The clerk slunk away like terrier evading a wolf.
David stayed in the library, standing before the fire and brooding over his dismal fate. Now that he’d found Mary, he couldn’t lose her. He would never find the likes of her again. He could want nothing more from life than to have her for his wife and would do anything to restore her love. For life without her was unthinkable.
Once more he climbed the stairs and softly knocked upon her door. “Mary, my love, I beg your forgiveness. I know about the letter from Mr. Stonehouse. I’m sorry. All of that was initiated before I knew you. Even before you did me the honor of agreeing to become my wife, I’d written to Stonehouse to cancel any action with the barrister. I was bitterly ashamed of my actions.
“Please know that I abhor lying. I don’t lie. I didn’t lie when I said from the first moment I drew you into my arms alongside the road that first day, you affected me like no other woman ever has. I’ve since come to know with certainty what I have felt for you is love. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, the only woman I will ever love.” His voice broke on the last word. Just like his heart.
“And if you don’t open this door, I’ll get an ax and break it down!”
The soft muffle of footsteps crossed the floor of her bedchamber, then the bolt in her door slid, and the door opened.
She stood there, eyes red from crying, and he thought he’d never seen anyone look lovelier. He moved to her and wrapped her sweet body into his arms, arms that had been aching for her. She whimpered.
And so did he.
Footsteps pounded on the stairs, and he turned to see first Mrs. Ballard, then her husband, trailed by Stevie.
“What’s happened, my lord?” Mrs. Ballard demanded breathlessly.
“Why did you need to tear down the door with an axe?” her husband asked.
Still holding Mary close, he turned to the others and smiled.
“All is well now. Mary is to become my wife.”
Ballard calmly lighted the wall sconce from the candelabra he carried, and David saw that his announcement had met with smiles from all.
Stevie raced past the elder couple and looked up at him. “Does that mean you’re going to be my father, my lord?”
“If you will allow it, it will be my honor.”
That gap-toothed smile and the lad’s piercing dimples were quickly revealed. “It would be my honor!”
In the span of a few moments David had gone from the depths of despair to the dizzying heights of bliss. Everything he could ever want was right here: Mary, Stevie, the Ballards, and his beloved Darnley.
“I can’t tell you how happy this makes me,” Mrs. Ballard said, moving to them. “I’ve been carrying this letter from your father around in my apron pocket since the day you arrived. He instructed me to give it to you upon the announcement that you were going to marry Mrs. Milne.”
Mary’s mouth opened. “I should have know the old lord was scheming to get us together! How could he possibly have known such a thing?”
Mrs. Ballard shrugged. “The old lord was very shrewd. Especially about people. You two are to read the letter.” She turned to Stevie. “Come, Master Stevie. I shall need help setting the table tonight. Your mother tells me you’re a great helper.”
“Oh, I am.”
“Come down for supper after you read the letter,” she told them.
Mary gave David a tender look. “I suppose you can come into my chamber.”
They sat on the settee near her fire. It saddened him to see his father’s distinctive handwriting. How he wished his father could still be with them. Especially now. He unfolded the letter and began to read.
My Dear Son,
I know you must have been hurt when you learned that I left Darnley to Mary Milne. Then when I compelled you to spend Christmas with the strange woman you must have been angry.
But I had confidence that because you were an honorable son you would comply with my wishes. And since you are now reading this, it appears all my wishes have come to fruition.
First, I must explain that even had you not fallen in love with Mrs. Milne, I would have left Darnley to her because she loved it like no one else, other than you, ever has, but unlike you, she had a great need for it. She and her sweet son. They had no one to look after them.
With no expectations, she was incredibly kind to me in my final days, as she has been to many others near Lower Worthington. She’s possibly the most genuinely altruistic person it’s ever been my pleasure to know.
The longer I was with her, the more convinced I became that she would be the perfect wife for you. And you are and always have been the most important person in my life.
This is why from the grave I have endeavored to play matchmaker for my two favorite people. May you and Mary have a long and happy life together.
Your Devoted Father
By the time they’d finished reading the letter, neither of them had a dry eye.
They sat staring into the fire for a few moments when David spoke. “My love?”
“Yes?”
“I would ask that you write a letter now.”
“What kind of letter?”
“One that our groom could deliver to Blatherwick tonight.”
She gave him a sly smile. “It was a wicked thing that I did.”
“Only to me. That man deserves it.”
“I’ll dash it off before I come down for supper.”
Epilogue
Christmas Day
Mary had known this was going to be a wonderful Christmas, but even she hadn’t dreamed it would be the happiest day of her life. Early that morning they rose and exchanged gifts. It no longer bothered her that she had nothing for David. He’d convinced her that giving him her love was the greatest gift he could ever receive.
Stevie’s excitement over her gift of a game of spillikins was soon forgotten when David presented him with his own pony. “Now, son,” David said soothingly, “I know how much you’re longing to go ride your gift, but it’s too cold this morning. You’ll just have to be patient.”
It was impossible to love a man more than she loved David at that moment.
Then he turned to her, love brimming from his dark eyes. “And for you, love, I bought every beautiful piece of fabric that was to be had in Lower Worthington. You have to be sick of that same blue dress.”
“Indeed, I am!”
He left the room and came back with a box from which he began to withdraw lovely lengths of muslin and wool and silk in blue and ivory and butter yellow and scarlet. Her mouth gaped open. She’d never seen such beautiful materials.
“And there’s a skilled needlewoman in Lower Worthington who’s pledged to sew whatever will suit the new Lady Paxton.”
Mary was in a daze.
An hour later she was still in a daze when, shortly before the villagers were to arrive for the Christmas morning service, with Mr. and Mrs. Ballard as witnesses, Mary stood at the altar in Lower Worthington’s little chapel wearing her faded blue dress and happily plighted her life to David’s.
She felt the presence of the wonderful man who’d been David’s father. And she knew Divine intervention had been at play in her life.
The End