Page 82 of The Duke's Auctioned Spinster
And this time, neither of them pulled away.
Epilogue
ONE MONTH LATER
“Imust pinch myself. I can’t believe this is happening!” Margaret said.
“Me neither,” Lydia replied with a mischievous smile. “I never thought I would see the day!”
“There is no need for all that. I was not such a hopeless cause,” Rose said.
Margaret and Lydia shared a look that suggested they disagreed, but since this was Rose and Edmund’s wedding day, neither said anything to upset the bride. Rose’s hair was displayed in beautiful tresses, and she had a gorgeous glow about her. Her smile was radiant, and the flowers, a collection of different colored roses to honor her name, complemented her well.
Rose looked in the mirror.
“In truth, I cannot believe this has happened either. I thought my life would be spent alone, and instead I am marrying an impossible, infuriating, irritating man,” she said with a smile, because both Lydia and her mother understood that Edmund was so many other things to her as well, things that were too profound to name.
“I am proud of you, Rose. I know this has not been an easy journey, but I can tell that you and His Grace mean so much to each other. It will be a joy to watch you grow even closer,” Margaret said, squeezing Rose’s hand.
“And soon we will be sisters,” Lydia added, squeezing Rose’s other hand. Rose smiled sweetly at her friend.
“We have been sisters from the first moment we met, Lydia. Thank you for your counsel in all of this. It has been most valuable,” Rose said. With that, she rose and was escorted to the carriage that awaited her outside. Her father wore a look of awe.
“Rose, you look beautiful,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Are you nervous?”
Rose thought about it for a moment, but then shook her head. “No, I am not. I know this is what I want. I know Edmund is the man for me.”
Thomas chuckled. “You have always known your own mind. I am glad that it is serving you well,” he said as he helped her into the carriage. They rode through London with her parents, Lydia,and her dog. She had called it Addie, short for adventure, and he had settled into the house as if he had always belonged.
The day was bright and clear. They were blessed with good weather, though Rose believed she would have been happy even if they had been caught in storms. A smile adorned her face as she thought about the step she was about to take, giving herself to a man, trusting him with her heart and soul and everything else that was precious about her.
They reached the church. All of Edmund’s family was there, as well as their friends. It was a vast crowd, and they all turned at once to see Rose. Thomas took her hand, and she walked down the aisle. Thoughts of everyone else melted away because standing there was Edmund, this man who had won her company in an auction and then won her heart.
He looked so handsome that her knees threatened to buckle. Thomas and Edmund shook hands as Thomas stepped away, giving her to Edmund. There were many solemn vows spoken during the ceremony, but Rose was thinking about all the moments they had shared.
The chase through the park, the slip near the lake, the torn gloves, the mishap with the goat, and everything in between. She had been to the depths of despair and the heights of hope, and part of her wondered what else might be in store for her with Edmund. It would definitely be an interesting life, no doubt about that, and she could not wait for it to start.
Before she knew it, they were united in marriage. She was a duchess, although that was hardly a concern for her. More importantly, she was Edmund’s wife. The title did not matter as much compared to that.
They clasped hands and faced their friends and family. An uproarious cheer echoed through the church. They all applauded, and Rose’s smile grew as wide as the moon. She turned to Edmund.
“This is it,” she said. “There is no going back now. I hope you are happy with your choice.”
“I am thrilled,” Edmund said. “What use is living in this world if I cannot live with you?”
Rose blushed, and then the married couple walked back down the aisle, ready to celebrate further. Edmund had arranged for extravagant celebrations to take place back at the estate, sparing no expense, of course. There would be games, feasts, and entertainment, and it was said that this would put even a royal wedding to shame.
Rose stared at the ring on her finger and smiled. In the end, Edmund had been correct. Living life had been much better than simply reading about it.
Rose and Edmund had returned to the estate after the wedding. The sense of celebration had faded, leaving them exhausted. Rose felt as though she had been through a whirlwind, and only when she settled on a comfortable seat did she feel herself able to relax. Edmund poured them both a drink and came to sit with her, pressing the glass into her hand.
“I am not sure how you can think about drinking more,” she teased.
“It comes quite naturally to a rogue like me, although I suppose I shall have to put my rakish ways behind me now. There is no way I can continue as I did as a married man. This ring upon my finger is proof of it,” he lifted his hand.
“Old habits are hard to break. I hope that you are up to the challenge.”
“If I can win your hand in marriage, then there is no challenge beyond my capabilities. I have half a mind to climb the tallest mountain in the world.”
