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“I cannot speak on his feelings for you, but I believe you should know that Seth has met Nicholas. And he was enchanted with him. He is unsure of what the life of a father will be like, but I believe he wants to try. For the sake of your child. And I think that is quite brave. You have made mistakes in the past and you are all ready to pay for them and you wish to do right by your son. What matters is that you do it all together. I don’t quite know what it’s like to be loved, but I know that love that persists is all that you will need to keep each other strong. ”

Marjorie nodded fiercely. “If he wants me too, I would like to start a life with him. Properly. I did not believe in that sort of thing until I met Seth. And although we did not do things in the right order, I refuse to believe it is too late for us to try again at a decent life.”

“Neither did I. I never expected that I would want to have a family of my own. But tending to Nicholas, caring for him, and protecting him has shown me that my heart had more depth than initially believed. He has given me so much strength and encouragement to want more out of my life, even though it might not work out the way I wish.” Anna admitted.

It was all so heavy, the feelings swirling within her. The sense of loss she had feared would manifest when she faced Nicholas’ mother had been smaller than she expected it to be, towered by the understanding of this woman’s predicament and the situations that led her to make the choices she did.

She already missed Nicholas immensely but even more so, she was eager for his life to begin the way it was meant to unfold, regardless of whether or not his father would step up to do the right thing for all their sakes.

But also, it pushed her to reflect on all that had transpired between herself and Julian, and she believed she had waited enough.

She waited for him to remember her, deem her worthy of a proper marriage, and return home. She waited for him to choose to try and have a meaningful relationship during his stay, hoping it would convince him that he was where he belonged. And she had waited for him to love her as she loved him.

But it was clear now, that none of what she hoped for was ever going to come to fruition the way she wanted it, because Julian was simply not that sort of man.

It was devastating, but she needed to accept her reality for what it was.

“I am glad he was able to bring you some semblance of comfort. You are a wonderful, lovely woman, Your Grace. I am certain that your children will be blessed to have you as their mother. And my son is fortunate to have such a wonderful aunt.” Marjorie assured with a smile.

“Thank you, truly —”

“Marjorie! Marjorie, are you really here?!”

Miss Snowley jumped, startled at the loud voice that was screaming her name, recognizing it a moment later.

“Seth. Seth is here,” she stared at Anna, wide-eyed and alarmed.

The duchess patted her shoulders gently.

“Are you ready to face him?”

Marjorie shook her head fiercely as she spoke, “No, but I must. I need to know what my future holds.”

“I will go down with you. Do not worry.”

Together, they made their way back downstairs, faltering at the sight of Julian threatening to smack Seth on the back of his head.

“Would it kill you to act with a twinge of decorum? Would you like the entire estate to know that you are searching for the mother of your child? Who actually should not even be here and therefore her presence should be kept quiet, to keep things from going away?” he scolded his brother angrily.

“You should’ve sent for me as soon as she arrived. What if she’s left already?” Seth fussed, pacing about.

“How, if I might ask? Through a window? I told you she’s with —”

“I’m here, Seth,” Marjorie spoke up, tightening her grip on Nicholas protectively.

Seth took in the sight of his child in the arms of his former lover and he said,

“So it is true. He is yours.”

“Ours,” she corrected quietly, handing the child to Anna before she stepped closer to Seth. “He is our son, you and I.”

Seth let out a strange, strangled sound before he demanded,

“Why did you not tell me? How could you hide something so important — how could you keep him from me for so long?”

“I did not believe you cared enough about me or my affairs and as such, I determined that you wouldn’t care for him either,” Marjorie responded, hiding the tremor in her hands by gripping at her skirts.

Seth looked as though he had been struck across the face.

“How could you believe that?”

“How could I not? After everything you said — after all that we had shared, you had no problem tossing me aside once you no longer found me entertaining enough.” Marjorie said, her voice relaying the hurt in her heart.

Seth shook his head fervently, reaching for her, hurt flashing across his face as she stepped back.

“Marjorie, that wasn’t what I wanted. I am so sorry for the hurt I caused you. I know it seems as though I did not care enough about you, but the truth is… I loved you then. And even now, I still love you.”

Marjorie went still, her eyes wide with shock.

“W-What? But you left me —”

“Because I was scared. I was too much of a coward to admit your feelings for you because I did not believe I was worthy of you. I don’t even — I am not sure if what I truly feel for you is love.

My father’s trysts made me believe that the only way I could be with a woman was for a single night.

Each time my mother tried to beg him to stay with her and his sons, he would laugh in the face of her confessions of love and tell her love did not exist. All I know is…

right now, I can no longer live without you.

I tried to put some distance between us because I thought it would be for the best but I can no longer stay away.

If you’ll have me, I would like to marry you and spend the rest of my life atoning for my sins and proving to you, just how much you mean to me. Both you and our son.”

Seth sank to his knees before Marjorie opened his arms and declared,

“Marry me, Marjorie Snowley.”