Page 35 of The Season for Loving
Epilogue
February 1818
The Friar’s House
The guests were departing, and Bertie and Fergus had gone down to see the last stragglers off to their carriages. Georgie had retreated to the family drawing room with Eliza and Mrs. C, finally able to rest a bit. Her feet ached and she’d consumed too much cake and champagne, yet she’d never been happier.
After all the excitement of her wedding day, she intended to spend a quiet evening with the people she loved before retiring to bed. Georgie was so eager to be alone with Fergus—a wee bit of wedding night nerves aside—that she could hardly sit still. But she wouldn’t rush the evening or miss a moment of the time spent with her family, because in another three weeks she’d be moving to Scotland. There, a new home and life awaited her, with a new family and new obligations. She was eager for all that, but knew she would miss Bertie and Eliza more than she could imagine. Fortunately, they’d promised to come for a nice long visit in the summer.
Eliza let out a happy sigh and curled up on the large velvet settee in front of the fireplace. A fire crackled merrily on the hearth, chasing away any drafts that dared make their way through the old walls of the Friar’s House.
“I loved every minute of the day,” Eliza said. “But it’s so nice to have the house to ourselves again.”
Georgie kicked off her silk shoes and tucked her feet up under her gown. The dress was the most beautiful she’d ever worn—plush green velvet with white fur trimming the hem and sleeves. She would hate to take it off, although she supposed she didn’t have to worry about that. Fergus would enjoy taking it off for her. “It was the most spectacular day in the history of the world,” she said. “I can’t thank you and Bertie enough for hosting such a splendid event.”
After a private morning ceremony at the local church, her brother and his wife had thrown a huge wedding breakfast that had stretched well into the afternoon. After that, Bertie had arranged for festive sleigh rides and snowball fights for the village children on the estate’s back lawn. There’d been as much mud as snow, but everyone seemed to have a great deal of fun. All the hot chocolate and other treats had been consumed in short order.
The day had ended with an intimate dinner party with friends that included Will and Evelyn Endicott, and also the Sturridges and Lochleys. There had been so many wonderful moments throughout the day, and Georgie knew she would cherish every memory.
“I’m only sorry Fergus’ family could not make the trip from Scotland,” Eliza said. “But he tells me Lord Riddick has promised to hold a grand ball to celebrate your marriage, with bagpipes, reels, and clan salutes galore.”
Fergus had been disappointed that his family was unable to attend their wedding, but he understood. The earl was in declining health, and Edie Gilbride was pregnant. Under the circumstances, no one could blame them for not making the long trip south in winter.
“Yes, but it was lovely that Will and Evelyn and Lord and Lady Reese were able to come,” Georgie said.
“I’m not sure Fergus would agree with you about Lady Reese,” Eliza said in a dry tone.
“Are you talking about my nemesis?” Fergus said as he followed Bertie into the room. He sat next to Georgie, putting his arm around her shoulders.
She breathed out a contented sigh and snuggled against him. “Yes, although you really shouldn’t call her that. Without Lady Reese, we might never have even met.”
“I’ve actually grown quite fond of the old girl, if you want to know the truth. And she’s certainly been loyal to me—which is not half-bad for an Englishwoman.” Fergus laughed when Georgie poked him in the side.
“Well,thisEnglishwoman is going to tell her you said that,” Georgie replied.
“Please don’t, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“I’m just thankful that the Sturridges offered to put them all up,” Bertie said as he settled next to his wife. “As fond as I am of Will and Evie and her family, it’s nice to finally have a little peace and quiet. Besides, my wallet is feeling the strain of all these guests and parties.”
“What nonsense, you’re as rich as Midas,” Eliza said. “Besides, it was worth every shilling to send Georgie off in style, don’t you think?”
“It would be worth every shilling I own to see my sister happy,” Bertie said, giving Georgie a heart-felt smile.
She blew him a kiss. “Fortunately, it didn’t costthatmuch. Although I suspect the lobster patties were shockingly expensive.”
“Good Gad, you can’t even imagine,” Bertie said. “That’s why I ate so many of them. Had to get our money’s worth.”
“Bertram Gage, you are the worst tease,” Eliza said.
Bertie laughed and wrapped an arm around his wife. Eliza settled in with a happy sigh, then nodded toward the large table covered in gifts. “Your new Scottish relatives might not have been able to make it, but they certainly sent some lovely wedding presents.”
Georgie had found their generosity rather stunning. The men had sent Fergus a handsome brace of gold-trimmed, Manton pistols, and Lord Riddick had picked out two exquisite bracelets of antique Venetian gold for Georgie. Alec and Edie Gilbride had sent her a pair of gold earrings to match, along with a gorgeous fur muff for cold Scottish mornings. Best of all had been the wonderful letters from her new relatives, expressing their happiness and their eagerness to greet her when shecame home. She’d choked up reading them, and even Fergus had been too moved to speak.
“Yes, you had quite the haul. Well done, old girl,” Bertie said.
He and Eliza had been incredibly generous too, giving her an elegant pearl necklace and a beautifully made portable writing desk. Bertie had promptly extracted a promise from her to write at least three times a week. She knew her brother was struggling with her moving to Scotland, and she would miss Bertie more than she could say. But they’d both found happiness with loving spouses and their new families. For that, Georgie was profoundly grateful.
“There were so many lovely things,” she said. “I hardly know how to thank everyone.”
