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One Year Later…
“Most importantly,” Edward said, raising his glass into the air. “I would like to thank my wife. The duchess has navigated this restoration with skill and grace. While it took a year longer than anticipated, I think we can all agree that it was well worth it.”
The day had finally come for the celebration of the restoration of the medieval wing of Greystone Hall.
While they had started thinking that there would be only a handful of people in attendance, the couple had grown in popularity and now, the room was filled with friends and members of the ton.
A loud cheer erupted among the guests as Clara took her opportunity to speak.
“Thank you all so much for being here,” she said. “I am as excited about this project as I was when we started. All that we’ve uncovered here…so much history and mystery and beauty cannot possibly be put into words. Please, take a look around, ask if you have questions and take it all in. There will be a dinner soon and then we will move to the parlor for some games.”
The crowd dispersed and the tours of the space began. As it turned out, the fresco covered all the walls in the room, which had caused a significant delay in the project being completed.
“Well done,” Edward said, coming to her side. “The response is phenomenal. I expect we’ll be mentioned in the papers tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” she said proudly. “I must admit, I thought this day would never arrive.”
It had become the party that everybody wanted to be invited to. A gathering that was exclusive and important, just as Clara had hoped it would be. The vicar gave tours to those interested as he talked about the history and the artworks on the walls.
Mrs. Hensley had been prepping for the party for weeks, eager to make a good impression at their first major event at Greystone Hall in years.
“Look at this!” Lord Caldwell said, seeking them out. “I feel honored to be among such esteemed guests.”
“Oh please,” Clara said. “You were at the top of the guest list.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Lord Caldwell teased. “I’ve already seen all this a bunch of times before, haven’t I?”
A teasing smile broke across his face as they broke out into laughter.
“Although I must admit, seeing the room filled with people does change the atmosphere dramatically,” he added.
“The vicar intends to hold a service here on Sunday. Will you come?” Clara asked.
“Certainly,” he said. “Shall I bring Lady Lydia and Lady Whitmore?”
“Of course, they’re welcome,” Clara said. “I think it is precisely the sort of thing my mother would enjoy. You’ll do well by her to arrange something like that.”
“Then I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Lord Caldwell said with a grin.
“Look at him,” Edward teased. “One week into courting your sister and already he’s trying too hard to win over your mother.”
“He’d be wise to,” Clara joked. “She’s got a lot of influence when it comes to their situation.”
“That’s true, but also, I think I would like for your mother to be there,” Lord Caldwell said.
Clara was thrilled that, finally, Lord Caldwell decided to court her sister. It had been a year in the making and, in his defense, there was a lot of healing that needed to happen first. Lydia was toward the end of her second season, and it was going better than the first. Largely because her father wasn’t around anymore.
Lydia had done the work. After a while it became clear that to her, there was nobody else but Lard Caldwell that could ever have her attention. She pined for him, changed her life, changed her ways as best as she could and waited patiently for him to come around.
With Clara and Edward’s growing popularity among the ton, Lydia was slowly becoming more associated with them than she was with Lord Whitmore, who had not been seen by anybody in those parts in some time.
Clara searched out her mother and sister in the group, who greeted her warmly. Her father wouldn’t be there. In exchange for settling his debts, her father was sent to Cornwall to oversee some property that Edward owned there. They were all fairly certain that her father was absolutely miserable there.
More importantly, though, it allowed Lady Whitmore and Lady Lydia to move on with their lives without Lord Whitmore’s wrath and debt. Everybody was better for it.
“I believe Cornwall was hit with a fairly serious storm lately,” her mother said as she joined them. “Trees falling over, hail, horrendous winds…”
The three women looked at each other and burst into a fit of giggles. “I’m sure father is having a wonderful time.”
“It truly is an estate that needs a lot of work,” Clara said. “Father will be very busy for a very long time still.”
“Then I will be at peace,” her mother said.
Edward knew just how miserable her father was. The estate in Cornwall was a difficult one to manage. It required building work and work with the animals, but her father wouldn’t dare fight back against Edward. There was simply too much at stake. Without his reputation and his gleaming lifestyle, her father turned out to be a coward.
In the year that had passed, Lydia had come into her own. She was confident and friendly and cared less what people thought of her, and more about the impact that she had on their lives. It had proven beneficial to her reputation and she was quickly considered one of the kindest most generous women of the season.
While her mother and sister remained busy, and Clara had been occupied by the restoration project, they were seeing more of each other. The courtship between Lydia and Lord Caldwell had a large impact on that as well.
They spent time together as a group, getting out often and picking up new hobbies. They even planned a trip together after the season was over. Clara very much looked forward to that. They were beginning to feel like a normal family and she had her husband to thank for that. She would be eternally grateful.
Lydia moved off to take her place alongside Lord Caldwell.
“They look good together, don’t they?” Lady Whitmore asked.
“They do,” Clara said. “It took them long enough. I kept placing them next to each other at events, but still they took their time.”
“You really tried very hard,” her mother teased. “Well, I suppose it paid off in the end. Your sister is happy. I hope that Lord Caldwell is, too.”
“What will you do once they are married?” Clara asked.
“If they are married,” her mother corrected her.
“Yes, if they are married?” Clara answered. “You’ll have an empty house. Will you be alright?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” her mother said. “I’m going to have fun for the first time in a very long time. I have plans to start hunting and riding. I’ll be enjoying my life and my freedom, thank you very much.”
“Are things going well with the estate?” Clara asked.
“Much better, now that I’m in charge,” her mother said. “Honestly, I don’t know how your father could have made such a mess of it. It isn’t as if it is difficult.”
Clara’s laughter came at her with such force that she snorted a little.
“Where is your glass?” her mother asked. “Let’s get you a refreshment. This is your project we’re here to celebrate. You should at least be taking part in the celebration.”
“Thank you, but I’ll get one later. There is something that I must check on first,” Clara said.
With that, it was time to announce dinner. Their guests took their seats at the long table in the center of the room and a lavish meal was served. Mrs. Hensley proudly had each new course presented to a room of people who complimented each new dish as it was placed on the table.
“This reminds me of the parties your parents used to host,” an elderly neighbor said as the main course was served.
Clara beamed with pride at such a compliment, and she saw how it struck Edward, too. There was never a lull in the conversation or an awkward moment. The group of people invited fitted in with each other perfectly. It would be a night to remember, for many reasons.
Finally, dessert arrived and those in the room added the final bites to completely fill their bellies. The mood was bright. Everybody was well fed, joyous from the wine, and inspired by the room around them.
Edward rose from his seat and Clara followed his lead. She watched as her husband, a man she loved most in the world, tapped a fork against his glass to get the room’s full attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Edward said with a wide smile. “I’m afraid that we have lied to you all. There is not one reason for celebration tonight, but rather two.”
Everybody looked around them, a quiet murmur flowing through the space between them.
“It is with great pride, joy, and an overwhelming sense of happiness that I announce the news of my impending fatherhood.”
He turned to Clara, his eyes fixed only on hers as the room erupted. Some cheered, while others gasped. For Clara’s mother, the natural response was tears.
“The new baby Ashford will be born in March of next year,” he continued. “And we wait anxiously for its arrival.”
Clara’s mother was the first to embrace her, followed by Lydia. There had been a time when Clara had looked at her husband and wondered if it would ever be possible to love a human more than she loved him.
However, the moment she had learned of her pregnancy, she knew that it was possible. Without knowing the child, or even feeling it yet, she loved it with so much force that it sometimes threatened to destabilize her.
Now, when she thought of her upbringing she wondered how it was ever possible for a parent to treat their child the way she’d been treated. It seemed so outrageous and insane. Yet, it also seemed far away from her.
Once the games were played and final round of drinks was enjoyed, it was time for them to wish their guests farewell. It took some time, each of them lingering a while longer in an attempt to get the last say.
When finally the door closed and they were alone, Clara wished to fall into her husband and for him to catch her.
“That was a brilliant event,” Edward said eagerly.
“It did go well,” she said.
Fatigue was catching up with her. It had been a long day and an even longer few weeks leading up to that day.
“How are you feeling?” Edward asked. “It has grown quite late.”
“My feet ache something awful,” she said. “I can’t wait to get out of these shoes and into our warm bed.”
She needed to say no more. With one motion, Edward lifted her into his arms and she felt the weight on her feet release. Clara laughed.
“I can still walk,” she teased.
“I can’t have you walking in pain,” Edward said. “You need all the care possible now.”
He kissed her and she leaned her head against his shoulder. Carefully, he carried her up the stairs and down the hall.
“Do you mind?” he asked when they made it to the bedroom door.
Clara reached down and turned the handle. The door swung open and they were greeted by a warm fire in the hearth.
“Mrs. Hensley is a blessing,” Clara said with a grin.
“I heard her and Miss Martha stating quite proudly to your mother that they were the first to know about the pregnancy,” Edward said with a laugh as he placed her gently on the bed.
“What?” Clara said. “They’ll get me into trouble with her.” She laughed and covered her face.
“It doesn’t matter,” Edward said. “All that matters is us, and our child, and the fact that we had a community around who support us. I can’t wait to be a father.”
When he kissed her again, she felt all the pressures of life melt away. She was home, she was safe, and she was free.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 5 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Noble Gentlemen of the Ton", and get 5 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dear readers, I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue. I am eagerly expecting your comments here. Thank you so much!