“But I do,” she whispered. “I do, and I have. I thought you thought me too foolish and that was why I could never be more than a friend.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Does that mean you’ll marry me?”
She sucked in a breath. She had hoped and dreamed of him asking that very question one day but all hope had been lost three months ago and Miranda wasn’t certain she was hearing what her heart had desired. She feared she misunderstood.
“Miranda?” Epworth questioned as worry filled his blue eyes. “Do you not want to be my wife?”
“Yes…no…I mean, I want to be your wife. I’ve wanted it for so long.”
Tears filled her eyes and he leaned over and gave Miranda the most tender kiss she’d ever received. It was nothing like the passion-filled ones that they’d shared before. This kiss was filled with love and longing.
When he pulled back Epworth grinned. “Do you want to see my scar?”
Epilogue
Forester Hall, January, 1817
Miranda smiled as she woke to find Her Grace standing beside the cradle of her newborn son. Wesley’s grandmother must have come in quietly, as she hadn’t disturbed either Wesley or herself. In fact, Wesley was deep in slumber given the snores.
Beside Her Grace stood Uncle Jonathan with his arm about her waist.
“Isn’t he beautiful,” Her Grace sighed.
“Handsome, Hester. Boys are handsome, not beautiful.”
“They can be both,” she argued.
“I suppose,” Uncle Jonathan sighed. “Though I’d begun to wonder if we’d ever witness an heir. It’s been over four years since Wesley and Miranda married and they took their time in bringing this child into the world.”
“Some things can’t be rushed.” Her Grace leaned into the cradle and appeared to kiss the top of the newborn’s head.
“Remember how Epworth informed me that I was not to be haunting his chambers after he wed?”
Her Grace chuckled as she stood. “Of course, dear. They wished for privacy as all newlyweds do.”
“I was rather insulted, if you must know, as if he thought that I’d even consider intruding on private matters.”
“Well, you do have a habit of popping up when least expected,” Her Grace reminded him.
“Yes, well, not in another’s chamber, I can assure you. However, I had begun to wonder if they were playing chess in here instead of getting about the business of producing an heir and thought I might have needed to have a chat with the boy to make certain he knew what to do.”
At that, Miranda couldn’t help but laugh because if anything, her husband knew exactly what was required of a husband in the privacy of a bedchamber.
The two turned to look at her.
“Oh dear, I hope we didn’t disturb you,” Her Grace worried.
“No, I woke before I heard you,” Miranda insisted. She could only hope that the love she and Wesley shared continued for as many years and spanned life and death as the love her great-uncle shared with Wesley’s grandmother.
“Is the baby awake?” Wesley asked groggily as he sat up in bed.
“I don’t believe so. Just your grandmother checking on him,” Miranda answered.
“Is all well?” Wesley asked.
“All is as it should be,” Her Grace answered and glanced up at Uncle Jonathan, her face softening with love.
Miranda too sat up as she realized Her Grace appeared younger, almost youthful.
It must be because it was night and the moonlight did tend to soften features.
“Grandmother?” Wesley asked slowly. “How is it that you are by the Captain, yet you are clearly sitting in the chair?”
Miranda shifted her eyes to the rocking chair on the other side of the cradle to note that Her Grace was sitting there and appeared to be in slumber…Miranda’s heart stilled.
“It is time,” Her Grace said in answer to the unasked question.
“Hester would not leave the world to join me until the heir had been born and she had a chance to hold him,” Uncle Jonathan answered.
“I can now be with my love always.”
“And I you, my dear.” Uncle Jonathan lifted Her Grace’s hand to his lips and tears welled in Miranda’s eyes.
“Will you still be in residence?” Miranda asked.
“No, Miranda,” her uncle answered. “I now have what I’ve been waiting for all these years and can finally move on.”
“No,” the cry flew from her lips before she could take it back. It was selfish to ask him to stay. She knew he’d been miserable in his waiting. But the two of them could remain, together.