Four weeks into her marriage, Eudora received an urgent summons to Walter's private study. Her heart raced as she made her way through the palace corridors,such summons were rarely good news, and she feared something had happened to her family.
When she entered, she found Walter standing behind his desk, but his expression wasn't grave. Instead, he looked almost nervous, and there was an excited energy about him that she'd never seen before.
"Eudora," he said, crossing to take her hands. "I have something important to discuss with you. Please, sit."
She settled into the chair across from his desk, her anxiety only partially relieved. "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Walter assured her quickly. "In fact, I hope what I'm about to tell you will make you very happy." He returned to his desk and withdrew several documents. "I've been working on this since our wedding day, but I wanted everything finalized before I told you."
He handed her the first document. Eudora's eyes widened as she read,it was a deed to a substantial manor house called Rosemont Estate, located just three miles from the palace grounds.
"I don't understand," she whispered.
"Your family," Walter said gently. "They've been living in that cottage in Ashford, traveling hours just to see you. That's not right. Family shouldn't be separated by such distance, especially when there's no need for it." He gestured to the deed. "Rosemont Estate is yours,or rather, your family's. It's large enough to house them all comfortably, with room for servants and guests. They can live there for as long as they wish."
Eudora's hands trembled as she set down the document. "Walter, this is too much. You've already done so much for them,"
"I haven't finished," Walter interrupted, a slight smile playing at his lips. He handed her another document. "This is a letter of acceptance from Oxford University. For Silas. Full scholarship, all expenses paid by the crown. He can study whatever field his heart desires,medicine, law, the classics. Whatever will make him happy."
Tears were already streaming down Eudora's face, but Walter pressed on, handing her a third document.
"And this is an account I've established in your sister's name. Twenty thousand pounds for her dowry, plus an additional sum for her debut season next year. Gowns, dancing masters, everything a young lady of quality requires."
"Walter," Eudora's voice broke.
"There's more," he said softly. He came around the desk and knelt before her chair, taking her trembling hands in his. "I've established a trust fund that will provide your parents with an annual income of five thousand pounds for the rest of their lives. Your father will never have to worry about debt or crop failures again. And I've granted him the tenancy,rent-free,of five hundred acres of the finest farmland in the county, should he wish to continue farming."
Eudora couldn't speak through her sobs. Walter reached up to gently wipe her tears.
"I've also created the Sinclair Scholarship Fund," he continued, his voice thick with emotion. "Every year, ten students from Ashford village will receive full funding for their education. Your father will help select the recipients. Your family's name will be associated with opportunity and advancement for generations to come."
"Why?" Eudora finally managed to choke out. "Why are you doing all this?"
Walter's expression was tender. "Because you gave up everything for your family. Your home, your entire life, your freedom to choose. You married a stranger to save them from ruin. The least I can do is ensure that sacrifice wasn't in vain." He paused, his dark eyes intense. "And because I've come to care for you deeply, Eudora. More than I ever expected. Your family's happiness is your happiness. Therefore, it matters to me as well."
Eudora threw her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. Walter held her tightly, one hand stroking her hair, murmuring soft reassurances.
"I wanted to give you something that mattered," he said quietly. "Not jewels or gowns, but something that would truly touch your heart."
"You've given me everything," Eudora whispered against his neck. "You've given me more than I ever dreamed possible."
When she finally pulled back to look at him, Walter gently cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears.
"Your family is being brought to the palace as we speak," he said. "I wanted to tell you first, but they should arrive within the hour. I thought perhaps we could show them Rosemont Estate together, tell them the news as a family."
Eudora kissed his cheek softly, a gesture of pure gratitude and growing affection. "Thank you, Walter. Thank you for seeing me, for understanding what matters most to me."
Walter's eyes darkened with emotion. "You matter most to me, Eudora. I want you to know that."
An hour later, Eudora stood in the palace courtyard, watching her family arrive in an elegant carriage. Her mother stepped out first, looking overwhelmed by the grandeur around her. Cordelia followed, practically bouncing with excitement. Silas came next, supporting their father, who still walked with the careful dignity of a man unused to receiving charity.
"Eudora!" Cordelia shrieked, launching herself at her sister with such enthusiasm that they nearly tumbled to the ground.
"Careful, Delia," Eudora laughed, embracing her tightly. "You'll wrinkle my gown."
"Oh, who cares about gowns!" Cordelia pulled back, her eyes shining. "Is it true? His Majesty's secretary said there was wonderful news, but he wouldn't tell us what!"
"It's true," Eudora confirmed, then turned to her parents. Her mother was crying, and her father's eyes were suspiciously bright. "All of you, come. Walter and I have something to show you."
They took two carriages to Rosemont Estate. The journey was short, and when they arrived, Eudora heard her mother's gasp of wonder.
The estate was beautiful,a gracious manor house of warm golden stone, three stories tall with tall windows that caught the afternoon sun. It was surrounded by manicured gardens, and in the distance, Eudora could see rolling parkland dotted with ancient oak trees.
Walter helped Eudora down from the carriage, then turned to address her family.
"Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, Silas, Cordelia," he began formally. "I've brought you here today to offer you a gift. This estate,Rosemont,is yours, should you choose to accept it. It comes with my deepest gratitude for raising the extraordinary woman who has become my wife and queen."
Howard Sinclair's face crumpled. "Your Majesty, we cannot possibly,"
"You can and you will," Walter said gently but firmly. "Please, let me do this. Let me ensure that Eudora's family is cared for, honored, and close enough that she can see you whenever her heart desires."
Then he told them about the scholarships, the dowry, the trust fund, the farmland. With each revelation, Winifred Sinclair cried harder, until she was sobbing in her husband's arms.
When Walter finished, Howard stepped forward and did something that shocked everyone,he pulled the king into a tight embrace.
"You honor us beyond measure," Howard said, his voice breaking. "You've given us more than security. You've given us dignity, hope, and a future we never dared dream of." He pulled back, his weathered face wet with tears. "And more than that, you've given our daughter happiness. I can see it in her eyes when she looks at you. That's worth more than all the estates and gold in the kingdom."
Walter's own eyes were suspiciously bright. "Your daughter has given me far more than I could ever repay. She's brought light into a life that was unbearably dark. This," he gestured to the estate, ",is merely a small token of my gratitude."
They spent the afternoon touring the house. It was fully furnished, with rooms prepared for each member of the family. Cordelia claimed the bedroom with the best view of the gardens, while Silas was delighted to find a library already stocked with books.
As they explored, Eudora found herself watching Walter interact with her family. He listened patiently to Silas's excited questions about Oxford. He complimented Cordelia's taste when she described what gowns she wanted for her debut. He discussed farming techniques with her father with genuine interest. And he charmed her mother completely by asking for her recipe for apple tart, claiming it was the best he'd ever tasted.
This was the man beneath the crown, Eudora realized. Kind, thoughtful, generous to a fault. And slowly, carefully, she was beginning to trust that this side of him was real.
That evening, after her family had settled into their new home and returned to the palace for dinner, Eudora found herself unable to stop thinking about Walter's kindness. When they parted ways at their separate chambers, she paused at her door.
"Walter?" she called softly.
He turned, hope flickering in his dark eyes. "Yes?"
"What you did today,for my family, for me,I want you to know it means everything. You didn't have to do any of that."
"I wanted to," Walter said simply. "Eudora, I know our marriage began as an arrangement, but I hope... I hope we're building something more than that. Something real."
"I think we are," Eudora admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Goodnight, Walter."
"Goodnight, Eudora."
As she closed the door to her chambers, Eudora felt something shift in her heart,the first true stirrings of love for the man who had become her husband.