“Not that I am not delighted to see you both again and so well, and of course, I have endless questions to pose to you, but there was also something I wanted to talk to Winnifred about. In private. If you do not mind.”
Leo shrugged. “I do not mind at all. For I am certain I already know what you wish to talk to my sister about.” He leaned forward once more and embraced Seth, and as he did, he whispered, “She told me all about the both of you. And you have my blessing.”
After embracing and kissing his sister, he watched as the two of them departed the chamber, hand in hand.
The moment the door closed behind them, Winnifred exhaled deeply and dropped her head into her hands.
“Seth…” He reached for her, and when she turned her head and raised her eyes to him, he saw she was crying.
“Winnifred, my love. Please do not cry. All is well. I am not hurt; our siblings are back.”
“I know. I know it. But when I saw you lying there, shot, I didn’t know where the lead ball hit you. And you were unconscious, you didn’t wake up. I called your name so many times. I… I kissed your face as you lay unconscious because I thought you were dying.”
“Oh, my darling.”
“Seth, I don’t know how I would live my life if I lost you. I know you and I have not been….”
Her words trailed off, and he realized it was because they had not defined their relationship these past few days. Too much turmoil consumed them to even think about it.
“You and I have been destined to be together for years, it was just that we let our prejudices get in the way. That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Seeing you so upset over the possibility of losing me makes me even more determined. Winnifred, I love you. I love you more than I have ever loved anybody. I don’t ever want to spend another day of my life without you.”
“Winnifred, please, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Once again, tears rolled down Winnifred’s face, but this time, Seth knew that it was not out of despair but happiness.
“Yes! Of course. I love you, Seth. There’s nothing I want more than being your wife.” She leaned forward and gently caressed his face as he ran a hand through her hair. As their lips found each other, a sense of contentment and peace overcame Seth, for he knew then that this long, arduous journey was at last at an end.
And a new, much happier one was just beginning.
Epilogue
Two months later
Winnifred sat next to Seth on one of the hard pews at the very front of the little chapel. She placed a hand on top of his, and he ran a finger across the soft skin. Then, with a bright smile on her face, she looked around the interior of the chapel.
It was a beautiful place, built during the days of Henry the VIII. It carried an air of history with its statues and stained-glass windows. It was full of their friends and family, everyone eagerly awaited the arrival of the happy couple. The air vibrated with happiness and joy. And Leo and Rose richly deserved it.
After the trauma they had been through, they deserve nothing but the best. She smiled as she recognized some of the familiar faces sitting on either side of the aisle. Seth’s cousin, Cedric, sat on the right side of the aisle, his housekeeper seated beside him. It was a peculiar arrangement, but over the past few weeks, Winnie had come to learn the housekeeper was childless, indeed, had no family at all. And Cedric lacked a mother and father—thus giving rise to their unusual friendship.
Following her gaze, Seth turned his head toward his cousin.
“I am ever so pleased that Cedric is here. I did not think he was going to be able to make it back from Derbyshire.”
Seth smiled at her. “It was a wonderful idea of yours to send him to our estate for a lengthy stay. You are right, it is his family home as well. He seems much invigorated after his return,” he smirked.
“Do you think he will find his place in the business?”
Seth shrugged. “Leo seems to think so. He will be the one to train him, and if nothing else, since he’s not married nor plans to be anytime soon, he can travel for us. One of us must go to India to meet the suppliers for the sugar sooner rather than later, and I have no taste for a lengthy journey.”
“Well, if he proves unsuitable, I would not mind going to India on a honeymoon, so to speak.”
He winked at her. “I had another idea for that. But this isn’t the time.” He placed his index finger on his lips and grinned.
On the groom’s side of the church sat Mr. Markham and Mr. Weston in the far-right corner. Mr. Weston had recently left the Bow Street Runners and joined Mr. Markham’s business. Together the two built a stellar reputation, in part by the glowing reviews they received from the Keating and Dunn families.
“He is a rather handsome fellow,” Victoria mused from beside Winnifred.
She looked at her sister, who sat in the pew with Pugsley on her lap. Winnie still considered the animal’s presence in the chapel improper, but he seemed perfectly well-behaved for the time being. Perhaps he was inspired by the serenity of the church to stop his incessant barking.
