Mismatched with an Earl – Extended Epilogue

Two Years Later

Selena handed her sleeping son to her husband, taking care to keep him covered from the chill in the air.

The carriage windows were closed, but autumn was growing cold rather quick.

“I hope he remains sleeping,” she remarked. “He fusses whenever we travel.”

“At least Elizabeth is sleeping,” said Nicholas. “Not even an earthquake could waken our daughter.”

They both looked at their sleeping daughter, who was noiselessly sucking her thumb. The little girl was full of energy when she was awake but a peaceful little angel when asleep.

“I think we’re near Putton,” Selena said, looking out of the window. “Papa will be happy to see us. I wish your sister and mother could have come along, but I understand your sister’s excitement.”

This past Season had been Sarah’s first one. The young woman had been such a success that she managed to find a suitor within the third week, was courted for a month, and now she was engaged. It had all happened so quickly that Selena was still reeling.

“I’m glad it wasn’t as complicated as our engagement had been,” Nicholas commented. “I think I aged ten years when you left me.”

Selena laughed. “Then it’s a good thing our parents were wiser and aware of our shenanigans. Peter is a good man and suits your sister perfectly. He is sweet towards her.”

“He’ll continue to be sweet if he knows what’s good for him. I’m worried Sarah fell too quickly in love.”

“Do you mean as we did?” Selena asked him. “As I recall, we played the hate-love game for much of our time knowing each other. At least Sarah and Peter have decided on one emotion and stuck with it.”

Nicholas grunted but said nothing. He wasn’t keen on his sister leaving the family home to start a new family, but Sarah was eighteen and ready to marry.

“How do you figure we’ll get your mother to Putton?” she asked. “She is so busy with the wedding preparations that she might not wish to leave London. Our plan will not work if she does not come.”

After much discussion, Nicholas and Selena decided their parents deserved to be together. Despite trying to convince them to reconsider their relationship, both parents steadfastly refused. They believed that they were not meant to be together after all and were content remaining friends. Selena and Nicholas didn’t buy that for one second. They had both witnessed their parents lingering gazes or how they loved each other’s company. They could laugh and talk for hours and forget about the world around them.

“We’ll send a letter and tell her we’ve decided to have a party for Elizabeth after all,” Nicholas suggested.

“You know how she insisted on a party, but we refused.”

The Countess had a tendency to celebrate every little thing concerning her grandchildren. The grandmother had been teaching her granddaughter a song, and Elizabeth had finally learnt it. This was apparently cause for celebration, but Selena had felt that praising the girl too much over small things might make her prideful.

“I don’t like taking back our decision, dear,” Selena explained. “That makes us seem flighty. We need another solution.”

“Well, I’m out of ideas.”

Why hadn’t they thought about this part of the plan when they first came up with it? They had almost everything in place, but if they couldn’t convince the Dowager Countess to leave London, then it would all be for naught.

“Papa’s birthday is in a few weeks. Do you suppose she’ll come for that?”

“Perhaps,” said Nicholas. “We might need to word the invitation in such a way that she thinks your father wishes her to be there.”

“But what if she returns the letter with one of her own and Papa receives it before we do? He’ll want to know why we invited your mother. Papa never celebrates his birthday.”

“Then we’ll just have to make sure he doesn’t,” Nicholas replied. “We’ll speak to the servants and tell them to bring any letters to us. Problem solved.”

Selena didn’t think it would be that easy, but they didn’t have any other option. It was just as well that the Dowager Countess had not come with them because Selena and Nicholas still had a few more things to do before the actual wedding day. It would be difficult enough to hide it from Selena’s father.

They arrived on the Dankworth estate late in the afternoon and were immediately met by all the servants. Elizabeth and Alexander were scooped up by Mrs Leeling and Cook and taken inside before Selena could say anything. Nicholas helped the footman with the hand luggage, muttering about the number of suitcases they always travelled with.

“Has Carmen arrived with our other luggage yet?” Selena asked Tessa.

“Yes, my lady. She is in the children’s room. She didn’t think we had done a good enough job with the cleaning, so she’s going through everything with a cloth in hand.”

Tessa didn’t seem impressed at all. Carmen could be a handful, and more so now ever since the twins were born.

“Do not allow her to bother you,” Selena advised her. “I was fortunate to spend several hours with my children today, but Carmen will likely take over tomorrow. Will you organise some refreshment for Lord Ainsworth and I?”

Tessa bobbed. “Of course, my lady. Where will you have your tea?”

“In the library, I think.”

“We just arrived, and already you’re thinking about your books,” Nicholas grinned, appearing by her side.

“Is our library not enough for you?”

“It’s my favourite room in the house. Unless you would like to have tea in the parlour?”

Nicholas smiled, kissing her brow. “I was only teasing. The library is perfect. Do you think we’ll see our children this evening? Your servants seem to have abducted them.”

“I’m not certain. Between Carmen, Cook, and Mrs Leeling, we’ll find it hard to be with them. We’ll just have to put out foot down at some point, but let’s leave them for now. I don’t see Papa yet.”

“He went to the town’s square, my lady,” a male servant answered.

Selena was a little disappointed. She hadn’t seen her father in months and had been looking forward to spending time with him as soon as she arrived.

“Did he say when he would return?” she asked.

“No, my lady.”

She nodded. “Very well. Thank you, Edgar.”

Selena’s father rarely went into town. What would have possessed him to go today when he knew she was arriving? Perhaps it was something important, which only worried her.

“I can see the wheels turning in your head, my love,” Nicholas commented. “I’m confident that everything is just fine. There is no reason to fret.”

Selena sighed. “I suppose not. I just get so worried ever since he had his fall. He shouldn’t be gallivanting about town.”

The academic had fallen off his horse and broken his arm. It could have been worse, but that alone had been a scare. Selena’s father had stayed with them for four months until he decided that he needed to go home. Nothing she said could have stopped him.

Selena and Nicholas changed out of their travelling attire before making their way to the library. It felt good to be home and said as much.

“I, too, have good memories here,” said Nicholas. “I’ll never forget the two weeks I spent under this roof. You were mean to me.”

Selena choked back a laugh. “I was mean? You’re the one who accused me of hiring those bandits to attack you.”

“Yes, but I might not have snapped at you if you hadn’t taken my breath away. You walked into my room like some wood nymph and expected me to just handle everything that had happened.”

“Admit that you were just cranky because you were saved by a woman,” Selena countered.

Nicholas chuckled. “That too. For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t mind being saved by you again. I promise I won’t act like a self-righteous, pompous fool the second time around.”

“I’ll suppose I’ll just have to take your word for it. Would you like another cup? I see you still have two biscuits on your saucer.”

“I’ll eat them alone.”

Selena lifted an eyebrow. “Since when? You always have tea to dip your biscuits. Even the twins have started doing it.”

“I have you to blame for that,” Nicholas accused. “If you hadn’t convinced me, I would still be eating my biscuits without tea.”

“Still arguing, I see,” Selena’s father said from the doorway. “You two haven’t changed one bit.”

“Papa!” Selena cried, running to him.

“How are you, Lena?” the older man greeted. “And you, Nicholas?”

“Better now that we’ve seen you,” Nicholas replied. “Selena was worried when she didn’t find you at home.”

Selena led her father to a chair and quickly made him a cup of tea. It was difficult not to worry about her father when she was nowhere near him. Selena had taken care of her father for so many years that even after two years of marriage, she still wondered if he was eating all his meals, covering up when it was cold, or even trimming his moustache. She would have felt better had he married the Countess. That way, Selena would have been assured that her father was well-taken care of.

“I won’t have to wait much longer for that to happen. I hope Papa and the Countess agree to marry. They deserve to be together.”

Selena didn’t entirely regret keeping them apart because it had enabled her to be with Nicholas and fall in love, but she did feel guilty that their parents were still apart. Two years had passed since Selena and Nicholas had married, but their parents continued to deny their love. Selena couldn’t imagine being away from Nicholas and assumed it was just as hard for their parents.

“I had to go into town to get a few gifts for my grandchildren,” her father explained. “I have been so busy lately that I forgot the date you were coming. Mrs Leeling reminded me this morning, and I realised I had nothing to surprise Alexander and Elizabeth with. Where are they? Sleeping?”

“They were sleeping when Mrs Leeling and Cook whisked them away before I could rub two words together,” Selena chuckled. “They’re probably in the nursery.”

“Oh, then I won’t bother them now,” her father decided. “How is London? I hear congratulations are in order for your sister, Nicholas. Sarah is the lucky few. Not everyone is so successful during their first Season.”

“I do wish she had waited a little more,” Nicholas admitted. “Their engagement happened a little too quickly for me.”

The academic smiled. “Back to this argument, I see. It doesn’t take one long to know whether a person is worth spending the rest of your life with. Once you know, you know. The rest is history. If your sister loves this gentleman, and he loves her, then they are lucky indeed. Love is a beautiful thing. Look how happy you and Selena are.”

Selena’s father was all smiles, but she saw the sadness in his eyes. He was thinking about the Countess; Selena just knew it. In precisely three weeks, Selena and Nicholas planned to have the wedding. It was just a small one as planning anything big would alert her father that something was happening.

The rest of the day was spent talking about the grandchildren and life in London. When Selena and Nicholas prepared for bed that night, she expressed her guilt at having had a hand in her father’s loneliness.

“You’re not the only one, my love,” Nicholas reminded. “I’m as much to blame. Even Mother hasn’t been the same. She acts like herself, but she has lost her spark. Would it be wrong of me to admit that I’m not entirely sorry for keeping them apart? I got to be with you, and now I’m the happiest man alive.”

“Oddly, I was thinking the very same thing,” she admitted. “But I’ll be happier once they’re married.”

“I agree. Do you suppose we’ll see our children tomorrow?”

Selena laughed. “Your guess is as good as mine. We might need to kidnap them from the servants and have a picnic. They’ll enjoy that, I think.”

Now that the two were a little older and walking, Selena could take them around the property and show them all her favourite childhood playing spots. As she drifted off to sleep, Selena thought it odd that she was married with children. That had never been an option several years ago, but when she met the right man, all of that changed. It just took the right person to make all the difference.

Several Weeks Later

Selena was a ball of nerves as she put the last flower into the arch Nicholas had secretly made. Their parents were going to get married under it…if they got married! Selena’s father had not been impressed when the Countess arrived for his birthday party, a party he was unaware of. It had just turned out to be a simple dinner, but it had been a tense one. Selena had a feeling it had to do with inviting the Dowager Countess and not telling him she was coming.

“It’s for a good cause,” Selena reminded herself.

The wedding would start in two hours, and still, her father and the Countess were none the wiser. Selena still had to figure out how she was going to insist that her father change into his new suit, and the Countess change into the dress Selena had specially made in London.

Selena was currently in the far end of the garden, where a few chairs had been set up and ribbons added to them. Cook was busy with the wedding breakfast meal, and the other servants were scurrying about making sure that everything was clean and shiny.

“I hope Nicholas has the rings,” she worried aloud.

That was the one thing, other than the arch, that Nicholas was in charge of. The rest was on Selena. Waking up early this morning to prepare had been difficult, mainly because the twins had not been able to sleep. Selena had a feeling one of the servants had given them something to eat that had increased their energy levels hours past their usual bedtime. Finally, the last flower was in. Now Selena had to rush back, get dressed, and convince their parents to wear the attire picked for them. Selena wearily made her way to the house, surprised when she saw her father coming to meet her.

“Selena, what is going on?” he demanded.

Stopping in her tracks, Selena gazed at her father. “What happened?”

“I don’t know yet, but I know that you’re planning something to do with Maureen and I. What are you doing?”

Selena sighed. Perhaps it was time to come clean about the wedding.

“Very well, I’ll tell you, but you must promise me that you will not become angry.”

“I don’t like the sound of this,” her father said.

“It’s a good thing, Papa. Nicholas and I have thought about this a lot, and we’ve decided that you and the Countess should get married.”

Selena and he father turned around when they heard something fall and break behind them. The Countess stood with a tray of broken teacups and a teapot at her feet, her hands clutching her mouth.

“Maureen-” her father began, holding out his hand.

The Countess shook her head and ran back inside. This was certainly not how Selena had hoped the wedding announcement would go. Her father turned back to her, his cheeks pink while his moustache bristled.

“Look what you’ve done, Selena! Haven’t you learnt to stop meddling?”

Her father never gave her a chance to say anything because he, too, returned to the house. Selena’s shoulders dipped. This was not supposed to happen.

Nicholas came out a few minutes later, looking concerned. “What is going on? Mother is crying, and your father is shouting at the servants.”

“I told him about the wedding, and your mother happened to be listening. They didn’t take it well. Papa shouted at me and accused me of meddling.” It was all too much because Selena burst out crying. “I just wanted them to be happy.”

Nicholas drew her into his arms. “I know, my love. We both did. I don’t understand why they’re so stubborn about this, but at least we tried our best.”

Selena pulled her head back to gaze up at her husband. “What should we do now? All the preparations are in place. Do we just cancel it?”

“We don’t have any other choice. They just don’t want to be together. I don’t get it, but we have to deal with it. We should probably go inside and apologise.”

“Couldn’t we take the children and go?” Selena pleaded. “I don’t think I could look them in the face right now.”

“Where is the strong woman I adore so much?” he asked. “The Selena I know would never back down from a challenge.”

“But this is different, Nicholas. These are our parents, and we’ve upset them once again. Papa is right, you know. We meddled the first time and hurt them, and now we’ve done it again. No wonder they’re so angry.”

“More the reason to apologise,” Nicholas insisted. “Then we can leave.”

Selena sighed deeply. “You are right. We had best get this over with now. We might still be able to gather our things and leave before midday.”

They returned to the house hand in hand and found both the Countess and her father in the drawing-room. They were murmuring to each other but stopped when Selena and Nicholas entered the room. Selena wanted to say what she needed to before she lost her nerve, but it seemed the Countess also had something to get off her chest.

“Would you both sit down for a moment?” the older woman asked.

Selena and Nicholas looked at each other before settling on a settee. Were they about to be scolded?

“Philip and I have been discussing your latest antics. We want you to know that we don’t approve of all the secrecy, but we understand why you did it. If we had been in your shoes, we probably would have done it as well.”

“Yes,” Selena’s father agreed. “Things went askew the last time you did something secretive, but we helped you fix it.”

“Nicholas and I are sorry,” Selena confessed. “We didn’t mean to hurt you. We know that you love each other and wanted to bring you together at last. We’ll never do it again.”

“Please, see that you keep your promise,” the Countess begged. “But I must still thank you.”

“For what?” Nicholas and Selena said at the same time.

“You’re right when you said that Maureen and I love each other,” Selena’s father replied. “So we’ve decided to go ahead with whatever wedding arrangements you have made.”

Selena didn’t understand it at first. “To do what?”

“They want to get married, my love,” said Nicholas.

“You do?” asked Selena.

Both her father and the Countess nodded. “We’re tired of being apart,” the Countess said. “Why not get married?”

Selena looked at Nicholas in wonder. Their plan had actually worked.

Later that day, Selena and Nicholas stood beside their parents, but it felt like they were the ones getting married once again. She saw Nicholas mouth the vows her father was saying, and she, in turn, mouthed the vows when the Countess spoke. Soon enough, their parents were officially married, and Selena and Nicholas got to relive their special day. Despite the rocky start, the day couldn’t have ended any better, much like Selena’s own love story.

“I wouldn’t change anything for all the world.”

THE END

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