Epilogue

Two Months Later

Beatrice sat at the head of the table beside Edwin. It was nice to have all of the family together, finally. Her parents were bickering, and her father had managed to spill soup down his front already, even though they had not officially begun supper yet.

Modesty and Elizabeth sat together, but Elizabeth had turned her full attention to Hannah, who was sitting on her other side, the two of them gossiping about eligible bachelors. Stephen and Nathanial sat far too quietly, and Beatrice could not help but imagine what they had planned.

Beatrice was most happy to have Charlotte and Henry in her home. And the star of the show, Sebastian, was currently sleeping in Charlotte’s arms. He was a little angel who had made barely a peep since they had arrived at the estate.

Their two families had come together for a dinner party at Walford Estate.

Edwin stood up to make a toast before they began eating.

“This has been a long time coming,” he admitted. “I wish to thank you all for being here, and I hope you enjoy tonight’s meal. I feel lucky to be surrounded by so much love and family. If my father were still alive, he would have given a much better toast, so I will keep this short. To love and family.”

“To love and family!” everyone chorused.

Edwin sat back down, and everyone started on the soup. Phineas resumed trying to get it into his mouth.

“I hear things are going well with business,” he said when he had a moment to wipe his chin.

“They are,” Edwin agreed. “With this amazing woman by my side, all things are possible. I have never met a woman who has a better head for business, and it has allowed me to do business in a different way. I have even set up some funds to be used for various charitable causes. When I look around, I can see our abundance, and we should share that with other people.”

“What a nice way to look at it,” Letitia praised.

“Your father would be very proud,” Modesty added.

“I am very proud of him,” Beatrice declared.

“And I could not have done it without you, my dear,” Edwin said.

Stephen let out a weird groan from the other end of the table, and Nathanial followed it by pretending to throw up.

“Are adults always so disgusting when it comes to marriage?” Stephen complained.

“Are you going to kiss next? Ew!” Nathanial added.

“Children!” Phineas boomed.

“They are only having fun,” Letitia said, placing her hand on his arm.

“Then maybe we should kiss to teach them a lesson,” Phineas suggested.

“Father, I don’t think that would be appropriate,” Hannah interjected. “And Mother does not wish to kiss you with soup all over your chin.”

“I hear Miss Jennings has gone to live with a cousin in Newcastle,” Charlotte said, deftly changing the topic. “From what I heard, she will not return to London.”

“Good,” Beatrice uttered. “She caused enough trouble, and while I do not wish her ill, I do not wish her back in my life in any way.”

She felt Edwin’s hand take hers under the table, and she knew it was time. The dinner party was a lot less exciting than the previous one, but she would soon change that. She squeezed his hand in return, and he tapped a spoon against his glass.

“My wife has something she would like to say,” Edwin announced.

Beatrice stood up to speak to her family—they were all her family now.

“I am so happy that the next generation of our family is here with us,” she began, gesturing toward the babe in Charlotte’s arms. “I look forward to the cousins growing up together.”

Everyone looked confused for a moment, except for Modesty, who squealed. “I knew it!”

“I am with child,” Beatrice announced.

She did not only swim in the love in the room after that, but she swam in everyone’s arms as they all rose to embrace her.

It was more happiness than her heart could take.

The End?