Epilogue

Juin 1782

Arles

Annalisa and her brother strolled arm in arm down the Alyscamps, enjoying the bright summer afternoon. At last they reached the little tomb, a chapel in miniature in which the bodies of her mother and their father rested. They stood silently, admiring the climbing pink rose that was beginning to grow up one side of the doorway.

“Oh, Jeanri,” she said, using the nickname she’d given him when neither of them could pronounce the other’s full name. “I still don’t know how you managed this, but I’m so grateful you did. I’m so pleased they’re here together.” She leaned into her brother and he put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug.

“I am, too. You remember the story she used to tell us about them playing here together as children and her insisting she wanted to be buried here like a great lady?” He smiled, giving his sister another squeeze. “And she was a great lady.”

“I miss her.” The Baroness had been dead only three months and Annalissa treasured the close relationship they’d shared. She was happy her mother had lived long enough to see her betrothed, but regretted she would not be at the wedding. “And I wish we could have known him.”

“Oh, Annali,” he said, “I miss her, too. But I think we do know Father—through your mother and mine, through Uncle Grégré, Aunt Ciby and Uncle Lauro, through Aunt Maryse and all father’s good friends—I think we know him.”

“I know, “ she said, looking up at him. “You’re right. But I wish we could tell him how much we love him.”

“I think he must know that, too, don’t you?” Then he laughed. “And remember, everyone says I look exactly like him, so it’s easy for you to see what a devastatingly handsome man he was.” He put one hand to his chest and lifted his nose skyward in a pose of aristocratic elegance.

His sister laughed and slapped at him playfully. They stood a few minutes longer before the mausoleum and then turned back toward the city.

“So you and Albert are planning on a honeymoon at the cottage?” Their family had been spending summers on Corsica since they were small.

“I love it there! So does Albert. And Mama Bella wants to go back. She’ll spend the whole summer and we’ll go on to Rome, Athens—Albert has an elaborate itinerary planned—but we’ll be home in time for Christmas.” She looked up at him as they walked. “What’s next for you, brother dear?”

“Well, after I’ve finally seen you good and thoroughly married, I want to travel a bit.”

“You know how much Mama Bella will miss you?”

“I know. But if she’s at the cottage, it will be easier for her. And I’ll be home for Christmas, too. I promise.”

“I’ll hold you to it.”

“I think my mother fancies becoming a grandmother so I’m depending on you and Albert to provide her with some grandchildren as soon as you can.” He laughed when his sister blushed. “I’ll hold you to that!”

“Well, I think she’d fancy some grandchildren from the head of this family as well, so why don’t you see if you can return from your travels with a wife?”

Jean-Richard laughed again. His sister had been pressing him to marry for several years, but he had managed to avoid any serious entanglements—no small accomplishment since, as the Baron de Beauvu, he was considered the most eligible bachelor in the area.

“I’ll take that under advisement. But I’m not making any promises—to either of you.”

Annalissa stopped walking. She reached up and put her hand to Jean-Richard’s cheek, looking at him seriously. He had been devoted to her mother and she knew he was still grieving.

“You know it’s what mother would have wanted, too, don’t you?”

He appreciated her concern. “I do. But it’s too soon. When the time is right, someone special will come along and Beauvu will have a new Baroness. Meanwhile, it is up to you and Albert to carry on the family.”

He took her hand and started to walk but she held back.

“Do you know how fortunate we are?”

“I do, indeed,” he assured her as he kissed her cheek. “I do, indeed.”