Page 33 of A Cursed Bride for the Duke (Cursed Brides #1)
Five Years Later
“Not too far, darlings!” Genevieve called, her voice carrying the gentle authority of a mother.
She smiled as Charlotte paused to wave before darting off again, her giggles echoing through the park.
The gardens of Hyde Park basked in the gentle warmth of a late spring morning. Sunlight filtered through a canopy of leaves, dappling the ground with patches of gold. The air was filled with bright, carefree, and joyous laughter.
Genevieve’s bonnet tilted slightly as she watched her two children darting through the grass ahead. Charlotte, with her golden curls, squealed as her younger brother William chased after her, his chubby legs moving with determination.
Wilhelm stood beside her, his hand resting lightly on the back of the pram where their youngest, a six-month-old boy named Henry, lay peacefully, gurgling at the fluttering leaves overhead.
“Charlotte has your spirit,” Wilhelm remarked, his voice laced with amusement. “Fearless and always a step ahead.”
“And William has yours,” Genevieve countered, her eyes sparkling. “Determined, stubborn, and… utterly charming.”
Wilhelm chuckled, slipping his free hand into hers. “And Henry?” he asked, glancing down at the baby.
Genevieve’s smile softened as she reached out to adjust the blanket around their youngest. “Henry is… pure joy,” she murmured. “He is the best of both of us.”
They strolled leisurely around the garden, the serene melody of birdsong accompanying their steps. Up ahead, another couple waved, their figures framed by the vibrant blossoms of a cherry tree.
“Marianne looks radiant,” Genevieve observed as they drew closer.
Her friend was holding the hand of a little boy who could only be Owen’s son—dark-haired and sturdy, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Beside her, Owen carried a squirming toddler, her chubby arms reaching for the blossoms above.
“Genevieve!” Marianne greeted with a bright smile, her arms open for an affectionate embrace. “Wilhelm, always a pleasure.”
Genevieve smiled, pulling her friend into a hug. “You have been busy, I see.” She glanced over at Owen, who was balancing Clara in one arm as she wriggled in protest. “They are growing so fast.”
Owen chuckled, shifting Clara so she could reach for a low-hanging tree branch. “Clara is determined to climb every tree in Hyde Park. She clearly takes after her mother.”
Marianne laughed, her eyes twinkling with pride. “If by ‘climbing’ you mean getting into trouble, then yes, absolutely.”
Genevieve watched as Clara, now sitting on the grass, began pulling up handfuls of daisies to present them proudly to Edward, who was crouched beside her.
“And Edward?” she asked, smiling as the little boy carefully inspected a twig he had found.
“That one is all Owen,” Marianne said, shaking her head in mock exasperation. “He is always getting into something he should not.”
At that, Edward looked up, his eyes sparkling as he scrambled to his feet, pointing excitedly at the little fountain. “Water!” he shouted, his chubby hands waving eagerly.
Genevieve laughed, her heart warmed by the sight of their children already caught up in their own world. “They are a handful, are they not?”
Owen grinned. “At least they are all together now. Keeps them occupied.”
Marianne’s gaze softened as she leaned into him. “And yet, we never seem to tire of them.”
“Speaking of climbing,” Wilhelm interjected, glancing towards the nearby oak tree, where Charlotte had begun a daring ascent. “I believe we have spotted the culprit.”
“Charlotte Addington, you will come down this instant!” Genevieve called out, her tone a perfect blend of sternness and affection.
With a sheepish grin, Charlotte slid back down, her dress catching briefly in a branch before she landed with a soft thud. William clapped enthusiastically from below.
“You see?” Wilhelm murmured to Owen. “Fearless.”
As the families settled on a patch of grass beneath a cherry tree, the children gathered around, their laughter mingling with the gentle rustling of leaves.
Edward and William quickly devised a game involving sticks and imaginary swords, while Clara toddled after Charlotte, who had taken it upon herself to ‘teach’ the younger girl the proper method of collecting daisies.
Marianne leaned back against Owen, her head resting on his shoulder. “It feels like a lifetime ago that we were all caught up in… well, everything,” she mused, her voice tinged with nostalgia.
Genevieve nodded, her gaze drifting towards Wilhelm. His features, once shadowed by loneliness, were now bright with happiness.
“It does,” she agreed quietly. “And yet, it feels as though we have always been here, like this.”
Owen chuckled. “I, for one, am glad those days are behind us. I prefer the calm.”
“Calm?” Marianne teased, arching an eyebrow. “With two children under five? My dear, you must be referring to someone else’s life.”
The group laughed, the sound light and unburdened.
As the afternoon wore on, the children’s games grew more elaborate, and the adults took turns chasing after the younger ones.
At one point, Wilhelm was ‘captured’ by Edward and William, the two boys declaring him their prisoner.
“I demand a trial!” he protested, his mock outrage drawing peals of laughter.
Charlotte, always the ringleader, placed her hands on her hips. “Very well,” she declared with dramatic flair. “Papa, you are charged with… stealing Mama’s kisses!”
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching with amusement. “And what is the punishment for such a crime?”
Charlotte tapped a finger on her chin thoughtfully. “You must… carry us all to the fountain!”
Wilhelm groaned theatrically, scooping up Charlotte and William with ease. “Very well,” he said, “but only because I am guilty as charged.”
As he made his way to the fountain, Marianne turned to Genevieve, her expression softening. “You have done well,” she said quietly. “Wilhelm, the children… it’s all so lovely.”
Genevieve smiled, her eyes following her husband and children. “It has not always been easy,” she admitted. “But it has been worth every moment.”
Marianne nodded, her gaze drifting to Owen, who was now trying to keep Clara from wandering too close to the water’s edge. “I feel the same,” she said.
The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the garden. The families gathered their belongings, the children reluctant to leave their games behind.
As they made their way back to their carriages, Wilhelm wrapped an arm around Genevieve’s waist. “A good day,” he murmured, his voice low and content.
Genevieve leaned into him, her smile soft. “The best,” she agreed.
Ahead of them, Charlotte skipped alongside Marianne, her voice carrying on the breeze as she chatted animatedly. William trotted after Edward, the two boys already plotting their next adventure.
Genevieve glanced down at Henry, who had fallen asleep in the pram, his tiny fist curled against his cheek. Her heart swelled with love, her steps light as they moved forward.
Life was not without its challenges, but as Genevieve glanced around at her family and friends, she knew one thing with certainty—they had found their happiness, and it was more than she had ever dared to dream of.
The End.