AN: Huge apologies for the delay in posting the final part - I've had some technical difficulties.

Epilogue

The next evening, Kit looked out of the window as he strapped on his dress sword and adjusted his white dress coat one more time. Tonight was the commemoration ball, the first big event he was hosting as king. The line of carriages coming up the drive reminded him of the last ball he had attended, and he smiled at his reflection in the window glass. How much things had changed since that night.

Half an hour later, Kit was fiddling with his sword belt a little nervously, despite the fact that he was greeting his guests. Ella had yet to make an appearance, and with almost all of the other guests now present, he was beginning to wonder what was keeping her.

Kit had thrown this ball open to the soldiers who had returned with him from the war, and their families, and he greeted many of his former comrades, thanking them for their service and asking those who had been injured how they were recovering. Standing rather shyly in a corner, he spotted Anastasia and Drisella Tremaine. Kit had been rather surprised when they had taken up his offer to remain in the kingdom rather than go with their mother. He had not been surprised when Ella insisted they be invited to the ball as the first step towards a new and improved relationship with them. Though he would never forgive them completely for their treatment of his beloved, he nodded a brief acknowledgement to them as he passed.

Kit exchanged a few words with Lieutenant James, who was not on duty that evening and looked rather uncomfortable to be enjoying the ball rather than guarding it as usual. He, and a number of the other guardsmen who had been present at Ella's rescue, asked him whether Miss Devereux would be attending, and had Kit been less distracted, he would have noticed the indulgent smiles that followed him as he made his way around the hall from those who knew enough of the situation to understand his nerves.

Just as he was beginning to think that he would need to send someone in search of Ella once again, the doors opened with a loud clang. The sound attracted the attention of the whole room, and everyone present fell silent at the sight of the young lady at the top of the steps.

Kit thought fleetingly that the royal seamstress had outdone herself this time, before his thoughts were overtaken by a flush of love and desire that seemed to stretch from the top of his head down to his very toes. Ella stood there, a vision in pale silvery blue, gazing around the room with unmistakable delight. He wasn't the only one who couldn't tear his eyes away; every man and woman in the room was staring at her. Even the poor herald had to take several deep breaths before he remembered to do his duty and announce her.

"Miss Eleanor Devereux," he called, and a soft rush of chatter filled the room. No one could quite believe that the graceful young woman now coming slowly down the staircase was a mere commoner.

Kit felt a little push on his shoulder. The Captain stood behind him, grinning more broadly than ever, and leaned in to say quietly to the king, "Well, go on then."

Then Kit's feet were moving, and the crowd was parting, and she was coming towards him. As she approached he saw that her gown was studded with tiny silver crystals, the many fine layers of fabric swishing and swaying as she walked, her curls bouncing a little as she came to a stop. She wore no jewels; she needed no such adornment.

As she dropped into a low curtsy in front of him, he couldn't help his gaze being drawn to the expanse of smooth, pale skin displayed by the low neckline of her gown. The sight left him breathless and rather flustered. As she rose, he looked into her eyes and, despite the fact that she looked more regal than any princess he'd met, her expression was as lively and trusting as it had always been.

"Your Majesty," she said for the benefit of the room, then whispered, "Mr Kit", for him alone.

"My lady," he said. He had to clear his throat before he could continue. Even though he knew she loved him, knew that she was going to be his wife, he still found himself stammering and stuttering as though they were meeting for the first time. "I would be honoured – that is, it would give me the greatest pleasure if you would allow me to lead you through this. The first…" He suddenly couldn't remember what he was trying to say.

"Dance?" she said with a conspiratorial smile.

"Yes, dance, that's it," and he laughed, betraying his nerves to every single person in the room. He didn't care in the least, as she nodded and he stepped towards her.

Kit had thought of this moment more times than he could count, ever since he had first met her. But nothing could have prepared him for how it felt to place his hand on Ella's tightly corseted waist to lead her into the dance. She took an involuntary breath in, her expression turning to something that made his heart beat even faster. As the music started and he led her into the opening steps, he was dimly aware of the entire gathering watching them.

It seemed she had noticed it as well, for as she turned back to him she said with a slight gasp, "They're all looking at you."

He shook his head and almost laughed. "Believe me, my love, they are all looking at you."

He let the music and the moment take him, and focused only on her; the way she followed his lead so gracefully, her skirt swishing about him as they turned, the feel of her fingers on his arm. As he took her into full ballroom hold and brought her closer to him, everything else blurred into the background in the face of her brown eyes, shining with her love for him.

And as they finished their dance and bowed to each other, as the entire crowd burst into spontaneous applause and he could see the looks of approval on the faces surrounding them, Kit knew that the best part of his life was just beginning.

AN: There we have it! I will leave it to your imaginations whether the royal seamstress's dress can match what the fairy godmother produced, but I had to give Kit and Ella their moment in the ballroom.

When I started writing this story on a whim, I had no idea that it would turn into the longest thing I've written in years. A huge thank you to everyone who posted positive reviews and sent encouragement - I really appreciated every single comment!