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Four years later…
Theodore stood at the front of the chapel with Isobel at his side.
The newest member of the Ashcombe family slept peacefully in her mother’s arms as Isobel gently swayed her back and forth.
Eleanor slumbered peacefully without a care in the world; her cherubic red lips puckered as the vicar began her christening.
Lady Darby sat in the front-most pew with four-year-old Benjamin on her lap. She seemed utterly content with the world as her great-grandson leaned back on her chest.
The vicar finished the proceedings with a light sprinkle of water on the infant’s head.
Crying could be heard from the back of the chapel as Mrs. Crook and Sister Josephine began to cry.
It still amazed Isobel how so many people in her life had become her family. It was a blessing to her that she could proudly say she had people to call her own. She truly belonged in the world instead of simply existing.
Turning to Isobel with a proud look in his eyes, the vicar, who seemed to have aged considerably in the past four years, beamed at her. “It has been a great honor to have baptisedbaptized both of your children, Isobel. I was there both times when your mother was married, and I was the one who baptized you as an infant. I can only hope that God will spare me long enough to someday baptize your great-grandchildren as well.”
Isobe smiled at him thankfully before leaning her head on Theodore’s shoulder. “Will you and Margaret be joining us for tea this afternoon?” She continued to bounce Eleanor when the infantshe began to stir.
The vicar smiled at her thankfully. “If you will have us, we would be delighted to join you.”
Everything seemed right in the world as Theodore and Isobel walked down the aisle with their youngest daughter in her mother’s arms.
It took Isobel a moment to realize that she was not only walking down the same aisle her mother been down twice, but the same one her mother had carried her up to be baptized. What had she been feeling in that moment? Had she been alone, or had her father lived long enough to see her in that moment?
She turned back to her grandmother to ask, butask but realized that she knew all she needed to know. Both of her fathers had loved her, and it did not matter who had seen her get baptized and who had been at her mother’s side.
“Is something the matter?” Theodore asked when he looked back to see why she had paused.
“Nothing at all, I was just thinking of how much history this tiny chapel has seen. Like the vicar was saying, I hope God spares us long enough to see our grandchildren get baptized and married in this chapel.” Her eyes filled with grateful tears as she fell back into step by his side.
Her mother had been lucky enough to experience the love of two great men, but she was even luckier to experience the love of one who loved her more than two men combined. Theodore had proven that to her in the years after their marriage. Sacrificing more time and time again to encourage her to chase her dreams.
Reaching the end of the aisle, Isobel turned to Benjamin, who was holding his great-grandmother’s hand. “Will you be riding in our carriage, or with your great-grandmother?”
Screwing up his little nose, he seemed to consider the question quite intently. His light red hair reminded Isobel so much of the father she had never known. Yet his brown eye resembled Jack Leighton’s. She knew it was not possible for her son to have his eyes, but somehowone God had made a way for her son to have his eyes.
“Grama!” He finally reached a conclusion and announced his decision.
“I could have told who he was going to choose without the hesitation,” Theodore teased playfully.
Lifting her chin with pride, Isobel’s grandmother mother beamed down at her beloved great-grandson. “He knows who loves him the most,” she said to them in passing, winking at Isobel.
Leaning closer, Theodore whispered in Isobel’s ear. “Or who has the best chocolates hidden in her purse?”
Isobel giggled, biting her lip as her grandmother turned to them both with narrowed eyes.
“I heard that, and for your impertinence, Theodore, I shall be taking both of my great-grandchildren along with me.” She walked back and lifted Eleanor from her mother’s arms before making a face at them both and leaving.
Both Isobel and Theodore shook their heads in amusement as they watched their children be loaded into a carriage. Lady Darby always took every opportunity presented to her to spend as much time as possible with her great-grandchildren.
“You know, I am happy we will be alone for a little while.” Theodore turned to Isobel. “There is something that I wanted to tell you.”
“And what is that, My Lord?” Isobel teased him gently as they neared their carriage, allowing him to help her inside.
“The publisher has sent us a copy of your poetry bundle. I wanted to keep it a surprise, but I simply could not keep the news to myself any longer.”
Isobel sat down heavily on her seat as her mouth hung open. “You mean to tell me that my poetry has actually been published?”
Theodore nodded triumphantly. “Not only that, but the plans for your new orphanage have finally been drawn up. Ellie’s House will begin construction within the coming month.”
Isobel sat dazed for a while as she stared at the man she had married. She had told him once that she would have loved to use the inheritance her father had left her for good, but an entire orphanage on their estate was beyond her wildest dreams.
“Are you happy?” Theodore finally asked when she failed to respond.
“Happy, did you just ask if I am happy?’ She shook her head in disbelief. “In all the years I have walked this earth, I never thought that I would be half as lucky to have as much as I have on this day. And then you have the nerve to ask me if I am happy? I am more than happy, my love, I am blessed beyond measure to have a grateful heart that is simply bursting with gratitude.”
Theodore’s eye filled with love, reminding Isobel of the first time they had met in the street. His face had been so cold and closed off back then. She could hardly believe that the man who sat before her was the same man from back then.
Leaning forward, she pressed her lips against his, kissing him deeply until her lungs screamed for breath.
“What was that for?” Theodore asked when he eventually drew back.
“For everything. For the love that you have shown me and the countless gestures that I will never be able to repay.” She could feel the tears welling in her eyes when Theodore nodded for her to join him on his side of the carriage.
Nesting under his arm, she lay her head against his chest, listening to the steady beating of his heart as he kissed the top of her head.
They sat together in silence for a while until Theodore spoke again. “I forgot to mention to you this morning that Antony and Amelia wrote to us. Young William is eager to come and see Benjamin again. They also wrote to say that Jane married a solicitor. I do not think that she ever saw our aunt and uncle again, but I am happy if she has found someone who can love her.”
Isobel sighed contentedly. “I cannot say that I was ever fond of her, but it was not her fault that Albert was using her as a pawn. He would have been able to control you and the estate entirely if you had married his niece. I even feel sorry for his poor wife at times. I do not believe that she was ever involved in any of his plans. She simply went along with whatever he asked of her.”
Theodore seemed thoughtful for a moment. “Do you think he ever truly loved her? Your mother, I mean. He said that he had not loved her that night in the village square, yet there had been no mention of it from anyone else.”
“I have thought about it, and I am not certain. He was a cruel man, but did that mean that he was not capable of love?” She answered his question with one of her own.
“I guess we will never know. It is hard for me to think of him being capable of love when he took the lives of so many innocent people.”
Isobel looked up, gripping his chin gently in her hand as she guided his gaze down to hers. “I want us to forget all of that now. The past is in the past, and we have a bright future ahead of us. Besides, Izzy and Amy will be coming out soon. They will need all of our time and focus if we are to find them suitable husbands.”
Theodore groaned loudly as he rolled his eyes. “Can they not just become nuns? We are opening an orphanage after all, I am sure we can find a nearby convent to take them on as novices and train them.”
Isobel laughed openly, feeling the pit of her stomach tighten from the effort. “You are a good father, Theodore Ashcombe. And I cannot wait to see how you will handle matters when it is Eleanor’s turn to come be presented to society.”
“Society be damned,” he groaned down at her before kissing her deeply.
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!