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Seven Years Later
The autumn afternoon was crisp and golden, the kind of perfect English day that made one grateful to be alive. From the music room of Highmere’s Yorkshire estate, the sound of piano practice drifted through open windows. Not one pianist but several, their varying skill levels creating a cacophony that somehow worked.
Annabel stood in the doorway of what had once been a formal drawing room and was now the practice hall for the Highmere Conservatory. A dozen students of varying ages sat at pianofortes and other instruments, working through their lessons under the watchful eye of three instructors.
This had been Gabriel’s idea, presented on their second anniversary as a surprise. “You’ve published three compositions,” he’d said. “You’ve performed at venues across England and Europe. You’ve achieved everything you dreamed of professionally. But what if you could share that gift? Teach others who might not otherwise have access to quality music instruction?”
The conservatory had started small, only five students, children of tenant farmers and local families who showed musical promise but lacked means for proper training. It had grown rapidly, and now they had students from across Yorkshire, some even residing at the estate during term time.
“Mama! Mama, watch!”
Annabel turned to see her eldest daughter, Catherine, running toward her. At six years old, Catherine was all dark curls and grey eyes, Gabriel’s eyes, though her determined chin was pure Annabel.
“Watch what, darling?”
“Grandmama is teaching me a new piece! Come see!”
Annabel followed her daughter to a smaller practice room where her mother sat at a pianoforte with Catherine. She had become one of the conservatory’s primary instructors three years ago. The six months abroad had transformed her, she’d studied with masters, performed in small venues, and rediscovered her passion for music. Annabel had invited her to teach at the conservatory as soon as Gabriel presented the idea, and Margaret had accepted immediately.
“Listen to this,” Catherine said importantly, sitting at the piano bench beside her grandmother. She began to play a simplified version of a Mozart sonata, her small fingers surprisingly confident on the keys.
“Beautiful, sweetheart,” Annabel said, her heart full. “You’ve been practicing.”
“Every day,” her mother confirmed with a proud smile. “She has genuine talent, Annabel. Not just playing but actually understanding the music.”
“Like her mother,” came Gabriel’s voice from the doorway. He entered carrying their youngest, two-year-old Thomas, on his hip. Their middle child, four-year-old Margaret, named after Annabel’s mother, trailed behind clutching a rag doll.
“Papa!” Catherine abandoned the piano to run to her father, who somehow managed to crouch down and embrace her while still holding Thomas.
“How are my brilliant children today?” Gabriel asked, his face alight with joy.
“Grandmama says I’m going to be a famous pianist,” Catherine announced.
“I said she has the potential to be very good if she continues to work hard,” she corrected gently. “Fame requires dedication and discipline.”
“Then I’ll work very hard,” Catherine said seriously. “As hard as Mama works.”
Gabriel met Annabel’s eyes over their daughter’s head, his expression tender. These moments, surrounded by their children, their family, the music school they’d built together, these were the moments that made everything else worthwhile.
“Where’s Father?” Annabel asked her mother.
“In the village, meeting with the new vicar about the church roof repairs,” she replied. “He’s become quite active in local affairs since we moved here permanently. I think he rather enjoys feeling useful.”
Her parents had surprised everyone by deciding to relocate to Yorkshire after their Italian sojourn. Mr. Hartwell had found unexpected fulfillment in estate management and local governance, while Mrs. Hartwell had thrown herself into teaching at the conservatory. The arrangement suited everyone, Annabel had her mother nearby, the conservatory had an excellent instructor, and her parents had finally found genuine partnership.
A commotion from the main hall drew their attention. Stephen’s voice carried through the house, theatrical and amused as always.
“Where are the Duke and Duchess of Highmere? I have traveled halfway across England and demand proper hospitality!”
Annabel and Gabriel exchanged smiling glances. Stephen’s visits were always entertaining, and this time he’d promised to bring his new wife.
They found Stephen in the entrance hall with a petite, dark-haired woman who looked at him with fond exasperation. “Stephen, don’t be dramatic. We’ve been traveling for two hours, not days.”
“Any time away from London is an eternity,” Stephen declared. Then he saw Gabriel and grinned. “Your Grace! You’re looking positively rustic. All this country air must be rotting your brain.”
“Stephen.” Gabriel embraced his friend warmly. “It’s good to see you. And you must be Giulia.”
Stephen’s wife curtsied gracefully. “Your Graces. Stephen has told me so much about you both. Though I confess, I wasn’t certain how much to believe, given his tendency toward embellishment.”
“Everything he told you was probably true,” Annabel said, embracing Giulia warmly. “Welcome to Highmere. We’re so glad you could visit.”
Giulia Rossi, now Giulia Redgrave, had been a sculptor in Florence when Stephen met her two years ago. He’d gone to Italy on business and returned completely besotted with a woman who spoke her mind, challenged his assumptions, and couldn’t care less about English society. They’d married within six months, and from all reports, were blissfully happy.
“Arthur and Julia should arrive tomorrow,” Gabriel said as they moved to the drawing room for tea. “They’re bringing all three of their children, so the house will be quite full.”
“The more the merrier,” Annabel said. Arthur’s position in Parliament had flourished, and they’d recently purchased a lovely house near Westminster. They visited Yorkshire several times a year, and the cousins adored playing together.
Over tea, Giulia admired the music room and asked thoughtful questions about the conservatory. “In Italy, such schools are common,” she said. “But here in England, I understand they are rare. You must be very proud of what you’ve built.”
“We are,” Gabriel said, his hand finding Annabel’s. “Though it’s primarily Annabel’s vision. I simply provided the resources and support.”
“That’s not true,” Annabel protested. “You’ve been involved in every major decision. The curriculum, the hiring, the scholarship program. This is ours, Gabriel. Together.”
“You’re both terribly modest,” Stephen observed. “And terribly in love. It’s nauseating, frankly. Haven’t you gotten over each other yet?”
“Never,” Gabriel said firmly, making Annabel laugh.
That evening, after the children were in bed and the house had settled into comfortable quiet, Annabel found Gabriel in his study reviewing estate papers. She moved behind his chair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
“Catherine asked me today if I’m sad I never became a famous concert pianist,” Annabel said quietly. “She overheard one of the students talking about my performances in London years ago.”
“And what did you tell her?”
“That I found something better than fame. I found purpose, partnership, and family. That teaching at the conservatory gives me more satisfaction than any public performance ever could.” Annabel rested her chin on Gabriel’s head. “I hope that’s the right answer. I hope I’m not teaching her to limit her ambitions.”
“You’re teaching her that there are many ways to live a meaningful life,” Gabriel said, setting down his papers and pulling her around to sit on his lap. “That success isn’t only measured in accolades and applause. That sometimes the most fulfilling path is the one we create for ourselves rather than the one society prescribes.”
“When did you become so wise?” Annabel teased.
“About seven years ago, when I married an extraordinary woman who taught me what truly matters.”
They sat together in comfortable silence for a moment, then Gabriel said, “I received a letter from Viscount Ainsley yesterday.”
Annabel sat up straight. “Ainsley? What could he possibly want?”
“Money, naturally. He inherited that sum from his aunt seven years ago, gambled it away within six months as predicted, and has been struggling ever since. Now he’s asking for a loan to invest in some scheme that will ‘assuredly’ restore his fortunes.”
“You’re not going to give it to him, are you?”
“Of course not. I’ve written back explaining that I can’t in good conscience provide funds that would simply disappear into more gambling debts. However, I’ve offered to introduce him to a financial advisor who specializes in helping people recover from significant debt.” Gabriel’s expression was wry. “He’ll probably refuse the help and continue as he has been. But at least I’ll know I tried.”
“You’re too kind,” Annabel said.
“I’m pragmatic. Ainsley’s suffering doesn’t benefit anyone. If he can be helped, why not offer assistance? If he refuses, that’s his choice.”
“What about Lady Cassandra? Have you heard anything about her?”
“Actually, yes. Anthony mentioned at dinner last month that she’s quite content in Manchester. She and Mr. Thornbury have two children now, and apparently, she’s become active in charitable work. Nothing as dramatic as a music conservatory,” he added with a smile, “but genuine, good work, nonetheless. Helping young women from poor backgrounds find respectable employment, that sort of thing.”
“I’m glad,” Annabel said sincerely. “She made terrible choices, but she deserved a chance at happiness.”
“Everyone deserves that chance,” Gabriel agreed. “Though not everyone is brave enough to take it when it’s offered.”
He pulled her closer, his expression growing more serious. “Annabel, are you happy? Truly happy with the life we’ve built? I know it’s quieter than what you might have had. No concert tours, no fame, just teaching and family and managing a music school in Yorkshire.”
“Gabriel.” Annabel cupped his face, making sure he was looking directly at her. “This is everything I wanted. Not the life I thought I wanted when I was twenty-three and terrified of marriage. But the life I needed. The life that makes me wake up grateful every morning.”
She gestured to encompass the estate, the conservatory, their family. “We’ve created something extraordinary here. Not just for us, but for dozens of students who might never have had access to music instruction. We’re raising three brilliant children who understand that love and independence aren’t mutually exclusive. We’re showing people that marriage can be genuine partnership.”
“No regrets about Florence? About the performances you could have given?”
“None,” Annabel said firmly. “I performed, Gabriel. I published compositions. I achieved what I wanted professionally. But this—teaching, building the conservatory, raising our children, and loving you—gives me deeper satisfaction than any concert hall ever could.”
Gabriel kissed her softly. “Seven years ago, when you left for Italy, I thought I’d lost you forever. And now look at us. Three children, a thriving music school, a marriage that makes me grateful every single day. Sometimes I can barely believe it’s real.”
“It’s real,” Annabel assured him. “We made it real. By being brave enough to fight for what we wanted. By refusing to accept what society said our marriage should be and creating something better.”
They made their way upstairs to their chambers, passing the music room where moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the pianofortes and other instruments. Tomorrow those instruments would be filled with music again, students learning, growing, and discovering their own voices.
Just as Annabel had discovered hers. Just as Gabriel had learned what genuine partnership looked like. Just as their children would hopefully learn that love didn’t require sacrifice of self.
“Play something for me?” Gabriel asked as they passed the music room.
Annabel smiled and led him inside. They settled at the pianoforte together, just as they had at their wedding seven years ago. But this time, their wedding rings caught the moonlight, and years of partnership had made their playing even more seamless.
The composition they’d created together so long ago flowed from their fingers; the false beginning, the genuine connection, the separation and resolution. But now Annabel heard something new in it. She heard their children’s laughter. She heard student recitals and family dinners. She heard arguments resolved and challenges overcome. She heard seven years of building a life together.
When the final notes faded, Gabriel pulled her close. “Perfect. Like everything else about our life together.”
“Not perfect,” Annabel corrected with a smile. “But real. Honest. Ours.”
“Even better than perfect,” Gabriel agreed.
They climbed the stairs to their chambers hand in hand, content in the knowledge that they’d found something rare and precious. Not the fairy tale romance of novels where everything was perfect and problems solved themselves. But something better. Something real.
Love that had been tested and survived. Partnership that grew stronger with time. A future they’d built together, brick by careful brick, note by careful note.
And as Annabel settled into bed beside her husband, surrounded by the home they’d created and the family they’d built, she thought of her younger self, so afraid of marriage, so certain that love meant losing herself.
How wrong she’d been. How beautifully, wonderfully wrong.
Because loving Gabriel hadn’t diminished her. It had made her more fully herself than she’d ever been alone. Had given her the courage to build something extraordinary, not just for herself but for others.
The conservatory would continue long after they were gone. The students they’d taught would teach others. The example they’d set, of genuine partnership and mutual respect, would hopefully inspire other couples to demand more from marriage than society typically offered.
That was their legacy. Not just the children they’d raised or the music they’d created, but the lives they’d touched and the example they’d set.
It was more than enough.
It was everything.
Gabriel’s arms tightened around her, and Annabel smiled in the darkness. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new students, new adventures. But tonight was simply about this, the two of them, still together after seven years, still building their life one note at a time.
A life composed together. In perfect harmony.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Regency Hearts Entwined", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears! I really hope you loved the book and that the Extended Epilogue provided a perfect closure to it. I can’t wait to read all of your comments here! 💕
This is a great book to read! I love the message it sends about not giving g up your dreams and desires, but being honest about adding more to those desires and wishes and making them real in your lives. Well done Amanda!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Sonia! I am trying to use the same principle (never giving up on one’s dream) as a compass throughout life, as well, though it is not always as easy! Glad you enjoyed the read!
I loved this book. I shall miss the characters, especially Gabriel and Annabel. Next in my favorite list are Stephen, Julia. Stephen for his unwavering dedication to Gabriel and Julia for courage in her standing up to her father and for loyalty to the man she loves.
That’s so sweet, Inghard! I understand you’ll miss the characters, but now you shall always carry them in your heart! ❤️