When a Marquess Finds Love – Extended Epilogue

‘How long, Daddy? How long now?’ Lydia asked, for what felt like the ten hundredth time since they had left the last tavern. 

She bounced up and down against Vincent’s leg in her impatience, tired from all the travelling and now clearly getting bored. Instead of losing his patience, as Gwen might have done, Vincent only looked down at her with a soft smile. 

‘It is not long now, my darling,’ he said gently.

Gwen could only smile over at him, for it appeared he had said that same sentence nearly ten hundred times as well. But it had been hard on Lydia, for she was not yet three years old, and travelling from Bath to London was a long enough journey for an adult. Clarissa, on the other hand, sat quietly beside Gwen, reading what must have been her fourth book. But then, as their first-born, she was now six years old and not in any way as excitable as her younger sister.

It had not been lost on Gwen that Clarissa was very much like her father—calm, contained, and level-headed. Whereas, like her mother, Lydia was excitable, stubborn with a fiery spirit. Nor had she missed the irony that each had been named after their opposite’s mother.

They were now on their fourth and final day of travelling, and London was likely less than an hour away. Gwen loved Bath with a passion, but travelling with two small children, she could not wait until they arrived at Ellensdale Manor. She needed a warm bath, a fresh cup of tea, and for Mrs Beecham, the girl’s nanny, who currently travelled in the carriage behind with the other servants, to take the girls out for a refreshing walk to stretch their little legs.

It had been nearly a year since they had travelled to London as a family. Vincent had gone alone on business when necessary, of course, but with the journey being so very long, it was a trip neither Vincent nor Gwen looked forward to. Besides, they were very happy in their home in Bath.

‘I do hope Miles and Pippa appreciate the effort we put in to come and visit them,’ Vincent said with a smirk.

‘Well, my dear, they came to us last year when Benjamin was only just three years old.’

Benjamin had come as a wonderful surprise, for Miles and Pippa had not really thought about children with their advancing ages. Yet, when he had arrived, the two of them had been delighted, and Gwen knew well, he would be a well-loved child. 

‘It is hardly fair to ask them to do it again,’ Gwen continued. ‘Besides, look at all the quality time you are getting to spend with the girls,’ Gwen replied with sarcasm.

‘Oh, yes. Indeed. Cooped up like a chicken is exactly how I desire to spend my time with them.’

His comment made Lydia burst into giggles.

‘A chicken, Daddy.’

‘Yes, Indeed.’ Vincent grinned down at her, suddenly flapping his arms and making strange clucking sounds. His actions sent the entire carriage into fits of giggles, and Lydia nearly fell off her seat in hysterics.

‘You are quite mad, my dear husband,’ Gwen said through her laughter. ‘But it only makes me love you more.’

‘Cluck, cluck,’ he replied, jerking his head back and forth, while still flapping his arms. Gwen’s tummy started to ache from the laughter, and holding it, she tried between her giggles to get him to stop. He did not, of course, and only got louder and more animated. 

It took quite some time for them all to calm down again, by which point, the very edge of London town came into view.

***

Phillips welcomed them kindly when they arrived, smiling down at the girls with warm affection. 

‘Good day to you, Lady Lydia, Lady Clarissa. It is a delight to see you both again.’

‘Hello, Phillips,’ Clarissa replied calmly.

‘Phillips,’ Lydia called, running around his legs.

‘I am so sorry, Phillips,’ Gwen said. ‘They have had a long journey and are rather wound up.’

Mrs Beecham quickly made her way into the grand hallway and taking charge of the children, hurried them further into the manor. Gwen did not know where she was taking them, but in that moment, she hardly cared. As long as they were safe and happy, that was all that mattered.

***

Much later, Gwen lowered herself into a delightfully warm and soothing bath, allowing the heat of the water to soothe her aching muscles. Such a journey quite took it out of her and having to sit in an upright position for a great many hours, her back ached.

Woodward collected her discarded clothes before turning toward her. ‘Is there anything else I can get you, my lady?’

‘I think I would just like a little peace and quiet for a while, Woodward,’ Gwen sighed. ‘I will be fine here on my own.’

‘Yes, my lady.’ Woodward smiled and turning, left the room and closed the door behind her.

So much had happened in six years, and yet, it seemed like it was no time at all. After Gwen had given birth to Clarissa, Vincent and Gwen thought they could not be any happier. Their new baby brought such joy into their life, and they were content for a short while. Yet, both Vincent and Gwen had been the only child of their respective families, and neither of them wanted that for Clarissa.

‘I can remember very lonely days,’ Gwen had said as they sat in the garden one afternoon, watching Clarissa toddle about trying to catch Lady. ‘I had a nanny, of course,’ she continued, ‘but it certainly was not the same as having a brother or sister. In fact, only until Harry came along, I can hardly remember having anyone to play with.’

‘Yes, well. We don’t need any Harry’s for our daughter, thank you very much.’ Vincent grinned.

Gwen playfully slapped his arm. ‘Oh, stop it,’ she said as she laughed. ‘Surely, you must have felt the same growing up?’

‘I cannot deny it,’ Vincent agreed. ‘It was lonely. More lonely, I suppose, because my father was so very particular of who I was around, given that my grandfather was the duke. Add to that, of course, that my father was hardly around…in fact. Is it not strange how very similar our childhoods were?’ Vincent said as though he had only just considered it.

‘It is likely why we get on so well.’ Gwen shrugged.

‘Oh, no. I do not agree. We get on so well because I do not stand in your way when you are determined to do a thing,’ he grinned again. ‘Besides, there is hardly any point. You would do it anyway.’

‘I thought you liked my stubborn and fiery personality.’

‘Yes,’ Vincent said, appearing quite serious for a moment. ‘While you are sleeping,’ he suddenly laughed.

When Lydia came along, Gwen could not help being a little worried that she had given Vincent another girl. Surely, he would want an heir, though in truth, no one had any control over such things. Instead, Vincent had been just as delighted at the arrival of his second daughter as he had been with his first. Though admittedly, it had taken her a little longer to arrive.

While Gwen had worried that such a gap in age might not be ideal, it had apparently worked out perfectly, for Clarissa loved her little sister, and even though just under three years separated them, Clarissa was not only very protective, but helped her sister do the things she had learned already. They were so very close, and for the most part, one could usually not be found without the other one not being too far away.

That had changed a little of late, and Clarissa, while still clearly loving her sister very much, had begun to take a little more time for herself. Perhaps Lydia’s boisterous ways had more to do with it, for at times, her youngest daughter could be quite a handful. It had made her wonder, given the similarities, if Gwen had been the same at her age. She made a mental note when she next visited her father, to ask him.

***

When they finally arrived at Pippa and Mile’s home, a great fuss ensued. Their large Alsatian, Rufus, took an immediate interest in Lady, causing the children to squeal with delight and excitement as they watched the two dogs bouncing and sniffing around each other.

Ignoring the noise and all that occurred around them, Pippa and Gwen threw their arms around each other in the grand hallway, while Miles and Vincent eventually took the children and dogs further inside the house.

‘Oh, my darling. It is so very good to see you,’ Pippa breathed, holding Gwen so tightly that it felt as though she would never let her go. ‘I have been counting down the days to your visit, and I have discovered time seems to go far slower when you are watching the clock.’

‘Or sitting in a carriage with two bored little girls,’ Gwen replied, with a light chuckle, when the women finally parted.

‘Oh, you poor darling. It is such a great jaunt. It was long enough for us the last time, and we only had one.’

‘Well, it appears Lydia takes after her mother,’ Gwen smiled, ‘and did little but torture her father for most of the miles we covered.’

‘Oh, she is quite like her mother then.’ Pippa chuckled with a broad grin.

The women walked further into the house, following the squeals of delight as the children chased Lady and Rufus out in the garden. On seeing Benjamin properly now, Gwen could hardly believe the size he had grown in only a year.

‘My goodness, he has grown so big,’ Gwen said, watching Benjamin run along with the girls.

‘Yes, he is four next month. Like I say, when you are watching the clock, time goes slowly. Any other time, poof,’ she said as she gestured with her hands, ‘it is gone.’

Miles turned toward Gwen when she walked out of the French doors and into the garden. ‘Gwen, my dear,’ he smiled broadly. ‘Now my wife has finished monopolising your attention, I, too, desire a hug.’ He opened his arms wide and embraced Gwen warmly. ‘It truly is wonderful to see you, my dear.’

‘And you, Miles,’ Gwen replied, taking a step back. ‘You are looking very well.’

‘That is what the love of a good woman can do, Gwen,’ he said, glancing over to a blushing Pippa.

‘Will you stop, Miles.’ Pippa swiped a dismissive hand.

‘You know, they are so alike,’ Gwen said, gesturing to Miles and Vincent, who now stood beside each other. 

Miles only chuckled and glanced over to Vincent, who laughed alongside his uncle.

‘So, you must tell me, how is the hotel doing?’ Miles asked as the four of them sat upon the garden chairs that had been arranged on the lawn. The children continued to play nearby, with Mrs Beecham and Benjamin’s nanny keeping a close eye on them.

‘We have managed to use all the profits to reinvest into building suitable houses for those less fortunate, on the outskirts of Bath and the surrounding areas,’ Vincent said proudly.

‘Oh, bravo,’ Pippa cried,

‘Well, it is not only my doing, Pippa. I have had a very good business partner in John Billingsley, the Earl of Faversham. With both of our contacts combined, we have been more than fortunate, sourcing investors not only for the building of houses but to improve the hotel. In fact, we are looking now to build a second one. Bath, as you know, it is an affluent place. Many people come to visit and need somewhere to stay. What they cannot know, when they use the rooms, is that they are actually helping families who are struggling or have fallen on hard times.’

‘My goodness, Vincent!’ Miles declared. ‘You truly are a marvel. Why do you not reveal that as a point to encourage people?’ he asked.

‘Because unfortunately,’ Gwen cut in, ‘there are those of the nobility, and more affluent means, who would not see it as such a great deed, Miles. It is a sad world we live in, but there are many that enjoy their elevation and believe that those lower than themselves ought to stay that way.’

Miles sighed and nodded. ‘Yes, well. I know your words to be true. It is no different here in London, I am afraid.’

‘I know. I experienced it with my own eyes and ears,’ Vincent agreed. ‘In fact, I do recall hearing a supposed genteel lady complaining that it would be better if the homeless people were put out to a place where the likes of her did not have to look upon their dire straits.’

‘Good heavens!’ Pippa declared. ‘What a dreadful thing to say.’

‘It is. I agree,’ Vincent said. ‘However, it is for that reason that we have not made it known where the profits are being reinvested. We are by no means telling an untruth. Those who do ask are told that the money is being put into building more property. Yet, the specifics of such property are reserved for those investors who have a genuine interest in facilitating our future goals.’

‘My nephew, the builder, eh?’ Miles grinned.

‘We were thinking,’ Pippa said to them all, ‘that after a little luncheon, we could take a carriage to Hyde Park, seeing it is such a bright and warm day.’

‘Oh, yes. That would be lovely,’ Gwen agreed. ‘Besides, it will quite wear the children out and give Mrs Beecham an early night.’ Gwen nodded to the older woman on the lawn.

***

The ride over to Hyde Park was eventful enough, for with three children, two dogs, and a handful of adults, it had been nothing short of chaos within the carriage. While Lady was well used to travelling, it appeared Rufus was not, and bouncing around the small space available to him, he had been determined to try and stick his head out of the window at every opportunity. No amount of calling him had made any difference, and his energetic antics had only sent the children into excited hysterics.

Gwen was never so glad to get out of a carriage in her life, and though she had hardly been able to contain herself, laughing at the children being entertained by the dog, the open space outside was more than a welcome reprieve.

‘Gwen and I are going to walk a while,’ Pippa announced to the men, linking her arm with Gwen’s and walking slowly by her side. ‘I do believe they are quite capable, between them and the nannies, to handle the situation,’ Pippa said. ‘And besides, we deserve a little time on our own.’

Gwen could not disagree, and nodding, she smiled warmly toward Pippa. ‘You do look so very happy, Pippa.’

‘I am happy. In fact, I do not think there is anything in my life that I further require. I have a darling husband who adores me and a wonderful son whom I love with all my heart. And then, there is Rufus,’ Pippa said with a deadpan expression.

Gwen suddenly burst into laughter, and after smiling broadly, Pippa joined her. ‘Now, what about you? Is all well with you and Vincent?’

‘Of course,’ Gwen nodded. ‘We have a beautiful home with two beautiful girls, and while he does have some responsibilities as the Marquess of Ellensdale, his true passion is helping those who need it the most. I think we are not only very fortunate but are both completely fulfilled.’

‘Listening to you now, it is hard to believe how this all began. I do remember when you first came to me and told me that you were being made to marry Vincent Ashworth. How you could not abide the man, and how miserable your life was. Just look at you now.’ Pippa beamed.

‘So much has happened since. And you are right, it is hard to believe it all. There are things I have nearly forgotten, and then other’s that sometimes come back to me in strange moments,’ Gwen said wistfully.

‘Nothing bad, I hope.’ Pippa suddenly frowned.

‘Not bad, really,’ Gwen replied. ‘More loose ends that never were addressed.’

‘I am not sure I fully understand, Gwen.’

‘Well, I suppose if I am honest, there is only really one. It is strange, for he comes up in conversation from time to time in weird and wonderful ways.’

He had come up on several occasions, in fact, and though there was never any bitterness when either Gwen or Vincent spoke of him, there had always been a wonder at the back of her mind.

‘Lord Shenindale,’ Pippa stated. ‘As I said some years back. Good riddance.’

‘Do you not think it strange that he never showed his face again or that no one ever heard from him again?’ Gwen said, looking at Pippa with a confused frown.

Pippa did not answer straight away, and as Gwen looked at her, she could not help notice, a strange tightness in her jaw. ‘Pippa, what is it?’

Pippa shook her head. ‘I promised I would not tell.’

Confused and a little stunned at her companion’s words, Gwen suddenly stopped in the pathway and faced her. ‘Would not tell what?’ Gwen pressed.

‘Oh, Gwen, why do you have to be so persistent in things such as these? It has been years gone by. Can you not let it lie?’

‘No, Pippa. I cannot. Please, as my friend, tell me what you know.’

‘I was not made privy to this any more than you, Gwen. It is only that I walked in on Vincent and Miles talking one day and did not know that what they spoke about had not been meant for my ears.’

Miles and Vincent! Gwen was even more astonished that her husband and his uncle were involved and now needed to know more than ever.

‘Please, Gwen. You must tell me now.’

‘And I will,’ Pippa said calmly. ‘With Mile’s contacts, letters were written, and Vincent was able to track down the men who held the debts in France that Lord Shenindale owed.’

Gwen’s mouth slowly fell open.

‘Their voyages were arranged, and to my knowledge, Lord Shenindale was taken back to France, where he had to face his punishment.’

‘Which was?’ Gwen whispered.

‘Oh, that I do not know.’ Pippa shrugged. ‘Probably prison until he could pay his debts, I imagine.’

Gwen was still dumbfounded at hearing what Vincent had done, and for a moment, she did not really know how she ought to feel about it. 

‘You must understand, Gwen,’ Pippa said, ‘what it was like for Vincent after your fall. I have never seen a man so broken, so distraught, and yet so hopeful for your recovery. He sat at your bedside day and night—none of us could persuade him otherwise. He snatched a few hours rest here and there, but other than that, he did not leave you. Frankly, he was scared to death that he would lose you.’

‘Yes.’ Gwen nodded slowly. ‘I do know that.’

‘Well, when he discovered Lord Shenindale’s part in it all, and the fact he had known about your accident and yet, did not even come to see you, Vincent was mad with anger.’

‘How did Harry know?’

‘Miles had met him in town and told him,’ Pippa said. ‘Of course, that was before we knew the truth. Harry could not have known the reason for your fall, that it had been because of an argument between yourself and Vincent, so why did he not come to see you?’

Gwen had not known that. And now she did. She realised why Vincent had been compelled to do what he had done.

‘For Vincent, it had been bad enough that he had taken money from Lydia to drive a wedge between you. But to simply take the money and run put Vincent over the edge. There was a part of him that was angry, but there was also a part that wanted to protect you from him in the future, Gwen.’

‘My goodness,’ Gwen said, trying to process all that Pippa had relayed.

‘You are not angry with him?’ Pippa pressed.

Gwen shook her head. ‘No. I am not angry with him, Pippa. He has done nothing but try and protect me from the moment we were introduced. He did not tell his parents that we had met in Hyde Park, and he would not allow his mother to bully me, before and after we were married. He sensed that something was off with Harry and tried to protect me from that too. How could I possibly be angry with a man who has done so much for me, when he need not have, at least, at in the very beginning?’

‘Perhaps, because he loved you, right from the very beginning.’ Pippa smiled knowingly.

As they continued on down the path, Gwen considered her words. And perhaps Pippa was right. Perhaps Vincent had loved her far sooner than he had expressed or even hinted. Yet, that ought to come as no surprise, for Gwen had fallen in love with him sooner than she could even admit to herself.

Pippa and Gwen finally reached the area where Miles and Vincent had settled, sitting on the grass, watching the children playing once more, under the watchful eye of the nannies. Gwen dropped herself beside Vincent and looked at him adoringly.

‘Well, did you enjoy your walk?’ he said, smiling.

‘I did, my darling. I love you so much, you know.’

Her words seemed to surprise him, and perhaps, it was not the words themselves but the intensity in which she had spoken them.

‘And I love you, Gwen. I could not have asked for a better wife, mother, or companion to spend the rest of my life with.’

‘I am glad to hear it, my darling, for I am with child again,’ she beamed, ‘and this time, I have the strangest feeling it is going to be a boy.’

As he had done with the other times he had discovered her pregnancies, he once more glowed with delight. ‘I truly do not know what I did to deserve you, Gwen. But I am so glad I did it.’ And leaning in, he caressed her lips with his. 

While the usual sparks tingled around her body, Gwen felt something much more this time. As though an energy surged from him, she felt his deep love for her in that single moment, and like the million stars that twinkled in the night sky, she knew their love would last forever.

THE END

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