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He got up, falling at her feet. He gazed up at her ardently. “I cannot believe it, Jane,” he said, his voice breaking. “I wished for this day to come so much that now it is here, it is as if it is a dream. Must I pinch myself to wake up?”
She laughed softly, stroking his hair, her green eyes bright with love. He saw it there, in the depths of those beautiful eyes, shining so brightly that it was like a beacon. She truly did love him as much as he loved her.
“You do not need to pinch yourself,” she said. “The day has finally arrived, my love. And it is a glorious day indeed.”
They clung to each other, not speaking, for a long time. A blessed peace stole over him. He didn’t think he had ever felt such peace in his life. It was as if the pain of his childhood, watching his mother yearning for his father, finally faded away.
Jane was the one who had taken it away from him. It could only have happened with her. And now that this blessed day had finally arrived, the day when they both surrendered to their love utterly and completely and committed to spending their lives together, he knew that the past was gone for both of them forever. It was done. At last.
They sealed it with a kiss. He found her lips eagerly, but this was no time for unrestrained passion. That time would come again very soon, and then again, a whole lifetime of it to look forward to. This kiss was full of tenderness and quiet joy and commitment to one another.
It was simply the happiest moment of his life.
***
Jane walked to the parlour window, gazing out with unseeing eyes. Her heart was so full it could barely be contained. Percy had gone to speak to her father in his study, asking formally for her hand. It was a mere formality, for Jane already knew that her father was planning to give his permission.
Marianne walked into the room. Jane turned. Her sister gasped, running to her side.
“I can see by the joy in your face that it is done,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “Little sister, you have made the right decision. You and Percy are going to be so happy together. Your whole life awaits you.”
Jane smiled serenely. “Thank you, Marianne. For everything.”
Her sister looked abashed. “I did not do anything much. I simply tried to steer you in the direction you were always meant to go in."
Jane shook her head. “No, Marianne. It was much more than that. It was you who finally gave me permission to let go of the vow. It was you who finally made me wake up and realise that I was hanging onto something that I must let go.” She smiled. “And it was you who brought us together in the first place.”
Marianne laughed, looking pleased. “Everyone needs a little guardian angel upon their shoulder from time to time, sister. And I am happy to have been yours when you needed it.”
A rush of emotion swept between them. They were silent for a moment.
“She would understand, you know,” said Marianne in a soft voice. “If she were here now, she would give you her blessing if she saw how happy the two of you are together. The woman she became at the end was not the woman she really was, Jane.”
“I know,” said Jane, swallowing a lump in her throat. “I went to her gravestone last evening and spoke with her.” She thought of the owl in the tree. “I feel she was there. And she was happy for me. It is done. Forever.”
The two sisters hugged fiercely. Both were crying when they pulled away.
“How is Lucy?” asked Jane in a wry voice.
Marianne laughed. “She is still sulking in her room. But she will come around. One day she shall realise that this is all for the best as well. Perhaps she might even find her own love match one day and bless you both for the fact she never became the Countess of Carlisle.”
They laughed, hugging again. At that moment, Percy came back into the room. He stood there staring at them both. His face was filled with quiet joy.
“It is done,” he said, his face breaking into a smile. “Your father gave his permission, Jane. We are to marry.”
“Congratulations,” cried Marianne.
Jane let out a shout of joy, rushing over to him. He gathered her up in his arms, spinning her around until she was quite giddy. She didn’t think she could ever be happier than she was in this moment. Being here in his arms was the only place she ever wanted to be.
Together, they were complete. Two sides of the same coin. And she shuddered to think how close she had come to missing out on this.
Her eyes filled with tears of joy. It had been a long, hard road to get to this place of acceptance and peace and love. But now, she wouldn’t have it any other way. They were meant for each other. And she was going forward into her new life with fierce joy. She was not going to look back. Not for a single moment.
Epilogue
Jane gazed around at all the people sitting at the long tables. They were talking and laughing and looking like they didn’t have a care in the world. Arrangements of flowers in tall vases were scattered across the room. It was so perfect, so very beautiful, that she felt like weeping.
A hand took her own. Her heart leapt. She turned to the handsome man sitting by her side.
