Chapter Twenty-Nine

 

“I am very excited,” Rose said to her mother and aunt as they sat in the drawing room of Scarlett Hall. “We will travel first to Dover for several months to see the house in which his father will live. Once the weather permits, we are off to France!” She sighed. “I cannot believe I will finally be seeing Paris!” Then she gasped. “As a married woman!”

She and Holden had married a month earlier, and now Miss Rose Skylark was Lady Rose Bradshaw. Much like her life, the season had changed. The weather was no longer warm and a slight chill filled the air.

“And speaking of our travels,” Holden said with a wide smile, “we should be going soon. I must ensure the luggage has been tied on correctly. One of the bags nearly fell off on our way here.” He stood and bowed first to Rose’s mother and then her aunt. “Thank you for all you did for us.”

As he walked out of the room, Rose’s mother and aunt exchanged glances and then raised eyebrows at Rose.

“I told him nothing,” she assured them. “He made it perfectly clear that he does not care who my father was. Not that the subject has come up, mind you.” She hugged the two women she loved so dearly. “I should echo what Holden said, but I do not believe I will ever find the words to thank you enough.” She wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief.

Her aunt smiled. “It has always been my dream that all my daughters will find love, and although you are not my own, I am pleased you did.”

“Thank you, Aunt Eleanor. For everything.”

Her aunt embraced her. “I will allow your mother to see you out. It is only fitting.”

Rose nodded and soon she and her mother were standing on the portico, Rose in a purple traveling dress and long overcoat, a new hat trimmed in purple ribbons shading her face from the bright summer sun.

Her mother took her by the hand. “When you were little, you would often stop and collect leaves. Do you remember?”

Rose laughed. “I do. And then you would remind me I should be acting more ladylike and therefore would have to drop them.”

Her mother’s eyes sparkled. “That is true. And now, as a married woman, you must take all that I taught you and use it well. I will no longer be there to remind you. Do you understand?”

“I do,” Rose replied. “And I will.”

“I have no doubt you will,” her mother said, placing a hand on her cheek. “One day you will teach all I taught you to your children, as well. You must not become complacent in this, for what your children learn from you will remain with them until the day they, too, leave the nest.” She glanced behind Rose. “Your husband and your new life await you. Just remember that I will always love you.”

“And I will always love you, Mother,” Rose said, kissing the woman’s cheek. “I will write once we arrive in Paris. And when we return to London, I will let you know.”

Her mother smiled as tears brimmed her eyes. “Be safe.”

As the carriage pulled away, Rose put her head out the window and waved at her aunt and mother as they stood beside one another on the portico, a symbol of their friendship.

Scarlett hall had revealed who Rose truly was. Not a child born out of wedlock, but a woman who had grown and found strength she never knew she possessed.

“What are you thinking about?” Holden asked. “Do you miss them already?”

Rose laughed. “I do. But I assure you that my thoughts are on you and our life ahead.”

“As are mine,” he replied, taking her hand in his. “Last night, I thought about our life and the future we will share. Although I have no idea what it holds, I know that, with you by my side, I have nothing to fear.”

Rose’s heart filled to brimming. “There is not, for we are in love, a most special gift that has been given to us. And as I have learned over the last few months, love will triumph in the end.”

As the carriage moved along the road, they spoke of what lay ahead and the anticipation it caused. And as they spoke, Rose could not help but smile, for her love for her husband grew all the more, if that were possible.

Although she had one secret she would keep forever, another would one day be shared with her daughter—if she was blessed enough to have one. Whether a woman is rigid or daring, love will find a way to bring together two souls as one. That was a secret, unlike others, that was indeed meant to be shared.