“In the end,” he whispered.
Lydia smiled.
“And you were the most amazing mother. I’m sure that Juliet will adore him, but I would not have chosen anyone but you.”
“Victor… if we are to move forward like this, then you must understand that I want a family. Is that something you desire as well?”
“Yes,” he said without delay. “I have lived too much of my life alone. I have seen how grand life can be surrounded by a big family, and I would like to have siblings who can rely on each other as you rely on Charlotte and Edmund. I want to fill the house with laughter and joy and baby’s cries. We have enough room after all.”
Lydia bore a dreamy smile as he spoke the words that she had always longed to hear. As she stared at him, she realized that the love she felt was far stronger than the love she dreamed. This was no fancy, bubbling love affair that she read about in her stories but something deep and profound. It filled all of her being and made her stronger. It was a tangible thing, and it made her greater than she had ever been before. All of her illusions about love had been dispelled, but they had been replaced by something superior.
Her romantic nature was still indulged, but she was glad she had something real. Victor might not have been the kind of man she would have chosen to love, but he was the man love had chosen for her.
“Then let us have a dozen,” Lydia said. Victor chuckled.
“I may need to purchase a new property,” he said wryly. He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her temples, her cheeks, then her lips again. It was a sweet, deep kiss which reached down to her very soul and gripped it in a fervor. She trembled all over. Her toes curled, and she felt as though she was floating.
“That is if we even stay in Brighton or England. If you wish it, I will stay here with you forever,” he breathed.
“That will not be possible,” she replied. The color drained from his cheeks, and he looked bemused. Lydia felt guilty for being so devilish although she could not resist the opportunity. “We must return to London in six months at least. We cannot miss the wedding.”
Victor smiled then threw back his head and laughed. It was a rich sound that flowed out redolently in the air. His entire body shook, and because they were standing so close to each other, Lydia’s body shook as well. She laughed too in glee and joy and relief, and in one fell swoop, all of the melancholy was swept away from her soul like the winter chill that was melted away by the spring sun.
Victor pulled Lydia dangerously close and then grazed her lips again.
“So, we have six months,” he whispered.
“Six months when I can show you how much I feel in here.” He touched his chest. Lydia smiled and touched her own chest as well, remembering briefly something her mother had said once. Then all thoughts were driven from her mind as Victor hungrily kissed her once more. He lifted Lydia in the air. She wrapped herself around him as his hands ran along the material of her plain skirt. They spun in the air and fell onto the bed. It creaked under their weight, and while the rest of the inn celebrated, Lydia and Victor claimed their marriage and each other behind their closed door.
Epilogue
“This will be an occasion that none shall miss. Thetonwill be alive with talk of this ceremony for a long time,” Lydia said.
“You flatter me, Lydia. I’m not sure it will be all too important though,” Agatha replied.
“You are too modest, Grandmother. Why, I hear even royalty will attend. Who would dare miss the event of the Season when the finest diamond there has ever been gets married?” Charlotte said.
“I certainly hope it’s worth it; we left Florence for this.” Edmund grinned.
“I’m just happy that all the family are together,” Agatha said, taking Lydia and Charlotte’s hands. She smiled happily, and tears filled her eyes. “It means so much that you can all be here, especially the children as well. I know they won’t all rememberit, some more than others.” She glanced at Lydia’s swollen abdomen. Lydia placed her hands on her tummy and smiled.
“Even if they don’t, we will, and we shall tell them about it,” Rose said.
“Make sure you do. These are the days that truly matter, the ones that must be remembered. Look at us all, getting married even when we thought we never would be,” Agatha said, “although in my case it’s getting marriedagain.” Charlotte and Rose chuckled and shared a glance, for they had been adamant they would never be married until they met their respective husbands.
The irony still struck Lydia. She had been the only one of them to dream about marriage, to want the perfect wedding, and in the end, hers was the only one that was hurried, and the day had been marred with regret, not happiness. However, so much happiness and bliss followed that the wedding did not matter. She and Victor had found a natural equilibrium, and now, their lives were ascending. She loved feeling the child growing within her and couldn’t wait to meet the babe.
“I’ll go and check on the groom,” Lydia said, excusing herself from the room. They had split the house in two with Agatha getting ready in one half and Theodore in the other. As she passed through a sitting room, she navigated the children running through hallways then noticed Juliet sitting alone with John in her lap.
John had grown substantially, the country air clearly agreeing with him. Juliet had filled out as well and had rosy cheeks.
“Why are you here alone?” Lydia asked.
Juliet offered a smile.
“John was getting restless with the men, and I didn’t want to intrude on you all.”
“It wouldn’t be an intrusion.”
