“Do you truly want to marry me? Do you truly love me?”
“More than anything in the world. I intend on spending the rest of my life ensuring that you know it.”
Elaine smiled, kissing him soundly, not caring that her father was watching. “Then yes!”
“Yes to what?” Michael asked with a laugh.
“Yes, you are forgiven. And yes, I shall marry you.”
Michael let out a shout of joy, picking her up and twirling her around. Elaine laughed through her tears.
“I love you too, Michael,” she told him as he set her down. “But I do hope you know you will have to explain yourself to James as well.”
“I have already prepared for it.”
As it happened, by the time they made it back downstairs, James and Clarissa were making their way back from the gardens, grinning from ear to ear. They all went to the drawing room. Elaine and Clarissa sat together while James and Michael stood—James with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face while Michael aced him with the full explanation of everything that happened.
James was not happy. And he certainly had no issue with stating that. But it took one word from Clarissa—something about forgiveness—for him to give Michael a chance. And when Elaine inquired about why they were so happy, Clarissa announced that James had asked for her hand in marriage.
Celebrations were in order, that much was certain. Elaine’s mind swam with everything she would have to do. Informing Lorna, who would certainly want to throw an engagement ball. Planning the wedding. Informing her brother at Eton.
But for now, she was content to enjoy the moment, to bask in the love from her future husband and tease James about his obvious affection for Clarissa.
For now, she was happy to forget everything that had happened and finally, for the first time in a long while, believe that she truly could have a happy ending.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
“I have a surprise for you, Elaine.”
Elaine sighed, a smile touching her lips. She stood, her ivory gown flowing around her body like the soft wings of a butterfly. Unable to help herself, she glanced at herself in the full-length mirror of the spare bedchamber where she had chosen to prepare at Ryewood House.
She was a vision. She could hardly believe it. Within a matter of hours, she’d been scrubbed clean by doting maids, garbed in layers of undergarments to preserve the beautiful wedding gown, and sat down at the vanity table for her hair to be curled and her cheeks adorned with a touch of colour. By the end of it, Elaine felt like the most beautiful lady in all of England, a feat she never thought possible.
Of course, Lorna had played a significant role in making this possible. She’d gifted Elaine the lovely pearl necklace and matching earrings already. To think she had yet another surprise for her.
“Aunt Lorna,” Elaine began, facing her aunt who stood at the door with a bright smile. “You have already done so much for me.”
“Well, you needn’t worry because this surprise is not from me,” Lorna told her.
Elaine frowned. “What do you mean?”
Lorna’s smile widened and she stepped away from the door, opening the door. Elaine gasped.
Her father stood there, leaning heavily on a cane, dressed smartly with a broad grin on his face.
“Pa,” Elaine breathed. She wanted to rush forward to help him, to get him to the nearest seat so that he could rest. But the fact that he was standing at all, the fact that he was smiling at her—and she had not seen him smile in years—left her speechless. Tears gathered in her eyes.
Slowly, Edward started forward. His movement was stilted, relying heavily on his cane. But as slow and awkward as it was, he managed to make his way all the way to her.
“May I have the honour of leading you down the aisle?”
Elaine crumpled to the floor, sobs hitched in her throat. “Pa, I…I can’t believe that you…”
“As much as I would love to, Elaine, I am not certain I will be able to rise again if I lower myself to the ground.”
She managed a laugh through her tears, pulling herself to a stand. “H-how?”
