A Viscount’s Bet of Seduction – Extended Epilogue

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Two years later

Jocasta, now a full-grown cat, ran silently down the hallway in front of Lucy and turned into the doorway up ahead. Lucy could hear her aunt speaking to the cat. 

Lucy walked down the hall of the manor at Oak Ridge with her one-year-old daughter, Marjorie, balanced on her hip. Her tiny pink fist patted Lucy’s cheek, then grabbed onto one of the curls that framed Lucy’s face. 

Lucy beamed at her daughter, who had the black hair and blue eyes of the Sweet family, though she had Lucy’s heart-shaped face and button nose. Whenever Lucy looked at her daughter, she thought of all of the things that she was going to teach her. 

She wanted Marjorie to be confident in herself. To challenge expectations. Lucy herself always made sure to do so. She might have become a wife and a mother, but she was still an avid reader and a passionate painter. Silas was always happy to back her up. They were a team.  

Lucy peered inside the bedchamber, finding Aunt Joan still unpacking her things. Dresses were piled on the bed, and Aunt Joan was hanging them up in the large oak armoire in the corner.

Lucy had decorated the room with Aunt Joan in mind. It had blue silk wallpaper, and a blue and white carpet. The wide windows overlooked the front yard, a view that Aunt Joan had declared one of the finest in the country on a previous visit.

“Aunt Joan,” Lucy said. “Did you need anything else? I can send one of the housemaids in to help you, you know.” She glanced over at the bed, where Jocasta had curled up in a ball on Aunt Joan’s pillow. 

“Oh, no, Lucy. I’ll have it all done in a moment,” Aunt Joan assured her. “I just need a little more time.” 

“Do you like the room?” she asked. If her aunt wanted anything, she knew that Silas would be pleased to indulge her. He and Aunt Joan had become very close since he’d married Lucy. He was just as excited as Lucy was that Joan had agreed to come and live with them.  

“This suits me just fine, Lucy,” her aunt replied. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips. “To think that the dear house on Harley Street has been let.” Aunt Joan had decided to rent out the house so that she could earn an income. She liked the couple who had rented it out—an old sea captain and his wife. 

After Marjorie’s birth, Aunt Joan had decided to move to the country, to live closer to the family. Lucy and Silas had hired a nanny to care for Marjorie, but Aunt Joan had declared that she could do a better job herself. How could they refuse her a thing? Lucy was more than happy to help. She was just glad to have Aunt Joan nearby; she missed her immensely when they were apart.  

“I’m glad that you’re going to be staying with us, Aunt Joan,” Lucy said. “I know that Marjorie is excited for you to be here.” 

“Oh, yes!” Aunt Joan said, holding out her hands to Marjorie. “You dear thing!” Marjorie giggled. “We’re going to have the best time, aren’t we?” 

Marjorie held out her pudgy hands to Aunt Joan, who took her from Lucy. Marjorie liked to pat people on the cheeks, particularly people with soft skin, like Aunt Joan, or rough beards, like her father. 

“How about a walk?” Aunt Joan asked. “So we can partake of that fresh, country air!” 

“Let’s do,” Lucy agreed. “We should get out before the guests start arriving for the party.” 

They went downstairs and put Marjorie in her pram, and they began to walk down along the long, winding drive. It was a brilliantly sunny day, and they walked for a long while. 

Life in the country was slow and quiet, and Lucy often missed the bustle of the city. The family would spend winters in the townhouse, and the rest of the year in the countryside. 

Lucy placed her hand on her stomach, where Marjorie’s new brother or sister had recently made their presence known. She wasn’t showing yet, but she could feel the new life stirring within her.  

As they were walking, they came upon Percy Stalton, walking along the road. Immediately, Lucy felt herself tense up. However, this was not the same Percy Stalton that she had known years ago. He seemed older, less confident and full of bravado.  

“Lady Thornbridge,” he said, bowing.

“Mr Stalton,” Lucy replied. She had not seen him in two years, and those two years seemed to have worked a big difference on Percy Stalton. When he smiled, it was genuine. It seemed to sit on his face better, which had filled out. There was no nasty glint in his eyes. “How have you been?” Lucy asked him, suddenly remembering her manners.

“I’ve been well,” he told her. “Thank you for asking. How are you? Are you well? And Silas?”

“Yes, we’re all well,” Lucy assured him. “As you can see, our daughter, Marjorie, is about to turn one.” 

“Oh, she’s very darling,” he replied, looking at the baby, who was staring at him with wide eyes. “She’s certainly one of the Sweets, with that dark hair and those blue eyes.” 

“Yes,” Lucy agreed with a laugh. “She certainly is.” 

Percy nodded, though he seemed a bit sad. His gaze slipped away, and when he spoke, he looked at the dirt.  “I—I want to apologize to you, Lady Thornbridge.” He finally glanced up at her. 

“For what?” she asked. 

“For that bet from years ago,” he explained. “As well as taking that deed. I was absolutely unkind. I was struggling, and I wanted to help myself. Instead, I hurt you, and Silas. For that, I am deeply sorry. I was selfish and cruel. I hate to think about how much I harmed both of you.” 

Lucy smiled at him. This was a reformed Percy Stalton, for Lucy could tell that he actually meant every word that he said. He was looking at her expectantly. 

“Thank you for the apology,” Lucy said. “Though, for my part, I hold no animosity towards you.” She was in too happy a place for that. She could never hold something against someone. And he’d freely admitted that he had made a mistake.  

Mr Stalton smiled, then bowed. “I shall let you all get on,” he said. His gaze fell on Marjorie. “She certainly looks like a Sweet,” he said again.  

“That she is,” Lucy agreed. He began to go on his way, and Lucy and Aunt Joan shared a look. 

“It seems that he has changed,” Aunt Joan murmured. 

“Good for him.” 

“Indeed. We should hurry on home. Or we’ll miss the guests arriving.” 

“Can’t have that.” 

When they arrived home, they found that Michael and Lady Rosemary had arrived. Just as they were all standing in the foyer, Mr Smith opened the door to allow Dinah and Reginald inside. 

“Where’s Marjorie?” Dinah asked. Her stomach was rounded, and she was absolutely glowing. Their first child would be arriving a few months later. Lucy handed the baby over to Dinah, who snuggled her close. 

Silas sidled up beside Lucy, placing a hand on her lower back. She looked over at him, beaming. 

“What say we all head up to the parlour?” he suggested, loudly. “We’ve got lemonade and brandy, as well as some sandwiches.” 

“That sounds capital,” Michael said. Silas’ brother beamed, though his eyes went to Rosemary. Lucy was glad for him—and for her friend. 

As they all began to move toward the stairs, Dinah fell in step with Lucy. “Are the Bordens coming?” 

“Yes. Susan and Anthony will be here tonight, hopefully before suppertime,” she replied. “And Levi and Violet will both be arriving sometime tomorrow.”

 Levi and Violet were still both unmarried. It seemed they certainly liked each other, but they had yet to move past acquaintances. 

“I’m so glad that we’ll all be here together,” Dinah said. “Aren’t we, Marjorie?” The baby cooed, patting her aunt on the cheek. 

When they reached the parlour, they all took seats. There was lots of joy and laughter. As she looked around the room, Lucy considered herself to be the luckiest woman in the world. Silas slipped his hand into hers as he leaned back in his seat. 

  “What do you think of Levi and Violet?” she asked Silas in a low voice.

“Well, I already know that he’s interested in her,” he replied. “By the end of the weekend, I expect they’ll be formally courting, if not engaged.” 

They beamed at each other. It was a party much like the one where they had met. She recalled how worried she had been at the thought of being Lady Thornbridge. However, she found that it suited her. She was fully able to take on the role. 

The parties that were thrown consisted of people who loved her, and whom she loved in return. It was not at all what she had expected. Everything that she did was out of love. The same could have been said for the late Viscount of Thornbridge. Josiah Sweet had been acting out of love when he had invited her and Aunt Joan to his estate. She could see this now, so clearly. She only wished that he had been around to see the love that had come of it. 

Her eyes went to the mantel, over which hung a painting of Josiah Sweet and his wife, Amelia. They both beamed down over the gathering, smiling from the frame.  

Levi and Violet entered together. Her hand was tucked into the bend of his elbow. Immediately, Silas and Lucy shared a look. 

“Welcome!” Silas boomed. 

“Lady Violet and I have an announcement,” Levi said, beaming. 

“Do tell!” Lucy said, clasping her hands. 

“We are officially engaged,” Violet said. “Levi asked me on the way here!” 

“It took you both long enough!” Silas muttered. Everyone laughed, and then they all went to get glasses, to toast the happy couple. 

Finally, everyone was happy, healthy, and in love.

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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!

Grab my new series, "Secrets and Courtships of the Regency", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!

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