The door opened once more and Mrs. Watson stepped out with a look of relief on her face. “Thank heavens you have returned home, Child!” she declared. “We were fraught with worry about you.”
Mattie rose and embraced Mrs. Watson warmly. “Thank you, but Lord Winston saved me.”
“To think that terrible man dined with you and your family,” Mrs. Watson declared, shaking her head in disbelief. “Mr. Blythe seemed like such a pleasant man.”
“It was all an act,” Mattie replied.
“Well, I hope he is on his way to Newgate right now,” Mrs. Watson said.
Mattie grimaced. “I am afraid he is dead.”
Mrs. Watson’s eyes widened before saying, “Well, Ishouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but good riddance.” She smiled. “I do notice that Lord Winston is speaking to your father. Is he asking for your hand?”
“He is,” Mattie confirmed, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Clasping her hands together, Mrs. Watson declared, “What wonderful news!”
“We will be residing at his sheep farm,” Mattie said. “Which means I won’t be too far to come and visit you.”
Mrs. Watson beamed. “That makes me so happy to hear.”
As she uttered her words, her father and Winston stepped outside, their expressions solemn. Mattie’s heart pounded in her chest as she looked at them expectantly.
“Mattie,” her father began, “Winston has assured me of his love and commitment to you. You have my blessing.”
Tears of joy welled in her eyes as she rushed forward to embrace her father. “Thank you, Father,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
Winston stepped closer, taking Mattie’s hand once more. “Thank you, my lord,” he said sincerely. “May I have a word with my betrothed?”
Her father gave him a curt nod. “Yes, but make it quick.”
“I will,” Winston promised.
Hand in hand, Mattie and Winston walked a short distance away. He broke the silence by asking, “Are you happy, Mattie?”
“Blissfully so,” she replied.
“Good, because that was the easy part,” Winston said, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Now we have to tell my family.”
Mattie laughed, feeling lighter and freer than she ever had. “That shouldn’t be a problem.”
Winston shuddered dramatically. “It will not be for the faint of heart. I assure you.”
“Together, we can do anything,” Mattie encouraged, giving his hand a reassuringsqueeze.
Bringing her hand up to his lips, Winston kissed it gently. “Together… I quite like the sound of that.”
“Oh, I did speak to my sister about the letter,” Mattie began, her tone growing serious. “I’m afraid her reasonings were entirely selfish.”
Winston nodded. “My only regret is that I didn’t ask you sooner about the letter.”
Mattie stepped closer to him. “To be honest, I don’t know if I would have been ready then, but I am ready now,” she said earnestly. “With all my heart, and all my soul, I will love you forever, and even then it doesn’t seem long enough.”
“I love you, Mattie,” Winston murmured, his voice holding a promise.
Epilogue
One year later…
