Epilogue

EPILOGUE

" I t's beautiful," Arabella breathed, her breath hanging in the air before her as a tiny puff of cloud. She shivered, pressing close to Jasper as she gazed out at the misty hills before them.

In all her life, Arabella had never dreamed that such beauty existed. All she had known was her little corner of the world. Her family might have wanted to travel – to see more of this lovely isle – but they could not have afforded it.

But now, finally, Arabella was getting to experience life outside of the ton and the society in which she had grown up.

"Do you like it?" Jasper asked, pulling her close, an arm wrapping around her waist.

"I love it," Arabella grinned.

They had arrived last night, the long journey to Scotland making them eager to settle into their new abode and go to sleep at once. But Arabella had slept well, calmed by the fresh country air. Now, she was filled with renewed vigor, eager to explore this beautiful place.

"Have you been here before?" Arabella asked.

"Once or twice over the years," Jasper replied thoughtfully. "Though I have never had the pleasure of such a lovely woman for company on such occasions."

Arabella giggled. "Is that so?"

"No."

Gasping as Jasper broke into a grin, Arabella gave him a playful thwack on the arm. "You are terrible!" she scolded.

Pulling her closer, Jasper chuckled. "As the only woman I have ever been able to touch," he reminded her, "you may be confident that you have me all to yourself. Now, whether or not that is a good thing, I believe will be up to you to decide."

Arabella smiled, standing on tiptoe to plant a delicate kiss on his cheek. "It is a very, very good thing," she whispered into his ear.

They stood there together, watching the mists swirl and pass before them for several more minutes.

Then, straightening slightly, Jasper offered Arabella his hand. "Shall we go into town?" he asked.

Arabella nodded eagerly. As they started toward the carriage, however, she put a hand on her husband's arm, bringing him to a halt. "Your gloves," she murmured, glancing down at his bare hands.

When Jasper shook his head, Arabella frowned. "Have you lost them?" she asked, her heart beginning to race. Oh no, she thought, what are we to do? Can we replace them before someone sets off his condition?

As she half-turned, set on searching their temporary home top to bottom for her husband's missing possessions, Jasper gently stopped her.

"I thought I would leave them behind today," he told her gently.

Eyes growing wide, Arabella searched her husband's face. He looked completely serious. "But – why?"

A half smile twisted one corner of Jasper's mouth. "It might be a foolish thing to do but…well, I want to test how far this condition goes. Now that I know it does not exclude me from touching everyone, perhaps there is a way to overcome it." He sighed, shaking his head. "It is foolish, perhaps –"

"No!" Arabella reached out to take her husband's hand. "I think you are right to try," she assured him. "It is brave. Very brave. I just hope you are not doing it for my sake."

Jasper thought about this for a moment. "I am."

Arabella opened her mouth to protest, but Jasper continued on. "I am doing it because you inspire me to. You give me hope that I will not be confined by this condition for the rest of my life."

As her husband gazed down at her, Arabella found herself blushing. "I have never inspired anything to anything before," she admitted softly.

"I doubt that," Jasper replied. "I think I am merely the first to tell you so." Pulling Arabella to him and wrapping his arms around her waist so that she stood, gazing up at him from within his embrace, Jasper smiled down at her. "My wife in an incredibly inspirational woman. Were I a poet, I fear I would never set down my pen, for as soon as one sonnet was finished, she would inspire another."

Arabella giggled at that, but deep down, she was glowing. Her husband's praise was a thing she constantly craved; it was an addictive thing, never growing tiresome or overdone.

"Come," Jasper smiled, "let us see what there is to experience in town."

Eagerly – though a little anxious for her husband and what there might be to set off his condition – Arabella allowed him to help her into the carriage.

Once in town, the happy couple set about walking through the market, shadowed by high stony walls, the strange accents of the people echoing off the impressive architecture.

"Some flowers for the beautiful lady?"

Arabella turned, finding an older man grinning at her, his wares – bunches of wildflowers – tucked into buckets and baskets all around him.

Before Arabella could politely decline, Jasper stepped forward. "Yes, please. Your finest bouquet."

The older man grinned, showing a few missing teeth, and quickly set about picking out the perfect arrangement. Arabella suspected, watching this, that Jasper was not particularly partial to these flowers but was instead making an effort to help the man. It was clear this older gentleman had to work hard to make a living.

This suspicion was confirmed when Jasper handed the man twice the number of coins he requested. The older man's eyes went wide as he simply stared at the money in Jasper's hand for a moment.

Then, thanking him profusely, reached out to take the money from Jasper's hand. When the duke pulled back slightly, the older man registered this. Then, he held out his hand and Jasper dropped the coins into his open palm.

Thinking her husband had escaped an uncomfortable encounter, Arabella's heart sank as the flower seller, still praising the duke, held out his hand.

"I know I am lowly and dirty," the older man said with a sad, self-deprecating laugh. But, please, sir, allow me to shake your hand sir," the older man explained. "It is not every day you meet such a generous soul."

Her heart aching, Arabella realized that the man had assumed that Jasper did not wish to touch him because of his position in life. The man believed that Jasper looked upon him as unclean.

Before Arabella could come up with some excuse for why her husband could not shake the seller's hand, she was astounded to find Jasper reaching out to grasp the offered hand. The duke winced slightly at the touch, his face growing pale as the man shook his hand roughly, but Jasper kept a polite smile throughout it all.

Before him, the flower seller beamed. Jasper's kindness would not soon be forgotten.

Then, as Arabella was passed her bouquet, Jasper bid the man adieu. Not more than a few steps away from the flower seller's stall, Arabella was surprised to feel Jasper's hand closing over hers.

Glancing up questioningly at him, Arabella searched for an explanation. Leaning slightly closer as they walked, Jasper did just that. "It would seem you are the antidote, Arabella," he murmured. "Whenever I touch you, my condition quickly fades."

"You did not react to the man's touch then?" Arabella asked, not quite understanding.

Jasper shook his head. "I did, but the symptoms seem to disappear much faster when I am with you," he told her, holding up their entwined hands in explanation.

Again, Arabella did not think she had ever been so flattered. It was indescribable, this feeling of being needed. If only there was a way to show her husband how much she needed him in return.

As the couple continued to make their way, they settled into happy conversation as they admired not only the homes and churches they passed but, after a while, the countryside that spread out before them at the edge of town.

By late afternoon, they decided it was time to return to their lodgings. In the carriage, Jasper wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Arabella eagerly snuggled into him, marveling at the change in her husband.

There was still a little way to go if Jasper hoped to overcome his condition. It might not be possible, but she was proud of him for trying. Still, she counted herself infinitely lucky that with her, Jasper's condition had never surfaced.

Of course there was a small voice at the back of her head that wondered if the husband and wife tried to consummate their marriage, that Jasper's condition would not allow him. So far, Arabella had been too frightened to broach the subject. What if they were unable to do so? There was too much wrapped up in such an act.

Not only did Arabella still secretly hope for children, but her own longing to share a bed with her husband continued to grow. She wanted there to be nothing between them. She wanted to be able to give themselves over to one another completely in an expression of true love.

As she continued to think on this, the carriage pulled to a halt. The Duke and Duchess dismounted and made their way inside.

It was a beautiful, cozy little home. They had only brought a few servants with them and, as soon as the couple arrived home, Jasper dismissed their staff to their own quarters in the small cottage nearby.

Arabella was somewhat taken aback by this, but waited until the servants had left to question her husband's motives. When they were finally alone, she raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you have planned, Your Grace?" she teased.

When Jasper turned a look upon her that she had never before seen, Arabella's heart skipped a beat. "I wanted some time alone with you," he said, crossing to her.

The duchess did not dare ask why.

Taking her hand, Jasper held her gaze. "I – I do not know what might happen. But I want to show you how I feel about you, Arabella. I want to be with you as man and wife are meant to be. Though," he paused, seeming to search for the right words, "I do not want this if you do not. I will not ask of you something which you do not wish to do."

The sincerity in his words and manner was all Arabella needed to see. Her heart raced as she stood on tip toe and gently, ever so gently, kissed her husband.

The kiss was tentative. She could not help it. She did not wish to discover that here, after all this time, was where her husband's tolerance of her touch ended. She would be shattered to make such a discovery. But she would be sad to never have tried. To never experience this great expression of love.

Jasper kissed his wife in return and Arabella relaxed a little as he drew her close. Then, after a little while, he took her hand and led her into the next room and to the bed.

The act was new to the both of them. They took it slowly, caring for one another, cautiously moving forward knowing all the while that each next step might be the last that Jasper's condition would allow.

But their worst fears soon fell away. Miraculously, Jasper's condition did not, nor ever would, prevent the couple from being together. Instead, knowing what a gift this moment was, the duke and duchess enjoyed it all the more.

When they both were spent, Jasper held his wife in his arms, her hair trailing back on the pillow beneath her.

And Arabella wept. She wept in relief and gratitude. She wept for the dream that she had believed was lost beyond recovery. And she wept because now, finally, her hope had begun to grow. What had been the smallest seed of chance had now blossomed into a strong, living hope.

As Arabella wept, Jasper held her close, wiping away her tears. He did not speak. He did not need to. He seemed to understand that his wife was not upset. Jasper seemed to know that these tears were tears of joy, brought on by the happiness that they shared, the happiness that might lead to even greater happiness.

When her tears had dried, Jasper began to tell her of his plans for their future. There would be many parties and gatherings at the estate – all of which her family would be invited to as guests of honor. They would fill the house with light and laughter. As soon as they had returned home, he would take Arabella to purchase a new horse, one of her choosing, so that she might continue to ride whenever she wanted. He planned to teach Thomas about business and to advise Peter on several upcoming investment ventures. And they even discussed Madeline's entry into society soon.

They stayed like this, laughing and talking late into the night. But they could not help it. Now, more than ever, and perhaps for the first time in their lives, the future seemed packed with possibility. The world was theirs to explore and mold. Both, who had been so confined by expectation and conditions for so long, were now free to pursue what they truly wanted.

They were happy. Jasper and Arabella were truly and deeply in love, and so very, very happy.

The End?