The marchioness tipped her chin up, her eyes blazing as though she dared her son to thank her again. When he only nodded, she returned it with the dip of her head. “May God go with you, Neil. And you, daughter-in-law.”
Teresa curtsied, Neil bowed, and the marchioness swept by them to return to her carriage. Neil did not follow, and Teresa remained next to him. She wrapped her arms about his waist and rested her head against his chest. They stood motionless until the carriage left.
Caroline came running out to them. “Mama, Mama. Who was that? Why did they leave a treasure chest in the house?”
Neil chuckled, and when he pulled away Teresa saw evidence of tears in his eyes. “A treasure chest? You must be mistaken, Cara-love.”
The girl giggled and grabbed his hand. “Come look. Was that a queen? Grandmama says no, but the woman looked like a queen.”
“That was a marchioness,” Neil said, holding Caroline’s hand in his, and offering Teresa the other. “I suppose we better go inspect that treasure chest.”
“Will you be all right?” Teresa whispered when they reached the cottage and Caroline darted inside ahead of them.
“I have you. So the answer to that question will always be yes.” Neil kissed her on the cheek.
The vicar and Mother were inside, and Teresa could see the questions boiling inside them. She slipped to her mother’s side and whispered only, “I will explain later.”
Caroline’s gasp drew everyone’s attention to the very large trunk in the middle of the floor. Neil had opened it and stood, mouth open, staring inside.
“It is a treasure chest,” Caroline said. “I was only making a joke. I thought it would be clothes.”
Teresa came forward at the same moment Neil fell to his knees. “What is it?” she asked, then had to cover her mouth to keep from gasping.
There were clothes, of course. And books. But across the top of everything were necklaces studded with precious jewels, earbobs, bracelets, and a velvet bag with more spilling from within. Neil choked on a laugh, then looked up at Teresa with a shaky grin. “These are my mother’s jewels. I have seen her wear all of them.”
Teresa lowered herself to her knees beside him, and he tucked her against his chest.
It seemed his mother would not allow her son to go without an inheritance after all.
Epilogue
September 1816
Despite the brittle wind and unseasonably cold weather, Neil walked hand-in-hand with his wife up to the Dunwich cliffs. Caroline went ahead of them, Muse and Hunter with her, and three puppies behind them. The only members of the family missing, Neil thought ruefully, were the other barnyard animals.
“I will end up carrying all of you back,” Neil said.
“Nonsense.” Teresa kept her arm through his for balance, her free hand upon her slightly swollen middle. Somehow, despite Teresa’s certainty that they would never fall pregnant, she carried his child. A child he hoped would have his mother and sister’s ebony hair and loving hearts.
The sky hung heavy with clouds above them, yet nothing could dampen Neil’s happiness. The year had been strange, with reports of snow throughout the countryside in the middle of summer. Their crops had not suffered too terribly, likely because of their proximity to the sea. Yet they had dipped into their carefully saved funds to provide work for others not so fortunate. They had paid for new thatch roofs for several neighbors, and Neil assured each of them it was only repayment for all the assistance the neighbors had given first Teresa and then himself.
“I received a letter today, from Lady Inglewood. Did I tell you?” Teresa asked.
“What did the countess have to say this time?” Neil helped her over a rock, then looked up to whistle to the dogs. Caroline turned too and waited for them to catch up, as he knew she would.
“We are invited to come to a house party.” Teresa grinned at him. “Before the baby comes. Esther wants to see us, and she wishes to examine Caroline’s artwork.”
The countess had taken to sending Caroline supplies and pieces to study, tutoring her from afar. One day, perhaps, it would be Lady Inglewood who sponsored Caroline in Society—if Caroline wished. The twelve-year-old girl gave little thought to her future, reveling in her idyllic childhood.
Neil grumbled. “A house party? I thought I had managed to get away from those things for good, becoming a farmer.”
They had made it to the top of the rise, the cliffs only a few yards away.
“Papa, look at what Prince can do.” Caroline held a stick up in the air near one of the puppies, and the furry creature wasted no time in leaping directly over it. The girl laughed and looked to see Neil’s reaction.
His heart warmed and he returned her grin. Hearing her call him Papa had become one of his favorite things about his new life. They still spoke often of Henry Clapham, as Neil had no wish to replace the man who had loved both Teresa and Caroline before him. Neil hoped, fervently, that Henry would approve of all Neil had done to make their family happy.
They stood together, his arm around Caroline’s shoulders and Teresa’s waist, looking out to sea. Both women wore the shawls he had purchased for them in Ipswich the year before, and they served well enough to ward off the chill. Yet Neil made certain Teresa’s covered her shoulders fully, then bent to kiss her temple.
“I love you, Teresa,” he whispered in her ear. “My darling wife.”
She rested her head upon his shoulder and sighed with contentment. Caroline nestled against his other side, humming to herself the song she had begun learning on the pianoforte.
Though he never would have thought he deserved such happiness, Neil’s gratitude knew no bounds. He had every intention of living a long, joyful life with his dearest love and their family.
If you enjoyed Reforming Lord Neil, make certain you read Sally’s other complete Regency series, Branches of Love. Or go back to the beginning of Inglewood’s romances with Rescuing Lord Inglewood.
Sally also has an upcoming Historical Western Romance series, starting with the book Silver Dollar Duke.
Keep up with all of Sally Britton’s publishing news by signing up for her newsletter on her author website, www.AuthorSallyBritton.com.
Acknowledgments & Notes
Dunwich is a very real place, and one I hope to someday see. There really is a sunken city off the coast of the little town, including churches and large buildings that have disappeared beneath the North Sea.
Lord Neil’s story has been on my mind for over a year. I wanted to write a character who reflected the ideas and social hypocrisies of the time, yet chose on his own to be someone better. You may have realized by now that the title of this story made it seem as though someone else would reform our hero. But I believe that people cannot change other people, only present them the opportunities and forgiveness needed to allow them to change.
The majority of this book was written during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a struggle to put my mind into the world of romance and love stories while it felt like the real world crumbled before my eyes. I could not have focused or found the energy to write Neil’s story without help from my own hero, my wonderful husband. Thank you, my darling. You saved me.
Thank you, wonderful readers, for making it this far in the journey with me! Since Neil’s story was first announced, several of you have expressed excitement to have a chance to read it. Thank you for encouraging me to continue writing about this character I was certain only I would love! Thank you especially to those who are part of my Sweet Romance Fans on Facebook.
Many thanks to my creative team of editors, proof readers, and my incredible designer. Thank you Jenny, Shaela, Molly, and Carri. Each of you make this author-stuff a lot easier.
Writing isn’t easy. No matter how hard an author tries, they can never be perfect. I have yet to publish a book completely devoid of typos or minor mistakes - even the largest publishing houses in the world usually have what they call “an acceptable error rate.” No book
is perfect, because no author, editor, or proofreader, is perfect, either. So I am all the more grateful for the wonderful people on my team who help me polish my drafts until they shine.
Also by Sally Britton
Heart’s of Arizona Series:
Book #1, Silver Dollar Duke
The Inglewood Series:
Book #1, Rescuing Lord Inglewood
Book #2, Discovering Grace
Book #3, Saving Miss Everly
Book #4, Engaging Sir Isaac
Book #5, Reforming Lord Neil
The Branches of Love Series:
Prequel Novella, Martha’s Patience
Book #1, The Social Tutor
Book #2, The Gentleman Physician
Book #3, His Bluestocking Bride
Book #4, The Earl and His Lady
Book #5, Miss Devon’s Choice
Book #6, Courting the Vicar’s Daughter
Book #7, Penny’s Yuletide Wish (A Novella)
Stand Alone Romances:
The Captain and Miss Winter
His Unexpected Heiress
A Haunting at Havenwood
Timeless Romance Collection:
An Evening at Almack’s, Regency Collection 12
About the Author
Sally Britton, along with her husband and four incredible children, calls Texas home no matter where her adventures take her.
Sally started writing her first story on her mother’s electric typewriter, when she was fourteen years old. Reading her way through Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, and Lucy Maud Montgomery, Sally decided to write about the elegant, complex world of centuries past.
Sally graduated from Brigham Young University in 2007 with a bachelor’s in English, her emphasis on British literature. She met and married her husband not long after and they’ve been building their happily ever after since that day.
Vincent Van Gogh is attributed with the quote, “What is done in love is done well.” Sally has taken that as her motto, for herself and her characters, writing stories where love is a choice.
All of Sally’s published works are available on Amazon.com and you can connect with Sally and sign up for her newsletter on her website, AuthorSallyBritton.com.
Reforming Lord Neil: A Regency Romance (Inglewood Book 5) Page 23