Heron House
Four Years Later
T he ton had truly hated her wedding, which happened quite quickly in the middle of the night because Maximus had not wanted to wait, and nor had she.
Not because either of them was afraid, but because they wanted to belong to each other. Immediately. Before God and their families.
The years that had passed after had been wild, full of ups and downs. There was the war on the Continent. Another war had started with the United States of America. Peggy and Maximus had been each other’s constants.
Sometimes, it felt as if the future was entirely uncertain, but the future had always been entirely uncertain, and it always would be. The only thing that was certain was their love for each other, and the way they were anchors in a world that seemed to be going mad every day.
Despite the ton, who they largely ignored because they could, they laughed together, they cried together, and they fought injustice together.
Her grandmother and her mother had purpose now and were more vital than they ever had been. They loved living in Heron House, studying the great playwrights, and performing with the dowager duchess almost every night.
And Peggy loved living with the great big family that was the Briarwoods.
Even more so, she loved the little girl who sat before her father on Mercutio as she followed on Angelica with their son in her arms.
Her daughter laughed and pointed at butterflies as they made their way easily along a path that was beside the river. Maximus held her tenderly, as Mercutio picked his way carefully along the path.
The great stallion had, much like her husband, settled in the last years, making peace with his wounds.
Mercutio still never went anywhere without Angelica at his side, but now, like Maximus, he seemed at peace, no longer caught up in the pain that had once consumed him.
A gentle, warm breeze blew through their son’s hair, pulling at her own bonnet too.
He let out a laugh, as if the wind was his playfellow.
Angelica knickered happily, for she dearly loved it when the children came on rides with them through the countryside.
Their son was perfect, bold, happy.
And their daughter? Tears of gratitude filled Peggy’s eyes. Her little girl would never know fear. She would never sit in a window, waiting for her mother to come home. She would never have a heart terrified of being broken. She would know that the world was full of wonders that were greater than the terrors. Their little girl would know she was safe. Their children would grow in the strength and knowledge that their father loved them, their mother loved them, and that there would always be enough.
Maximus glanced back, his eye patch still giving him that roguish look she adored so much.
He smiled slowly, and her heart—oh, her very lucky heart—was whole. Because their hearts were one.
The End