59. Epilogue

Six Years Later:

I shifted through the sheets of paper one at a time. It was sunny out that morning, with just the faintest whiff of fresh spring rain hanging in the air. Not a soul had walked by in hours, not that I was surprised by this. It made for a terrific spot to get some last-minute work in. Thus I kept myself busy with my papers as I sat there on the soft, lush green grass in that familiar location.

"What about this reading? Hmmmmm, do you think I'm assigning them too much?" My head turned to Great Uncle Arthur's little polished stone sitting beside me. I took his lack of reply to be confirmation; I was giving my students too much work in their last term this year. I'd been living in Vienna for just over two years now, teaching and getting another PhD in Medieval history at the city's university. Simon and I took turns coming to see each other whenever we could, usually spending whole summers together. And of course I made my way down to Salzburg whenever the chance arose. I'd spent a great many hour sitting here with Uncle, telling him all about the family and current world events. Plus it was a fantastic place to hide myself away and get some work done before going back to bustling Vienna.

I set down one sheet on the other side of me, deciding against assigning yet another reading to my very patient students. It was around nine o'clock now, as proven by the church bells all suddenly ringing throughout the city. I stopped what I was doing to listen, counting each ring as way my habit. They gently ceased and I closed my eyes. Tossing my head back behind me, I breathed in the new mountain air, taking a moment to enjoy the peaceful bliss. It's moments like this I'm reminded why Uncle fled abroad in the first place…. and why I followed him. I was European- through and through, I was European.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Dr. Basset." Ah, speaking of things I wouldn't have any other way. I opened my eyes to shine a smile onto my approaching husband. My Simon was ascending up the grass towards me, carrying an unopened bottle of water in his hands. I saw him and how I smiled… Oh how I smiled. I loved it when he called me that, and he very well knew it. That'd been his pet-name for me since I earned my first doctorate back in Amsterdam. I didn't stand to meet my darling husband, just simply observed him come to me with relaxation.

"Hello, sweetheart," was my greeting. He gave me one of those looks which tried to be serious and stern. "What are you doing here? The train's going to leave in half an hour," he chastised. But my grin didn't diminish, returning my glance down to my papers. "I was just finishing up some teaching stuff, and I wanted to say goodbye to Uncle." "You can finish that on the train. Come on, we have to go get our stuff from the hotel," Simon took a few more steps toward me. I collected up all my papers and noticed the water bottle he was now holding out for me. I reached for it, and both our hands held onto it for a minute; that's when I caught Simon looking my way…. Looking my way and smiling. Of course my grin widened as I cocked my head to the side a little.

"What is it?" "Oh nothing…. I was just thinking." "Thinking about what?" "How… incredible it is." "Incredible what is?" He smiled at me. "How you get more beautiful each day. You're more beautiful now than the first time we came to Salzburg." My smile organically grew at this, and I proceeded to stand up off the ground, still holding onto the water bottle. "Have I told you how much I love you today, your grace?" "This morning, before you left. Now hurry, we've got to be in Vienna by one this afternoon. Friedrich's plane is due to arrive around then," he said while checking his watch.

I put my papers into my backpack and sipped it up. My husband helped me put on both straps. "I know, I know. Don't worry; we'll make it in time. The game doesn't start until six tonight, don't forget," Friedrich was flying into Vienna to watch the opening Euro match. Germany wasn't playing tonight but he was adamant on coming, to which we were very happy to host him. He and Simon always had such fun at these football games, and I think I got more enjoyment out of watching them then the match itself.

Simon rolled his eyes, unimpressed with my lack of urgency when it came to sports. Well, Ajax wasn't playing tonight so admittedly I wasn't in a big rush. But my husband was having none of it. "Did you call Anthony? When's his flight coming in?" "Three this afternoon; I told him you, me, and Friedrich would wait at the airport for him. Stop worrying, honey; we have time. Besides, I need to make a stop at the university on the way anyway." "A quick stop," he added, and I nodded with a giggle. Then I turned to see Uncle's stone again. "Bye, Uncle. I'll see you again soon. I love you." When my head spun back around, I found the duke smiling at me once more. Yet again, I cocked my head slightly. "What?" I asked with a cheerful disposition.

This perfect man of mine didn't say anything right away, just shut his eyes and shook his head. When he looked back at me, his gaze was so open and serene, I swore I could see straight through to the depths of his soul. "I meant what I said earlier…. about you becoming more beautiful. I feel like we could be married forever, and I'd still learn something new about you all the time." "We are going to be married forever- forever and ever. And if I'm more beautiful every day, it's because I love you more each and every day. But then, I knew I would… back when we got married." "You did?" I nodded, and looked at him with so much tenderness and adoration. "I knew… You're so easy to love, after all."

Simon merely ogled me for a moment. Then, wearing this bright charming smile, he approached my side so to stand right beside me. Our hands simultaneously took one another's, us not taking our gazes off the other. Simon smiled, and I mirrored his expression. "Come on, let's go, wife… Let's go together." I can't describe how my heart felt just then. Six years of marriage and he still could make me flutter with a single glance, with those sweet, sweet words of his. All of a sudden forever didn't seem like long enough. Not when I get to be Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings, wife. Wife, partner, lover….. best friend. My hand gave his a squeeze. "Yes, let's go…..

Let's always go together."

The End.