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EPILOGUE
Fall 1865, 18 months later
“Ouch! Mama, Ned hit me,” Sadie, a blond-haired girl of twelve, said to Selena.
“Ned, dear, don’t hit your sister,” Selena chastised the eight-year-old boy.
Owen shook his head and gave his son a stern stare. It was still hard to believe that just a year ago, he and Selena had welcomed three miracles into their lives. They had adopted three siblings from an orphanage in London. Sadie was the oldest, followed by Ned, and Victor was the youngest, at six. When they had met the children, they had known they could not separate them and had readily taken them all home.
It had been an adjustment for everyone, but now they had fallen into a routine. Owen was happier than he had ever been, and now they were headed north toward Lincolnshire to see his old friends from the military hospital. The family was on the last leg of the journey and were crammed into one carriage, hence the close quarters and the sibling bickering.
“It’s not as big as our house, is it, Father?” Victor said, from his seat on Owen’s lap.
“That is not a polite thing to say. Remember your manners, Victor. Besides, it is a delightful house. It definitely looks newer than our house.”
The carriage pulled up, and the party alighted from the coach. A servant met them at the door.
“Lord Fernsby and family,” Owen said.
The male servant bowed. “This way, your lordship.”
They entered the main hall of the house. Owen had been correct. The structure was newer than Stonegate. The faint smell of fresh paint hung in the air. Davis must do well for himself, Owen thought. They went down the hall, and Owen could hear voices. His excitement grew as they got closer.
“Lord and Lady Fernsby,” the servant announced.
Owen and Selena stepped inside the room, the children close behind. He saw Davis and Shaw immediately, and there was a third man he didn’t recognize. Then it dawned on him.
“Adwell?” Owen exclaimed.
“Hard to recognize me without all the bandages, isn’t it?” Lucien came up to Owen, a large grin on his face. “How are you, my friend?” The men shook hands.
“I am well. May I introduce my wife, Selena, and these are our children, Sadie, Ned and Victor.”
All at once, the other occupants came up to them. The men introduced their wives. Lucien also told him his two nieces and twin infants were in attendance as well.
“I’ll get Julianna and Georgiana so they can meet your children,” Maggie, Lucien’s wife, said and hurried out the door.
“Girls?” Sadie said excitedly. “Finally, I can have someone to play with besides these two.”
Everyone laughed at the young girl's enthusiasm. Within a few minutes, they heard giggles outside the drawing room. Lucien’s young nieces came bursting through the door, causing more of a commotion. Luckily, Maggie had also brought a nanny, who quickly shuffled all the children out the door so the adults could have some peace and quiet.
Owen turned toward his friends. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see everyone. It was a wonderful idea, Davis.”
“Lily and I are happy to have everyone.”
“Perhaps we can have everyone next year,” Lucien said.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Maggie said.
“We should make it a yearly gathering,” Royce stated.
The ladies separated, taking Selena with them. Owen gave her a wink as she settled in with the other wives.
“How is the amnesia?” Dorian’s question brought Owen’s attention around.
“All of my memories returned.”
“That’s wonderful,” Royce said.
