Chapter Twenty-Five

 

The ballroom had been cleared of all their painting supplies and was now filled with people Isabel and Laurence had invited to their first party. One reason for this gathering was a celebration of the upcoming season, which they planned to attend, of course. However, the main motivation for throwing this party was to celebrate their love for one another. It had been a month since Isabel had completed her painting and confessed her love for Laurence, and with each day, that love grew, reaching new heights she had never known.

Now, looking around at her guests, she was pleased to see they all worse smiles, just as she did. Her gaze landed on her husband, a man who had doubted himself but now held no resemblance to that hermit he once was. For now, he stood in the center of a group of men, his voice filled with confidence. He no longer cared what others thought of him, for which Isabel was glad.

They had visited various shops together numerous times since the reveal of their paintings, often to simply walk amongst the people. Laurence had become a new man, and Isabel a new woman. All the hurt she had endured was now gone, not just buried away inside her but truly gone, left on a canvas now put away, never again to see the light of day.

“Why is the most beautiful woman at this party hiding away?”

Isabel turned to find her mother standing behind her and laughed. “I am uncertain,” she replied. “Would she not rather speak to her daughters?”

“Oh, you,” her mother replied, although her cheeks reddened from the compliment. They both turned to watch Isabel’s sisters. Hannah and Juliet stood beside Annabel by the refreshment table, their heads together.

“They cannot be up to any good,” Isabel said.

“Some things never change,” her mother replied. Then she sighed. “I now have two daughters who will have their first season this year. Then Annabel. It feels like just yesterday when you were all children.”

“We will always be your daughters,” Isabel said warmly. “No matter how old we grow or who we marry. You will never lose us.”

Her mother nodded in agreement. “Yes, of course,” she replied. “It is the empty home in London at night while they are away that bothers me. Although, I suppose I shall keep myself busy waiting to hear of their stories when they return.”

Isabel thought for a moment. “I will speak with Laurence, but why not join us in our home? There are more than enough rooms, and I would love the company during the day.”

Her mother hesitated for a moment and then smiled. “If he allows it. I do not want to become a burden to the man more than I already have.”

Isabel laughed. “You could never be a burden to either of us, I assure you.”

They spoke for several moments before the string quartet began a new set. Then two guests entered the ballroom. Harriet wore a sweeping green gown with gold thread and white lace. Her husband Ambrose looked dashing in a dark blue coat and tan breeches. Or Isabel assumed it was her husband, for they had yet to meet.

Laurence walked over to them, giving Harriet a kiss on her cheek and Ambrose a firm handshake. Then he nodded to Isabel.

“Forgive me, Mother,” she said. “I must speak to someone.”

When she reached Laurence, he introduced her to Ambrose, who bowed deeply before kissing her hand. He seemed a kind man with a good wit, but she was unable to speak with him long when Harriet asked to speak to her alone.

“The day of your wedding to my brother,” Harriet said after Isabel closed the door to the drawing room, “I spoke the cruelest of words to you. And I did not stop. My time there was spent in anger and hatred, and for that, I wish only to seek your forgiveness. I understand if we do not become fast friends, and if you wish to never speak to me again, I will be forced to accept it. However, you must know that I am truly sorry and hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

Laurence had told her his sister had changed, but she had never expected to find an entirely different woman in her place. How could she not forgive someone who would humble herself so completely? “Of course I accept your apology,” Isabel replied. “I hold no grudge against you. I am happy you are finding your way in life, and it serves you well.”

“It will, Your Grace,” Harriet replied with clear relief. “I know it has only been a short time since I have come to realize my many mistakes, I find it much better to be kind and listen than to be harsh and always speaking.” The woman giggled and then looked down at the floor. “Forgive me, Your Grace.”

Isabel smiled as she took Harriet’s hand in hers. “At one time you mentioned that we would become great friends.”

“Yes, but…”

“Allow me to finish. Friends, and especially family, call each other by their Christian names. So, I must ask you, Harriet, are we friends? Better yet, are we not family?”

Harriet broke into a wide grin. “Yes, Isabel, we are. We are both family and friends.”

“Good,” Isabel replied as she hugged her sister-in-law. If anyone had asked her if this day would come several months earlier, she would never have believed it, and yet, here they stood embracing one another.

“I truly am sorry,” Harriet said as she dabbed at her eyes with a kerchief.

“All is forgiven, so no more talk of apologies. Now, we should return to the party or everyone will think we have sneaked away to drink.”

This brought on a bout of giggles that reminded Isabel so much of her sisters. She was thankful their relationship had been mended.

They returned to the party, and music played, guests laughed and drank, but only one man made her heart leap. Laurence said something to his friends and walked over to stand beside her.

“How is it I have been so fortunate to marry the most beautiful woman in all the land?”

“I often ask myself how my husband is the most handsome,” she replied. “He is such a great painter, among many other traits.” She gave him a cryptic smile that made him grin widely. “Some may call it luck, but I believe what we know it to be.”

“Indeed,” he replied.

They both turned to gaze over the crowd, for what they shared was love. The very foundation of what had brought them together and had been able to heal them of troubled pasts. It was the same love that some who had attended their party already possessed and what others pursued. It was not always an easy journey; in fact, it was as treacherous as any expedition to a faraway land could ever tout.

Yet, it was also the finished painting much like the one that hung behind them that was the goal. For that work of art had been completed together, and it depicted Laurence and Isabel standing at the doors to Camellia Estates, the children to come at their side.