Five years later

The family was spending the summer at Dain Castle, the Marquessate of Dain’s county seat all of the way up North in Dain County. The ancestral home was a sprawling, impressive stone fortress that was cozy and ornate inside.

Sebastian watched as his son ran across the wide, verdant lawn. William was a strapping lad of five years. He had his mother’s blonde hair and green eyes. He was a precocious child, who showed no signs of the wasting illness. He seemed, for all the world, happy and healthy.

“He’s never still,” Eliza said, shaking her head. She was dressed in a bright blue muslin. Her blonde hair in a neat bun.

“No. He can’t bear it,” Sebastian agreed, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulders. He was still madly in love with her. He knew that he always would be. Though theirs had originally been a marriage of convenience, it had grown into something that was so much more. With every day that passed, he fell more and more in love with her.

“Where are Lord and Lady Colchester?” she murmured. Matthew and Judith were staying there, as well. Heaven knew, there was more than enough room for everyone.

“Lord and Lady Colchester are coming down with their flock of children,” Sebastian told her. “I passed them all on the stairs.” Matthew and Judith had given birth to twins one year, and then had a third the next. They showed no signs of stopping, for Judith was pregnant again already.

“Good,” Eliza said.

Sebastian and Eliza had no plans of any more children. There was too much at stake, even if Teresa claimed that she was content with her life. Though they had found ways to still make love—they were careful.

“They should be here any moment,” Seb murmured, turning to peer through the closed French doors that led into the house.

The butler walked out, then, with Judith and Matthew and their children walking behind him. They went to greet them. William came running up to greet his cousins. The children all acted as though they hadn’t seen each other in ages, though they had all breakfasted in the nursery together.

“Oh, Eliza,” Judith said, taking her hands in her own. “I received a letter from Lady Frobisher, who is spending the summer at her husband’s estate just outside of London. She’s written to tell me the most awful news.”

“What is it?” Sebastian demanded, a chill running down his spine.

“It’s Lord Wyhurst,” she replied. “He’s getting married.”

They all shared dark, worried looks. Sebastian feared for this lady. No good could come of her marrying the Earl of Wyhurst.

“That poor lady,” Eliza crooned, her fingers moving to her lips. “Who?”

“Lord Willington’s daughter, Lady Arielle Northrup.”

“Oh, but she’s only just debuted this past Season,” Eliza gasped, no doubt recalling her own disastrous debut ball.

Sebastian felt angry, though he didn’t know what could be done. Though he had been there to save Eliza when she needed him, he wondered who would rescue Lady Arielle, when Lord Willington had already made up his mind.

The sun slipped out from behind the clouds as they all stood there, each of them worried for the fate of that poor lady at the hands of Lord Wyhurst.

The Colchester children ran out across the lawn with the future Lord Dain. William’s nurse was chasing after them, trying to get them all to sit down on the picnic blanket, to no avail.

Meanwhile, Teresa was wheeled out by Sister Agatha onto the terrace. She smiled as she beheld the gathering, and Sebastian recalled what she had said, years ago. Though she had suffered, there was still joy in her life. But what joy could be found, when one was married to a dishonorable gentleman?

Sebastian turned to Eliza. “Perhaps, Matthew and I ought to talk to Lord Willington.”

“It might work,” Matthew mused.

“Oh, would you?” Eliza asked. “I cannot bear the thought of any lady having to live her life with that scoundrel.”
Sebastian kissed her on the cheek. It was certainly a start.

“Perhaps we all ought to go,” Eliza suggested. “Surely, Lord Willington would listen to reason.”

“That’s a very good idea, my love,” Sebastian murmured. “You are the most persuasive lady of all of my acquaintance.” The smile that they shared was all too knowing. The one thing that Sebastian had learned, aside from how to open his heart to love was that Eliza Campden, the Marchioness of Dain, when determined to have her way was a most formidable opponent.

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