Everything but a Lady- Extended Epilogue
November 7, 1815
The months passed, and Daniel and Sally settled into their new lives on Bird Farm. Daniel’s father kept his word and respected his son as the new master of the property, and very soon, the place fairly bloomed with green fields and a vegetable garden, and along the south side of the house, a stand of yellow roses.
On a grey day in early November, Sally waited at the gate to greet two long-awaited visitors: her old friend Merope Brookford, and Grace Miller – the former servant girl who was now Lady Worthington.
“I am so happy to see you both!” she told them, as they drove up in a beautiful little governess cart drawn by one of the Worthington ponies. “I have so much to show you.”
“And we cannot wait to see it all!” said Grace, stepping out of the cart and hugging Sally.
“The place does look wonderful,” said Merope, getting out and hugging her as well.
Daniel stepped up to take the bay pony. “Take care with him, Mr. Bird,” said Grace with a laugh. “He is a favorite of the dowager duchess, and is on loan to us especially for today.”
“Of course, my lady,” said Daniel, bowing to her. “This is Woodlark, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is,” Grace answered. “He is a dear and quite nice to drive.”
“I shall take very good care of him, I promise you,” Daniel said, and led the pony and governess cart towards the shed where Pipit was kept.
Sally leaned down close to her two friends. “We are getting two large ponies and a new wagon next week,” she told them. “I am so happy. Daniel says he will get me a small vehicle to drive, as well, a bit later on, and perhaps even a small pony that will be mine alone to use.”
“So exciting!” said Merope. “I am truly happy for you, Sally.”
With great pride in her grand new home, Sally showed her friends around the newly improved Bird Farm. “My yellow roses are being specially grown to sell at the market each week, whenever I have enough of them,” Sally told them. “I hope to add white and pink very soon.”
“Oh, my mother will take all the white ones you have for the dining room at the inn,” said Merope.
“And if you ever grow red ones, I will take all of those!” said Grace.
“In that case, red shall be next,” said Sally. “There is the vegetable garden, greatly expanded for all of us here and for the market as well.”
“Another crop for my mother to buy,” said Merope, and all of them laughed.
“Now, in this paddock you might recognize at least one of the occupants.” Sally stopped beside the fence of a small paddock, built onto the side of the larger field. “This is Pipit, Daniel’s cart horse, who is now – I am glad to say – quite retired.”
“I’m glad to know that,” said Merope. “There was no harder-working creature in all of Birdwell than old Pipit.”
“True,” said Sally. “But he does have tasks to do as yet. Do you see those three large goats in there with him?”
“Why, yes,” said Grace. “Let me guess, Pipit is teaching them to be companions for horses!”
“Exactly so,” said Sally. “Your brothers must have told you.”
“They did, they did,” Grace laughed. “But it seems that goats are very good for nervous horses. Who would have thought they might be good for that as well?”
“None other than Daniel Bird,” said Sally. “Now, here, in this walled yard, is something very special.”
Sally opened the solid wooden gate of the yard and showed them a half-dozen young black-and-grey goats, who immediately crowded together and stood looking at their visitors.
“They are half native English goat and half Nubian,” she explained. “Smaller than the native goats, with softer coats and drooping ears. We are very much looking forward to the benefit they can bring to our English farmers.”
“I can tell you that the earl is very pleased with the work you and Daniel have done to bring these animals to Birdwell,” said Grace.
Sally just smiled at her. “We hope there will be a good number of new baby kids early next spring,” she said.
But neither Merope nor Grace said anything to that; all they did was look knowingly at each other.
“What is it?” asked Sally, a little puzzled; but then she began to realize that it could only be one thing. “Are you…?” she asked Grace.
“And are you…?” said Grace.
“And are the both of you…?” said Merope.
“Yes!” all three of them cried together.
“Yes, for me,” said Sally. “In the spring.”
“Yes, for me, too,” said Grace. “Also in the spring.”
“And another yes,” said Merope. “A bit later, in the summer.”
“Then let us all look forward to our new babies and our new lives!” said Sally, and the three friends hugged each other and started back towards the house together.
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I enjoyed the story, but felt it dragged a bit at times. Nevertheless I loved the introduction of the goats.
Thank you so much dear Dawn for your comment!
Really enjoyed this story about Sally and Daniel although I did think it took ages to really get into the story properly. Loved the proposal at the end.
Thank you so much for your honest feedback dear Maggi!
Wow. Sally Henson. I put this book down so many times. How long could she keep refusing to marry Daniel. Same excuse page after page after page. Skipped a lot hoping that Sally would grow up eventually. Too much of her. Glad she finally broke down and married Daniel, but WOW. Book could be cut in half.
Thank you for your feedback, dear Gerrie! It is truly valuable to me and helps me create better stories!
I always enjoy a romance that brings in facts of something that could have happened during the era of the books. The goats and their profit potential was fascinating. Daniel and Sally’s romance was a bit of a bumpy ride for me. I wish there had been more concerning Sally’s birth father. Also, an opportunity for Daniel and his dad to speak again as they waited for the leg to heal was missed. I liked how Daniel plotted to spend time with Sally. While I wished Sally was more self reflective, she did get there.
Thank you for your comment and support, dear Jo! Your feedback is always welcome and helps me create even better books for you, my readers! I’m glad you enjoyed Sally and Daniel’s story!
As I finally reached the end of the book I did enjoy the story but felt it took a long time in coming. I have read the series and I must say this one was not as good as the others.
Thank you for your feedback, dear Mary! I’m glad you liked my series overall, and I will take into consideration your comment about this specific story. 🙂