Page 77 of A Bachelor’s Lessons in Love

The vicar looked to Felicity, his smile slight. “You will not—but I presumed… You…you are not his mother, then?”

She slowly shook her head. “I am not. But I am here in full support of my husband, and so in full support of young James, and of you, Reverend Thornton.”

Reverend Thornton’s smile grew, and he looked up at Edward with a gleam in his eye. “I am glad you found yourself such a companion, Colonel. Now, let us go inside. There is much to discuss, I think—and likely to decide, too.”

They were there for an hour before James returned, with two younger sisters in tow, from visiting friends in the village. Mr. Thornton invited Edward and Felicity to return for dinner the next evening, but he did not hurry them away, instead asking James to show Edward something on the vicarage farm.

Grateful for the privacy granted him, Edward followed James eagerly, listening to every word the young man said.

He had decided, with Felicity’s support and the vicar’s approval, that it was not yet time to tell James of his parentage. The young man knew he was adopted; he knew that his birth mother had been unwed, and nothing more. He was intelligent and kind…and he was happy in his life.

But that did not mean changes could be made. In a quiet, steadier voice than he had expected possible, Edward offered to sponsor the boy’s studies. He first asked the Reverend Thornton, but he put the idea to James the following evening at dinner.

“But why me, Colonel?” the young man asked, eyes wide. One of his sisters sat on one side of him, Daphne on the other, her eyes on his profile before turning to look at Edward.

“You strike me as someone who will make the most of your education,” Edward said, his heart full that he could make this gesture. “I have no doubt you will help many in your career. Sponsoring you will be an honor—and in return, I only ask that you let me host you at my home near London from time to time. Or write to me of your progress.”

“Yes, Colonel. Of course.” James looked to his father. “If you approve, Father?”

The vicar chuckled, then inclined his head. “I approve. Your mother would, too. As always, use this opportunity for your betterment and the good of others. We never know who we will meet in this wide world, whether they will have need of us or us need of them, but we can walk each day in the spirit of love and gratitude. I think this will be the beginning of new and wonderful things. For all of us.”

“I quite agree,” Felicity said, looking up at Edward with a gleam in her dark eyes. “It is a marvelous beginning.”

“Goodness,” Daphne said with a little shake of her head. “And I thought the most interesting story I would ever be part of had already come to an end.”

Edward raised his eyebrows at her. “And what story would that be?”

“Oh, yours of course, Uncle Edward—and Aunt Felicity. The best stories end with weddings, you know,” smiled his niece by marriage. “I thought we settled yours rather nicely.”

The vicar chuckled at that. “Miss Price, weddings are not endings either. Not in life. They are always at the beginning of the best stories.”

After dinner, they walked back to the village, Felicity’s hand in his. “This is a rather marvelous beginning, is it not? And I had thought I was close to the end, that my story had been told. I would be the spinster aunt forever, coming around at holidays to spoil Daphne’s children.” She laughed softly.

Edward looked down at her, his heart full, his future no longer a vast, empty thing. He lifted her hand to his lips, as he so loved to do. “You can still spoil any of her future children,” he pointed out helpfully as Daphne walked ahead of them, talking animatedly with James, who had volunteered to accompany them on their return to the inn. “But I have hope you will not mind being a wife instead of a spinster.”

“I will not mind in the least.” She raised her beautiful dark eyes to his. “Nor will I mind being both an aunt and…and perhaps someday, a mother.”

There, in the twilight of a country lane, with his wife beside him, their niece and his son ahead of him, and a future full of hope before him, Edward Halstead knew he had found peace at last.

Epilogue

FIVE YEARS LATER…

The gardens were in full bloom. Thank heavens for that.

Felicity had spent the entire morning weaving between the garden beds, tables, and chairs, overseeing the final preparations for the party. The heavy scents of flowers and warm earth had nearly given her a headache, but a light summer breeze had helped her remain clearheaded enough to see to everything.

The morning sky had threatened rain, but now everything above was a bright, unbroken blue. She looked up again, grateful for the good weather. She had worked several years to come to this moment. Rain would not have caused a tragedy, but she still liked to be prepared. Parties could be held inside as well as out, after all.

All around her, servants were setting out tables and arranging refreshments, while inside, the household bustled with preparations for the afternoon’s guests.

Mrs. Lane came hurrying up to her, a list in hand. “All is in order with the refreshments, Mrs. Halstead, and we also have the stable-yard ready to receive the guests from Town.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Lane. I could not ask for a better second in command.” Felicity had thought the woman as efficient as a brigadier general, but had only dared say such a thing once. Mrs. Lane had immediately objected to being likened to a military man. “They are terribly inept at running households,” she had said, most indignant.

Today, Felicity needed everyone to be happy—or wanted that for them, anyway. It was Daphne’s betrothal celebration, and things were turning out beautifully.

Felicity smiled to herself, adjusting the placement of a tablecloth. There had been a time when she had fretted over Daphne’s future, worried whether she would find a match worthy of her intelligence, kindness, and strength.