Vermillion (The Hundred Days Series Book 1) (50 page)

EPILOGUE

Lord and Lady Webb had ten children
over twelve years. The Duke of Wellington and Major Burrell both stood as
godfather for each of them.

Their oldest, William, inherited his
father's title on Matthew's death in 1865, serving as a faithful cabinet member
to Queen Victoria. He acted as a surrogate grandfather to his acquaintance
Randolph Churchill's stocky, little red-haired boy Winston. William married
Major Sir Tyler Burrell's daughter Madeline.

Arthur Webb took his father's path,
joining the Queen's army with the 33
^rd
regiment, distinguishing
himself at two separate battles of the Crimean war.

A daughter, Elizabeth, worked as a
nurse under Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, and in 1858 became one
of the first female doctors on the American frontier.

Another daughter, Adelaide, devoted
admirer of her namesake grandmother, became a writer – one of the first women
to travel across Egypt and document her adventures.

Their youngest, Theodore, fought
alongside his cousin Colonel Henry Livingston during the American Civil War,
and both men distinguished themselves as officers at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Theodore reached the rank of Brigadier General, to his father's tremendous
pride, and after the war entered politics – to his mother's secret and passing
disappointment.

When Kate passed away in 1874, she
left behind ten children, forty-two grandchildren, and twenty-six great
grandchildren.

Since Matthew and Kate could not
agree on a final resting place in either America or England, they were laid to
rest side-by-side in the churchyard of St. Joseph's, in Waterloo.

Porter Grimm received the Waterloo
Medal for valor in the field. After the war, he married Louise de Rhode and
finished writing his memoirs in 1816. The printer could hardly meet demand from
the public. Porter and Louise founded one of the first textile mills to hire
black workers at equal wages, and they used a good portion of their fortune to
aid the early days of the Underground Railroad.   Their son Josiah fought with
Theodore and Henry and the Battle of the Wilderness.

Major Burrell's story is another
matter entirely...

About the Author

When Baird Wells is not writing
historical and speculative fiction, she spends her nights working for the local
fire department.

Her first book,
Vermillion,
is built on a life-long passion for all things historical and romantic.

Baird grew up in Langley, Virginia
and lives in Anchorage, Alaska.

Look for her second book,
Viridian
,
coming in Fall 2015.