A Graceful Swan for the Fearless Marquess BONUS SCENE

“Luke! Stop troubling Penelope!” Nora’s voice reached the rooftop but the children who were not afar off could not care to listen.

They continued to play as recklessly as ever. Liliana knew it was only a matter of time someone picked offence and decided they were done playing. Then a little grudge would be nursed and there would peace…only for about half an hour.

“You trouble yourself, sister. These children would never listen.” She exhaled as she spoke, already exhausted when the day had barely begun.

“Goodness! I cannot remember us ever being this much of a handful.”

“Me neither. We were the loveliest, sister, I tell you. We always did whatever bidding we were told. At least, I did. You… you were a little too flighty, almost reckless too. Hmm… I suppose the apple truly does not fall far from the tree.”

Nora scoffed and Liliana grinned, stretching fully into the smile.

“Do not let them hear you say that. They would take it as permission to bring the house down and with smiles on their faces, no less. I do not know where they get so much energy! And Peter? He’s a whole bag of trouble and he’s yours. I wonder whose tree he fell from.”

For reference, she looked in direction of the men… Sebastian and her husband, Gerald. They sat not far off, playing a game of cards.

Nora had come all the way from Yorkshire to visit with her husband. They did this often. Every six full moons, or so. Sometimes, it was Liliana who visited.

It’s been fifteen years since Liliana had said her vows by the swan lake, and fourteen, since the first time she had become a mother.

She had to admit, for how bleakly the earlier part of her life had been, everything had taken a turn for the better.

Her life so far has been nothing short of happy, peaceful and blissful. She had married a wonderful man, and she had been blessed with four wonderful children.

They had decided to have so many, since herself and Sebastian had only had one sibling, growing up.

There was Liliana who had come first, Pete, Benjamin, and Lois; the youngest who was eight. These people what she lived for. They gave her very life meaning.

Oh, she had not thought it was impossible to love so one so much yet daily, she was proven wrong. It was a wonderful thing to be a wife, but it was an altogether powerful experience, being a mother.

She was blessed. That was all she could say for herself. She was utterly blessed and every day, she lived in gratitude.

Sebastian only grew better. A better husband, a better father, a better Lord, day by day. He was still marquess of Northcott and that was just as well. They were not looking forward to being duke and duchess anytime soon.

Her parent-in-laws had years on them still, and she was counting on God to keep them.

They still visited. Not as regularly as they used to, for travelling with so many children could prove difficult. Nevertheless, they visited often enough to see that they were well, hale and hearty.

And Nora? Oh, her sister has had a beautiful life too.

A short while after Little Liliana was born, Sebastian had formed friendship as well as business partnership with a merchant and brought him home.

Nora happened to have been visiting at the time, and so it happened. Love.

Her own sister, had fallen in love. With a merchant with no title, and no enormous wealth- given, more than enough to cater for his family.

He was not the wealthiest and he was scarcely known in the society. Yet, Nora had loved him and wanted him.

The best part of it was that he had loved and wanted her in return. So, before the year was over, they had been wedded.

Liliana had watched her sister forgive herself and grow, grow into a different woman who was yet somehow, still Nora. She had reckoned it could not get better but oh… Gerald had changed all that.

Marriage has been as good for Nora, as it has been for Liliana and for that, she was also grateful. She had chosen a good man, and was blessed with three children. Penelope, Evie and Williams.

Whenever they came together like this, the children would threaten to tire them to death. Yet, none of them could deny that they loved every moment of it.

Days like this, were days that Liliana looked forward to, with all her heart.

“A penny for your thought, dear sister?”

Liliana looked at Nora, knowing she could tell her anything. With the past completely behind them, they were now best of friends. They shared everything, truly.

“I was simply thinking of how good life has been to us, sister. To think it started so bleakly. But it turned around very well, did it not?”

Nora nodded, suddenly thoughtful too.

“Indeed, sister. It did. I cannot believe how wonderful the past years has been. I was never one to believe in fairy tales. Yet, I must admit, it is exactly what our lives have been. Happy ever afters.”

“Like the books and plays? I told you it could happen in reality too.”

“Yes, yes you did. I am grateful for every passing moment.”

“As I am.”

Of course, their lives were not always smooth. They too had their share of troubles. Business, misunderstandings, but nothing that had ever threatened their peace, joy, or safety.

“Do you ever wonder about how differently our lives would have been, had all of that not happened?” Nora asked, her voice genuine.

Liliana gave it a thought for a short while.

“Truly? Yes, but not so much anymore. I have reached the conclusion that these things happened for a reason. All carefully arranged, to bring us to where we are now, here. And yes, we had to go through some seemingly needless pain, but I suppose in the end, it is all worth it.”

“Hmm… I suppose. Sometimes, I wish they were still here- Mother and father. They would have been so happy and so proud.”

“They are, Nora. They are always with us. In our hearts.”

“Yes, you are right. They always will be.”

“That is right.”

There was a small pause before Nora spoke again. This time, Liliana saw the question coming.

“How wonder how Rothwell fares… if he has finally sought redemption for his sins.”

“Who knows? If he has, then I know the lord shall forgive him. As we have.”

It felt good to say that. Liliana had not thought the day would come, but it had. She had completely forgiven Rothwell, difficult as she proved, and she had encouraged Sebastian to feel the same.

It had been all for their own good, for the weight of the grudge had been lifted off their chests.

“Yes, I suppose so,” was Nora’s simple reply.

Before the ladies would say more, the men came to take their women away, drawing them into a waltz to music that played in their hearts, while the children played in the field.

“Reminiscing, as always?” Sebastian asked, leading her in the dance so naturally.

All these years, if there was one thing their bodies had learned to do, it was to dance with each other. Liliana had lost count of the number of dances they had shared so far.

They danced, a lot. Under the moonlight at night, in her sewing room in daytime, whenever he paid her a visit. At the court yard, like this.

In the fields, no thought for whoever cared to watch. Not that the staff minded. It was no secret that seeing their Lord and lady so happy and in love, filled them with glee and hope that they too, can have something just as pure and strong.

“A regular look at the past, helps us appreciate the present more.”

“Heaven’s Drop… by Alan Leighton.”

Liliana grinned, not surprised that he knew exactly where the quote was from. It was her book. The first she had written and published. Started in a chamber where she had been kept captive.

You see, another wonderful thing about being married to Sebastian was that he had not only encouraged, he had also helped her achieve all her dreams.

He let her write, sew, and one too many times, he had taken her on voyages, just so that they could sail together. Freely, like their souls had been born to be.

All of these she did, being a mother, and managing a household. It had been quite uneasy in the beginning, but she had found a balance. Now, she managed every part of her life well.

“Someday, Longcross, it shall be Liliana Leighton on those books.”

“And when that day comes, God forgive me, for I shall be the proudest man on earth. Your books, they have changed lives, Liliana. I long for the day when the society would evolve properly enough, to not withhold dues from a woman, simply for her gender.”

“I shall be happy to wait for it. I do believe it is not so far off, any longer.”

“As do I. As do I.”

There was silence, but they did not stop dancing to the songs their hearts played together as one. She rested her head against her husband’s chest, relishing the steady thrumming of his heart against her ears.

“This is our life, dear wife.” Sebastian whispered, leaning to her. “Happy, in love, at peace, forever.”

Liliana smiled at him, shivers running down her spine. He would never cease to have such an effect on her.

“A beautiful life, dear husband. A very beautiful one.”

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