by Fanny Finch
“What are you thinking about, my dear?” he asked.
“I was thinking about you. I was thinking about how I want to be your friend and work beside you to make our family prosper. It is all I have wanted in a husband. Someone to share my life with. I did not feel I would have that opportunity. I thought God was against me. Punishing me. But now I find He was not punishing me. He was blessing me with strength.”
“You are truly blessed with strength, Lady Hestia. I admire it and hope that you never lose it. Your father asked me if I would love you despite your headstrong nature. But I do not love you despite it. I love you because of it. I would not want you to change.”
“I do not think I could,” Hestia replied with a laugh. “I have always been this way, leading my sisters into the fray, playing wild boy-type games. They never really wanted to play. I did not understand why.”
“Shall we sit for a spell?”
Leander stopped at a bench near an opening into the pathway through the flower arrangements. It was designed so that people out for a stroll would experience as many different colors and scents as possible without it being overwhelming.
From the bench, they were able to see many of the different flowers and smell a comforting mixture of scents from those nearby.
In front of her, Lady Eugenia and Lillian stopped walking and studied the garden around them intently. Hestia could not help giggling at their obvious attempts at not paying attention to Leander and Hestia when they were supposed to.
Hestia felt a tingle run through her when Leander sat back and put his arm along the back of the bench. He looked around the garden, squinting his eyes.
Hestia could tell how comfortable he was. Her heart was racing a mile a minute. She wondered if he was feeling nervous at all. She thought her heart might come out of her chest at one point and instinctively pressed one hand against it, taking in a deep breath.
Leander looked at her. “Are you all right?”
Hestia fell into giggles. All she could think was how funny it would be to tell him that she was having heart palpitations because she was sitting so close to him. There was no chance she would say such a thing to him.
Even if it was true.
“I will be fine. Just feeling a bit short of breath.”
Leander nodded. “Me too. I feel it is a symptom of being so close to the one you love.”
Hestia‘s heart pounded hard in her chest. She lifted one hand and pressed it against the hammering on the other side of her ribs. He was feeling exactly the same way she was. Love for him washed over her like a warm tidal wave.
He sat up so that he was directly next to her. “Hestia, I am nervous. May I confess something to you?”
Hestia nodded, looking in his eyes, drinking in the love she saw reflected there. “Yes, please do,” she whispered.
She saw him clench his jaw and swallow. He looked anxious so she reached out and placed one hand on his cheek. His eyes widened in surprise.
“You must calm yourself, Lord Price. You will give yourself a heart attack.”
“I would not want that. I would like to live a long and full life with you.”
“What is it you wish to confess?” She tried to bring the topic back to where it started. She wanted him to be completely open with her.
“I confess that I… I am not… I am an emotional man. I do not hide my feelings well. I know that you are stubborn, as your father says. But if you will be gentle with me, I promise I will hide nothing from you.”
He grinned. “I have worked for years to gain control of my emotions but I have been unsuccessful. My efforts were all in vain.”
“I am sure you gained better control once you became an adult. If you were striving early, you are probably stronger than many others in character.”
“I do like the way you look at life, Hestia. I feel I will learn a great deal from you.”
Hestia’s slender cheeks flushed and she dropped her head. “You feel you will learn from me?”
Leander nodded. “I do not know why you are surprised. You teach so many just by your example. I will be so proud to be your husband.”
“I will be happy that you are my husband. I was… I have a confession for you. I was not happy with the situation with Miss Drusilla. What will you do to resolve that?”
“It has been resolved for us.” The smile on his face beamed, making him glow with happiness.
Hestia sighed. He was so handsome in the light of the lamps that surrounded them and the light left over from the day. “Please tell me how. I do not know.”
“I paid a visit here… that is I saw my mother and Miss Drusilla earlier in the day. It was this morning actually. I spoke with Miss Drusilla and we both agreed that we are not a good match.”
Hestia’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh? What brought her to that conclusion?”
“Several things. She is not as dense as I had taken her for. She was only playing because she was so immensely unhappy with the way her life was going. She has fallen for another and only wished to be free of our bondage.”
“What did you do?”
Leander grinned wide. “I told her she was free to marry whomever she chooses. And I told Mother that was my decision. I assume she told Father. I have not been home since to find out what the aftermath will be.”
He turned his torso toward her, giving her a stern look. “I want to warn you, Hestia, if they begin to act disrespectfully, they are not to do that. You will be my wife and they will need to accept this.”
“I love hearing you say that,” Hestia whispered, leaning slightly toward him. He took one of her hands and kissed it, holding it against his lips afterward.
“My wife. You will be my wife.” He chuckled, kissing her hand again.
She gazed at him, wishing he would kiss her lips and hold her in his arms. She sat still, feeling her body pulse with desire. She could feel heat coming from his lips as his breath came and went.
“Oh Lord Price. I am so deeply in love with you,” she finally managed to say. Her eyes were soft when she looked at him.
He leaned closer to her, tilting his head slightly. Her heart raced. She thought it might explode when his lips touched hers and prepared herself for the inevitable.
But her heart did not explode when he pressed his lips against hers. It raced, her blood flooding through her body, passion spilling out in her kiss.
She did not want the kiss to end.
Though it was thought impolite, he did not stop kissing her right away. It was prolonged to the point where Leander reached around and pushed his fingers through her hair.
The pressure of his kiss was sending waves of excitement through Hestia. She put her hands up on his chest, her right hand seeking his heartbeat.
When they finally broke apart, they continued to look at each other, drowning in the eyes of the other.
A low giggle coming from a few feet away drew Hestia’s attention. Lillian was watching them with wide eyes. Lady Eugenia had attempted to cover the young girl’s eyes but she was not much taller than the 13-year-old and Lillian had easily removed Lady Eugenia’s hands from her eyes so she could watch the two in their embrace.
“Lillian, you do not need to watch me every minute of the day,” Hestia scolded with a smile to lighten the blow of her words. “I am not a baby or an animal.”
Lillian shook her head. “I told Mother and Father I would watch you and that is what I have done.”
“You do not wish to get me in trouble, do you?”
Again Lillian chuckled, throwing her head back and laughing with glee. “Oh, Hestia! You would not get in trouble. I would not tell anyone anyway. I do not wish trouble for you.”
“I am glad to hear that, Lillian. I would not know what to do without at least one of my sisters by my side.”
Lillian and Lady Eugenia joined them, standing in front of the bench.
“You will have to learn, I am afraid,” Lillian said, shaking her head and looking serious. “You will be wi
thout us soon.”
“But then you will have children of your own and a husband to love,” Lady Eugenia put in with a great deal of vigor. “You will not be alone.”
“I have not been alone,” Hestia said, reaching up to take her friend’s hand. “You have been my friend through this year of separation from my family. And now I have new families. I am very blessed.”
“God has cared for us both, Hestia,” Leander said in a low voice. “I have made mistakes and been forgiven by the ones who matter most. You have made decisions that led you to me and I have made decisions that led me to you.”
“It is His plan.”
“I do hope so,” Leander replied with a grin. “If not, we are not doing what he wants us to do.”
“You and I are right together, my darling. There is no doubt of this.”
Leander nodded. “Yes, Hestia. I do believe that.”
“Well, now that we have established that you two love each other, which we all knew already, shall we have another walk around the circle in the garden?”
Leander and Hestia got to their feet, smiling at Lady Eugenia.
Hestia was overjoyed. She had her best friend on one side and the love of her life on the other. Soon she would add to the bunch and have a baby to love.
Someday.
And that someday was coming soon.
Epilogue
The sun beat down bright on the couples standing around the lawn of Mr. Wake’s estate. The party was in full swing, the last one of the season. It had been a year since the events that led Hestia to the man she would marry.
Lady Eugenia looked around at the guests, wondering where Hestia and Leander were. She heard their names announced but did not see them anywhere.
“Have you seen Lady Hestia or Lord Price, Mother?” she asked, without looking at the Viscountess of Culross. Her mother glanced around at the groups around her, shaking her head.
“I am afraid I have not. Have they been announced?”
“Yes, I was sure I heard their names not long ago. I would think they would come to see me right away.” Lady Eugenia knew her voice reflected the bitter disappointment of a child. But she wanted to see her friends, as they had not been to many of the parties planned for that season.
They were focused on preparing for their wedding.
Leander had settled many of the Earl of Nottingham’s debts and put together a business strategy that would help the older man regain his wealth. It would take some time but the progress so far had brought the name of Stalwood near the top of society’s list once again.
The Viscountess of Culross, in much better health than the season before, chuckled deeply. “You are their first priority, I am sure, my dear. There are other guests. They have probably been stopped on their way to find you.”
“Yes, I suppose you are right, Mother.” Lady Eugenia gave her a warm smile. “You are so wise. I adore you, Mother. I am so glad you are better. I prefer you over a companion.”
“You are sweet, my child. But you will not need a companion or your mother for much longer, will you?”
Lady Eugenia smiled. “No, I suppose I will not.”
“It was kind of Baron Wake to give this last party. He will not need to participate in the events next season. Both of his sons will be married.”
Her cheeks flaming, Lady Eugenia nodded. “Yes, that is true.”
“Speaking of Baron Wake’s sons, here is one now. Good afternoon, Mr. Wake. Mrs. Wake.”
Lady Eugenia thought how ironic it was that she would someday be the sister-in-law of the woman who threatened the happiness of Hestia and Leander the year before.
Drusilla curtsied to the mother and daughter, while Henry bowed.
“I trust you are enjoying the party so far?” Henry asked.
“Yes, quite,” the Viscountess of Culross responded. “Your father was generous to invite us all here one last time.”
“He is going to miss these parties, my lady. It has been adventurous for him, attempting to marry off his two sons.”
Henry looked at Lady Eugenia with a special smile and a twinkle in his eye. Lady Eugenia covered her mouth, giggling.
“We will soon be family, will we not?” Drusilla said with a smile. She was demure and gentle, having settled into her role as a wife more than anyone would have expected. Lady Eugenia could see how comfortable and content she was.
“Yes, we will. I am sure we will all have good times together.”
“Especially at the Price wedding,” Drusilla said. “I know you will be there. We have also been invited.”
“That is lovely! Hestia will be a beautiful bride.”
“She certainly will.” Drusilla nodded, glancing up at her husband. “Where is that brother of yours, Mr. Wake? Why is he not here to share the fun with Lady Eugenia?”
Henry looked down at his wife with one eyebrow raised. “I am sure he will be about soon enough, my dear.” He looked at Lady Eugenia. “We will go fetch him for you.”
With that the two turned and went back into the crowd, giving Lady Eugenia and the Viscountess of Culross warm smiles.
“There they are!” Lady Eugenia spotted Hestia and Leander. She moved back and forth to see around the people between them. She waved when Hestia looked in her direction.
Hestia waved back and touched Leander on the arm, moving her eyes in Lady Eugenia’s direction.
The two began to make their way to Lady Eugenia. She stayed on her feet, waiting for them with an anxious heart. When Hestia was close enough, she grabbed her friend by the sides of her arms and leaned toward her, kissing the air close to both her cheeks.
“Oh, Hestia! I have missed you so much. You really should have come to more parties.”
“I know, Eugenia. I have just been so busy lately. It is good to see you!”
“Mother is right here. You must say hello.”
“Of course.” Hestia moved around Lady Eugenia, smiling at the viscountess. “It is so good to see you looking so healthy, Lady Callow. I have been praying for you for a long time. Now, it seems I no longer need to.”
The Viscountess of Culross shook her head. “There is always a need for prayers, my dear. I will thank you to keep them coming.”
“Then I certainly will.”
After bowing to Lady Eugenia, Leander came up to stand by Hestia’s side. “Lady Callow. You are looking well.”
“Thank you, Lord Price. As are you. Have you been here long? My daughter was about to fall into fits because you did not immediately come to find her.”
“We intended to,” Hestia said, glancing over her shoulder at Lady Eugenia, smiling wide. “But we were stopped by several people on the way out to the lawn. I was unsure where you would be.”
Lady Eugenia laughed. “You must not worry about me. Mother is just teasing me. Here you are now and that is what matters. Come, take a walk with me?”
Hestia looked up at Leander, who nodded. “What a good idea,” he said. “It will give me time to scour this lady’s brain for information about weddings.”
The viscountess laughed. “I do not know how much information I can give you, sir, but I will certainly try to help in any way I can.”
The four of them laughed.
“Come, Hestia. Let us walk and reminisce.” Lady Eugenia’s voice was wistful. “I have always loved Baron Wake’s estate. It is too bad we will not see it again.”
“Whatever do you mean, Eugenia? You will be a member of the family. You can come here whenever you want.”
Lady Eugenia gave Hestia a look that suggested she had not thought of that before. Both young women burst out laughing.
“Oh my, now I do feel foolish.”
“Don’t feel foolish, my dear. You are such a bright light. I am proud to be your friend.”
“And you do not need to worry about foolish titles, such as companion. You are genuinely my friend now.”
“I was genuinely your friend before. It is just that now I am not bound by a contract of emp
loyment.”
“I wonder if we would have been friends if you had not come to be my companion.”
“My mother says that things work out the way they are supposed to because God has it planned that way,” Hestia said, looking out over the green lawn, admiring the scents and sights around her. “I like to believe that is true. I may have sacrificed my reputation for a time but it was only temporary. The same as my father’s.”
