Extended Epilogue

One Year Later

“Lavinia, I haven’t seen you in what feels like forever!” Edwina exclaimed.

The two sisters embraced, and Lavinia held Edwina at arm’s length to examine her. “Just look at you,” she said warmly. “Of course, you haven’t wished to leave the house. Your child is due to be born any day now!”

“I’ve wanted very much to leave the house,” Edwina contradicted her sister. “It’s Allan who won’t allow me to go anywhere.”

“And he’s quite right,” Matthew added, making his way into the house behind Lavinia. “You shouldn’t be leaving home in your condition.”

“The physician says it’s all right for me to take short walks,” Edwina protested. “It’s just that Allan is so protective.”

“As he should be,” Matthew said. “A gentleman ought to protect his wife.”

“Something you would know nothing about,” Lavinia teased her brother. “Are you ever planning to marry?”

“You simply aren’t happy unless you’re trying to arrange a marriage for one of your siblings,” Matthew returned. “I don’t know what you’ll do with yourself once I do marry, and you have no one left to meddle with.”

“Excuse me?” Lavinia protested. “I don’t meddle!”

Both Matthew and Edwina burst out laughing. After a moment, Lavinia gave them a rueful grin. “All right,” she agreed. “Perhaps I do meddle a bit. But you must admit that it’s for the best! After all, Edwina and Allan would never have married if not for my interference. Both of you thought the auction was a terrible idea. Neither of you would have allowed it. It only happened because I insisted on making it so.”

“She’s right,” Edwina told her brother. “I haven’t wanted to admit it to her either, but I’ve had to face it. I wouldn’t be here without her meddling, and like it or not, I have to be grateful for it.”

She smiled at Lavinia to show that it was all in good fun, that truly she harbored no resentment at all. She was grateful to her sister. She meant what she had said—without Lavinia’s assistance, she would never have married Allan. It was likely that she would never have married at all. Her child would be born any day now, and it was almost impossible to imagine a world in which this hadn’t happened. It was certainly impossible to imagine a world in which she had remained a spinster and was anywhere near as happy as she was currently. That couldn’t have happened, and she was beyond grateful for the life she had found for herself—and for her sister’s guidance in getting her here.

“I never would have thought Lavinia would be the matchmaker of the family,” Matthew said. “Of all people.”

“You only feel that way because I used to be such a wallflower,” Lavinia told him.

“I don’t deny it. Of course, that’s my reason.”

“Well, love changes people,” Lavinia told him. “Love has turned me into someone who sees the world through a different set of eyes. Love has allowed me to see the ways in which the people I care for can be happier—just as I myself am happier now that I have found love.”

“In other words, you helped Edwina find her match because you were so pleased with your own.”

“That’s exactly what I did. And that’s what I mean to do for you, Matthew, if you’ll permit me.”

Matthew shook his head. “You know that I’m preoccupied by my responsibilities,” he said. “I can’t be worried about love. Not right now. Perhaps that time will come for me, but it hasn’t come yet. We’ll have to see what happens.”

“I think you should seek out a match for yourself,” Lavinia said. “You’ll be happier once you have, Brother. I know you well enough to know that.”

Edwina could see that Matthew was about to open his mouth to retort, so she took him by the arm. “Come,” she said. “Let’s go and sit down.”

“Yes, you shouldn’t be on your feet,” Matthew agreed quickly.

Edwina didn’t bother to argue, didn’t correct him at let him know that actually she was permitted to be on her feet for short periods as long as she didn’t allow herself to become uncomfortable. She didn’t want any further argument. Instead, she led the way into the sitting room, and they all found seats.

Just as they were about to resume conversation, the door opened, and Allan entered.

Edwina rose to her feet at once, even though she knew he wouldn’t want her to. And, indeed, he frowned at seeing her jump up, hurried to her side, and helped to ease her back down. “You’re not supposed to be up and about,” he said.

“I’m only visiting with my brother and sister.” She smiled and leaned her head briefly on his shoulder, thrilled to see him. “I’m glad you were able to join us, Allan.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it,” he assured her. “I’m sorry Seth couldn’t be here, Lavinia.”

“He’ll be along for dinner,” Lavinia said. “He’s with the children—they can’t wait to meet their new cousin. They’ve been asking questions every day.”

Edwina beamed, looking around at her family. She would never have imagined this. Lavinia, who had once been so shy and retiring, now bold and confident, the leader of them all. Herself, once firmly opposed to marriage, now deeply in love and holding tight to her husband as if she would never let go. Her first child, soon to be born. And Matthew—stubborn as ever, yes, but she had hope for him yet. Someday he would find the right lady for him, and they would all be as blissfully happy as she felt right now.

The End