Epilogue
“Darling we must be quick or we will be late for rehearsal,” Charity told Dane as she breezed into the study of his sprawling and opulent townhouse located on the fashionable Arlington Street overlooking Green Park.
Dane had moved Charity into his home the day before their wedding and though the home was much larger than she was used to it took only a few days for her to learn the layout. That of course was several days after their wedding trip to the Whitby hot springs, a promise that Dane had not forgotten.
They had wed by special licence not long after the recital when Dane revealed to her that he was the mysterious benefactor that enable her to make her dream of a music school for the blind a possibility. That was almost a year ago and Charity had never been so happy, falling in love with her husband more and more with each passing day. Their happiness grew even greater when last month she was able to confirm that they were expecting their first child to be born in a few months. Dane had been reduced speechless when she first told him but only because he was so overwhelmed by the love he felt for his wife. Then he swept her up in his arms and proceeded to show her in every way imaginable just how deeply he cared for her and their unborn child.
They were not the only couple to find marital bliss. Violet and the Earl of Gillingford were after several turbulent months able to finally overcome the hurdles that stood in the way of their enchantment. Married two months prior they had just returned to London after a lengthy honeymoon trip to the continent. Charity and Dane decided together that they would do nothing to disturb Violet’s happiness by revealing the truth about her blindness. That was a secret that could keep for later. The cousin would be reunited tonight at the school for the final dress rehearsal for the fundraising recital that was now destined to be a yearly event and Charity was anxious to get underway.
Dane’s chair scraped across the floor when he rose and moved to where she stood, drawing her into his warm embrace. His gentle kiss quickly turned into something deeper as was the case most times and as much as Charity enjoyed his attentions, ones he had promised her not so long ago she broke off the kiss.
“Darling we really must be going,” she told him tenderly.
He nuzzled the delicate skin behind her ear, “You certain we don’t have time?”
Laughing she gave his head a little tug by his hair, “You know I love every moment we are together my darling but Violet and Charles are doubtless at the school already.”
With an exaggerated sigh Dane compiled but not until he had her promise to continue once they returned home. He handed her up into the carriage and settled into the squabs across from her, he often choose to sit there so he could watch his wife’s features. She grew more beautiful with each passing day and now that she was increasing she had an ethereal glow about her he found utterly breathtaking. But tonight he had another reason for watching her closely.
“Oh darling I almost forgot to mention,” he told her with a secret smile, “I have found the ideal person to fill the position of maintenance man for the school.”
“That is lovely darling, Mr. Davis and Mr. Hughes will be grateful.”
After Charity had wed Dane she did not spend the endless hours at the school as she had before and when Violet married it left a large hole in the daily running of the school. They decided that they needed to hire someone to fill the gap, so with the suite she had occupied standing empty her and Dane had interviewed the numerous applicants. Finally deciding to hire Mr. Falk Hughes and his wife Dilys, offering the suite as a home to them which they gratefully accepted. Between Mr. Davis and Mr. Hughes teaching duties they were also filling in as handymen doing whatever repairs were needed. But with the schools enrollment more than doubled and the private lessons now being taught to children of the peerage the two men were finding it difficult to both jobs.
The energy inside the school was near a fever pitch, everyone was excited about tomorrow's recital and after a lengthy tearful reunion between the cousins Dane pulled Charity aside.
“Come my love.” Steering her toward the office she once occupied on a daily basis he said, “I’ll introduce you to the new custodian.”
Dane didn’t get much chance to make the introductions before a near childlike cry filled the air, “Miss Charity.”
Before Charity’s shocked mind could barely register that the voice belonged to her long lost guardian a pair of large beefy arms surrounded her.
“Hubert? Hubert is it really you,” she asked choked on the tears lodged in her throat while her fingers searched his facial features to assure herself that she was not dreaming.
“Yes Miss Charity it is really me,” he told her cheerfully. Bouncing with boyish delight when he stepped back to look at his dearest friend that he had missed greatly.
Charity reached for Dane her knees feeling weak and her eyes filling with tears.
”Dane how...when...I mean. Oh my gosh.” She couldn’t contain the overpowering love she felt for her husband and she had to bury her face and tears against his chest. Dane had given her so much already and now he returned the only friend she had during the most horrifying time of her life. Just when she thought there was no more room in her heart for the love she had for her husband he gave her another reason to love him and her heart would swell to epic proportions.
“Thank you my love.” she said into his shirt before raising up to bestow a gentle kiss upon his lips. “Thank you for being the best husband a woman could dream of. I love you.”
“You make it easy to be the husband you need my sweet Cherry.”
The End