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Nicholas certainly agreed and he tried to let her know as vocally as he could – at least for someone his age – reaching out to pat her face with his open palm.

Holding him like this, Anna recalled just how much she wanted a child of her own, how she yearned to start a family with her husband and fill their home with such adorable laughter.

As though Julian knew the thoughts swirling in her mind, as she looked up at him, he mouthed a single word to her that renewed her hope.

“Soon.”

She smiled, heart warming as she returned her attention back to Nicholas, interrupted by a knock at the door and moments later, Margeret walked into the nursery, with a few others in tow.

“I find it interesting how the bride is so far away from her own wedding breakfast. Since you have officially tied the knot, Seth is calmer and is even helping to stall the guests. However, it won’t be long before he begins to miss you,” Lysander teased, stepping out from behind his wife.

Marjorie blushed, gesturing at her son in Anna’s arms.

“I only wished to check on Nicholas for a moment. I shall return as soon as he is fed.” She reassured.

Meanwhile, Margaret moved closer, her sister – Catherine Richards, the duchess of Rosehall who Margaret had introduced at the start of the wedding to Anna – followed closely.

They both seemed utterly enamored by the sight of Nicholas, who apparently loved all the attention he was getting because he looked so happy as gently fingers petted his hair and held his hand.

“Oh Marjorie, he is an absolute angel! And he really does have Seth’s eyes!” Margaret beamed.

“He is so pleasantly well-behaved too! Perhaps when you are a little older, we shall organize dates for you to play with our children as well,” Catherine whispered conspiratorially.

Nicholas clearly liked the sound of that because he clapped his hands happily, following the duchess of Rosehall’s words. Sampson Richards, the duke of Rosehall, smiled as his wife squealed, clearly affected by joy the child was spreading, clearing his throat gently before he urged.

“Perhaps we should return to the ballroom. The sooner the breakfast is over, the sooner we all can return to fawning over this little one.”

“You are absolutely right,” Catherine agreed with her husband, moving to his side to cling to his arm.

Margaret patted Nicholas’ head gently one more time before she whispered,

“Goodbye, Nicholas. We will see you soon.”

Anna caressed his cheek lightly, smiling as he tried to cling to her fingers, stamping out the feeling of longing swirling in her heart as she returned the child to his mother.

“Goodbye, Nicholas,” she said, blowing him a little kiss.

Marjorie gave her a look of appreciation and Anna left the nursery with the others, sighing as Julian wrapped an arm around her.

“I’d almost forgotten how much I missed him.” She stated quietly.

Julian pressed a kiss to her temple and softly reassured,

“They won’t be too far from us. We can visit anytime you wish.”

His words were as comforting as he had intended them to be, but Anna was still stuck on the incomplete echo that drifted in and out of her marriage.

She did not want to push, as neither of them could control when she could be with child, and they had already been doing what they could to facilitate the process.

However, she still dreamt of laughter filling the halls and little boys and girls with Julian’s eyes and her smile.

When they were settled in the ballroom, the wedding breakfast commenced a few minutes later when Marjorie arrived and immediately placed herself in the hands of her husband. They both looked happy beyond words and Anna was thankful that she could share in their joy.

Eventually, the new couple took to the dance floor to waltz, attracting wistful sighs and chatter of admiration. Anna shared the sentiment, relieved that after all Seth and Marjorie had been through, they had not only found happiness, but each other in the end.

“I am truly proud of him,” Julian murmured, leaning towards her.

“I had always felt like the highest form of responsibility I’d feel over him would be keeping him alive.

I thought that it was the best I could do, all I owed to him and myself.

But seeing him now — knowing that I had a hand in giving him that ridiculous smile…

it makes me feel fulfilled. And somewhat relieved. ”

He slipped a hand over Anna’s and smiled sweetly at her.

“Now that his matters have been settled, I can focus on my own. On you. I had told you before, that I would ensure that our honeymoon would be special and I meant it. I have planned us a trip to Greece. You and I can leave all of this behind — if only for a little while — and focus on each other. Just you and I, together, surrounded by wonderful sights, with new memories and experiences to be had. What do you say, my love?”

Joy filled Anna’s heart immediately, and as her lips parted to express as much, a thought occurred to her and she faltered.

“I would love nothing more, my darling husband. But I fear I cannot leave until I have dealt with some matters of my own. My parents… I would like to speak to them. They have wronged me and I have not forgiven them, but I would like to. I want them to see me, and hear me for once and understand that their misbehavior has no place in the new life I am building with you. I would like to eradicate anything that would threaten to tie me to the past. You are my future and I want to revel in the possibilities of what lies ahead of us.” She told him calmly.

Julian nodded sagely, raising her hand to his lips, littering her knuckles with gentle kisses.

“I understand and I agree with you. You may take your time to sort this out, as you wish. I will be by your side, offering you all the support I can along the way.” He said with a smile.

Anna smiled back, feeling a little emotional as she asked.

“What did I do to deserve someone as wonderful?”

Julian chuckled, turning her hand over to press a kiss over her wrist.

“Do not be silly, wife. I am certain that you were born to give my life meaning. It is I who have earned the right to deserve you.”

The prospect of facing her parents made Anna a tad anxious, but she recognized that she was not who she once was and therefore would not stand for the things she has endured at their hands. And with husband by her side, she knew did certain that she would be just fine, come what may.