Her Perfect Match

Epilogue


Four years later

The soft blue waters of the Mediterranean swished onto the sand and tickled Vivien’s toes. She laughed as she curled closer to Benedict’s warm body and watched as her three-year-old daughter danced in the surf, holding hands with Lysandra and Andrew’s son, just a few months older than she.

Mariah took John’s hand. “I see a love match in the future.”

The six friends laughed together and a swell of joy lifted through Vivien’s body. It was a common feeling, one she had experienced hundreds of times since she left London and embarked on her new life with Benedict.

She had wanted to change her name, but he had convinced her otherwise. And while they had occasionally run into people who knew her past, especially in the very large cities, being Vivien Greystone had been a true joy.

“I cannot believe this holiday is the first time we have spent together since your departure,” Lysandra said as she waved to the governesses who were wrangling the children.

“Much has changed since then,” Vivien said with a nod. “We’ve both had children, Mariah is going to have her own in a few months.”

Mariah cast a quick glance at John and everyone could see how giddy with pleasure he was at the prospect of a child.

“Somehow we all became respectable,” Mariah laughed.

Vivien smiled, but as Benedict lifted her fingers to his lips, their eyes met and any respectability she felt faded and was replaced by a desire that never faded, no matter the number of years they had been married. In the end, she was still this man’s lover and his love. Time had proven she could be both and she had never been so happy she had taken the risk he proposed when he forced this future on her years before.

“So tell me the news,” Vivien pressed. “Is there anything to report from our old friends in London?”

“I have news, but not of a friend,” Mariah said.

Vivien sat up straighter. “Who?”

“Dersingham is dead,” Lysandra provided as she motioned the children to come in from the warm, Italian waters.

Vivien and Benedict exchanged a look. “Dead?” he repeated.

“Yes, died an utter pauper, locked in an asylum after he made an attempt on a very young girl.” Mariah shuttered. “Once he was revealed by you two, his entire life collapsed. His son seems to be making a very valiant attempt to repair the damage. I have heard he is a fair master to his servants and he has even donated to the Charitable Society.”

“I’m happy to hear that the sins of the father do not neccesarily have to be visited upon the sons.” Benedict pushed to his feet. “Speaking of which, I must go catch our daughter before she frightens the dog to death.”

The other men also got to their feet and wandered off toward the blue water and the racing children.

“And speaking of the Charitable Society,” Lysandra added as they watched their husbands in the distance, “our home is running so smoothly. The women are grateful and their lives are truly changed by your generosity, Vivien.”

Vivien smiled. “It is something I am so pleased by,” she admitted. “That life seems so far away now. I hope my old home, my old money, can make someone else’s life as much a dream as my own.”

The women sat in silence, each pondering their happy end after varying sadness in beginings.

“I heard Benedict’s brother and family are coming to visit,” Mariah asked.

Vivien nodded. “Yes. Derek, his mother and his wife, as well as their children, will be here at the end of the summer. Over the past year, much of the ice between them has melted. The two women even correspond with me. Ultimately, I believe it will be a very happy trip.”

Lysandra laughed. “Goodness, my dear, it seems after all your hardship, you truly created very happy lives for yourself and for us. What a matchmaker you turned out to be.”

Vivien looked at her friends. Lysandra was wrong in some ways. As a mistress matchmaker, she had ultimately failed. But as a matchmaker for love and devotion, she was a great success indeed. And as the ocean waves lapped her feet, she congratulated herself one final time and was utterly grateful for the life and love she had accepted and created with the man at her side.