Epilogue
or
IT'S FINALLY OVER!
It had been nearly two years since William and Tobias were "liberated" from His Majesty's service. A little over a year ago, Earl Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown. There was yet no treaty, but British troops were being sent home. It was finally over.
William ameliorated quicker than would have been thought after he had been discharged. He was a much happier man and enjoyed spending hours reading in the Harrington's library while he recuperated. After he was well enough, he aided the doctor. As Harrington was a kind man, he paid William for his service despite the latter's protests.
Constance hired herself out as a governess to a planter's daughters. Separating herself from her ailing brother was difficult, but the pittance she was paid, when added to the money her brother was saving, gave her hope of the possibility of owning a house soon enough ensured she would be able to care for him.
Tobias found slightly skilled work as an assistant to a local lawyer and contributed to the Tavington's savings. William and Constance had decided to allow Fife to live with them, when they managed to get a house, of course. Will secretly prayed that Tobias would finally gather the courage to marry his sister and make the innocent menage a trois legally binding.
Fife had his own agenda in acquiring his job: sue Wilkins. And that he did.
It turns out James Wilkins had never sold Fife's house in Charleston but had kept it as a retreat from his wife and children. He was forced to return the property to its rightful owner. Tobias, armed with the deed and a lovely settlement, paraded into Harrington's house and announced his good fortune. Constance happened to have returned that day, as the planter found her way too opinionated to teach his girls to be respectable. Fife proposed marriage to her right then.
She subsequently swatted him with a shrill "It's about time!" and accepted. Tobias grabbed her by the hand and they ran all the way to Pembroke with William and the Harringtons in tow. Happily, the church had been rebuilt. The new priest immediately married them when he saw William, fearing for the safety of his church if he refused. Later, the wedding party opted to walk home.
The Fifes and William settled into their home in Charleston. Every girl loves a bad boy, even if only a former one, and William was instantly catapulted into the uncomfortable limelight of being the most eligible bachelor in their neighborhood. Throngs of adoring women followed him as he went on his daily walks and sent him frightening amounts of baked goods.
The alarming number of cakes piling up forced Constance into action. Knowing her brother had an enormous sweet tooth, she had to hide the goodies. Now that he was an incorrigible flirt, it would be no good if he got fat. So, Tobias was surprised--daily--with all manner of pastry. He ate happily until one day he studied his figure with feminine displeasure as his wife shimmied into her corset. The husband pinched the tiny bit of flub folding over his waistband and whined, but Constance merely claimed to be domesticating him.
Constance and Fife eventually had a son and named him William. To Tavington's chagrin, he was now Bunny all the time, even to his brother in law. Naturally, Fife abused the privilege, and Tavington responded with fury: Tobias' new appellation was 'Dumpling.' But Will's nephew was adorable and had the family green eyes, so he put up with all the ribbing.
Minor dysfunction aside, they lived obscurely ever after.
The End.