How to Heal the Marquess by Sally Forbes

Epilogue

 

“Tobias,” the dowager marchioness said, startling Tobias as he stood in front of the parlor hearth that evening, daydreaming about how ecstatic he was feeling. He turned to her smiling, to be greeted by her wide, shocked eyes.

“Mother,” he said, surprised. “What are you doing up so late?”

“Is it true?” she asked. The dim light of the fire cast half of her face in shadow, but he could see her bite her lip.

“Is what true?” he asked, puzzled.

His mother clasped her hands together and put them at her breast.

“Is it true that you have chosen to marry Daisy instead of Lady Selina?” she asked.

Tobias took a deep breath. He had not considered what his mother might think about his intention to marry a physician’s daughter. He had been so consumed by his feelings in the moment and had only heard the approval in his grandfather’s words as he gave his blessing. He felt guilty for not having been the one to tell his mother, and for not asking her opinion on the matter. However, he knew deep down that it did not matter how she felt about it. He loved Daisy too much to allow anything to keep her from him now that he had her.

“Yes, Mother,” he said. “It is true. Daisy is the most beautiful and unique woman I have ever met. I am in love with her, and I intend to make her my wife.”

The world seemed to stand perfectly still as he awaited his mother’s response. When a sharp gasp suddenly pierced the silence between them, Tobias could not help twitching.

“Oh, Tobias,” the marchioness said, her arms around her son just as quickly as her gasp had come. “I think you could not have made a better decision.”

Tobias laughed, glad and relieved at his mother’s reaction.

“Should I take this to mean that you approve of Daisy, too, then?” he teased.

His mother released him, her smile wider than he had seen it in ages, her cheeks streaked with joyful tears.

“Oh, darling,” she said, “I positively love Daisy. I have never met a young woman anywhere within the ton who is as poised and genuine and clever as Daisy. Her kindness is truly rare, and it is clear that she is a sincerely good person, not just playing the part for the world to see.”

Tobias smiled fondly. His mother was absolutely correct. Those were the very reasons why he was in love with Daisy. He had never seen such passion for caring for other people, and it had made him want to care for her, for the rest of her life, more than he had ever wanted anything.

“She is truly a rare gem, is she not?” he asked dreamily.

The marchioness pulled away from her son. Now she was turned toward the stronger light of the flames, he could see that her entire face was bright enough to compete with the fire.

“I shall begin the wedding preparations first thing in the morning, darling,” she said.

Tobias laughed joyfully. If he did not know better, he would have thought his mother was more excited about the news than himself. He watched as his mother floated from the room. Then, feeling more excitement than he could ever remember feeling in his entire life, he went to his own bedchambers. There he slept and dreamt of wedding ceremonies and kissing his beautiful, sweet Daisy, and of newborn babies cradled in his wife’s delicate, lovely arms.

His mother did, indeed, begin the plans for the wedding the following morning. She was a blur of constant activity, gracing Tobias with her presence only at meals, and the brief moments throughout the day when she needed to ask his opinion about some detail or another.

He spent a great deal of time with Daisy in the two months before their wedding. That was, apart from the times when the dowager marchioness would steal his bride-to-be away from him and sweep her up in the wedding preparations.

One afternoon, as he and his lovely fiancée strolled through the park, Daisy tugged on his arm, stopping their leisurely pace. He looked down into her smiling, inquisitive face, and he had to remind himself that they were in public, amongst other members of the ton. He could not stoop to kiss her, much as he wanted to.

“Tobias,” she said thoughtfully, “it is by mere chance that we met, as I happen to be the daughter of the physician whom your family just happened to choose to care for your grandfather. How do you suppose things would be now if you and your mother had chosen a different doctor?”

Tobias considered the question for a moment. He had never thought about such a thing. It had not occurred to him that there might have existed a world in which he had never met Daisy. Just as quickly as the thought occurred to him, he began to imagine the precise kind of future he had narrowly escaped. He shuddered, stroking Daisy on the cheek, and shaking his head.

“Now I have found you, I cannot bear the thought of being without you,” he said. “The universe works in mysterious ways, and I am the happiest man in all of London because it brought you to me.”

Daisy blushed, something which Tobias always found adorable and endearing. She bit her lip and stared at him, her emerald eyes intense and full of love and joy.

“Who could have imagined, while I aimed to earn your respect, that I would also win your heart?” she asked.

Tobias shook his head, marveling at his young bride-to-be.

“Won my heart?” he asked, returning her gaze. “My dear, you complete my soul.”

It felt as though it took a lifetime, but at last, his wedding day arrived. Tobias’s staff helped him dress in his black wedding suit, with white cravat and gloves, which had been collected from the tailor’s shop just the previous day. As his valet laid it out on his bed, there was a knock on his door. Tobias hurried to open it, smiling down into the tear-streaked face of his mother.

“Oh, Tobias,” she said, flinging her arms around her only son. “I can hardly believe you are getting married.”

Tobias held his mother tightly for a minute before kissing her cheek and pulling away.

“A few short months ago, I dreaded this day,” he said, his thoughts drifting dreamily to his Daisy. “But now, the ceremony cannot come fast enough.”

The dowager marchioness beamed at him.

“It warms my heart to hear you say so, darling,” she said.

Tobias led her into his room, not bothering to close the door.

“And how do you feel about Daisy taking the title of marchioness?” he asked.

His mother sighed.

“I can think of no one in all of London more deserving,” she said.

Tobias nodded.

“I can think of no better woman in the world to stand beside me as my marchioness, and one day, my duchess,” he said.

His mother sighed as she stroked his cheek. Her lip trembled and she took a deep breath.

“Your father would be so proud of you, dear,” she said, her eyes taking on a dreamy look of their own. “Perhaps he is the reason our beloved Daisy made her miraculous appearance in our lives.”

Tobias pondered for a moment before nodding.

“I think I will believe that for as long as I live,” he said.

Shortly after that, his mother left him to and get dressed. The valet arrived to help him, and he was ready for the ceremony in no time. As he stared at his reflection, dressed in his charcoal-colored wedding suit, he thought of his mother’s words again.

He had often avoided thinking of his father since his untimely death, as it burdened him with a sadness so great, all he could do was try to flee from it. He thought about the idea that his father was watching over them, that he had sent the woman his son was about to marry into their lives. Suddenly, he felt the burden lift from his heart for the first time in years. He lifted his face to the ceiling, smiling softly to himself.

“Thank you, Father,” he said.

***

Tobias reached the church just before his bride was expected to arrive. He quickly took his place before the altar of the small church, just in front of the small dais where the clergyman would stand and perform the ceremony. Tobias could hear hushed voices as both Daisy’s and his own family members arrived, but his focus remained on the back of the church. His heart leapt when the music began to play, and Daisy finally appeared on the arm of her beaming father and began walking slowly down the aisle.

Even though her veil, Tobias could see his bride’s beautiful green eyes. He stared intently into them as he recited the vows as instructed by the vicar, and as she recited hers. His breath caught as the vicar at last granted him permission to kiss his new wife, and she lifted the lacy material away from her face. She was even more beautiful than when he’d last seen her, and he wasted no time in giving her a deep, passionate kiss, in front of all their beloved family.

He felt sure that no man had ever smiled so proudly as he when the vicar pronounced them husband and wife. He floated back down the aisle toward the back of the church and to the carriage  waiting to take them to Berbrook Manor. There, his mother would be hosting the wedding breakfast. For the first time in his life, he looked forward to a big party, for his brand-new wife was certainly something worth celebrating.

The breakfast was a lavish one, as could only be expected from the dowager marchioness. Several large tables were covered with various meats, fruits, and baked treats, and other tables were laden with champagne, wine, fruit punch, and tea.

The ballroom was practically bursting with fresh flowers artfully woven into decorative garlands, bouquets, and wreaths. Apart from knowing they were mostly pink, yellow, and white, Tobias could not identify any of them. Any of them, that was, except for one.

“A daisy, darling,” he said, reaching for a single white daisy in a nearby vase and tucking it gently into his new bride’s hair. “For my darling Daisy.”

His wife giggled and blushed.

“But I have nothing that is named after you,” she said, playfully pouting.

Tobias raised his eyebrows suggestively at her.

“Remember that when our first son is born,” he said.

Daisy bit her lip and looked away shyly, her smile slowly growing from ear to ear. But the sound of a tinkling glass suddenly pulled their attention toward the center of the ballroom. There, wearing a broad grin, stood the perfectly healthy and fully recovered Duke of Berbrook.

“Thank you all for joining our family on this special day, as we celebrate the union of my grandson, Tobias Peyton, and his lovely wife, Daisy. At this time, I would like to raise a toast to the newlyweds.” He paused, walking over to the couple and raising his glass in the air. “This is a joyous day, deserving of celebration. And I, for one, could not be happier for you both.”

The crowd instantly murmured in agreement, raising their own glasses. Tobias and Daisy followed suit, joining their guests in the customary sip of their respective drinks. Then, Tobias turned back to his grandfather, hugging him so tightly that the duke groaned.

“I will never tire of seeing you, Grandfather,” he said, freshly aware of his earlier gratitude.

The duke laughed.

“Be careful, Toby, my boy,” he said, releasing Tobias and winking at Daisy. “You might never get rid of me.”

Daisy giggled and stepped forward, straight into the duke’s arms.

“That would be an unparalleled delight, Bertram,” she said.

The duke pulled back and looked at her, shaking his head fondly.

“No, my dear,” he said. “The true delight is having the honor of welcoming you into our family. Never could I have imagined that Tobias would meet such a lovely young woman. We are blessed beyond words to have found you.”

Tobias nodded his agreement, but Daisy merely placed a hand on her ever-reddening cheek.

“Your kindness never fails to humble me,” she said softly. “But it is I who am blessed, I’m sure.”

Tobias stared at his wife with awe and adoration.

“And that is why we cherish you so, darling,” he said, kissing her gently on her forehead.