Page 94

EPILOGUE

Lincolnshire,

Christmas, 1825

As she gazed out the window, snowflakes drifting lazily to the earth, adding to the thin layer of white that covered the grounds of Nunhaven, Seraphina couldn’t help thinking of the Christmases she’d spent with her parents as a young girl. They’d been so happy then, and her father had always taken the time away from work to share the day with them.

What was he doing this year?

Would he pause to celebrate, or would he treat the day like any other, working and eating as usual, ignoring everything else?

Even though she longed to believe otherwise, she suspected the latter.

She’d invited him to spend the holiday with them—hoping he might accept the olive branch—but he’d declined the invitation, saying that he was needed in London.

That might be true, or he might have rejected the invitation because he was still mad at her for spurning Mr. Emerson and marrying Trevor. Even though Mr. Emerson had been cast from society after attempting to bribe the magistrate to avoid prosecution, the damage had been done. Her secrets had been made public, and that would have upset some of his business contacts. She hated that thought, but she was glad she hadn’t thrown away her future for his comfort.

She was doing what she could to mend the rift. If he wanted anything to do with her, he had to meet her halfway.

He probably wouldn’t.

A pair of strong, comforting arms wrapped around her middle, and a broad torso pressed against her back.

“Are you all right?” Trevor asked. “You look pensive.”

“I’m fine.”

It was true. Mostly. The pang of sadness and regret over losing contact with her father would hopefully fade with time. After all, it wasn’t as though he’d been particularly present even when she lived with him. At least here, she had Trevor and his parents, who’d asked her to call them Nancy and Walter.

He nuzzled her, and warmth blossomed in her core, chasing away the hints of sorrow. “Our family is gathered in the drawing room to exchange gifts. Are you ready?”

“Of course.” She slid her hand into his, interlacing their fingers, and offered him a smile. “Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Always.”

He led her down the corridor—which was chillier than her bedchamber had been—and into the more informal family drawing room. A fire blazed in the hearth, and holly, ivy, and mistletoe had been strung up around the top of the walls and over the mantel.

The sofas were arranged in front of the fire, and a tree stood in the window, heavily laden with decorations. The scent of pine permeated the air, and she breathed it in, enjoying the freshness and the reminder that today was a time to be festive.

Nancy and Walter sat side by side on one sofa, while Letitia’s parents were on another, and Letitia herself was relaxing in a chair.

Nancy rose from her seat and greeted Seraphina with a motherly hug. “Merry Christmas, my dear.”

Seraphina hugged her back. “Merry Christmas to you too.”

When they’d first married, she hadn’t been sure how Lord and Lady Wembley would feel about her, considering all of the public fuss, but for the most part, Lady Wembley—Nancy—just seemed pleased that Trevor was married, and none of Walter’s parliamentary pursuits had been hampered, so he didn’t care what had happened.

Seraphina released Nancy and bent to embrace Letitia, then dropped onto the last sofa. Trevor sat beside her, their hands still joined.

The exchange of gifts didn’t take as long as it might have if Letitia’s many brothers had joined them along with their families, but they’d each declined the invitation, reluctant to travel in the snow.

She’d snuck Letitia her proper present yesterday—a nonreactive platinum crucible she’d mentioned wanting to improve the accuracy of her measurements—but gave her a pretty bonnet today, since she doubted even Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers’s tolerance of Letitia’s scientific activities would extend as far as incorporating them into traditional celebrations.

She’d also had a conversation with her friend that left her unsettled. Letitia had asked about bedroom intimacies. Seraphina had been happy to answer her questions, but she’d been left with the impression that Letitia was still rather curious, and Letitia wasn’t one to let curiosity go unsatisfied, which made Seraphina wonder what she might do to satiate it.

She was jolted from her introspection when Trevor presented her with a new textbook for her growing collection, and she gave him a framed copy of his latest published academic text.

Once all of the gifts were with their recipients, she leaned into Trevor, silently letting him know that it was time, then cleared her throat. “Trevor and I have news to share.”