Embracing The Earl

by Aston, Alexa

  “No,” she said, touching his arm. “Let them handle it, Luke. Please. I just want to go home.”

  He swept her into his arms again and carried her all the way to the carriage. Jeremy and Evan had already arrived and Walton was aiding them in getting the two women into the vehicle.

  Another runner hurried up. “Were there just the three ladies?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Caroline replied. “We are all safe now.”

  “I’ll need to interview you, my lady, and get as many details as I can so these villains can be charged,” the detective said. “Can you manage speaking to me tomorrow morning? Along with the others?”

  “Yes,” she said firmly. “Come to the Marquess of Merrick’s at ten o’clock. We’ll all be available to answer your questions.”

  As the runner departed, pride filled Luke. “You are the bravest woman I know, Caroline Andrews. The most independent. The most loyal.” He touched his lips to hers. “And the most kissable.”

  “Luke, get in the carriage,” Jeremy admonished. “You can kiss Caroline all you want at home.”

  He broke the kiss and grinned. “Yes, Your Grace.”

  *

  The June morning air had a touch of cool in it, thanks to the earlier shower. Caroline rode in a carriage with Rachel to the St. Clair chapel at Eversleigh in her wedding gown. She’d wanted to wear something Madame Toufours had already made up for her but the Frenchwoman insisted she create something new for Caroline. Sales for the modiste’s products carried at Evie’s had been brisk over the last six weeks and Madame said the gown would be her gift to Caroline, a way of saying thanks for including her goods at Evie’s Bookstore and Tearoom. The white satin gown had an overdress of the palest blue and was trimmed with Brussels lace. She promised Madame that she would wear it at the first ball she and Luke attended once they returned from Dover. The cottage by the sea that she’d rented was to be their honeymoon destination after today’s ceremony. They would stay for two weeks and then return the key to Higgins’ relative before they came back to London for the rest of the Season. Once it ended, Luke would take her to Fairhaven, the country seat of the Earl of Mayfield.

  She also wore her wedding gift from Luke, a pearl and diamond necklace and matching earrings. He given her several little presents in the weeks leading up to their wedding but the jewels were her favorite. He promised her many more over the years, teasing that for every child she gave him, she would have her pick of emeralds, rubies, or sapphires. It made her happy that he wanted a large family. She’d always wished for brothers and more sisters growing up. Knowing her fiancé was so good with children made her eager to begin. It had disappointed her when her courses came after they’d made love but he told her not to worry. It would happen in good time. In fact, they’d started working on their future family a week ago when they’d both arrived at Eversleigh. Rachel had caught her brother leaving Caroline’s chamber one morning and they’d sworn her to secrecy.

  They hadn’t bothered hiding their affection in front of Luke’s family, though. She thought they kissed even more than Jeremy and Catherine or Rachel and Evan did—which was quite a bit. Then Leah and Alex arrived and it was a toss-up which couple proved to be the most affectionate. Caroline felt blessed marrying into a family where such deep, abiding love was celebrated.

  They reached the chapel and Rachel kissed her cheek. “I didn’t know Luke could be as happy as he is. You have brought such joy into his life, my sweet friend.”

  “And you St. Clairs have welcomed me into your family and made me one of your own. I am the luckiest person in all of England.”

  “I’ll see you inside.”

  The footman handed Rachel down and she entered the chapel to head to the front and serve as Caroline’s attendant. Jeremy would stand with Luke.

  She took a deep breath and nodded at the footman, who assisted her to the ground and then held open the door to the chapel. Caroline paused and looked over those in attendance. Besides the St. Clairs and their spouses, Amanda had come with her husband and Merrifield. Evie’s had closed for the day so that all of the employees from the bookstore and tearoom could come down from London for the celebration. It included Emily, who sometimes worked taking orders in the tearoom when it got hectic, while the rest of her time was spent with Marie-Therese selling Madame Toufours’ merchandise.

  Last, she saw Belinda Barrow. They had grown close from the ordeal they had gone through together at The Blue Door, which had been boarded up. Netherby’s Bookshop had also closed, with the elder Mr. Netherby now residing in a prison cell beside his son. Luke had helped Caroline buy the bookstore space and Madame Toufours was opening a second shop there, which Belinda would manage.

  Her gaze went to the front of the altar and her heart began pounding with excitement as she caught sight of the man who held her heart. As she proceeded down the aisle, Luke strode toward her, meeting her halfway. He took her hands in his and smiled.

  “I couldn’t wait.”

  Then he kissed her, a sweet, lingering kiss that spoke of his love and the future they would share.

  He finally broke it and told those gathered, “I couldn’t wait for that, either.”

  Everyone chuckled as he escorted Caroline to the front and they spoke their vows. The words so often said by others seemed to have special meaning for them, knowing how close they’d come to being separated forever.

  Her almost-husband slipped the wedding band onto her finger and then raised her hand to his lips, kissing it.

  “I love you now. I’ll love you forever,” he said, his own addition to the vows touching her heart.

  When the clergyman pronounced them man and wife and told Luke he could kiss his bride, the tenderness in his gaze made Caroline the happiest woman on earth.

  He gathered her in his arms and kissed her deeply, taking her away to a place where it was only the two of them lost in one another.

  Caroline didn’t know how long they’d kissed but suddenly felt a tugging on her gown. Reluctantly, she pulled her lips from her new husband and glanced down to see an impatient-looking Delia St. Clair standing there.

  “Uncle Luke, you need to stop kissing Aunt Caroline,” Luke’s niece demanded. “Mama said there’s cake and I’m hungry.”

  Everyone burst out laughing as Luke lifted Delia and rested her on his hip. He kissed the tip of her nose and said, “Lead the way, Delia,” before placing her on the ground.

  The four-year-old happily skipped up the aisle, urging everyone to follow her.

  “You heard Delia,” Luke said. “Go on. My niece will see you back to Eversleigh. Caroline and I will follow.”

  As their guests stood and exited the chapel, Luke cupped her face and said, “I hope we’ll have half a dozen girls with Delia’s spirit. And half a dozen boys to try and keep their sisters in line.”

  With that, Luke kissed her again, making Caroline feel very married.

  And very much in love.

  Epilogue

  Five years later . . .

  The carriage rolled to a stop in front of Evie’s Bookstore and Tearoom and Luke bounded out. His four-year-old son flung himself into his father’s arms and Luke set the rowdy boy down on the sidewalk. He lifted his even more rambunctious two-year-old daughter from the coach and placed her beside her brother.

  “Hold hands,” he urged. “Always look out for one another.”

  Then he clasped Caroline’s expanding waist and gently hoisted her to the ground. She would give birth in three months, when they were settled back at Fairhaven once the Season concluded. He’d always thought her beautiful but when she was with child, she became radiant.

  “Have I told you I love you today?” he asked, brushing a soft kiss on her lips.

  “Once when we awoke and a second time while we made love. Again when you offered me some jam at breakfast. Another time when we went to the nursery to retrieve those two scamps.” She clucked her tongue. “I can’t believe it’s been almost an hour since I’ve heard
the words. You’re slipping, Lord Mayfield.”

  He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “I love you dearly, my precious countess.” He heard a squeal and looked over his shoulder at their children who now tapped enthusiastically on the door, begging to be let in. “And I love this one,” as he lightly touched her belly, “and those two, as well, though I think they’re both putting gray in my hair.”

  Caroline laughed. “You’re the one who riles them up so. They do love you. So do I.”

  Luke saw her love for him shining in her eyes and her smile. “Let’s go save Stinch.”

  They entered Evie’s and he looked around, seeing it was set up for the reading Catherine would do this morning. Her new book, The Shy Spider, was already a favorite in his household. Mr. Bellows was always kind enough to provide advanced copies of Catherine’s books and Luke had read about Samuel Spider a good three dozen times already.

  He nodded to Stinch, who’d married Mrs. Withers, and saw the children run through the archway into the tearoom. They were mad about Mrs. Baker’s macaroons and would no doubt talk her into slipping them a few.

  The bell tinkled and a wave of his relatives entered the bookstore. Rachel and Evan ushered in their three children and Leah and Alex their two. Jeremy herded in all five of his, followed by Catherine. He could just see her belly begin to round. She would give birth near Christmastime.

  His brother came to stand next to him. “Did you banish your brood?”

  “They’re smart enough to go to beg Mrs. Baker for sweets.”

  “A capital idea. Children!” he called and all of them paid attention when the duke spoke. “I hear there are sweets for the asking if you’re very nice to Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Stinch.”

  “Yea!” a chorus sounded and the small herd scrambled toward the tearoom, minus the baby Alex held in his arms.

  As the brothers stood close, Luke turned away from the others and quietly said to Jeremy, “Are you ever going to tell Caroline that you were her benefactor? That you bought her father’s townhouse so that she would have ample funds to open Evie’s?”

  For a moment, the cool façade of the Duke of Everton cracked. “How did you learn I was responsible? I’ve never told anyone.”

  Luke chuckled. “I didn’t know for certain—until just now. I’ve always assumed it was you.”

  “Will you tell Caroline?” his brother asked.

  “No. I know you did it so she would have a chance of succeeding. I think it best, though, if we keep this between us. Caroline need never find out.” He placed a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder. “Thank you, big brother. For everything you’ve done. I don’t say it aloud often—but I love you.”

  Jeremy smiled. “I feel the same way, Luke.”

  By now, Rachel gathered the adults in a circle and Luke and Jeremy turned toward the others. Rachel asked how Caroline and Catherine were feeling. Both women had remarkably good health when carrying a child and Catherine said she was looking forward to today’s reading.

  “I invited you all here early so our children could claim the best spots,” Caroline said.

  An hour later, Evie’s was filled to the brim with children and mothers and nursemaids. Luke stood to the side as Caroline introduced her sister-in-law and then joined him. Catherine began reading, every child enraptured by her voice.

  He slipped an arm around his wife’s waist, inhaling the floral perfume he loved so well. She’d done an outstanding job of keeping up with her businesses and working for several charities, as well as giving him his son and daughter and keeping Luke happy. Very happy. He thought back to his bachelor days, juggling mistresses and lovers and the empty feeling that had never seem to go away. It finally had, filled by the love of this enticing woman who was his wife. His lover. His partner. His best friend.

  Luke leaned down and whispered into her ear. “Happy?”

  Caroline nodded. “More than I ever imagined,” she said softly.

  “Do you know how much I look forward to all of the days ahead of us? The weeks? The years? The decades? All spent in love, with my countess by my side.” He kissed her temple and she sighed.

  “All it took was one embrace from my earl and I fell hopelessly in love,” she replied.

  “Would you like to go kiss for a few minutes while Catherine is reading? We could go to Walton’s office. I see him standing next to Stinch. It would be a shame to waste such precious time.”

  Caroline’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “You read my mind. Only this time, Luke, we better lock the door.”

  THE END

  About the Author

  Native Texan and former history teacher Alexa Aston lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She enjoys reading, Netflix binge-watching, and attending sporting events when she’s not watching Survivor or The Crown.

  Alexa’s Medieval and Regency historical romances bring to life dashing knights and loveable rogues and include the series The Knights of Honor, The King’s Cousins, and The St. Clairs.

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