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Epilogue

V fiddled with her dress. There was more lace than she would have liked, but Mrs. Mason, now Mrs. Mulberry, was a hard woman to argue with; nevertheless, V had gotten her way with as simplistic a dress as possible.

"Oh don't you look lovely!" The old woman exclaimed. She had been obsessing with the dress, the hair, and the flowers all morning and could still find something wrong with it.

"Oh stop it Mrs. Mulberry! I can't be late for my own wedding now can I?" V said laughing. It still felt surreal.

"Oh stop calling me that. We're friends now! It's Agatha to you." "Alright Agatha, it's fine!"

"It can't be fine it needs to be perfect!" And Mrs. Mulberry began fussing over the flowers in her hair.

A knock at the door gave V a sigh of relief: "Come in!" She exclaimed.

Mr. Mulberry, dressed in his finest suit of dark grey and maroon lining, entered the room. "You look ravishing, my dear." He said as a smile broke the ever stern line of his lips. "See!" V turned to Agatha Mulberry who was fiddling again, "He said I look ravishing, so

let's go!"

"Alright, alright I'm finished now." Mrs. Mulberry stepped back. "We really must be going now." Mr. Mulberry said.

"Wait! I nearly forgot!" V shuffled over to her night stand and pulled two very special items from a silk bag. She carefully placed Emelia Hamilton's emerald encrusted pin in her hair, which was in a half up-do held together with pins resembling violets. Next, she pulled the golden chain

of the fateful heart shaped locket around her neck. The locket rested perfectly on her white dress, and V was glad she had accepted it. It wasn't just a nice piece of jewelry, it was a reminder, and she was reminded of how much she had lost, and gained just to be here today.

"I'm ready now." She stated, and headed out the door, but not before she could remember the small bouquet of violets and white roses.

• • • • • • • • • •

Will paced at the base of the staircase. Mr. Mulberry had gone up some time ago to get the girls, and he hadn't returned. He poured himself a small glass of scotch from the nearby stand and drank it straight.

"I thought you didn't drink." A sweet voice called from the top of the staircase.

V stood in a fitting white gown that splayed out at the base. He could see where Mrs. Mulberry had gotten her way – white lace flowers covered her chest from shoulder to shoulder – and it was perfect. Her hair cascaded down her face in small curls and her green eyes sparkled from across the room. Her humorous smile brought a grin to his face and he forgot the glass in his hand.

Will met her at the base of the stairs. "You look..." Will began.

"Ravishing?" V asked at the same time Will said "Stunning." "Well you look quite handsome yourself." V said.

Will was wearing a deep blue suit of matching coat and trousers. He wore a white undershirt that peeked out, highlighting the vibrant colours. A black tie accompanied the outfit, and a black top hat with a blue ribbon would soon be upon his head

V suddenly looked appalled, "It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!" She exclaimed. "I think we've had our fair share of bad luck already." Will replied, and V nodded in

agreement.

"We must get going if we are to arrive in time. We don't want to keep the entire royal court

and Her Majesty waiting." Mr. Mulberry said, joined by his wife from the top of the stairs.

The assembled party nodded their heads in agreement. It was time for Will and V to become the

Duke and Duchess of Stratford.

As the young couple excited for the awaiting carriages, Mrs. Agatha Mulberry turned to her new husband: "I wonder how we're going to keep them out of trouble now."

"We're not. They are going to be a handful." Her husband answered the only way he could, "Those two were made for each other."

The Mulberrys smiled and headed out to the wedding of the century.

THE END