“Father,” Victoria said, drawing Alexander’s attention away from the bustling sights outside the window of the Mayfair townhouse, where he now resided with his family. “What do you think?”

He turned to look at his eldest daughter, his breath catching as he saw her standing in a fine, white silk dress that was embroidered with cream-colored pearls and flowing lace at the neckline and around the waist. She looked exactly like her mother, and he could hardly believe that it had been ten years since Emma had made her way into their lives. Moreover, he couldn’t believe that she was to make her debut into ton society that coming weekend. He smiled at her, biting his tongue against tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.

“You look absolutely beautiful, sweetheart,” he said, stepping away from the window and embracing his daughter. “Are you nervous?”

Victoria shook her head, beaming at her father.

“Not at all,” she said with a giggle. “However, I cannot say the same for Mother.”

Alexander looked at Victoria quizzically. But before he could ask, Emma rushed into the room, surveying her stepdaughter with a worried expression.

“Does it fit properly, darling?” she asked. “Do you like it? Is there anything we need to have changed before Saturday?”

Victoria laughed, sounding as much like her mother as she looked, and she shook her head, catching Emma’s nervous frame by the shoulders and holding onto her gently.

“I assure you, it is perfect, Mother,” she said. “Goodness, one would think that this is your debut ball, with how easily excitable you are over it all.”

Emma looked at Alexander, who nodded in agreement with his daughter.

“I dare say that you seem to be in quite a tizzy, my love,” he said. “I am sure that all will go every bit as well as we are all hoping.”

Emma nodded, chewing her lip. After a moment of silence, she embraced Victoria, a small sob escaping her lips.

“I can just hardly believe that this day has come,” she said, holding onto Victoria tightly. “Time has passed so quickly, and it feels as though you should still be a little girl, painting in the schoolroom.”

Victoria laughed again as she kissed her stepmother on the cheek and pulled away.

“I will never forget those days, Mother,” she said. “But now, I am ready to begin the next part of my life. And I have you to thank for all of it.”

Emma studied the young woman she once held in her lap for art lessons with fresh tears in her eyes.

“I certainly couldn’t be prouder of the young lady you have become,” she said, her voice breaking.

Alexander moved to take his wife into his arms.

“She’s right, darling,” he said. “She wouldn’t be the young woman standing before us if it weren’t for you. I can confidently speak for both of us when I say that we owe you a great deal in that regard. And you have done well. Now, it is time for society to see just what a special lady our dear Victoria has become.”

Emma looked up at him, her eyes still shining with tears. But her smile was brilliant and filled with pride.

“I love you both so dearly,” she said, glancing at Victoria, who moved closer to her parents.

The girl opened her arms, wrapping one around Alexander and one around Emma.

“And I love you,” she said, her own voice beginning to fill with emotion. “Both of you.” She paused, sniffling as her tears began to fall. “Oh, goodness, now I’m crying. Oh, Mother.”

Alexander held the two women close, tears once more stinging his eyes. He was, indeed, endlessly proud of his eldest daughter. And he was just as proud of his wife. She had taken no time filling the role of duchess, despite her upbringing as a vicar’s daughter. From the very beginning, she had been filled with the grace, poise and diplomacy that made good noblemen and women. And she had taken up the mantle of Victoria’s mother just as flawlessly.

“Mama,” shouted another smaller female voice. “Papa.”

The family looked up to see six-year-old Samantha rushing up to them, with her older brother, Patrick, right on her heels.

“You must not run indoors,” Emma chided gently, even as she stooped to scoop up the young girl.

Samantha paused to catch her breath, glancing back at her nine-year-old brother.

“Patrick said that if I paint an animal, it will come to life,” she said. “Is that true?”

Alexander couldn’t help but laugh. Alexander himself had never had any siblings. But he recalled saying similar things to the siblings of some of his childhood friends.

“Why don’t you paint one and see?” he asked impishly, giving Emma a wink.

Victoria put her hands on her hips, giving him a playfully warning look.

“Do not tease them, Father,” she said with a laugh. She reached out and patted her younger sister’s head and shook hers. “No, sweetheart. It is not true. However, with enough imagination, you can make believe that anything is possible.”

Samantha glared down at Patrick and stuck out her tongue.

“I told you it wasn’t possible,” she said. “Stop telling fibs, Patrick.”

Patrick made a bitter face at Victoria, who returned it with a teasing eye roll.

“You won’t let me have any fun,” he said, pouting.

Victoria giggled, and for a moment, she sounded much like Alexander’s little girl, which made his heart squeeze.

“There is no fun to be had by telling lies, Brother,” she said. “Besides, can’t you find something more fun to do with our little sister?”

Patrick’s pout transformed into an impish grin.

“Yes,” he said. “I can play hide and seek with her favourite doll.”

Samantha squealed, squirming out of her father’s arms where she now was and falling to the floor with a soft thud.

“Don’t you dare touch Susie,” she said, running as fast as her legs would carry her as her brother flew toward the stairs.

“No running in the house,” Emma called again, despite nearly doubling over with laughter.

Alexander shook his head in exaggerated frustration.

“Whatever will we do with those two?” he asked.

Emma smiled up at him, and he couldn’t help noticing how much more beautiful she looked to him as the years passed.

“They are your children, after all,” she said with a wink. “I’m sure you expected nothing less of them.”

Victoria looked at Emma with mock horror, putting her hands dramatically to her cheeks.

“As am I, Mother,” she said. “What do you mean to imply about me?”

Emma laughed, throwing her arms around her stepdaughter.

“You are the finest young lady I know, darling,” she said. “Your siblings will be upstanding adults, as well. But for the time being, they do seem to have your father’s rebellious streak.”

Alexander grinned.

“It was that very rebellious streak that led me to marrying you,” he said. “Or have you forgotten?”

Emma released Victoria to walk over to him and wrap her arms lovingly around his waist.

“I could never forget the events that led to me becoming your wife,” she said. “And I am thankful every single day for them. And for that rebel piece of you.”

Alexander bent down and gave his wife a gentle kiss.

“Besides,” he whispered softly. “They’re your children, too.”

The three of them laughed.

***

Early in the evening on the night of Victoria’s debut ball, while Emma helped Victoria get ready, Alexander was in the spacious attic of their townhouse. Box by box, he rummaged through items that had once belonged to Sarah, searching for one thing in particular. He had only had everything packed up ten years prior, after he was wed to Emma, but it was a big task to find that for which he searched. When he found the small, cherry-wood jewelry box he had purchased for Sarah at the fair the winter before the two of them were married, however, he knew he had found what he wanted.

Reverently opening the box, he carefully moved aside the rings and bracelets, until he found that for which he sought. He plucked the silver chain and the pink, heart-shaped pendant from the other jewelry pieces and tucked it inside a new, small gift box. He looked up at the ceiling, doing something he hadn’t done since Victoria was a very young girl.

“Sarah, darling,” he said. “I believe that you sent Emma to us, to take care of and watch over us. And I will forever be grateful to you for that. I know that you would want to be here to see our beautiful daughter debut into society, and I am sure you would give this to her yourself if you could. Now, a piece of you will be with her on one of the most special occasions of her life.”

For the briefest of moments, it looked as though the sunlight streaming in through the attic window became brighter right where he sat crouched. He would have once thought that his eyes were playing tricks on him. But the rush of warmth and love that washed over him told him that he had every reason to believe that they were not. Filled with joy and the bitter sweet pride of having raised his daughter into a sophisticated, well-rounded young woman who was ready to seek a man with whom to start her own family, he exited the attic and headed straight for Victoria’s chambers.

He lifted his hand to knock on the door just as it swung open. There stood Emma, who looked positively radiant in a deep red silk gown and halo of red roses holding her curly hair in place on her head. Behind her was Victoria, and Alexander’s breath caught in his throat. She looked much like a bride in her white satin debut gown. It glittered with cubic zircon stones which were embedded to create loops on the skirt of the dress. Her dark hair was fashioned into tight ringlets, atop of which sat a silver diamond tiara. Her white gloves went nearly up to her shoulders, and her silver shawl sparkled like the stones on her gown.

“My darlings,” he breathed, kissing Emma on the cheek before holding out his hand to Victoria. “I have never seen the two of you look so beautiful.”

Emma returned his kiss, stepping back so that he could draw Victoria closer.

“Thank you, Papa,” she said, making his heart clench once more. “Have you come to escort me downstairs?”

Alexander nodded, reaching into his pocket for the gift box.

“I have,” he said, holding it out to her. “But first, I wish to give you this.”

Victoria took the box from his hands, opening it and gasping sharply at what was inside. She looked at him questioningly, and he took a deep breath, trying to control the waves of emotions he was feeling.

“This belonged to your mother,” he said. “You have become a woman, and I know that she would want you to have it.”

Victoria’s eyes filled with tears, taking the necklace out of the box as though it would break. She held it out to Alexander with a bright smile on her face.

“It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” she said, sniffling. “Will you help me put it on?”

Alexander took the necklace from her as she turned around, placing it gently around her neck. He fastened the clasp, admiring how well it complimented her ensemble when she turned to face him once more. Emma covered her mouth with her hands, tears still glimmering in her eyes.

“I didn’t think you could look more beautiful,” she said, embracing Victoria. “But I was wrong. That necklace is the perfect addition.”

Victoria giggled, patting the pendant with a tender hand.

“I just love it,” she said, smiling up at Alexander. “Thank you, Papa.”

Alexander dipped his head, blinking back his own tears. She looked so much like Sarah it was overwhelming. But while he still carried love inside him for his late wife, and he supposed he always would, his heart belonged to Emma now.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart,” he said. “Now, are we ready to go await our guests?”

Both women nodded as they each took one of his arms.

“I can hardly wait, Papa,” Victoria said.

Emma looked at him, her eyes shining with a mixture of pride and anxiety.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said with a soft smile. “I can still hardly believe that our Victoria has become a young woman.”

Alexander nodded, his heart swelling with an aching pride.

“Nor can I, my love,” he said.

As the family gathered in the parlor, Alexander turned his wife to face him with one hand, putting his other on his eldest daughter’s shoulder.

“It is hard to believe that ten years ago, one person changed everything I knew, and thought I believed, about life and the world.”

Emma wiped away her tears, giving him a playful look.

“Do you mean your new governess?” she asked.

Alexander gave her a bewildered look, which delighted her so much that she burst into a fit of giggles. Victoria joined her, patting Emma on the back as she dabbed at the corner of her eye.

“You are wicked, Mother,” she said.

Alexander made a face at his wife and daughter, shaking his head. Victoria cleared her throat, her face becoming more serious, yet doting and filled with love.

“I never knew what it felt like to have Father so involved in my life until you came to us, Mother,” she said. “I know that if not for you, Father and I would have a very strained relationship now. And I certainly wouldn’t have the most amazing mother in all of England. I know I can safely speak for father, as well, when I say that we love and cherish you more than words could ever convey.”

Emma choked out a sob as she embraced her husband and stepdaughter.

“We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?” Emma whispered, her voice barely audible as she buried her face in Victoria’s shoulder.

Alexander nodded, holding both women close.

“We have indeed,” Alexander said. “And yet, I believe our greatest adventures are still to come.”

The End