Epilogue

Epilogue

Ten Years Later

Emilia took Sebastian’s hand and squeezed it tightly. It was the first time they’d visited the grave since the funeral. She was buried in the church graveyard, beside her husband, James.

Receiving the news that Catherine had passed away in her sleep had devastated everyone. She’d gone in her sleep, a month after everyone had departed from her farm in the January after Christmas. The man who’d found her, the man who came to tend to her livestock, had sworn she was smiling.

Although it was a comfort to know she’d died peacefully, it broke everyone’s hearts to know that she was all alone.

But December had come around again and Christmas plans had to be made. It had been decided that their traditions shouldn’t be abandoned. Catherine wouldn’t have wanted that. Sebastian had paid to have the house kept so it would be in the exact condition that Catherine had left it.

“Are you alright?” Emilia asked Sebastian, tightening her coat around herself. The snow wasn’t too thick on the ground so it was quite easy to walk. She’d been really worried about Sebastian. He’d taken the news worst of all.

Sebastian nodded and wrapped his arm around Emilia’s waist. “Yes.” He nodded. “Mama had a long life. A good life. I just wish I’d brought her to London years ago. Then if she was feeling ill I could have had a fleet of doctors to see to her.”

“You’ll torture yourself with ‘what ifs’, darling,” Emilia said comfortingly. “And you and I both know that Catherine would never have left the farm. She was happy here. Her time had come, whether we like it or not. She’s with your father now.”

Sebastian sighed and planted a kiss on Emilia’s temple. “I suppose you’re right,” he admitted.

“Am I ever wrong?”

Emilia saw Sebastian smirk, but he chose not to retort. Smart.

When they reached the farm, they could both hear the pianoforte playing carols. “Hopefully Jane is here.”

“Yes, I’m interested to meet this new wife of Louis’. Fancy eloping instead of inviting his favourite aunt to the wedding!” Emilia exclaimed.

“Why do you think they eloped?” Sebastian chuckled.

“Convenient,” Emilia mumbled. Their new son had recently been born. They’d called him Harry. Supposedly he was quite sweet.

The house was filled with energy. Trunks were being carried around, people were shouting and platters of food were being handed around. Nothing would be as good as when Catherine baked, but they could try.

Jane spotted Emilia and Sebastian and immediately hugged them tightly, kissing them on the cheek. “Oh, it’s so lovely to see you both!” she exclaimed. “Have you been to see mama? I was going to go a little later. Look what Daniel had made for us. We’ve hung it already.” She pointed to the space on the wall above the fireplace. Hanging there was a large portrait of a much younger Catherine. She was sitting with her hands in her lap. Her brown hair was in a simple braid hanging over her shoulder and she was smiling which was quite unorthodox for a portrait sitting. “We had it made from a miniature. Now mama can spend Christmas with us every year.”

Emilia could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. That was such a thoughtful thing to do! “Thank you, Daniel!” Emilia exclaimed to her brother-in-law as he joined his wife.

“Yes, thank you,” Sebastian said gratefully. “That’s a wonderful thing to do for us.”

“Catherine was a fine lady,” Daniel replied. “She’s missed every day.”

“That she is,” Sebastian agreed.

They went about their usual traditions over the next few weeks. Cooking, baking, singing, and attending church were just a few of the things that the family got up to.

Where they really noticed Catherine’s absence though, was when it came time to burn the yule log. Emilia had to search Catherine’s bedroom for half an hour before she found the ashes of last year’s yule log.

When she came downstairs carrying the ashes, she stopped midway to admire the sight she saw. Her entire family was gathered in the sitting room talking merrily.

Kitty sat with William as she fixed Millie’s hair. They still had their four children. Emilia didn’t know if that was on purpose or something had stopped them from having another but they were perfectly content. Will had just turned eighteen and he was ready to finish his schooling at Eton come June. He had finally been able to ask nineteen year old Celeste to court him. Will had been a lot more forthcoming with his affections toward Celeste but it was obvious the two cared for each other. Celeste had never danced with another, only Will when he was home on school holidays. She was shy, but there would be a wedding in the next few years and Emilia couldn’t wait to plan it. Though the idea of being a great-grandmamma was quite terrifying. She didn’t feel so awfully old. Her hair was still its usual golden colour and her figure hadn’t gone which she thanked God for.

Millie had just turned seventeen and would be presented to society in the next season which she was itching to do. Emilia knew William couldn’t think of anything worse but his daughter was growing up. Her suitors would just have to be aware that her father had the entirety of Her Majesty’s naval fleet at his disposal.  Millie was like Kitty in so many ways. They would have to watch her come her first ball.

Luckily fourteen year old Josephine and Alexander had a few years to go before they discovered society and courting and romance. They were still concerned with competing for absolutely everything.

Sabine and Connor were quite famous nowadays. Their racing ring attracted punters from far and wide. Everyone wanted their prized stallions and mares trained and raced in their derbies. Emilia loved watching the races whenever they were in Nottinghamshire. Watching the magnificent creatures run to their limits was fabulous. Their children were in the thick of it too. Ellie, Colin, Callum and Lily all lived and breathed everything equine. The four of them could ride a horse before they could walk.

And finally after years of trying to build a successful reputation, Little J and Harrison were equally respected physicians. Little J had even been permitted to publish a few research journals. Another Gray often assisted them in their practice – Henry Gray. Henry Gray was mulling over the idea to publish a medical textbook. Their daughters were now young teenagers and all wanted to get into their parent’s profession somehow. Little J didn’t want them to go through what she had to but she would support them in whatever they wanted to pursue. At least they’d been fortunate enough to inherit their mother’s mind.

Their sons had allowed both Sebastian and Emilia to move into semi-retirement and enjoy their golden years together. James had fully taken over the financial aspect of the estate. He and Alice were very happy together. Alice’s accent had mellowed a lot but she still replaced the odd English word with something French. Jack, Madeleine and Juliette were their only children. After a few years without any luck, Little J had discovered that Alice couldn’t have any more children. After the initial shock, they’d moved on and were very content with their three.

Annie and Joseph were still heavily involved in both the church and the orphanage. Seventeen year old Amy was another young lady to be presented into society come June and she was just as excited as her cousin, Millie. Michael got on well with his adopted siblings, Christopher and Lydia, who were never treated as anything but family. They knew they were adopted. Annie and Joseph felt that total honesty was the way to go about it. But they didn’t feel any different. They were family, plain and simple.

And then there was Emilia’s baby. Her youngest darling child, Henry. He handled the legal side of running Ethridge. Ebony stayed away from the stage for a few years to have her family. Their children were very exotic when they were born with gorgeous dark hair and lovely brown eyes. Mariah was born exactly nine months after they’d married. Matthew the year after and Julianna a few years later.

Philip had married as well, though he was spending Christmas with his wife, Olivia’s, family. They had been married for three years and had a daughter whose second birthday it was today. She was named Christina for the occasion.

And Jane’s letters had been accurate. Harry was a very sweet, young baby. And his wife was a nice lady too. She was Austrian and called Marlena. She’d come to England with her family and lived near Jane’s family. She and Louis loved each other; that was obvious. Sure, Emilia would have liked to attend the wedding but so long as her youngest nephew was happy, she was happy.

“Em, are you coming down?”

Emilia snapped out of her trance and hear Sebastian’s voice. “Yes, yes I am.” She nodded, smiling. Sebastian held his arm out and invited her to come and sit down next to him. “I found the ashes,” she said, holding up the box.

Little J took them from her and scattered them over the top of this year’s yule log. She then lit the fire and everyone closed their eyes to make a wish.

Emilia wished for what she wished for every year. No matter where they were in the world, she wanted everyone to come back together at Christmastime and spend the holiday together. She smiled at Sebastian as he put his arm around her shoulders and cuddled her to him. “We were the lucky ones,” she sighed happily. “And to think I didn’t like you when we first met. Imagine if I had not given you a chance.”

“I would have won you over with my charms eventually,” he said confidently.

“No, it was this that won me over,” Emilia said, gesturing to the house and their family. “The sense of belonging I felt just as soon as I was welcomed here. It was just fortunate that you came with it.” She was teasing.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and kissed his wife softly on the lips. “Everyone belongs somewhere.”

“One just has to persevere until they find the perfect fit.”

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Thank you! Thank you so much! The video on the side is me trying to express my gratitude :)

I hope this epilogue summed it up okay for you :) I'm feeling quite strange. I've been writing these for an entire year!!

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Love Laura xx