You're My Best Friend

Epilogue 2

Lady Caroline Wyatt was growing old. She hadn't noticed it until this morning, when she found an errant grey hair among the sea of auburn that stuck out of her head. A strand of winter among a fall colored scape. Grey wasn't an ugly color, but it was an old one. Old. Was she really old? Three and thirty wasn't that old, but it still felt like a shock. Wrapping the grey hair around her finger, she gave the hair a defiant pull and removed it with only a little pain.

"Ouch!" she whispered. Taking the hair and dropping it on the floor. She took her fingers and ran them back along her scalp to see if anymore grey had corrupted her head.

"Are you alright?" her crusade against age was interrupted by her daughter Victoria's voice.

A young lady of only ten, Victoria seemed to be a near double for Caroline. Except of course for her inability to master the French language, which came directly from her father. What she lacked in language, Victoria made up for in her skill studying the stars. If she could, Caroline was certain her daughter would go to university.

Henry, their older son seemed to be the opposite. He looked just as if he were Geoffrey's clone, and had progressed so far along in his studies that he was considering going to school in France. Of course he was only twelve, so important decisions could wait, but her children's strides in age only made Caroline feel old. And her grey hair only increased her worry.

Caroline whirled around to face her daughter, "Yes of course, can I help you?"

"I came in to say goodnight to you and Papa. He told me you were in here, so I came in to say goodnight."

Caroline put her hand delicately on her hip and smiled., "In french?"

Caroline watched her daughter furrow her brow, a face she had only seen before on her husband's face "Bonne Jamon"

Caroline leaned in and kissed her daughter on the cheek and whispered. "Bonne Nuit"

"Bonne Nuit"" Victoria repeated, turning back to leave, "bonne nuit, bonne nuit, bonne nuit."

After hurrying her off to bed, Caroline made her way into the study, finding Geoffrey's hands actively at work. He had taken to embroidery like a fish took to water, and he was no better than she could ever be. Caroline did not mind that though, it only made her more confident as a teacher.

"Geoffrey?" Caroline sat down next to her husband, "Do you suppose I'm growing old?"

"You? Old?" Geoffrey shook his head, "I should hope not, for that would make me nearly dead."

"You bite your tongue." Caroline scolded.

"Well what makes you ask such a superficial question?"

"I found a grey hair on my head this evening." She confessed, leaving out the part of her removing it.

"My dear, no grey hair could make you old. Old is a state of mind, and in my mind you are just as young as you were when we married nearly thirteen years ago."

Caroline smiled, "You always know just what to say."

"Then I guess it is the perfect time to say I love you" Geoffrey leaned in and kissed her on the lips. "You kiss like a young woman too"

"We should visit France again soon" Caroline sat back down and snuggled into her chair, "Victoria could use some more real world progress."

Geoffrey scoffed playfully, "Or do you just want to see me fumble my words again."

Caroline let out a quiet laugh, thinking about the botched conversation he had held with the childrens' tutor just a week before., "I guess a little bit of both" she conceded.

"Caroline Wyatt, you can be devilish sometimes" Geoffrey scolded.

"And yet, I don't think you would trade me with any other woman in the world."

"I do suppose you're right." Geoffrey smiled, "my little old lady."

"Geoffrey!" Caroline huffed.

"Just a little playful response to your french comment. But I suppose a holiday in France would be nice."

"Wonderful, I can have our things packed by tomorrow." Caroline said eagerly.

"I suppose you weren't asking to go to France?" Geoffrey asked.

Caroline frowned, "It was Belinda's idea, She's been expressing the same worries about May's learning."

"Ahh so your sister's family will be coming along too? It has been only two weeks since we saw them last."

Caroline put her hands on her hips, "You knew even before you married me that Belinda and I were nearly inseparable."

"I only tease, I love Belinda, and the way you two interact with each other. It's like watching a comedy. I shall be packed by tomorrow."

"Oh you don't have to worry, I've already had your things packed."

Geoffrey sighed, "You really have everything planned out don't you."

"You know I love the small details" Caroline smiled

"And I love you" he kissed her on the nose.