EPILOGUE

A month later…

Sylvia's heart was fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nerves for what lay ahead as she walked through the house to see the preparations for the day unfolding. Today was the most important day of her life so far, the day she would finally marry Wesley, the man who had shown her the true meaning of love and bravery. She took a deep breath, savoring the quiet moments of the morning before the full whirlwind of the day began.

"Are you ready?" Lily asked her as she stood holding up her beautiful wedding dress. "Shall we put it on?"

Sylvia grinned excitedly. "Yes, please."

Lily eagerly helped her into her wedding gown, which was a stunning creation of ivory silk that flowed gracefully around her. The dress was decorated with delicate lace and intricate patterns of flowers trailing down the bodice and sleeves, giving it an ethereal quality.

But it was not just the dress that completed the look.

Afterwards, Lily wove small white blossoms into her hair, which was arranged in soft, cascading curls.

She felt lovely.

Sylvia gazed at her reflection in the mirror, a mixture of awe and disbelief washing over her. "Lily, I can hardly believe this is real," she whispered.

Lily smiled warmly. "You look absolutely beautiful, Lady Sylvia. Lord Wesley will be speechless when he sees you."

A knock at the door signaled the arrival of George, who was going to take the place of Sylvia's father on this very important day, caring for her and taking her down the aisle. Of course she would have wished that her real father was around, but George was the closest that she had these days.

His eyes shone with pride and emotion as he took in the sight of Silvia. "You look radiant, my dear," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "Like the perfect bride."

"Thank you, George," Sylvia replied, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. "And thank you so much for helping me today."

"Speaking of which…" He extended his arm to her. "Let us get going."

They made their way to the church which was beautifully decorated for the day. With flowers and decorations covering the building.

A string quartet played soft, melodious tunes, setting a perfect ambiance for the occasion. As the guests took their seats, a hush of anticipation settled over the gathering.

Sylvia's heart pounded in her chest as she walked down the aisle. Her eyes locked onto Wesley's, and in that instant, everything else faded away. All her nerves vanished into nothingness as he smiled at her with that happiness shining in his gaze, matching her feelings entirely.

As Sylvia reached the altar, Wesley stepped forward, taking her hand. They stood before the officiant, their hands clasped tightly together, their hearts beating as one.

The officiant's voice filled the room as the ceremony finally began. "We are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Lord Wesley Montclair and Lady Sylvia Sheffield in marriage..."

Sylvia could hardly contain her excitement as they spoke their vows and exchanged rings, finally sealing them together forever. This was a moment that she did not think she would ever get to. The fact that it was here made her so happy she could weep. Knowing that she was going to be Welsey's wife forever now was just incredible.

At the end of the ceremony, Wesley leaned in, capturing Sylvia's lips in a tender, loving kiss that sealed their love. The guests erupted into applause, their joy and support enveloping the newlyweds in a wave of celebration.

Following the ceremony, the joyful celebration continued with a wedding breakfast hosted by Aunt Grace, which of course was wonderful, and soon drifted into a waltz on the dance floor. It felt perfect to be in Wesley's arms as they danced, like it was exactly where she was meant to be.

"I do love you," she told Wesley happily. "Husband."

"I love you too," he said with a grin. "My lovely wife."

As the dance continued, Sylvia noticed Edward and Harriet stepping onto the dance floor, which was incredibly interesting. Especially because Sylvia had started to notice the way that they looked at one another.

Sylvia exchanged a knowing look with Wesley, wondering how he felt about this. "Look at them," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth. "They might just be perfect for each other."

Wesley nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Yes, you might be right about that."

Thank goodness. It seemed like he was happy to see his sister and best friend, because Sylvia could see that it would not be long before they were married too.

The music swelled, and more couples joined the dance floor, filling the space with movement and joy. But it was not until they left the dance floor that Sylvia and Wesley were approached by George, who had Aunt Grace by his side. George's eyes sparkled with excitement, and Aunt Grace's smile was radiant.

"May we have a moment of your attention?" George called out, his voice carrying over the music, not talking just to them.

The musicians paused, and the guests turned their attention to George and Aunt Grace. Sylvia felt a surge of curiosity and anticipation, wondering what news they were about to share. It looked important, which was wonderful today.

George took Aunt Grace's hand, his expression one of deep affection. "We have some wonderful news to share," he announced, his voice brimming with joy. "Grace and I are engaged!"

A wave of applause and cheers erupted from the guests. Sylvia clapped enthusiastically, her heart soaring with happiness for the couple. She knew that Aunt Grace and George had a special relationship, and it was nice to know that they were going to make it official at long last. It was a relief for her to know that she was going to be cared for, and would not be left feeling lonely.

Aunt Grace stepped forward, her eyes glistening with tears of joy. "Thank you all," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "This is a time of new beginnings for all of us, and I could not be happier to share this moment with such dear friends and family."

Sylvia felt a lump form in her throat as she watched the newly engaged couple. The love and happiness that radiated from them was palpable, adding another layer of joy to the already perfect day.

Wesley squeezed her hand gently, leaning in to whisper in her ear. "It seems today is full of happy surprises."

Sylvia nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "It truly is. I could not have imagined a more perfect day."

"Would you care for some champagne, my love?" Wesley asked as the music started up again, his eyes sparkling with a mix of pride and affection.

Sylvia nodded, her smile wide and genuine. "Yes, that would be lovely."

Wesley guided her towards the refreshment table, where silver trays laden with crystal flutes beckoned. As he turned to fetch their drinks, Sylvia's attention was drawn to a familiar voice behind her, Lady Victoria. She was no longer afraid of the woman, because she had gone out of her way to try and make her feel welcome now, but she still could not help but listen in to what she was talking about.

Just in case. It was almost a habit, to see if she was being gossiped about.

"...so we do not have to worry about Lady Arabella. She is courting the Marquess of Bellington," she declared. "And presumably very happy about it. Thank goodness. I believe her family are happy with this too."

Sylvia blew out a breath of relief. She had not wanted to affect the lives of others negatively, just because of who she fell in love with. This made her feel so much better about her wonderful marriage. She caught Wesley's eyes and grinned at him, a lightness floating through her now, even more so than before.

"And what of Lord Marcus?" Lady Victoria's friend asked. "I heard he has fled London."

Lady Victoria's expression grew even more animated, her eyes gleaming with the thrill of sharing privileged information. "Yes, fled! Apparently, his debts have become unmanageable. He left under the cover of night, leaving a trail of unpaid bills and furious creditors."

Sylvia should not have been surprised by this, but she was. She could not help it. It seemed that Lord Marcus always did have bad intentions for her. What a relief that she did not marry him. Not only would their marriage have been loveless, but based on a lie as well.

Not like the true joy she had in front of her.

"Here." Wesley handed her a champagne, reminding her that everything had turned out alright in the end. "How are you?"

"I am truly having the best day of my whole life."

As Wesley leaned down to kiss her once more, she really did feel like everything was coming together in the best way possible, for the perfect future. She could not wait to see what was next for her, and how she would enjoy life as a countess. With Wesley by her side, she was sure that it was going to be wonderful…

The End

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Extended Epilogue