Lady of Greystoke (Sequel to "At all costs")

Happy Ending

When Alice and John arrived back home, Alice was immediately engulfed in a hug by her mother, who then proceeded to scold her husband for his actions, and getting hurt. Although she tried to hide it, the bickering situation between her parents made her laugh whole heartedly again for the first time in weeks. After stepping away from her mother she rushed over to Anthony, and embraced him as tightly as she could. She rested her head on his chest and enjoyed how she felt his strong arms wrap around her. She felt safe. Truly, 100% safe. She didn't really realize that she was crying until she saw the wet stain on her brother's shirt.

'Oh, I'm sorry Tony.'

Tony just shook his head. 'Only you would apologize for getting tears on my shirt after being kidnapped for weeks.'

She smiled up at him.

'Promise me you will never, ever go out to meet someone all by yourself again. Please?'

Alice nodded. 'I think I have learned my lesson Anthony. I just wish it wouldn't have been such a harsh one to learn.

Not much later, Elizabeth and Christopher arrived, and wrapped Alice in their arms as well, having been quite worried about their younger sister. Sitting at the large dinner table, and being served by others had already become foreign to her after only a few weeks. Even when she later lay in her bed all by herself she felt someone out of place, but her feeling of safety overpowered her somewhat uneasy feeling and she managed to fall asleep into an easy rest.

The next morning Alice was somewhat surprised to hear that William was in the drawing room waiting to see her. Although she was nervous to see him, she composed herself and gently made her way down the big staircase. When she entered the drawing room, however her surprise rose even higher when she found not only William but also her father and a police officer in the room.

'Do not fear, my love.' John reassured her gently as he saw the nerves on his daughter's face. 'Everything is alright. Why don't you just sit down?'

Only 10 minutes later, Alice ran out of the room again completely distraught. It's couldn't be true, echoed through her mind as she ran out to the gardens. She halted underneath a tree close to the river. She leaned against the tree and relished the coolness of the shade.

'Alice?' A reluctant voice called, and Alice turned around to meet William's eyes.

She sighed. 'I'm so sorry for running out on you William, I just... I cannot believe what the officer told me. How could it be true? Your parents are, although never truly kind to me, honorable people. How can it be that they ordered the attack on me and payed Mr. Coldon to imprison me?'

William looked down in defeat. Even more so than anyone else, he was hurt by the news about his parents. How could they have done something so appalling?! But they had, and he had to accept that, because nothing was going to change.

'I know it isn't easy to understand. I am having trouble with it either. But Alice, they will be punished for their crimes, believe me. And there is one bright side to that.'

Alice looked at him, absolutely confused at how William could find good news in the fact his parents would be arrested and likely imprisoned for years, because they had kidnapped her.

'How can there be a bright side to this, William?'

William grinned slightly. 'Because they have gotten arrested, and will likely receive a long punishment, I am now officially named Lord Delaney. My parents can no longer tell me what to do, and if I am correct, I will immediately inherit the fortune and lands.'

Alice still looked confused.

'Perhaps now, we can finally stop hiding our friendship... our feelings, from the world.'

Alice smiled at that. 'I agree, that is good news.'

William smiled. 'Well, Miss Clayton, I'm afraid I must attend to other business at home. But I look forward to seeing you again, very soon. Goodbye Alice.'

'Goodbye William'

Alice smiled to herself as William walked back to the house. And as she leaned back against the tree she looked back on the horrors of the past weeks. It had been hell, and it would take her many more days to finally feel like her old self again. She knew that.

She didn't have her happy ending yet, but for now, it actually seemed possible that someday she would.

A/N Hey everyone. I am so sorry that it  took me so long to write this. I have been so busy, and I wasn't happy with how I had written this before. SO finally it is here. This is the final chapter of this story, I hope you enjoy it and thank you so much for reading and supporting this story. I love you all.