An Alluring Lady’s Christmas Wish – Extended Epilogue

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Evelina placed the centrepiece in the middle of the long dining table, sighing with satisfaction. At long last, it was done. The table was dressed in preparation for the very first Christmas luncheon being hosted in her new home.

She gazed around the room. There was ivy, holly and mistletoe hanging everywhere, so that the room smelled like a forest. She smiled slowly, remembering when she and Jude had walked in the woodlands near Bosworth, when she had been collecting greenery for last Christmas. Before they had known what they would become to each other, and how their lives would end up entwined, in the most remarkable way.

The door opened, and her husband entered. Her heart burst at the sight of him, but then, it always did. She marvelled at how tall and handsome he was. He dressed differently now, of course, befitting his new role as the Viscount Asquith, son and heir of the Marquess of Winston. Even though the expensive clothes suited him, adding to his dashing good looks, she wouldn’t have cared if he still wore the livery of a Bosworth coachman.

To her, he was simply perfect, in every single way; regardless if he was a coachman or a viscount.

“It looks beautiful,” he said, his gaze falling upon the table. He reached out, pulling her into his arms, gazing down at her. “Absolutely perfect. Just like you.”

She laughed softly, gazing up at him. “It will do,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “There is no more time for fussing. Our guests will be here soon.” She smiled. “I am so excited at the thought of hosting a Christmas luncheon in our own home for the very first time, Jude.”

“I know,” he said, kissing her gently on the tip of her nose. “You have been excited for weeks.” His smile broadened. “And you have worked so hard to get this ready in time, especially after our late evening at Bosworth.”

Evelina laughed, thinking about the Christmas Eve ball the previous evening. It had been spectacular. And the best thing about it was her father had arranged everything, full of vigour and spirit; overseeing it zealously. But then, dear Papa had a reason for having more spring in his step recently.

To her shock, her father had recently started courting a local widow, Lady Mayne. And it was going so well that the lady was accompanying the duke to today’s Christmas luncheon. At first, Evelina had mixed feeling about it. But when she had seen how happy her father was now and how lovely Lady Mayne was, she had put them behind her.

Her mother was gone. None of them would ever forget her. But it was time for everyone to move on with their lives and find what happiness they could.

Her eyes rested on the place cards at the table that she had written herself. Jude’s father and Lady Mayne were coming. And then there was dear Caroline, with her new husband, Lord Tisdale, who she had met at last year’s Christmas Eve ball. Caroline had been married for six months now and was very much in love. In fact, her dear friend was over the moon.

Evelina’s mouth tightened. Richard wasn’t coming, but then, her brother rarely spent any time here now. His nose had been severely out of joint after the shock of what happened last year, when the betrothal he had brokered for her with Edward Beaumont ended, and Jude had abruptly stepped back into their lives. Her brother had never liked it, thinking her new husband an upstart, and gossiping that he didn’t really believe he was the Marquess of Winston’s long-lost son at all.

Evelina sighed, thinking about it. Of course, Richard had acted completely in character. Her brother had always been overbearing, opinionated, and unwilling to admit he was wrong. He had never apologised to her for trying to take over her life and saddle her with an unsavoury gentleman. And now, she rarely saw him. He was back in London, living the way he always had.

They had never been close, and they probably never would be. But at least he couldn’t interfere in her life any longer.

Suddenly, they heard the rattle of carriage wheels hurtling up the driveway towards the house. Evelina stepped away from her husband, smoothing out the creases in her gown, feeling nervous.

“Someone is here,” she said, a little breathlessly. “We should go out and meet them.”

Jude nodded, but he didn’t move. He took her hand again.

“Thank you, Evelina,” he said in a quiet voice. “For everything. For all that you do. Living with you is the most wonderful experience of my life. And it just keeps getting better every day.”

Evelina’s heart contracted. She was so moved she couldn’t speak for a moment. She simply gripped his hand, squeezing it. And then, hand in hand, they walked out of the dining room to the front of the house to greet the first of their guests.

I am so happy; she thought. And life can only get better… once I give Jude his Christmas gift.

She thought of the present lying in a drawer of her dressing table. It was wrapped and ready, just waiting for the right time. They had agreed to exchange their presents tonight privately, when everyone had left. She felt a flurry of excitement and uncertainty. How was he going to react to it?

***

After a pre-luncheon sherry in the drawing room, the guests all moved into the dining room, taking their seats. The cook had already placed the roasted beef on the table, ready for carving, along with an assortment of vegetable dishes, including roasted carrots, Brussel sprouts and Yorkshire puddings.

The food was delicious, and there wasn’t much chatter as they were all served, launching into their meal with gusto. The gravy was rich, laced with red wine, the same merlot they were drinking, which had been shipped from France, especially for the occasion. It was a gift from the marquess.

After they had finished their plum pudding, with lashings of cook’s rich custard, they all sat back with their wine, talking and laughing.

Evelina watched her father and Lady Mayne whispering together. Her heart filled with joy at seeing it. Perhaps there would be an announcement soon and she might have a stepmother. Her father was a completely different man to the grieving widower he had been only a year ago. And she only wanted happiness for him. Especially after the gift he had given her, transforming her life on the hunch that her husband might be someone other than who they thought.

She took a sip of merlot as she thought about it. It could all have gone so differently, of course. If her father had never discovered that Jude was actually the lost Viscount Asquith; she would never have married him. But she didn’t like to think about that too much. It had all happened exactly as it was meant to be.

She turned her attention to Jude, who was sharing a joke with his father. They got along well. She had not known the marquess prior to everything, but she had since heard that he had been a shattered man, a virtual recluse. Now, he was transformed. Every other day he was here, spending time with them. He had taught Jude to ride and hunt, and they often spent hours together in the woods surrounding the house.

The marquess was also training Jude to take over his role. Jude spent a lot of time at his ancestral home, which would be theirs one day. He marvelled over the personal history, especially the family portraits. He had grown emotional when he had first seen the portrait of his late mother nursing him as a baby. It was still a wound that he had never gotten the chance to meet her. But he had visited her grave with his father, and he found comfort in that.

It had been hard for her husband; she thought. It was a wholly different life to the one he had known. He wasn’t used to being nobility. He had taken it in stride, and she was proud of him. Very proud.

“The luncheon was divine, Evelina,” said Caroline, interrupting her reverie. “Absolutely superb. Well done.”

Evelina turned to her dear friend, smiling brightly. “Thank you, dear Caroline. I am so very glad that you and Lord Tisdale were able to come today. It means the world to us.”

Caroline laughed. “Do you still call him Jude, as opposed to his real name?”

Evelina made a face. “He will always be Jude to me, dearest. Louis does not suit him at all. And it makes him feel uncomfortable when his father calls him by his birth name.”

Caroline nodded. “I suppose he only remembers being called Jude. He was far too young to remember his first name.” She paused. “Such a remarkable story. I still find it difficult to believe that it happened, and that he was reunited with his father after all that occurred.”

“As do we all,” said Evelina, taking another sip of wine. “The best of it is he always yearned to discover his family. When we first fell in love, he would often talk about it.”

Caroline sighed. “What a love story it is, dearest. That is remarkable, too. The lady and the coachman. Why, it deserves to be written and made into the next Christmas pantomime.” She smiled wryly. “I may suggest it to Reverend Basingstoke. He wasn’t pleased with this year’s effort. He kept moaning that he wished you and Jude were the stars of the show again. He said he always knew you had chemistry.”

Evelina almost spluttered her wine. Dear Reverend Basingstoke, still tearing his hair out, directing the Christmas pantomime every year. Some things never changed. And yet, some things did, in the most remarkable way, just as Caroline said.

“I do not know whether you wish to know this, dearest,” said Caroline, lowering her voice. “But you will probably hear about it on the village grapevine, anyway.” She hesitated. “Apparently, Edward Beaumont is married. A secret wedding at Gretna Green… with one of Bosworth Manor’s former maids.”

“What?” Evelina couldn’t believe she had heard correctly. “He ran off to Gretna Green with a maid?” She shook her head in disbelief. “I do not believe it! He always wanted to marry for status.”

“Apparently, the maid was with child,” said Caroline, in a shocked tone. “There was a great ruckus. Sir Henry hit the roof when he found out about it, telling him he would never allow a marriage, regardless of it. But his son defied him, running away with her. I believe Sir Henry is so incensed he has cut him off entirely.”

Evelina shook her head again. She was stunned. But she had to admit she grudgingly admired the man as well. It must have taken a lot of courage to defy his father in that way and accept responsibility for his coming child.

Perhaps Edward Beaumont had turned into a better man than she thought he ever would. Perhaps he had matured. But she was still fervently glad she hadn’t been forced to marry him, regardless.

Her skin prickled. He had run off with a maid who had been in service at Bosworth. Could it be Sally Potter, who had exposed their affair? She knew that the maid had been caught with Edward on that fateful night in the garden, when her father had decided that he would never allow the man to marry his daughter.

She smiled grimly. Sally had wanted Jude. And she had been betrothed to Edward. What a mixed up, strange situation it all was.

But perhaps they had all gotten what they really wanted and needed in the end.

Evelina gazed at her husband, feeling warm all over. She knew it wasn’t just because of the quite sublime merlot. And now, she couldn’t wait for their Christmas guests to be gone and for it to be just the two of them. She thought of the gift waiting for him upstairs. Things were about to become different yet again.

***

Evelina was felt deliciously tired as she brushed out her hair that night. It had been a successful Christmas Day all round. Their guests had been gushing in gratitude and had left their house satiated and happy.

Jude walked into the room. He was carrying a small box in his hand. Evelina’s heart turned over in her chest. It seemed it was time to exchange their gifts with each other. She put down the brush, turning to him.

He knelt at her feet, gazing up at her adoringly, before handing her the gift. They didn’t speak as she opened the box, gasping at the exquisite ruby and diamond ring nestled within.

“It is so beautiful,” she whispered, taking it out and admiring it under the candlelight. “I have never seen a ring quite like it.”

He smiled. “Neither have I,” he said, his green eyes shining. “It belonged to my mother. My father gave it to her when they were courting. A pre-engagement ring, he told me.”

Evelina was touched. He took her hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. A weight of emotion passed between them.

“This means so much to me,” he said, his voice catching in his throat. “The thought that you are wearing a ring that my mother once wore.” He shook his head incredulously. “I never believed that such a thing would be possible. I didn’t even know who she was, and I never expected to be able to give my mother’s ring to my wife.” His voice caught on the last word.

They kissed in a lingering way. He caressed her hair, whispering words of endearment. When they broke apart, both their eyes were wet with tears.

Evelina took a deep breath. “Now it is time for your gift, dear husband.”

She opened the drawer, taking out the gift. She had wrapped it carefully. Her heart fluttered as she passed it to him, watching him open it. His eyes widened in shock as he took it out of the box, holding it up, turning it around slowly.

Evelina’s heart started beating hard. He was holding in his hand a baby’s rattle.

He turned to her, a look of shock on his face. “Are you telling me what I think you are telling me?”

Slowly, she nodded, feeling tears spring into her eyes. “It did not cost as much as your gift would have cost back when it was purchased,” she said in a quiet voice. “But I hope it means as much to you.”

He didn’t speak for a long while. He simply turned the rattle around in his hand, staring at it, as if it was rare and precious.

“How long have you known?” he whispered.

She laughed nervously. “A little while. I was unsure at first, but now, I am certain.” Her heart fluttered again. “You are going to be a father, Jude. We are having a baby.”

He swore underneath his breath. For a moment, she was struck with terror. Was this news not as joyous for him as it was for her?

They hadn’t talked much about children. He had told her when they were first married that he would be happy if it was just the two of them forever. They had been so blissfully happy together that she hadn’t thought much about it, either. She realised she had missed her courses and felt ill often, and she then knew she was with child.

She had been overwhelmed with a peaceful joy. She was going to be a mother. And it was more emotional because it reminded her of her own lost mother and the closeness between them.

A child to love. A child to spoil at Christmas. They would make their own traditions. Already, she could picture gathering greenery with the child, and going to the village to read and give baskets. It would be a joy taking the child to the pantomime to watch Reverend Basingstoke’s latest effort.

Would Jude see the vision of the future she was seeing? Or was he picturing something else entirely? She held her breath as she waited for him to say something. Anything.

But then he placed the rattle down, taking both her hands. He pressed his head against her stomach, kissing it reverently. Her heart leapt. They whispered together, exchanging their joy and wonder. This revelation that they were about to become parents together for the very first time.

And then he took her hand, blowing out the candle. He led her to their bed. When they climbed under the covers, he let her know through his body how much her news meant to him. He was fierce in his passion, but unbelievably tender as well. They both reached new heights of ecstasy, crying out, before falling spent into each other’s arms.

He cradled her tenderly, whispering into her ear, telling her how happy he was, and how much he was looking forward to meeting their child. When he finally fell asleep in her arms, she sighed, gazing out the window, watching snowflakes falling softly to the ground outside.

Christmas Day was almost over for another year. But next year, their child would be here to celebrate with them. Her heart filled with joy and wonder, thinking about that unknown child, a part of their family already.

A new addition. A new life. A new start.. She couldn’t wait for it all to begin, again.

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