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A thena Taylor and Ian Vernon were married three months later, on a blustery day in late January when the snow covering the ground matched Athena’s gown of pure, white silk.

The bride, fit to burst with happiness, wore a veil of Belgian lace that Mrs. Hillman had worn in her own wedding. Athena carried a bouquet of sage, pine, hellebores, and snowdrops that had pushed their way up through the frosty terrain as if determined to share in the couple’s bounty.

The ceremony was held in the village church. To Athena’s delight, her brother, Damon, tall and handsome in his white, linen surplice and cassock, had taken leave from his parish in London to officiate as she and her new husband exchanged their vows.

They had kept the guest list to a minimum, including only close family and Mrs. Hillman, Bridget and George Osborn, Edward Ackroyd, the servants at Thorndale Manor, and the school’s pupils.

Ever since Caroline Vernon’s full pardon, all their former students had returned, and they had received applications for several more.

Selena was the maid of honor. Caroline Vernon—or rather, the newly married Mrs. Edward Ackroyd—was a bridesmaid. Both young women beamed as they walked down the aisle, pictures of perfection in their pale-pink satin gowns.

Athena’s wounds had long since healed and she and her sister—both fully recovered from the effects of the fire at the dower house—were grateful to feel in perfect health and able to enjoy every moment of this special day.

To Athena’s regret, her sister Diana and her husband had been unable to attend.

Captain Fallbrook was away at sea and Diana was in her ninth month of pregnancy, expected to deliver in a week or two.

She had sent a thoughtful and generous gift—the funds to renovate the master suite at Thorndale Manor for the newly wedded couple—and a promise to visit as soon as she and her new child were allowed to travel.

After the service, the merry guests gathered in the Thorndale Manor dining room for the wedding breakfast.

“May I have your attention?” Ian called out, standing up beside his seated bride at the head table.

“Thank you all for coming today and sharing the happiest day of my life. I should like to propose a toast to my new bride.” He raised his wineglass.

When their guests had all followed suit, he continued.

“I wouldn’t blame Athena if she—and all of you—think I only married her to regain the chance to live at Thorndale Manor.

But I promise you, that’s not the case.”

The crowd chuckled. Athena’s laugh was filled with empathy, for she understood how much this old house meant to Ian.

As an example of his gallantry and forward thinking, Ian was working with an attorney to have Thorndale Manor put in both his wife’s name and his own— a remarkable concept , Athena thought.

It felt right to Athena, to know that the estate that had been Ian’s birthright had been returned to him.

It was as if the universe were righting a terrible wrong.

“I asked Athena to be my wife,” her husband went on, “because I had the wisdom to recognize her as the kindest, cleverest, most thoughtful, hardworking, and truly extraordinary woman I had ever met. A woman who, when she gets an idea into her head, will not give it up for anything.” He gazed down at Athena, his eyes lit with such affection, it made her heart turn over.

“I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you, my darling, for not only rescuing my sister from a lifetime of imprisonment, but for rescuing me as well, from a lifetime of despair and loneliness. I am the luckiest man on Earth that you consented to share your life with me and I love you more than words can say. To my new bride!”

“Hear, hear!” cried the assembled guests.

Athena stood and kissed her husband, which resulted in a volley of hoots and cheers.

“Words cannot express how happy and grateful I am to have reached this day,” she told the crowd. “My dear husband’s many fine qualities are too innumerable to recount here. So, I shall be brief and simply say: I love him dearly and I look forward to our life together.”

More cheers followed.

Selena stood next and proposed a toast. “Athena and I have been so close since childhood, it is difficult to conceive that I must make room in our lives for someone new—that she will be not only my sister, but someone’s wife and no doubt, one day soon, someone’s mother as well.

” As the group hooted at this, Selena continued.

“But I couldn’t be happier for my sister in her choice of husband.

Athena and Ian, you are both remarkable human beings and I believe you are perfectly suited to one another.

I wish you the greatest happiness in all the years to come.

And don’t forget, Ian, I am right here, watching, lest you make any missteps. ”

Laughter met this declaration. Damon gave the next tribute.

“I could not willingly let my sister Athena go, had she chosen anyone less worthy as a life partner. But I have gotten to know Ian Vernon over the past few days, and I deem him to be the best of men. I won’t be a stranger, you two.

I plan to visit more often in future—and not just for a wedding. ”

“You are always welcome,” Ian said, smiling, and Athena echoed the sentiment.

Raising his glass, Damon added, “May thy life be long and happy, thy cares and sorrows few, and the many friends around thee prove faithful, fond, and true.”

Following the applause, Caroline Ackroyd stood and raised her glass.

“I wish to thank my brother, who has so devotedly looked after me all these years, and my new sisters-in-law, two remarkable women who put their own lives at risk to free me from a deadly fate. I am only here today because of these three wonderful people. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I should also like to thank my dear husband, for never wavering in his love for me, even after nine years apart. More than that—he thought he would never see me again, and still, he didn’t move on.

” Her voice cracked, and she paused as if to gather herself, exchanging an adoring look with her husband.

“Those nine years were the hardest years of my life—and his too, or so he tells me—and yet the moment we were reunited, it was as if no time at all had passed between us.”

The room burst into happy applause. Caroline resumed her seat and was met with a kiss from Edward Ackroyd, whose joyful expression matched her own.

Athena was touched by the obvious affection between the two—and profoundly glad that they were at last united.

“If only they weren’t moving so far away,” Selena whispered in Athena’s ear.

“Yes, it’s sad for us, but I’m happy for them ,” Athena whispered in return.

Edward had balked at the idea of spending any more time at sea, away from his new wife, and had instead taken a position as an instructor at the Royal Naval Academy at Portsmouth.

The couple was moving soon to that southern coastal city, where Athena suspected they would be very happy.

She gave Mr. Ackroyd a smile across the table, which he returned in kind.

He had explained to Athena why he’d lied about being at the garden party.

He’d been embarrassed for not trying to rescue Miss Vernon that night from the hands of Harold Sinclair.

“I should have punched the man and run off with her that very moment,” he’d told Athena, “even though we probably wouldn’t have made it as far as the front door, and I would have been thrown in the brig. ”

Athena couldn’t help but glance at a nearby table, where Lucy Russell sat giggling with her schoolmates.

Miss Russell and her mother and father were still unaware of her true parentage.

Caroline had said she might never tell them.

Edward had been shocked to learn he’d had a daughter who’d had to be given up and dismayed by the part that Caroline’s pregnancy had played in forcing her secret internment.

But he was grateful their daughter had found a good home, and happy that they could see her now and then and to know that she was thriving.

Mrs. Hillman was the next to propose a toast. “I see you two together and it reminds me of the way my husband and I felt about each other when we met and fell in love. Ian, you joked about marrying Athena to reclaim Thorndale Manor. I know that was not your reason, but I also know how happy you will be to live here again, and to raise your family here. Which brings me to my next point. Thorndale Manor has served well as the home for the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls. But now that you are married, I think you may wish for more privacy.”

Athena wondered where Mrs. Hillman was going with this.

Mrs. Hillman darted a questioning look towards Ian, which he returned with an affirming nod.

Glancing down at the young woman seated beside her, Mrs. Hillman continued.

“Miss Selena. Although your sister is the headmistress of your school, I know how hard you have worked to help keep it afloat and what a talented and dedicated teacher you are. I was not blessed with children, but during the afternoons we have spent together, reading our favorite novels, I have come to feel as close to you as if you were my own daughter.”

Selena squeezed the older woman’s hand, and their eyes met with affection. “I feel the same way about you, my dearest Mrs. Hillman. As if you have come into my life to replace the mother I lost so long ago.”

Mrs. Hillman smiled. “Which leads me to this announcement, my dear. It has long been a dilemma to decide to whom to bequeath my estate. But it is a dilemma no longer.” Addressing the group at large, she added, “I have revised my will, and I am leaving Darkmoor Park to Miss Selena.”

A gasp erupted from all assembled, the loudest exclamation coming from Selena herself. “Mrs. Hillman! You cannot mean it!”

“Oh, but I do. For many years, I had considered leaving my property to Ian. But as you know, he is already well provided for.”

“I am, indeed.” Ian smiled at Athena, his blue eyes twinkling.

Athena was too overwhelmed by Mrs. Hillman’s generosity to speak.

“But back to you, Miss Selena. My bequest comes with two provisions. The first: that you be allowed to move in at any time you like, even while I am still living. I need time to teach you how to manage the estate, and I would love for you to reside with me.”

Selena shook her head as if in wonder. “It would be an honor.”

Mrs. Hillman turned to address Athena. “My second provision is this—or perhaps it is not a provision at all but rather a hope. It is my dearest wish that Darkmoor Park will, one day, become the new home for the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls. For I am tired of living alone. I was a schoolmistress once, in my early years. The idea of being surrounded by young people again is very appealing.”

Ian gripped Athena’s hand and whispered in her ear, “What do you think, my love?”

“I don’t know,” she murmured, pondering the notion. Did she want to move the school to Darkmoor Park? “Mrs. Hillman does make a good point,” Athena admitted. “About retaining our privacy, while the school continues at an even larger property. Perhaps we can consider it.”

He nodded, his eyes bright.

Selena rose and wrapped her arms around Mrs. Hillman. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t deserve such munificence. How can I ever thank you?”

Mrs. Hillman returned the embrace as a hush fell on the room. “There is no need to thank me, my dear. This gift comes with strings attached, after all. You will be obliged to live with me for the rest of my life.”

“A privilege for which I shall always be grateful,” Selena responded.

That afternoon, after the guests had left, Athena and her husband escaped outdoors, where sunlight sparkled on the snow-covered lawns and trees.

“A fine wedding, Mrs. Vernon,” he pronounced as they wandered hand in hand along paths that had been recently cleared of snow.

“It was like a dream.” In the frigid air, their breath came out in misty clouds.

They had agreed to postpone a honeymoon trip—destination as yet undecided—until the summer, when school was not in session. Athena’s cheeks grew warm at the thrilling thought of the wedding night ahead, as well as the few days to follow, which they would spend in privacy at Thorndale Cottage.

“A dream from which I never wish to wake.” He stopped and took Athena in his arms. “You are my heart and my life, my darling Athena. I love you so.”

“And I love you, my dearest.”

They kissed, a kiss filled with all the affection that rang in their hearts. Athena knew how fortunate she was, to have survived to see this day and to have found her champion and soulmate. This wonderful man understood her and loved her, and she loved him with every breath she took.

They would be each other’s other half and greatest support in the ups and downs of life.

Whatever lay ahead, they would face it happily together.