Epilogue

 

 

 

Summer 1907

Bamford Park, Essex

 

 

In the ensuing decade, as Christian had surmised, life with Eleanora was never, ever dull. After the Christmas wedding, Eleanora moved into the townhouse, and the next five years were filled with laughter and adventure; and an overabundance of passion. Christian often assisted in her various assignments, big or small.

After the arrest of Ford Whitney, word traveled fast about The Galway Agency. While prejudices remained regarding women running an investigative concern, the cases had increased. Divorce cases still made up the bulk of the assignments, but more intriguing cases concerning murder and fraud had also cropped up.

As Reece Galway had predicted, Ford did not stand trial for the murder of Addington or Emily McCarthy; they couldn’t prove either one. But fingerprints on the murder weapon proved his guilt in the murder of the baronet.

After a well-publicized trial, the verdict was life in prison. When Newgate Prison closed in 1902, Ford was transferred to an asylum. Christian had gone to visit him, but Ford didn’t know him. His former friend had withdrawn into his own world.

With the birth of Christian and Eleanora’s son more than four years ago, changes had taken place. While Eleanora, Althea, and their cousin, Sybil, still kept a hand in, Archie Fitzgerald, now twenty-four, ran the day-to-day operations. Although there were a couple of men on the payroll, the vast majority of the investigators were women.

Every summer for the past five years; Eleanora and Christian came to Bamford Park in July, and hosted a summer party by inviting friends and family. They would start arriving in the next couple of days.

His mother and her husband of nine years, The Duke of Coldbridge, were already here, as were Reece Galway and his wife Wilhelmina and their six-year-old daughter, Roisin. Arriving tomorrow would be Sybil and her husband, Doctor Corbett Buchanan.

Hollis Duncan Richard Galway Bamford, age four and a half, came running toward his father. Christian scooped him up and tousled his mop of black hair.

“Mama says it’s going to be a girl, but I want a brother,” Hollis declared.

Eleanora came into the room, her arm resting on her large middle. Last year Eleanora had miscarried. It had been a devastating experience for them both. But this one was tucked away safe as Eleanora was due in a matter of weeks.

Christian opened his arm and brought his darling wife in close. “Mama is usually right, Hollis, so a girl it will be.” Christian leaned in and whispered to Eleanora, “Just like her mother, she will be beautiful and confident, passionate about all things.”

“And be a lady detective?” Eleanora interjected.

“She can be anything she wishes. We will see to it.”

Though family life had cut into the investigative exploits, their mutual love and desire had not diminished at all. They were on a new adventure as a family.

Christian predicted that they could have it all.

And they did.

***Look ahead for a sneak peek of book #2 in The Rakes of St. Regent’s Park***