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Epilogue

Dearest Mother and Father,

Lord Sherborne delivered your message to me with all haste as you desired. He is a good gentleman, and I am quite glad to have made his and his wife’s acquaintance. How kind of him to assist you in your legal matters, Father.

I am astounded that you should have recovered your fortune in its entirety in so short a time. How can this be? Will you stay with the Weatheringtons? Or resume your lives as before in Bath?

Please do not distress yourself on my behalf.

As it is, your letter arrived too late, and I have already married Colonel Stewart.

My pick of the men in London you say? I shan’t, for I will have none other than this man I have married.

There is none better than he, and though our time together has been short, I do indeed love him.

The children are dears, and I cannot wait for you to meet them. We shall pass by the Weatherington’s in but one week.

Wish us joy. I miss you both.

Love,

Cassandra

Nathan put his arms around me. “You didn’t open your Christmas present.”

I spied an odd bundle by the hearth that wasn’t there earlier.

“What is it?”

“Something I believe you failed to pack when you began this adventure.”

I couldn’t think what. I slipped the ribbon away from the bundle and removed the paper. A seashell.

He kissed my cheek. “So you can hear the ocean when you miss it.”

I wrapped my arms around him and never wanted to let go.