The Earl who Saved her – Extended Epilogue

Six Months Later

“We’re going to be late!” Melody cried, looking for her gloves.

She had made special ones for her best friend’s wedding, but now she couldn’t find them. They complemented her dress, so she had to wear them, or her outfit would look incomplete.

“You shouldn’t be rushing around like this,” said Charles, scooping her up and depositing her on the nearest chair.

“But Charles,” she protested.

“But nothing, my love,” said Charles. “Farrow and two other servants are looking for your gloves. Where could you have put them? They aren’t with the other gloves.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, rubbing her belly. “I’ve become absent-minded lately. Mother says it’s the baby.”

Charles crouched before her and laid a hand over hers. “Just a few months to go,” he said. “A few more months, and we’ll meet the tiny human growing within you. I wonder how much bigger you’ll get?”

Melody swatted his hands away. “That isn’t a very nice thing to say. I feel like my belly grew overnight. I’m certain it wasn’t this big last week.”

Charles laughed. “Perhaps, but I find it adorable. You look more beautiful every day.”

“Liar,” she muttered.

“I mean every word, my love,” Charles insisted. “I’ve never seen your skin look so luminous, and your eyes are brighter than usual. Even your hair has grown thicker.”

Melody felt her hair. Mother had said it would get thicker, only to fall out once she had her baby. She wasn’t looking forward to that.

“I’d rather grow a few inches taller,” she said. “I feel like a dwarf next to you. A heavily pregnant dwarf.”

“A heavily pregnant, beautiful dwarf,” he added.

“You’re not supposed to agree with me!” Melody protested.

“But I said you’re beautiful,” Charles argued. “I think dwarfs are adorable, you are heavily pregnant, and you’re clearly beautiful. What about anything I said is wrong?”

Melody couldn’t find any real reason to be annoyed, but she was. It was probably her pregnancy making her a tad crazy.

“Very well,” she said, pouting. “You always win our arguments using underhanded means. Have they found my gloves yet? It’s nearly eight o’clock. The wedding will start at any moment.”

“We do not live far from the parish church,” Charles reminded her. “We’ll make it on time. Why would I miss my own friend’s wedding? Cameron would never forgive me.”

“Amanda is the one you should be worried about,” Melody corrected. “Cameron does everything she tells him to. You do not even listen to me all the time.”

“I do listen, but I am wise enough to listen well.”

Melody raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you do not always say things you mean, so I must be careful to do what you mean. Cameron simply follows her like a fool. A fool in love, but a fool, nonetheless. He’ll soon learn the difference.”

“Why do you know the difference?” she asked.

“Because I love you enough to learn as much as I can about you,” said Charles. “I observe you even when you sleep, and I watch your daily habits, the rise and fall of your voice, what excites you, what angers you— I want to know everything about you. The more I learn, the more I can make you happy.”

Melody’s heart melted. “Sometimes I wonder if you rehearse everything you want to say or if they come to you suddenly.”

“They flow from my heart,” Charles replied. “They always say your words flow from your heart. Well, I have so much love for you that I cannot help speaking what I feel. I want my love to erase all the pain and injustice you’ve experienced in your life.”

“It already has,” Melody assured him. “I no longer feel any pain or sadness. It’s all in my past. I’m only looking forward to my future now.” She took her husband’s hand and placed it on her belly. “Our future.”

Charles smiled. “Then, I’m glad.”

“We found your gloves!” Farrow cried, running into the parlour.

“Thank goodness,” said Melody. “Where did you find them?”

“In the library, My Lady,” Farrow told her as she handed the gloves with a curtsey.

Melody frowned. “Why on earth would they be there? I never wear gloves in the library.”

“I recall you wanted to show them to Lord Radnor and left them there,” said Farrow. “I just recalled it moments ago.”

“Thank you, Farrow,” said Melody. “I can finally leave for the wedding. How much time do we have left?” she asked Charles.

He took out his pocket watch. “Thirty minutes, but it only takes us fifteen minutes to get there by carriage. We still have time. Why don’t we have a quick cup of tea and something small to eat? You might get hungry during the ceremony. The reverend is rather long-winded.”

Melody grimaced. “I do not think I can last more than an hour sitting in one place. Perhaps I should sit near the back to get up and stretch my legs. I’m sure Amanda wouldn’t mind. She’ll be too focused on Cameron to see me.”

“We’ll bring a cushion with us,” said Charles. “Maybe two. The pews are not comfortable enough for a pregnant woman. Perhaps we should take a footstool as well to avoid your feet swelling. Do you think anyone would notice if I carried a few pieces of fruit in my pockets?”

Melody laughed. “Do you not think we’re taking it a little too far? I can eat something now, and one cushion will be just fine.”

“I don’t know, my love,” said Charles. “I do not wish you to feel any discomfort. Perhaps we can just meet them at the reception after the ceremony. We’re having it here, after all.”

“No!” Melody protested. “We have to be there for our best friends. We promised.”

Melody and Charles had offered to have the celebratory breakfast at their home because Amanda loved the garden. Fortunately, the day was bright and cloudless, so they could set up tables and chairs outside. Melody had ordered a few flowers for the tables, but the surrounding plants and bushes were enough to bring a lot of colour to the happy occasion.

“Very well,” he acquiesced. “We’ll go, but I would rather have you at home resting. Farrow,” he called, looking behind him. “Please bring a tea tray and a few fruits to the parlour. Add a few slices of roast beef as well. Do we have any hard-boiled sweets left? Lady Radnor should suck on something while at the ceremony.”

“Shall I pack some refreshments to keep in the carriage?” Farrow suggested.

“That’s a good idea, Farrow,” said Charles.

“But it’s unnecessary,” Melody insisted. “Two hours will not make me collapse in a dead faint.”

“But—” Charles began.

“But nothing,” Melody interrupted. “Besides, you are always beside me to take care of me. I’m confident you’ll ensure that no harm comes to me. Now, why don’t we take a look at the garden before we go? Mother is probably still busy with the decorations. I can have my tea outside.”

Charles agreed and helped her to her feet, taking her hand and resting it on his forearm. “We have about ten minutes before we have to leave. Fifteen if we tell the driver to hurry, but I do not want you to be jostled about in this state. It’s not safe.”

“Ten minutes is more than enough time,” said Melody.

They went downstairs and out the back door to the garden, surprised to see how it had been transformed. Mother and Aunt Bethany had been awake since dawn to prepare the garden for the celebratory meal. Melody had first refused their help, but they had seemed so disappointed that she had asked them to do it for her.

“It looks wonderful, Mother,” she said. “Is Aunt Bethany not here?”

“I’m here,” Aunt Bethany replied, crawling out from under a table.

“What on earth are you doing there?” Melody asked.

“I dropped some ribbon for the chairs, and they landed under the table,” Aunt Bethany explained. “I’m amazed I can still bend my knees. Perhaps my body is not as old as I thought.”

“I should hope not, considering you’re the youngest,” said Mother. “I do not feel a day over forty-five— I do not wish to hear anything else.”

Charles chuckled. “Very well, Mother. When can we expect you to be older? It would be odd to age while my mother stays ageless.”

“I might be fifty in ten years,” Mother offered. “That should be the right age to be a grandmother to a nine-year-old. Perhaps I’ll have more grandchildren by then,” she said hopefully.

Melody looked at Charles. “More children?”

“That is up to you,” he said. “I’ll have as many as you’re willing to carry.”

“Five?” said Melody.

Charles widened his eyes. “Truly?”

“I think so, but wouldn’t that be unfair?” she asked. “Only one son will inherit the title. What if our other sons become jealous? What if our daughters think it unfair that only a son can inherit the title and estate? Perhaps one child is best.”

Charles shook his head and bumped his forehead against hers. “You’re overthinking, my love. Why don’t we leave the number up to the Almighty? That might be best. If we have many children, we’ll raise them to love each other and respect the order of things. We can always set aside inheritances for our other children.”

Melody had heard about siblings fighting and even killing one another for a title and wealth. She didn’t want that to happen to her children.

“I still think one child is best,” she said firmly.

“Do you want our child to be lonely?” Charles argued.

“Were you lonely?” Melody asked.

She had never thought about that angle, and Charles had never mentioned it to her before. She felt terrible for not asking more about his childhood.

“He was,” Mother replied. “That is why I think having another child is best. I regret not giving him another sibling, but I couldn’t.”

“But I was still happy,” Charles assured. “Mother and Father made sure of that. I suppose having one child will not be such a terrible thing. He’ll have the love of both his parents to keep him company.”

“And his grandmother,” Mother said.

“And his great-aunt,” Aunt Bethany piped in. “Or rather, great-aunts. Selina will come around once the baby is born. She’s just a stubborn old mule. A baby will soften her.”

Melody hoped so. She usually avoided Aunt Selina, but it wasn’t possible to do so all the time. The woman blamed Melody for ruining her life, yet her deep-seated grudge kept her unhappy. Melody was sorry for the pain her father had obviously caused, not only to Aunt Selina but to the countless other women he had seduced. He had probably destroyed many families, and perhaps Melody had siblings she didn’t know. Anything was possible.

Their tea and refreshments arrived, and they sat down to enjoy a few minutes with each other. Melody happened to look up and caught Aunt Selina looking down at them from her bedroom window. The poor woman had become the focus of local gossip lately, with many speculating about her relationship with Melody’s father. Aunt Selina seemed wistful and sad as she stared at them, prompting Melody to wave at her. Aunt Selina seemed horrified and immediately backed away, tugging the curtains closed.

“What’s wrong?” Charles asked. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing,” she said, not wishing to embarrass the woman any further. “I was looking at the birds.”

“Were you waving at birds?” said Charles.

Melody lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Why not? I’m sure they understand. They say animals are intelligent creatures. Ares is certainly intelligent. He was the first one to know I was with child. Do you recall how he refused to leave me alone and kept staring at my belly?”

Mother laughed. “Oh, I forgot about that! He wouldn’t leave you alone for weeks. I couldn’t understand his odd behaviour until we discovered you were with child. I think he’ll be just as protective of the baby.”

“I agree,” said Aunt Bethany. “Do you think we should get another puppy? One that can grow with the baby.”

Melody smiled. “I like that idea. Ares needs some friends. Perhaps we can adopt a dog around his age for now. I heard a nearby farm is giving away their hound dog.”

“What is wrong with him?” Charles asked suspiciously.

He had realised her need to save the helpless early into their marriage. They had hired a laundry maid who could only see through one eye, a gardener with missing fingers, and a maid with a lame leg within the last six months.

“His eyesight is failing him, so he is no longer any good to take on hunts,” she explained.

“Hound dogs are well known for their sense of smell,” said Charles. “Why are they worried about his failing eyesight?”

“He has also lost his sense of smell,” she admitted.

“What good will a dog with no eyesight and smell do?” Aunt Bethany asked. “We should get a better dog.”

“Ares can be his eyes and nose,” Melody argued. “He just needs a companion. Mooney can be that for him.”

“Mooney?” Charles repeated. “You know his name?”

“Of course, I know his name,” Melody replied. “He always comes to greet me when I go for my walks. I don’t know how he recognises me. Perhaps it’s the way I tread on the grass. His ears are still sharp of hearing.”

“It seems you’ve formed a bond with him,” said Charles. “You probably won’t be happy until he’s on our property.”

Melody grinned. “You know me too well. I told the farmer we could pick him up this week. Why don’t we tell him on the way to the wedding? I would also like to tell Mooney about his new home.”

“Aren’t you afraid we’ll be late for the wedding?” Charles asked.

“I’m no longer worried because I know Amanda will be late for her wedding,” Melody replied. “I just needed to calm down and remember that. Losing my gloves made me panic.”

Charles shook his head. “Just when I think I understand you, you confuse me. Why would losing your gloves make you panic but not passing a farm ten minutes out of our way?”

“I do not know, but that is how I feel,” Melody told him. “I’m sure Amanda will be no less than thirty minutes late, so if we leave now, we can make it to the farm and then the wedding.”

Charles chuckled and stood up, holding his hand out to her. “I should always strive to make my wife happy, even if that means seeing a dog before our friends’ wedding, even though we could do that another day.”

Melody stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

“Off you go,” said Mother. “All that love behaviour is making me jealous.”

“I second that,” Aunt Bethany added.

“Would you feel more jealous if I carried her all the way to the carriage?” he asked, scooping her into his arms.

“Put me down,” Melody insisted. “I’m too heavy for you.”

“Not at all,” he argued. “You never weighed much before, and the extra weight isn’t noticeable.”

“Liar,” she said.

“I’ll bet you ten kisses that I can carry you to the carriage without breaking a sweat,” he told her.

“Very well,” she said, confident she would see perspiration on his brow within seconds of walking in the warm weather. “Onward, I say.”

They said their goodbyes and left the garden, going around the building to where their carriage awaited them. Needless to say, she lost the bet.

 

***

 

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, with hardly a dry eye to be found. Melody was happy for her friend and couldn’t wait to congratulate them, but the newly married couple first needed to sign the wedding register before greeting their guests.

“Let’s stand under the shade,” said Charles as they left the church.

Melody didn’t want to sit inside anymore, but Charles didn’t want her to walk too much as her feet had swollen. He had even taken her shoes off and insisted she walk with her stockings, carrying her over rocky areas when necessary.

“Do you think they’ll see us?”

“I’ll eat my hat if Amanda does not come looking for you the second she steps outside those doors,” said Charles.

“I suppose you’re right,” she replied. “I’m sure they’ll be happy with Mother and Aunt Bethany’s work on the garden. It’s a good thing we added more chairs. I saw more people than I recall reading on the guest list. Mrs Stilton must have added more people at the last minute.”

Amanda’s mother was so pleased to know her daughter was marrying a titled man that she had not failed to tell everyone. While Amanda’s wedding wasn’t as big as hers, it was still big by any standard.

“Probably,” said Charles, pointing. “Look, I see them coming.”

Melody looked, smiling when she saw the married couple approaching.

“Melly Welly!” Amanda cried.

“Mandy Wandy,” Melody returned, holding her arms out.

Amanda immediately embraced her, leaning back slightly to look at Melody’s belly. “You got bigger,” she commented. “Is this normal?”

“Apparently so,” Melody replied, laughing. “Mother said I’ll get even bigger before the baby is born. I’m not looking forward to not seeing my toes.”

“I suppose this makes everything more permanent, doesn’t it?” said Cameron.

Melody didn’t feel annoyed. Cameron still liked to joke about Charles changing his mind and choosing a less complicated wife, but Amanda never let him get away with it.

“Cammy,” Amanda warned. “This is our day. Do not ruin it.”

“Yes, dear,” said Cameron obediently. “At least you do not stop me from teasing Randall the Weasel, although I haven’t seen him in a while.”

Some speculated he had returned to military service, but Melody didn’t think so. Sir Randall wasn’t one to endure such conditions. He preferred a comfortable life.

“I say good riddance,” said Charles. “The man was trouble.”

“He certainly was, but I do not wish to talk about him on my wedding day,” said Amanda. “I’m starved and would like to get to our celebratory feast.”

Melody’s belly growled. “I think the baby is ready to eat as well.”

Everyone laughed and headed to their carriages, with Charles all but carrying her inside.

“Today was wonderful, wasn’t it?” she asked as soon as they were settled.

Charles nodded. “I think so. Amanda and Cameron were happy, which is all that matters.”

“I agree. Perhaps she’ll be with child soon so our children can grow up together.”

“Are you still thinking about having one child?” Charles asked.

“It’s on my mind,” she admitted. “But I’m not making a decision yet. I just want us to be happy.”

“We are,” Charles assured. “And we’ll always be. That’s a promise.”

Melody nodded and leaned against his shoulder. She trusted her husband wholeheartedly. If he said they would be happy, she believed him. Melody couldn’t wait for more years of happiness with him!

THE END

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