Here's the final chapter. It's pretty much a round up chapter but I hope you all enjoy it anyway.

Please remember to vote and comment as you read!

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Lavinia shivered again against Caleb's chest and he wrapped his arms around her tighter, keeping hold of the reins.

"Why did you leave?" she asked timidly, allowing the question that had been swimming around in her mind to finally come out.

"I had to, Lavinia, you weren't safe with me around," he answered simply. "Though it turns out it didn't make a difference," he muttered.

"Oh," was all Lavinia could say in reply. Things began to fit into place.

"What was your theory?" he asked in confusion. Was it not clear to her how he felt?

"I thought you didn't think me worth the hassle," she admitted shyly. Caleb looked at her in astonishment before chuckling at her innocence.

"Lavinia Eleanor Bradley," Caleb said, using her whole name. "You are worth everything I own, even my own life and freedom." Lavinia's heart soared, he loved her too? She wasn't the only one who felt it, the happiness, comfort and safety when she was around him.

She twisted around in the saddle and looked up into his face, his jade green eyes glowing in the nighttime darkness. "I love you too Caleb Alder," she whispered back.

***

Charles and Edward had been frantically searching all day. They had gone to the police and visited their whole acquaintance in London to find Lavinia but it had been in vain. No one had heard from or seen her since their aunt's ball. They had returned home around ten at night, waiting desperately for news from her or about her. Their Aunt Julie had been crying all day, terrified for her niece, but the brothers were fuelled by anger and worry that they simply could not sit still.

A knock resounded throughout the house and both of them ran to the door and flew down the steps. Charles yanked the door open before the butler could and the sight of their disheveled sister standing there freezing but safe, was a great relief.

"Lavinia!" they both cried with relief and wrapped her in a hug, causing her to burst into tears. This was a moment she never wanted to leave. Her brothers were with her, she was safe and Caleb loved her. There was nothing else in her life that she needed.

***

Caleb watched the reunion of Lavinia and her brothers with a heavy heart. Seeing Charles again had reminded him of his warning about staying away from Lavinia. At this point, Charles looked up to see Caleb, Thomas and Henry standing there.

"Come inside, all of you," he invited and they all gathered in the parlour. "What happened exactly?"

Caleb stood at the fireplace and looked at Lavinia sitting between her brothers on a sofa. Her face glowed in the warm firelight and he could see the green flecks in her hazel eyes. He explained what had happened and Charles and Edward were outraged but grateful. Lavinia, exhausted from the day's events, fell asleep on Edward's shoulder and Caleb watched as her breaths became deep and long. He had meant what he said to her, she was certainly worth it.

***

The police had been alerted the next morning and after taking statements from them all, Colin and Judith were taken into custody. News of Lavinia's safe return home had spread around town and many of their acquaintance came to visit to hear of the gossip first hand but Lavinia was not a gossip and avoided the questions expertly. Caleb visited more often and took Lavinia out on walks around town and carriage rides whenever possible.

Before too long, however, the season was over. The families of the ton retreated back to their country mansions and to their original lives, many young debutantes and bachelors having married and moving to somewhere new, their season being deemed a success.

The day before they moved back to Chatsworth house, Caleb visited, but not for Lavinia. Heading straight to the library he knew Charles would be, he knocked on the door and then entered. The men greeted each other but Charles could see his friend was nervous.

"What would you like to speak to me about?" Charles asked outright. He knew Caleb could only be nervous about Lavinia. He had watched them both the past fortnight since their return and he saw that Caleb's feelings were reciprocated by his sister, as much as he hated admitting it.

"I have come to ask for your permission to court Lady Lavinia," he stated boldly. He knew he had to say it straight or he would have become too nervous.

Charles looked at him in silence. He was certainly devoted to his sister, he had proven it several times over. He knew his sister trusted him and that it was not foolishly.

"You may," he answered simply and a smile spread over his face, almost splitting it in two.

***

Lavinia hated packing. She had spent her whole season in this room but now it was time to return to her normal life in Chatsworth House. She had seen Caleb every day since they had returned from Lafferty cottage and she had found that she loved him more than she thought possible, but now, she wouldn't see him until perhaps Christmas if she could convince her brothers to let her return to London for a month or so in the winter. She packed slowly, trying to convince herself that being home wouldn't be so bad, but she knew she was lying to herself. It would be awful without Caleb.

Giving up, she left her room and wandered to the library, surprised to find Caleb and Charles already there. Caleb was grinning with happiness and Charles was laughing at him.

"I'll leave you two alone," Charles smiled at Lavinia and he moved to leave the room. He stopped next to Caleb and whispered in his ear, "You hurt her in any way and I'll rip you in half." His voice was so pleasantly calm at the threat that it sent a shiver down Caleb's spine. Satisfied that his friend understood him, he left the room.

Lavinia was slightly confused at this development. She was never alone or unchaperoned with Caleb, what did Charles mean by this? Looking up at Caleb though, all her thoughts disappeared as she saw his smile.

"Lavinia Eleanor Bradley," he addressed her. "It is my desire to court you for the next three months with the intention of marrying you come Christmastime. Will you do me the honour of allowing it to be so?"

Lavinia's face blushed and she matched his wide grin. "Yes," was all she could say before she leapt into his arms and he swung her around before landing a kiss on her lips.

***

The past three months had been bliss for both Lavinia and Caleb. They had spent everyday together at Chatsworth, horse riding, visiting the nearby village or even just simply sitting in the library reading together. They got to know each other well, talking and laughing most days and just enjoying each other's company all the others. As the winter drew closer, they had spent days playing in the snow and Lavinia had managed to convince her brothers to go to London for a few weeks.

They had visited the opera, danced at balls and enjoyed the festivities, but before they knew it their three months of courting had been over and Caleb had proposed. Lavinia had readily accepted it and her days had been filled with wedding preparations. Her dress had been made by Mrs Dalton, their seamstress in Chatsworth, and all the food had been prepared by Mrs Weston, their cook, but Lavinia had still managed to sneak away from it all for a couple of hours each day and spend them with Caleb.

Her nerves were swirling in her stomach as she arranged her dress at the back of the church, ready to walk down the aisle on Christmas Eve. The church was adorned with red bows and holly and ivy. Her mother had loved preparing yet another event and her Aunt had organised their ball for the evening. Edward stood next to her.

"Just take a deep breath," he counseled, though he was just as nervous as her. "You'll be brilliant."

Lavinia simply nodded, smiled and took his arm. The ceremony was lovely. Lavinia's nerves had disappeared the moment she had seen Caleb standing at the end of the aisle and Charles, his best man, was watching them with a grin on his face. He was glad things had all worked out for the best. He saw his sister's happiness and he knew he could not have parted with her to anyone less worthy of her love.

At the ball that night they danced with no one else. As the night drew to a close they both walked out to the gardens for some fresh air. A dusting of snow began to fall lightly and Caleb took off his jacket and wrapped it around Lavinia's shoulders.

"Lady Lavinia Alder," Caleb said as he stood next to her as she looked up at the stars. Lavinia blushed at the name.

"I don't think I'll get used to being called that for a while," she admitted. Caleb chuckled.

"Well you're going to need to because I'm not letting you go ever again," he said with conviction.

Lavinia turned to look at him, conviction in her voice too. "Well good, because I'm not going anywhere," she smiled and Caleb wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips to hers.

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So that's it, my first ever story is finished. I hope you all enjoyed it and that it was worth the read. Thank you for reading and persevering with me until the end.

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Thank you!