Love's Counterpart

Chapter 14 - Epilogue

Epilogue

Juliana ascended the stairs to the hall that led to a nursery. A light was streaming from under the door. Juliana smiled and opened that door to a similar scene from years ago.

Only now the beautiful young girl had grown into a stunning young woman. Juliana found her with her legs tucked under her. Annabelle's baby girl now lay snuggled in her arms and a stack of letters were sprawled out on the floor before her.

"I wondered if I would find you here," Juliana said, sitting across from her and holding out her arms for her niece.

Annabelle looked up. The nostalgia of the moment was not lost on her either. She handed her child to her Aunt and spread her fingers over the letters before her, looking for something in particular it would seem.

"I can't believe you kept them all these years," Juliana said, cooing softly to the infant who did not appreciate being disturbed from her warm and cozy spot, but soon settle down, as Juliana began to softly hum a sweet lullaby.

"I didn't," came the surprising answer from Annabelle. 

"These aren't letters from your admirers?" Juliana asked surprised.

"They are, but only one admirer, the only one that truly matters...Cyril," Annabelle said picking up another letter, reading it and holding it close to her heart.

Juliana's eyes widened as Annabelle pulled out another handful from a different box and rummaged through them.

"All these are from Cyril?" Juliana asked, feeling a twinge of jealousy for although she had no doubt Richard loved her... not even she had this many definitive examples of that love.

Annabelle beamed at her. "Every birthday, holiday, special occasion and sometimes for no reason at all. You know how good he is with words. I guess he finds this is the best way to express himself."

Annabelle frowned as she took out another bundle.

"Shouldn't you be packing these away? Today is moving day," Juliana questioned, wondering what was troubling her friend.

"I know. I just know it's here somewhere. I just had to make sure I have it before the move," Annabelle said, packing up the letters before her and reaching for another box.

"What? What are looking for?"

"The letter that started it all, the letter that brought Cyril and I together. The one that gave, Aunt Augusta such peace."

This was a favorite tale of Juliana's... how Cyril and her found their way to one another. "Your Aunt... she gave the letter back to you?"

Tears sprung to Annabelle's eyes. "Yes. When she began to fall ill, a few months before her death. She wanted to know the letter would be in good hands, and knew I would cherish it as she did, and I DO... I put it with all the others... I know I did."

Annabelle still couldn't believe her Aunt's generosity in willing her home to her. It wasn't the grand mansion that she first met Cyril in. In her wisdom, her Aunt sold that property and bought a more modest home quite a few years back. A beautiful corner property with a large garden and more room than she could possibly need but Annabelle suspected her Aunt always planned on Annabelle inheriting it, so made sure it was large enough for a family to grow.

Juliana scanned the bundles on the floor. Her hand, brushed several letters aside and then she plucked a random envelope from the pile and handed it to Annabelle.

Annabelle frowned. Opened the letter, scanned the contents and squealed with delight as she read the words that she knew by heart. The words of love and devotion that were written by her father to the woman he loved, the words that inspired Cyril's love for her.

Her eyes darted up to Juliana's smiling face. "But of all the letters how did you know? How did you know THIS was the one?"

Juliana's smile became all knowing, and a slow realization started to dawn in Annabelle's heart and mind.

"It was you! You put this letter in with the others. You handed it to me that day I was sitting in the nursery at Bentley Manor. But how did you...?"

Juliana laughed. "Your Aunt...it was easy to see how much she loved you both, you and Clara whenever she stayed at the house. As a servant people tend to react and talk to themselves even if you are in the room, you are... insignificant, nearly invisible.

When your Aunt stayed with us after your father passed, she'd often sit in her room and cry. Never would she show you how hurt she was by his passing but she often pulled out that letter and would read it time and time again.

When she left to come back to London. I cleaned the room and found the letter under a bureau. It must have fallen or she dropped it while packing to return home. I knew the letter was important to her but I had no way of returning it to her.

I admit curiosity had gotten the better of me and I read it. Working with your Father as I had so many times with his business I knew his scrawl even though the letter was not signed. It made all her mourning and tears make sense.

When you were in the attic that day... looking for guidance in all that nonsense... I slipped you the letter hoping your Father and his love for your Aunt might possibly guide you to finding what I knew you so truly deserved.

A Love that was real. Devotion. Family."

Annabelle stared at the letter, and back at Juliana and down at the precious child that now lay asleep content in her Aunt's arms. One of the three precious children that made up her family. 

"You were right. I have all those things and so much more, thanks to Father, Aunt Augusta and you. Oh, Juliana... where would any of us be without you?"

"In a very sad state indeed," came the warm masculine voice behind her. Juliana looked up at the very handsome face of her husband, Richard.

"Shouldn't you two be packing instead or making more messes," Cyril asked, jokingly as he entered the room, until he realized what was sprawled across the floor.

"Annabelle are these...?"

"Every letter you've ever written," Annabelle said, and it amazed Juliana that her dear friend looked up at her husband almost shyly as she said it.

"I..." Cyril looked stunned and he sat down next to his wife. "I never expected you would keep them all!"

Annabelle touched Cyril's face, "And why wouldn't I? One does not throw away gold or precious gems. They only increase in value as time moves on."

Cyril smiled warmly at his wife. "I love you."

Annabelle laughed as she held a bundle of letters to her chest. "I think you've made that abundantly clear."

Richard coughed and Juliana giggled, rising with her niece in her arms. Though there were three other people in the room, it was evident the two lovers had been transported to a space and time where only they existed and Richard and Juliana stole away from the room to give them that moment. Richard closed the door to the nursery behind them.

As Juliana, took her niece to her bedroom, Richard walked silently with her. She laid the child in her crib, covered her with a blanket, and kissed the top of her head. She turned to find Richard staring at her rather intently.

"I know I don't write you letters, but I hope you know just how much I love you."

Juliana crossed the room to him and wrapped her arms around him. She alleviated his concerns with just one kiss and Richard smiled down at her content.

"I don't need letters to tell me what's forever written on my heart. I am yours and you are mine. Forever this will be, till the end of time."