A Scot to Break a Lady’s Rules – Extended Epilogue

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One Year Later

Arthur looked up at the sound of carriage wheels.

“Sounds like your parents have turned up.”

Cassandra put her sewing aside and stood up.

“It could be Michael and Sarah arriving. They said they would be here today.”

“Not until this evening. Sarah wanted to make sure Lucy is about to fall asleep before they travel.” Arthur leaned over the baby in the bassinet. “I know how she feels.”

Cassandra couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her husband with their son. Ever since Samuel was born, Arthur had barely left his side. It was incredibly sweet to watch. Even though he was barely three months old, it was clear that father and son had a bond. Cassandra couldn’t argue with that. She still got plenty of cuddles.

Being a mother was exhausting, but she wasn’t about to complain. Not when she saw her baby’s eyes light up when he was awake or when Arthur was holding him. This was good. It felt right.

That’s what Sarah said, at least. She was still getting used to being a mother, her daughter Lucy being only six weeks old. But Michael was right beside her, and Cassandra could think of a sweeter couple other than her and Arthur.

At least Michael had finally gotten over his fear of leaving Sarah a widow if he was called back to the front line again and married her a month after Arthur and Cassandra. He hadn’t been called back yet, so there was that under the surface. But, for now, Michael and Sarah were happy and living close by in a sweet little cottage on Arthur’s land. Seeing her friend glow in her new role of mother was a delight to see.

Turning away from her family, Cassandra went to the window and looked out onto the front drive. A carriage had pulled up outside the house, but it wasn’t Michael’s. It had a familiar emblem on the side.

Her parents were already here. The first time since Samuel’s birth. Cassandra felt her heart pick up. Her relationship with her parents was mending, although it was progressing slower than she expected. Lady Mandrake, especially, was being a little more difficult. She didn’t like the fact Cassandra now lived several hours away, and it took a day to get to them, hence why they hadn’t travelled much in the last year. Mandrake seemed to be more accepting, much to Cassandra’s surprise. It was a wonder what changed in a person when they were debt-free.

Would they love Samuel? Cassandra hoped so. Arthur’s mother adored her grandson and was willing to be on hand whenever they needed her. She had been so accepting of Cassandra it made her want to cry. A complete stranger showed more love for her than her own parents.

Hopefully, they would be able to change that soon.

“I’ll go and greet them.” Cassandra turned away from the window. “Will you be all right?”

“Of course. Samuel’s asleep, anyway.” Arthur peered at her. “Are you sure you want to go first?”

“I’m sure. They’re my parents.” Cassandra headed towards the door. “You just keep staring at your son as you always do.”

She heard Arthur chuckling behind her as she left the drawing room. Her parents were giving their hat and coats to Arthur’s butler, Marsden, and staring at their surroundings. This was the first time they had come to the estate Arthur had in Scotland; the other visits had been near their home. Arthur had been very accommodating with his in-laws, reluctant to travel, but he had put his foot down after Cassandra went through a gruelling labour. His in-laws came to them, or they were not going to be having a relationship at all.

Somehow, Mandrake and his wife had agreed to it. Cassandra was surprised they had done it. But she wasn’t about to question it; she would take what she could get.

Cassandra crossed the hall.

“Mother. Father.”

Lady Mandrake turned. Her eyes widened at the sight of her daughter, and she hurried over.

“Darling.” She clasped her daughter’s hands and kissed her cheek. “You’re looking…well.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

Cassandra bit back a caustic response. She knew her mother was going to comment on her weight. Cassandra knew she had put more weight on her frame after carrying a baby, but it was not her priority right now. Being a mother was more important than the plumpness on her frame.

Not that Arthur seemed to mind. He appeared to like it even more.

“Arthur’s in the drawing room with our son.” Cassandra watched as a myriad of emotions passed across her mother’s face. “He’s asleep right now, but my husband might be able to let you hold him.”

Lady Mandrake swallowed and nodded. Then she headed towards the drawing room. She looked nervous about being in a new setting, and Cassandra could feel the tension in the air. Her mother still hadn’t completely recovered from her daughter suddenly going off and getting married, and there were moments when she kept trying to maintain control, but Cassandra shot those down when she tried.

It helped with having her father on her side. Of the people to come to terms with her new status first out of her parents, she had not expected Mandrake to be the one more accepting. Whatever Arthur had said to him in private while the debts were being cleared seemed to have an effect on him.

“Cassandra.”

Cassandra turned. Mandrake approached her with a smile, kissing her cheek. It did feel strange having her father smiling at her and giving her warmth, but she would take what she could get. Where was this man throughout her childhood?

“Don’t worry about your mother,” Mandrake said. “She’s still nervous.”

“What about you?”

Mandrake sighed.

“I’m still nervous about having you married and far away from us, but your husband said that we needed to let go at some point. You’re stronger than we believe, and you need to stand on your own two feet.”

“He really said all that?”

“He did. And he was right.” Mandrake rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, looking a little sheepish. “We were too harsh on you, and we almost lost you as a result. That was our mistake.”

Cassandra swallowed.

“It shouldn’t have come to me running away for you to realize that, Father.”

“I know, but your mother and I are stubborn.” Mandrake tapped his daughter’s nose. “Much like you are. I can see you’re our child when that comes out.”

“So can I.”

They had had interactions like this before since her marriage, and they still made Casandra a little awkward. But she did want a good relationship with her father, and she hoped that it could build now.

Cassandra drew herself up.

“There are a lot of things you can’t undo, Father. But you’re still my parents. And I want to be close without any restrictions. We want you to know your grandson and any future children we’ll have. Arthur says we should know when the time is to forgive and move on, but the forgiveness does come with conditions.”

“Oh, do they?”

“He doesn’t want me hurt again. He said he would happily cut anyone out who hurts me.”

Mandrake’s mouth twitched.

“I don’t doubt that. He’s very protective of you.”

“He loves me.” Cassandra lifted her chin. “I hope you and Mother are good with my son. I don’t want you to treat him how you treated me.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to put us in our place.” Mandrake put an arm around his daughter’s shoulders. “Why don’t we start now and see what happens?”

They walked to the drawing room, Cassandra staring at the sight before her as they entered the room. Lady Mandrake was sitting on the settee with Samuel in her arms, partially wrapped up in his blankets and sleeping soundly. He had his father’s dark hair and a lot of it, his features similar to Cassandra’s. There was no getting around it; Samuel Crowley was angelic.

Arthur was standing close by, almost hovering as he watched his mother-in-law gazing down at her grandson with wonder in her eyes. He looked up as Mandrake approached.

“Your Grace.”

“Your Grace.” Mandrake shook hands with Arthur and then turned to Samuel, his expression softening. “Is this the little mite?”

“This is Samuel.”

Lady Mandrake looked up.

“He’s beautiful, John. Just beautiful.”

“I can see.” Lord Mandrake reached out and stroked Samuel’s head. “I’m sure you’re going to have your hands full with this one.”

Cassandra had no doubt about that. She moved to stand with her husband, Arthur putting an arm around her waist and kissing her forehead. The love in his eyes practically glowed as he looked at her. He had been like this since Samuel was born, and Cassandra couldn’t help but bask in it. She’d had no idea how lucky she was until she was holding her son for the first time, and her husband came into the room and saw them with that same look.

She didn’t want that to go.

“By the way,” Lady Mandrake said suddenly, “I heard something about the Earl of Trenton before we came up.”

Lord Mandrake frowned.

“Mary, maybe it’s not the time to talk about this.”

“John, I want them to know, so our daughter doesn’t have to worry about him again.”

“I haven’t worried about him since we left.” Cassandra frowned. “What’s happened to him?”

“He’s married now. Got married to the widow, Lady Applegate, the lady who lives on the other side of Lake Windermere.” Lady Mandrake carefully passed Samuel across to her husband as Mandrake sat beside her. “They just celebrated their one-year anniversary.”

Cassandra remembered Lady Applegate. She was a slightly older woman, closer to forty, but incredibly wealthy. Both of her parents and her husband had left her with more money than she knew what to do. A sweet lady, but very naive. She had to be if she had married Lord Trenton. Surely, news of what he was up to have to have reached her.

But it wasn’t her place to be worried. Lady Applegate would be fine. As long as she kept a close eye on her money once Lord Trenton had paid off his debts, they would have a decent and convenient marriage.

“Well, he’s not our problem now.” Arthur’s arm tightened around Cassandra’s waist as he hugged her. “We’ve got more important things to worry about.”

“I agree,” Lord Mandrake said. He was staring at Samuel with a tenderness Cassandra had never seen. Maybe her parents could redeem themselves. She wanted to see them show the love and affection her children deserved, not treat them as they treated her.

If they could do that, she would consider them forgiven. Life was too short to be bitter.

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