Page 81 of A Baron's Disguised Lady
She imagined Gwendolene wearing it. The sparkle of the diamonds reflecting the sunlight… and now she pinned it to her dress, looking down to admire it.
“Are you sure you want me to have it?” she asked, and Archie nodded.
“I’m certain of it. There’s no one else I could ever imagine giving it to. I want it to be a token of my love for you—of everything we’ve been through together. It’s a reminder of Gwendolene, but more than that… it’s a reminder of what we’ve shared, too, and what I hope we’ll share in the future,” he said.
Lavinia smiled at him, grateful to him for everything he had said and done, and now he took both her hands in his and raised them to his lips.
“Archie, I…” she began, but he shook his head.
“Lavinia, please… there’s something I want to ask you. I’ve held back these past two days. I wanted you to recover your strength. But I meant what I said by the river. I love you, and I won’t ever stop loving you, either. I want… no, I’m asking you, and if you say no, so be it. But I can’t bear to hold back any longer, Lavinia. I love you, and… will you marry me?” he asked.
Lavinia’s heart skipped a beat. But there was no question of her refusing. It was everything she desired. She loved him, too, more than words could say, and the thought of marrying him filled her with such happiness as to be quite overwhelming. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she nodded, hardly able to speak, even as she knew just what to say.
“Yes… I’ll marry you, Archie. I couldn’t imagine… oh, yes, a thousand times, yes,” she exclaimed, as she threw her arms around him and kissed him.
Her happiness was indescribable. It was overwhelming, and as she sat back, he smiled at her, blushing as they clasped their hands together.
“You don’t know how happy you’ve made me, Lavinia. I never thought… well, I know why now, don’t I? I used to think no woman had any interest in me, but I suppose… well, I’m glad of it now. I’ve found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I hope she feels the same,” he said, and Lavinia nodded.
“She does, yes. I was the same. I feared I’d always be a maid, whether in truth or opinion. And what aristocratic man would want a maid for a wife?” she said.
Archie laughed.
“This one,” he said, and Lavinia smiled.
“Then that’s all that matters,” she replied, and once again, they shared a kiss.
Lavinia could not have felt happier in that moment. Happy to know the past was behind them, and together they could look to the future, unencumbered by any expectation, with nothing holding them back. Gwendolene’s memory would live on, but not as a barrier to their happiness. They would always remember her, and with justice now served, she and Archie could look forward to a happy future together.
***
“Oh, Lavinia, how happy I am for you… for you both,” Archie’s mother exclaimed, when the couple later shared the news of their engagement with their mothers.
They were in the drawing room taking tea, but Archie’s mother now called for champagne to be brought, even though it was not yet even time for luncheon.
“And so am I,” Lavinia’s mother said, and she embraced Lavinia, kissing her on both cheeks.
Lavinia smiled. She knew her mother had intended for her to marry Lord Bath, but to see the obvious happiness on her face was enough for her to know she had made the right decision for everyone.
“What will grandfather say?” Lavinia asked, when later she and her mother were alone upstairs in Lavinia’s bedroom.
Her mother sighed and shook her head, a sudden look of sadness coming over her face.
“He’ll be pleased for you; marrying the Baron Sarum and becoming mistress of a house like this. Had I chosen to marry a man like Archie… well, our lives would’ve been very different. I’m sorry, Lavinia. I pushed you to marry Lord Bath. I thought I could give you the life I never had, but… you’ve succeeded yourself. I’m proud of you, Lavinia,” she said, and Lavinia nodded, feeling grateful to her mother for not having forced the matter, even as she had previously favored the match with Lord Bath.
“And what of you and grandfather?” she asked, for she had never asked her mother what she truly thought of what had happened to her; of the circumstances of her life.
“I don’t regret marrying your father. Not for a moment. I’d far rather be poor and happy than rich and miserable. Your grandfather and I have our differences to resolve. It’ll take time. That’s why I’m so glad we came here. Sarum Lacy House has been… a balm. And it’s proved to be the place you found your happiness, too, Lavinia. That’s all that matters to me,” she said, and Lavinia put her arms around her mother and embraced her.
So much had changed for Lavinia, and in such a short space of time. But she was not embarrassed about her past. What she had been, what she was, what she would be. She was always Lavinia.
“Thank you, mother,” Lavinia said, and her mother smiled at her.
“It’s going to be a wonderful wedding,” she replied…
Epilogue
“You look beautiful, Lavinia. Absolutely beautiful,” Horatia said, beaming at Lavinia, who now glanced at herself in the mirror in her bedroom at Sarum Lacy House.
