Page 155 of Ten Lords for the Holidays

Above them, a shooting star blazed brighter than the moon and flew across the sky right over their heads as though bestowing a blessing from the heavens before it disappeared and all was still and at peace. Just as it was meant to be.

EPILOGUE

“You knowwe’re not supposed to come back.”

Angela looked up from where she watched the newly married Lord and Lady Stockton dance a waltz together.

“I know,” she said simply. “I won’t stay long.”

Her companion followed her gaze to the couple who stared into each other’s eyes as though they were the only two people in the packed ballroom. In the world.

“Is it not unusual for their kind? To be married on Twelfth Night? And to wait an entire year for a wedding?”

Angela shrugged.

“Perhaps for most,” she said. “But not for them. Holly wanted it to be Twelfth Night. And Evan would do just about anything for Holly’s happiness. Which is exactly why they were chosen.”

They were both silent for a time, unmoving. And unnoticed by any other guest.

“There are others,” her companion finally coaxed gently. “Plenty of others who need us.”

Angela sighed.

“I know,” she repeated. “But this one – she was special. He was, too. They have that rarest of things. The truest love. I just wanted to see it one last time.”

Her companion placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“And now you have,” he said. “So, it is time for us to go.”

He turned and walked away, disappearing from view in seconds.

Angela sighed and turned to go after him.

She looked one last time over her shoulder, and in that moment, Evan’s gaze snapped up and met hers.

She scowled at him for old time’s sake, before smiling and nodding her blessing.

His expression of shock softened to a smile of his own, and he nodded right back.

She knew that he was saying thank you.

But his thanks wasn’t necessary.

Angela couldn’t make people fall in love. None of them could. Love was one of the few things too powerful for anyone or anything to manipulate.

All she could do was point two hearts who were meant to be in the right direction.

She would miss these two, she thought as she slipped away, invisible.

But she would check up every now and again.

They just might be the greatest work she’d ever done.

Her greatest accomplishment.

And she knew with a certainty that made her heart soar, that their love was one for the ages.

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