, smiling.

“You say that a lot, you know,” he said, his eyes wrinkling with mirth. “And I find it completely endearing.”

“I should like to meet your family, James,” she said. “I believe quite fervently in the importance of families, you know—mine, yours, ours. Even the friendships we have feel like family too. It’s all quite incredible.”

“It shall happen, my love,” he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. “And I promise it shall happen sooner rather than later. My family will love you, and undoubtedly, they shall be astonished that such a beautiful, formidable woman as yourself agreed to be my wife.”

She laughed, her heart so full that she thought she would truly burst this time. There had been so many times her heart had been full to the brim as of late that she could scarcely count them all.

“In the meantime, I suggest we enjoy the family and friends who are with us today in celebration,” he said.

“I agree wholeheartedly,” she said, taking her beloved James by the hand to greet each person and bask in the light of love that all who were present could feel that day.