"My cousin Helen, who is in her 90s now, was in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. She and a bunch of girls in the ghetto had to do sewing each day. And if you were found with a book, it was an automatic death penalty. She had gotten hold of a copy of 'Gone with the Wind', and she would take three or four hours out of her sleeping time each night to read. And then, during the hour or so when they were sewing the next day, she would tell them all the story. These girls were risking certain death for a story. And when she told me that story herself, it actually made what I do feel more important. Because giving people stories is not a luxury. It's actually one of the things that you live and die for." Neil Gaiman

----

Epilogue

April 1811

It had been a fortnight since their return to Ashwood, and time really had flown quickly by, as time so often did when a great many changes were happening.

As grateful as Amélie was for the Beresfords' hospitality, she did not feel comfortable as a guest in the great house. Susanna really felt helpless in how to comfort such a kind a brave woman, but she could also greatly understand her feelings. Grace, instead, had the bright idea to move Amélie into what had once been hers, Kate and Claire's bedroom in Mrs Denham's house. This arrangement suited her better, and Mrs Denham was most welcoming and accommodating. After all, Grace had to have inherited her good heart from somewhere.

While there was still a language barrier between the two women, Amélie had communicated to Alex that she hoped to learn English from her new companion. As Mrs Denham was still partly crippled from her leg injury several years earlier, Amélie was only too happy to share some of the domestic duties.

Captain Whitfield also finished up his stay at Ashwood after a fortnight. Susanna still quietly believed that he possessed some hope for a reunion between himself and Amélie but had accepted that it was not to be. Susanna, who had always been such a tragic romantic, found herself rather impressed with the outcome when previously she would have been praying for the opposite. Amélie possessed such a fierce sense of independence and identity, and Susanna greatly respected her for it.

Despite Susanna's suspicions regarding the captain's romantic torch, he did also spend those two weeks continuing to bond with his son, and Alex had been saddened by the departure of his father. The captain had left with a departing message, telling Alex that he would return to England by September if he had a favourable tide, should any events of significance occur.

Now that it was April, it was startling to think that this time last year Susanna had been preparing to journey to London yet again for another Season. Hundreds of other young women would have been making those exact same preparations right about now. But Susanna's life had changed so drastically between last year and this. That life seemed to belong to an entirely different person. Susanna hardly knew her.

Though she had never cared for the life that her mother had originally planned for her, Susanna still had wanted to meet and marry a man whom she loved. She never could have predicted Alex, even if he had seen her coming.

What had started as a simple deception on Alex's part and evolved into something so much more. It was a power their neither one of them had felt before. So strong was it that Susanna could forgive Alex's sins and cross an ocean to reach him. So strong was it that Alex risked his life, and his freedom, to rescue her. Susanna had once believed that this power was determined to pull them apart, but she now realised that such a belief was wrong. It was a test, a test of true constancy.

They belonged to one another.

"Oh, Susanna, isn't this just darling?" Cecily gushed as she held up a little dress made from a mint green fabric. The sleeves were gathered with lace ruffles, the same lace that bordered the collar.

Susanna entered the drawing room to make herself useful. It was Jackie's first birthday, and so Jack and Claire were travelling with her to Ashwood for a visit and a small tea party. Much to Cecily's chagrin, Jack wouldn't consent to the sort of affair that she would have wanted to throw for her granddaughter.

Cecily had arranged the pile of gifts on a table in the drawing room, and was admiring the last of the presents, the dress which had been sewn by Belle, and commissioned when Cecily had learned of Belle's seamstress talents.

Susanna had thought for a short moment that Belle might have left Ashwood when Amélie did, for she always seemed to look as though she felt out of place. Belle was quiet and rarely spoke unless she was asked a direct question, and Susanna couldn't help but surmise that this was because she was living in the home of a white master, a grande blanc, as Alex had called them. Despite the fact that Adam was nothing like the masters they would have known in their lives, Susanna could never have thought less of Belle for her apprehension. One day Belle would trust someone, and Susanna hoped that day would come soon. To feel so unsafe had to be such torture.

"It is beautiful, Mama," agreed Susanna. "What a marvellous job you have done, Belle. Jackie will be quite adorable in it, I am certain." Susanna was quite anxious to see her niece again. She had not looked upon Jackie since last summer, and she hated to think how much she had changed. A lot, if Perrie and Lily were anything to go by.

Belle smiled, and her golden eyes warmed at the compliment. She looked well when she smiled, healthier, even though she was still painfully thin. The weight that she needed would not appear overnight. She had been dressed properly since arriving in England, in clothing that she had sewn herself from fabric that Grace had procured for her. Susanna wanted to ask where she had learned such a skill, but she was frightened of the answer, and frightened of bringing up any painful memories for Belle.

"There is also ..." Belle held up a sash, stitched from the same fabric, but she paused and pursed her lips as she frowned. "I don't know the word." She pointed to her hair. "For the head," she emphasised.

"A hair ribbon?" Susanna guessed. "Ruban pour cheveux."

Belle nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! That is it."

"It is perfect," Cecily declared. "You are quite the talent, Miss Desjardins," she complimented. "What you might have been if people were a little less prejudiced ..."

Cecily muttered the last part of her sentence to herself, but Susanna still caught it. Susanna looked to Belle and saw by the expression on her face that she had heard, too. Sadly, the word "prejudice" would not be lost in translation.

The arrival of not one, but three people of colour into the small Ashwood village had caused quite a stir, and Susanna was ashamed at some of the people who were itching to view their guests as though they were circus performers. It reminded her greatly of how Mr Bishop had paraded Alex about, and that was not what her family wanted to do.

And after the initial thrill had come the prejudice, most notably by the vicar, who had quietly advised Adam that for the comfort of the parish, their black guests ought to worship in private. Susanna had never before seen her brother exercise his influence in a threatening manner, but he had done that first Sunday when he had informed the vicar that the dukedom owned the land on which the vicarage stood, and should he refuse to preach in the presence of Alex, Amélie and Belle, then he would write to the Archbishop of Canterbury personally to have him replaced.

Adam, of course, was not acquainted with the Archbishop of Canterbury, but their vicar did not know that.

Despite this intervention, the stares and whispers could not be prevented, and the following Sunday, both Alex and Belle had elected to remain behind. Alex was happier spending his time with Argent, who was being kept in Ashwood's stables.

"Has Grace already commissioned dresses for Perrie and Lily?" Susanna asked, changing the subject. "Has Mama, for that matter? I hope they are paying you."

"Susanna!" scolded Cecily. "Of course, Belle is being compensated. I intend to keep her very busy. Such youthful, nimble fingers she possesses. She could teach Naismith a thing or two about hems."

"We haven't had a tailor or a seamstress in Ashwood for the longest time, Mama," said Susanna. "Not that I can remember, anyway. Was not Grace's father a tailor?"

Cecily stiffened a little, rather oddly. "Yes, I do believe he was," she murmured as she folded the dress neatly and placed it down with Jackie's other gifts. "Whatever I say goes in this village, Belle. Should you wish to have a shop, or whatever sort of business, do tell me." Cecily smoothed out the skirt of her own gown. "Excuse me, would you both? I believe I have left something in my bedroom. I will return." Cecily hastily made her way from the drawing room, leaving Susanna and Belle alone.

"Is that possible, do you think?" asked Belle tentatively. "A shop?"

Susanna could see that Belle was trying terribly hard not to appear or sound hopeful, and she hated this. One ought to be hopeful. One ought to dream. "Mama is right, you know. Whatever she says in this village is practically gospel. If you wanted a shop, you need only say the word. You are certainly talented enough."

***

"And we have forgiven him, yes?" Jack asked the table as Adam, Susanna, and Alex all finished regaling their tale one more at dinner that evening for Jack and Claire.

"Jack," hissed Claire under her breath.

Jack grinned wickedly at his wife, taking pleasure in the fact that he had vexed her. But he then immediately took her hand and Susanna watched as he held it on top of the table. Claire looked well. Very well. Much to Susanna's surprise, when she climbed out of the carriage, she was very clearly with child once more. Jack, with great pride, had promptly reported that their second child would be born in the summer.

He was a very proud father. Susanna greatly admired that about her brother. In fact, in the several hours that they had been at Ashwood, now was the first time that she had seen him without Jackie, as she was now asleep in the nursery.

Cecily had needed to practically force Jack to allow her to have a cuddle with her granddaughter.

Susanna had been right. Jackie had changed dramatically. Like Lily was, Jackie was a small person now, and not a little baby. Her hair was white blonde and was now long enough to be fixed with a ribbon. Her eyes were large and inquisitive and were the most brilliant shade of green. She was exceptionally pretty.

"Yes, we have forgiven him," Susanna snapped at her brother, though she smiled, knowing Jack was only teasing.

"Mother has planned a menu of your favourites, Jack," Adam then said, gesturing to the menus that had been laid out before each place setting.

Jack's wicked smile vanished, and an expression of surprise appeared on his face. "My favourites?" he repeated.

"You have been working very hard in London," Cecily murmured. "I thought it would be a nice idea to arrange something for you."

Indeed, the menu was filled with dishes that Jack enjoyed enormously, right down to the treacle tart for pudding. Susanna wondered how Cecily had known these were Jack's favourite things. This then made her wonder if she had planned ahead and had written to Claire. It pleased her to think that her mother could be so thoughtful when it came to Jack, as their relationship really had been non-existent for a very long time.

It was then that Susanna noticed there was an additional piece of parchment on her place setting, though it was not like the stiff menu card. Instead, it was rolled up, and fastened with a bit of string.

"Thank you, Mother," Jack said gratefully.

Susanna picked up the roll of parchment and untied the string. It was not a large roll, only a few inches in length, and it was torn at the edge. Written in a shaky hand, the hand of a man who was still learning his craft, were four words.

Will you marry me?

Susanna read it over again at least four times to ensure that she was not hallucinating. It was then that she looked up and found that Alex was watching her intently. He was not paying attention at all to any of the conversations that were going on around the table. His focus was entirely on her, and the question that he had just asked.

Susanna smiled. He had written it. He had written it for her because he now could. Alex could do anything that he wanted. He was a free man, a man with choices never before allowed him. And with this free will, he chose her. When she thought about it in that way, Susanna felt blessed.

Alex subtly arched one of his eyebrows, wanting to know her answer. Susanna nodded, accepting him, and, as the footman set down the first course in front of her, they were engaged.

Alex grinned, pure delight spreading across his face as he subtly motioned for Susanna to flip the parchment over.

Susanna hadn't noticed as she had unrolled the note that there was something written on the other side.

I love you as big as the world. Now watch as I tell them all.

Susanna once again met Alex's gaze as he lifted his dessert fork and tapped his wine glass, capturing the attention of the table.

----

THE END!!

I so hope you enjoyed Alex and Susanna's tumultuous journey!! I loved writing them, but I am so excited to get started on the next one - which many of you have guessed - Peter and Belle :) Keep an eye out soon!

I changed my mind about how I wanted to write this ending. I had originally wanted to include another part but I ended up thinking that it made more sense as part of the epilogue. The epilogue was never going to skip far ahead as Belle and Peter's story picks up in 1811.

And do you want to know a little secret? Jem's story begins in this year too .....

I thought I would put in an updated family tree so that you can keep track of who is who and how old they are etc.

Peregrine John Clarence Edmund Beresford (1751 - December 26, 1806)
Cecily Margaret Beresford (nee Simpson) (1761 - )
Adam Peregrine John Beresford (1781 - )
John Anthony Edward "Jack" Beresford (1783 - )
Susanna Augusta Theodosia Euphemia Beresford (1787 - )
—
Edward John Denham (1760 - 1801)
Ellen Grace Denham (nee Pearce) (1760 - )
Grace Elizabeth Denham (1783 - )
Catherine Ellen "Kate" Denham (1785 - )
Claire Frances Denham (1789 - )
Peter Edward Denham (1791 - )
Jeremy Charles "Jem" Denham (1794 - )
—
Adam Peregrine John Beresford (1781 - )
Grace Elizabeth Beresford (nee Denham) (1783 - )
Peregrine Edwardia "Perrie" Beresford (1807 - )
Cecily Ellen "Lily" Beresford (1810 - )
—
John Anthony Edward "Jack" Beresford (1783 - )
Claire Frances Beresford (nee Denham) (1789 - )
Jacqueline Beatrice "Jackie" Beresford (1810 - )
Baby Beresford (due Summer 1811)
—
James Percival "Jim" Ellis (1780 - )
Catherine Ellen "Kate" Ellis (née Denham) (1785 - )
James Edward Ellis (1809 - )

I just copied and pasted this from my notes and just had to comb through it deleting details that haven't been revealed yet ... fun fact, I have this family tree planned up until the year 1833 at this stage hahaha.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the ride! Come join me for A Defiant Liaison!

Vote and comment xxx