To Dance until Dawn - Emma V. Leech Page 0,90
parted with you for anything less.”
“I could not bear to be without him, Papa,” Phoebe said, something in her tone that made Max believe this was something her father had needed to hear. “Just as you promised.”
Lucian nodded and pulled her into his arms, resting his head on hers. “Then I shall let you go, sweetheart, but you must promise to come back and visit us very often, for I shall miss you dreadfully. We all shall.”
“Oh!”
Max turned to see Matilda sobbing into a handkerchief and Lucian held out an arm to her, holding both his wife and daughter close.
Phoebe hugged her mother tightly and then looked down with a frown.
“Mama…?” she said, a quizzical note ringing out.
Max frowned as Matilda blushed a little.
“Oh, Phoebe, yes, there is something we were going to tell you too―”
Before either of them could say a word, Phoebe gave a squeal of delight and embraced her mother again before turning back to Lucian.
“Papa!” she said, her expression one of feigned outrage.
“Bee, you are dreadful,” Lucian said, shaking his head, though his eyes were alight with laughter.
Phoebe laughed with delight.
“If I am it’s entirely your fault,” she pointed out. “But this is marvellous. You shall have another little girl so you won’t miss me so dreadfully, though I hope she won’t take my place in your affections,” she added with a coquettish smile.
“As if anyone could,” Lucian replied, laughing now and holding his Matilda close to him. “And we cannot be certain it will be a girl, love.”
“Oh, but it must be, for that will be perfect, and everything today is perfect. Isn’t it, Max?”
Max nodded, too overwhelmed to speak as he realised what he had at last. The family he had always dreamed of having about him would not only comprise his beloved Phoebe and any children they were blessed with, it would also mean being a part of this. Her brothers, Philip and Thomas, ran up to him, taking an arm each and tugging him through the house and out to the gardens, determined he should see the new model sailing boats they had. He went with them, glancing over his shoulder to see Phoebe smiling happily. She blew him a kiss as the boys chattered beside him. He grinned at her and went along with her brothers, happy to be a part of it all.
***
They were married at the private chapel in the grounds of Dern Palace. Helena and Gabriel came with their daughters, Florence and little Evie, who was not yet five years old.
Phoebe had cried when she’d seen what Mama had arranged for her, the doorway to the chapel smothered with an archway of white roses and peonies, gypsophila and honeysuckle, the sweet scent delicious as she waited outside on her father’s arm.
“Thank you, Papa,” she said, leaning into him as he smiled down at her.
“For what?”
“For taking me in when you might so easily have left me where I was. For protecting me and giving me a home, and for being so very kind. I love you more than I can say, you know that?”
Her father leaned in and kissed her forehead and was quiet for a long moment before he spoke. “Thomas would have been so immensely proud of you, my darling, Bee. I know I am.”
Phoebe blinked back tears, only to see her father do likewise. They both laughed and she hugged him, careful not to spoil her flowers or the beautiful yellow gown her mother had prepared for her to be married in.
“It’s time,” he said, holding out his arm to her.
Phoebe took a deep breath and nodded and turned towards the church. “Then take me on to my next adventure, Papa.”
Lucian covered her hand with his and stepped forward, leading her into the church. To marry the man she loved.
Epilogue
My dear friend,
I am coming home. It seems forever since we were all together last. Is little Lottie still getting into mischief? I imagine everyone has changed a great deal in the two years I have been away. I had a letter from Leo yesterday. Have you seen him of late? My word, Eliza, I have so much to tell you. Such things I have seen and done. You must come to France as soon as you have the opportunity. Perhaps next summer we can persuade the duke to take the whole family. Your mother would love it too, I know.
―Excerpt of a letter to The Lady Elizabeth Adolphus from The Right Hon’ble Cassius Cadogan, Viscount