Here it is:
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me, they are Libba Bray's
"Miss Doyle, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," It was his voice, too. This cannot be. I must have gone insane. It was face, his nose, mouth, forehead, and strong cheekbones. But it couldn't be him. This man's skin was light, like an Englishman, not an Indian. But one look in those eyes! Those gorgeous brown eyes I always got lost in, as I was now. If the likeness was not enough, the look in those eyes was enough to convince me. Love shone from them as he stared into my eyes, and I knew the same look was reflecting from my own.
"Gemma? Are you well?" said Tom, who was staring at me in concern. I then realized that not only had I been staring at him without greeting him, but tears had started to form in my eyes. I quickly broke eye contact with "Mr. Brown" and blinked the tears away the best I could. He winked, and I giggled softly. I extended my hand to him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brown," I smile as he kissed my hand and the sparks fly between us. We stay like that, holding hands and staring, as if trying to memorize the others face.
Father and Tom stood awkwardly next to us, watching us oddly. Father looking perplexed but delighted that we apparently were fascinated with each other, and Tom looking warily at Mr. Brown, maybe trying to figure out if we already knew each other.
"Alright, well, uh, we shall leave you two to get to know each other. We'll just be in the next room over." Father begins to lead Tom out, who is still looking at us suspiciously. As soon as the door clicks closed, I jumped into his arms and he pulled me so close I could hardly breathe.
"How is this possible?" I asked him, not really caring to know the answer at that moment. All that mattered was that I was in his arms and I never wanted to leave where I was. I could feel his breath in my hair as he breathed me in.
"It was Amar," he said as he pulled back so he could look me in the eyes as he told me. "He took my place with the tree, and as a gift from the creatures of the realm, I was given my hearts wish. To be with you."
"I would have run away with you, Kartik." The tears I had been holding back spilled over the edge and ran down my cheeks. What I had told him was the truth. I would have left everything behind if it meant spending forever with him. He was my life, and always will be.
"I know that," he replied, kissing away my tears. "And the only way I would be able to live with myself was if I would not take you away from your family or be shunned by society, so the Temple magic gave me a whole new life. I now have a "family" in America, a new name, and a good reputation here. Now we can get married and start a life together, and be happy." He smiled at me, and I knew that what he said was true. Nothing could stop us now.
We sat down on the loveseat still in each others arms, not ready to let the other go any time soon.
"This does not seem possible," I said as the tears leaked out again. "For two months I have thought that I would never see you again, and that I would never love or be loved like when you were alive." I looked up at him and saw pain flashed across his face.
"I will never leave you again, Gemma." He kissed my forehead, my cheeks, the tip of my nose, and leaning down toward my lips…
The sound of footsteps approaching made us spring apart, and we both looked toward the doors. Tom and Father walked back into the room with Mrs. Jones, who sat a tray of tea and biscuits onto the table. My brother sank into a chair as Father started talking.
"Gemma, could I speak to you for a moment, dear?" he said, motioning for me to lead through the doors out. "Please excuse us for a moment, Mr. Brown." He smiled kindly at "Carter" as he followed me out, closing the door behind him. "Well? Is he acceptable?" he said mockingly to me, obviously having seen the look I had given Kart-Carter earlier.
"More than acceptable, father. I completely agree with your decision." As I said this, I could fell a huge smile spread across my face, and he looked so relieved and happy that I knew that we would all be happy. We rejoined the others, with me sitting beside Carter Brown and Father in his own arm chair.
"So, when shall the wedding be?"
Ok, I just want to say that I have nothing against people of Indian colouring or background. I did this because in England during those times (as we all know from reading the books) it was unacceptable for a white person to marry a person of different colouring. I sincerely hope that no one was offended, and if so I apologize for that was not my intent at all. This is also why I plan to write a different ending as a different story.
Next chapter is the last.
Bibliophile