A Season for Honour

Epilogue

July 1818

St. Georges Hanover Square

Octavia was standing outside the imposing portico of St. Georges, holding Freddie's arm. Katie and Freddie were the closest people she had to family, and she wanted to give him the honour of walking her down the aisle. It was a warm summer's day, and poor Freddie looked terribly uncomfortable dressed in his formal wedding clothes. As they walked up the steps towards the door, he turned around and looked at her. 'Octavia,' he said, 'I never did thank you for talking to me about Katie. I was being such a self-righteous prig about the whole thing and forgot about the pain that she must have been feeling.'

Octavia looked up at him and smiled. 'It was the very least I could do. I love you both so very much, and I wanted you to be happy.'

'We are,' he said thoughtfully, 'and I never thought we could be happy again after last year. I don't think that Katie fully trusts me yet, but I will prove to her that I am worthy of that trust.'

'Give her time,' Octavia said, 'they do say that time is the great healer.'

As they entered the church, the congregation, who had been chatting animatedly to each other, became silent. As they stood to watch the arrival of the bride, the church was filled with the sound of the organ majestically playing "Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" by Handel. As she walked down the wide aisle, she looked at the congregation that had gathered to witness her marriage. Even though it was the end of the Season, the church was packed with members of the ton, wanting to observe the last event of the Season. She saw Katie, who was beaming at her and at the same time, she could see tears rolling down her cheeks. Next to Katie sat Olivia, who smiled broadly at her mother. Octavia winked back at her, and she giggled. Fortunately, she had suffered no aftereffects from her abduction and much to Octavia's relief, she remembered none of that dreadful night.

Charles, who had just returned from Eton, was also sitting next to his sister. He had grown up since she had last seen him, and her heart was touched with a tinge of sadness when she realised that he was no longer her little boy. Alex had visited him at school and had asked his permission to marry his mother. Charles had been delighted at the news. He had always liked Alex and was overjoyed at the idea of having him as a step-father.

She looked at the front of the church, where she saw her future husband standing in front of the altar, next to his brother, who was acting as his best man. Octavia thought that she had never seen him look as handsome as he did that day. He was wearing a blue jacket over a cream and gold brocaded waistcoat and cream pantaloons with highly polished Hessian boots

She was wearing a light blue muslin dress, over a cream overskirt. The bodice had been decorated with gold embroidery that matched Alex's waistcoat. Once she reached the front of the church and was standing by the altar next to him, she felt like she was in a dream. 'You look beautiful,' he whispered as she stood next to him, waiting for the Rector to begin the service.

'Thank you,' was all she could reply.

Over the past two months, since that dreadful night when Olivia was kidnapped, he had kept his promise. He had given her "A Season for Honour". He had accompanied her to social engagements, taken her and Olivia to see the sights and he had also driven her in Hyde Park in his brother's phaeton. They had talked about the future, and it had always been full of hope.

After they had exchanged vows in front of the ton and were, at last, husband and wife, they walked out of the church to the rousing sound of the organ. As they walked down the steps, the bells began to peel, and the crowd that had gathered outside during the course of the ceremony started to cheer. They cheered louder as Alex bent down to kiss Octavia lightly on the lips. Rice and rose petals began to shower them as they walked towards the barouche that would bring them back to Huntington House for their wedding breakfast.

Once they were seated in the barouche, Alex put his arm around her waist and to the delight of the crowd kissed her again.

'Are you happy?' he said, as the barouche made its way through the crowd.

'Immensely,' she said grinning at him. She then began to brush away the stray rice and rose petals that have stuck to her skirts. 'I think some rice has gone down the back of my neck,' she said as she moved her head from side to side.

She leant her head against his chest. 'Alex,' she said, 'I have something to tell you. You know we have talked about the future and the possibility of having a child together.'

'Yes,' he replied, 'yes I do.'

'It may be a little sooner than we planned,' she said, looking up at him with a sheepish grin.

'A child,' he said softly as he put her hand on her lower abdomen.

'Yes,' she replied, as his touch sent shivers through her. 'I must have conceived the night we were together in the library at Holloway House.'

'Octavia,' he said, 'this is wonderful news. I have never felt so happy,' he said, kissing her again.

Octavia leant her head against his chest as he took her hand in his. As she sat next to Alex, the future felt full of hope.