Seven Years Later.

The rosebuds had bloomed, as lush and red as they sat in the garden of their home. The green grass that littered the yard shone brightly, making the courtyard, which was placed at its center, so beautiful. The morning sun eased into the room, alerting them that the day had broken. Every day seemed to be the same joyous occasion. For the past seven years, every day was a day to look forward to.

Esther walked back to the bed and sat on it so that it dipped. Her husband made no move to rise yet. She was tempted to wake him, but she liked how his hair, now longer, cast against his eyes. She liked how his lips were parted slightly, how his snores were low. She loved how his body curled out on the bed. She enjoyed being able to simply sit and watch him.

Seven years ago, at the very ballroom of Sands Castle, they had been wed. She recalled the day like it were yesterday. And she never regretted a moment.

She remembered being flanked in a room, by her best friends, her handmaid and her mother. She remembered wearing her mother’s very own wedding dress. She remembered her father smiling and giving her his blessings.

“I’m so happy for following your heart, my dear. You see, the heart is never wrong,” Papa said.

The wedding took place two months after the Christmas ball. All the children from the orphanage were in attendance. The ball had been grand. The Dowager Duchess wouldn’t hear any of nonsense talk of a small wedding. “My boy is to be wed. There will be no small wedding but a grand affair, indeed,” she would say when asked.

Alexandra was the most excited. She never missed a moment to hug Esther and say, “Welcome home.”

Robert seemed shy around her, but he slowly began to understand that she was now part of their lives. Forever. William kept saying, “We’re happy Stefan decided to wed. And lucky him, ey? It was to the beautiful lady.”

They all made her laugh. They all made her happy. They welcomed her warmly.

As for Nicholas, she saw him a few times. He had even come to one of their balls. He had tried to talk to her, and she had allowed him. Once again, she had told him to do the right thing. Wed the woman who was to be the mother of his child.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever stop loving you,” he complained. But at the end he did the honorable thing. He wed Greer a fortnight after the Christmas ball with only a handful of people in attendance. Esther had graced the ball, with Stefan by her side as they were engaged by then. Maybe it was the first time that Nicholas had done the right thing.

Esther liked to think that everyone was happy, in the end. Greer and Nicholas turned out to be a very successful match. Nicholas himself admitted it to her a year later.

Esther wondered if there was any bliss more than what her life turned out to be. She had encouraged Stefan to always talk about Agnes to Robert, so he could know her, though he would never meet her. She had been an important part of the family, and her memory should live on.

The door of the bedchamber burst open, averting Esther’s thoughts. She was happy to have been dressed in her muslin gown, for she already knew who would open the door in such a manner.

A blonde-haired six-year-old walked in, her pink dress adorned with flowers which swooshed as she walked with her nurse behind her.

“I did try to stop her.” The nurse shrugged, stopping at the door.

Agnes walked over to her mother and kissed both her cheeks. “Good Morning, Mama.”

“Good Morning Agnes.” Esther laughed as she kissed her daughter’s forehead.

Agnes rushed to Stefan’s side of the bed and patted him.

“Papa…Papa. Pa…Pa. Good Morning, Papa.”

Stefan opened his eyes and growled. “Agnes.”

Esther burst into laughter. Her husband turned and scooped his little girl into his arms. Agnes was their first child. Esther birthed her a year after they were wed, three months after Anne had given birth to her son, Gregory.

Agnes looked like Stefan. Blonde hair and blue eyes. She also had his nose and frowned as he did. The resemblance was uncanny and amused everyone who met them.

Stefan looked to the side and saw Esther sitting there. He moved closer to her and rubbed her now protruding belly. “How is my boy?”

“It’s going to be a girl, Papa. I want a sister,” Agnes announced.

Alexandra, from the door, guffawed. “How certain are you that it’s a boy, Stefan?”

Alexandra was taller, curvier, and more beautiful than ever. Her blonde hair had grown longer, and it suited her brown eyes. She was a sight to behold, and was now engaged to a young viscount, Lord Danvers. Alexandra was not like any other lady of the ton. She shot arrows, knew how to handle guns, and even, rode Black. She was the only one, aside Stefan, who could control Black. Even William was still unable to.

Watching Alexandra grow and develop into a young lady, but with her own unique skills, was a constant source of enjoyment for Esther.

Alexandra touched her stomach lightly. “How is my niece?”

“Still kicking. This babe would be so strong. Perhaps huge. I’m pretty sure it’s a boy.”

Alexandra scowled. “You’re with Stefan on that?”

Stefan laughed behind her. “Pay her no heed, my love.”

They all laughed, even Agnes. She laughed the loudest and clapped her hands. Esther was about to ask from everyone to go and get ready for breakfast, when Alfred suddenly stood beside Alexandra and the nurse. His eyes were wide, and his cheeks now sagged. He had aged so much.

He turned to Stefan and greeted. “Good morning, Your Grace.”

He then spoke to Esther. “Your Grace, the Duchess of Richmond is here to see you. It is quite urgent.”

Esther wasted no time. She walked behind Alfred and tried to ran down the stairs. Alexandra, who was following behind her, was asking her to tread carefully. But she was worried. She wondered why Anne would come to visit her so early.

As she stopped at the last stair, she saw her friend, standing by the entrance door. Anne’s eyes were swollen from crying, and her face still wet with tears.

Esther moved closer and stood before her, worried. “What is it, my friend?”

Anne grabbed Esther by the hands and wailed. “Victor. Victor has died at sea.”

As though she had been hit, Esther felt her chest clench at the news. Victor was dead. He was dead. “How? What happened? Where is Katherine?”

Anne shook her head as Esther’s questions bounced flew toward her. “I have no idea where Katherine is. I went to her home, but she is nowhere to be found.”

“And Victoria? Her daughter? Where is Victoria?”

Anne cried even more. “Victoria is with the Duchess of Somerset. She is fine. But Katherine is missing, and Victor is dead. Esther, I fear that our friend may be in danger.”

Esther felt her throat clench. Katherine was missing. She must have fled upon hearing of her husband’s death. Everything suddenly became dim. All the brightness from their earlier family bliss had suddenly disappeared. As she held onto Anne’s weeping form, Esther felt in her heart that there were dark days ahead. Her soul reached out to Katherine, wherever she might be.

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