“James and Beck are gone,” Anthony continued. “And for the stability of the estate, I do not wish to pursue them. Redfield has retired, with full pension. I cannot fault him for not reporting the sins of a man he served well, if too faithfully, for fifty years. As for Metcalfe, I have provided him with enough money to emigrate to the Canadas. He is a bit old for it, but I wanted him far, far away, and it suits him to stay out of jail.
“But why did they wish to be rid of me?” I asked.
Anthony suddenly went very still. “Perhaps it was thought you were too good a guardian, making it difficult for them to get at Nick?”
There was a false note to his voice. He was lying, I was certain of it.
“There is more, is there not?”
Slowly, Anthony sank onto the bench beside me. He plunged his head into his hands. “It is possible that Father was not best pleased by the interest I showed in you.”
Not that I hadn’t suspected it, but it was a blow. I bit my lip, unable to think of a single word of defense.
“His opposition made me love you all the more,” Anthony said.
What?
“I don’t care if you’re not a virgin, Nell. Lord knows my reputation is nothing to brag about—”
I jumped to my feet, my cry of outrage echoing through the intimate clearing. “How dare you—”
I broke off, clapped a hand over my mouth, sank back down on the bench. “I’m an idiot,” I murmured. “How could you think anything else?”
Anthony, who had jumped to his feet when I did, peered down at me and said, “Perhaps I should do this in time-honored tradition.” He stood tall, took a deep breath, and said, “Miss Neville, you should know that my prospects are good. As young Hartley’s guardian, I will be in charge of the Winterbourne holdings for a good twenty years or more, depending on what age the trustees set for my nephew’s inheritance. By that time I suspect I will be more than ready to retire to Kingsley Park, the property my father gave me on my twenty-fifth birthday. I also have a generous allowance, plus the monies left to me by an uncle who was not—ah—inclined toward female companionship.”
I choked back a giggle. The day had suddenly become brighter, as if the sun had focused its rays on the center of the Winterbourne maze.
“Therefore, I can well afford a wife,” Anthony concluded. “I know it is a far cry from being known as Nell Scarlett, but do you think you might consider a change to Lady Anthony?”
My heart was back in my throat. All I could do was nod my head. Which seemed to be quite enough. Anthony swept me into his arms, hugging me tight, before working his way up to a kiss and, well, other expressions of affection that kept us in the maze for a rather shocking amount of time. It was just as well we had agreed to become betrothed.
We married by special license. Two weeks later we stood in church again, this time to see the babe in the attic baptized as Hartley Nicholas Kingsley Deverell. Just as we stood at the baptismal font four more times, for our own three boys and a girl.
There have been a few dramatic moments through the years, but none, I am happy to say, to compare with those few months when I struggled to keep my promise to a foreigner, chance-met on a coach.
As I lay down my pen, I am happy to say that Anthony and I are anticipating the arrival of our first grandchild, and for that child I record this story. Nick’s child, the grandchild of our heart, if not our blood. The grandchild who will be blessed to have Ivy as his nurse, as she was for Nick and our own children.
At Kingsley Park and at Winterbourne, all is well. Life goes on, generation to generation, just as it should.
P.S.
In intimate moments Anthony still calls me Nell.
And I still fondly recall his reaction when he discovered I was a virgin.
~ * * * ~
Special Note: 1The Roman ruins described in this book are inspired by the fourth century ruins at Littlecote Park in Wiltshire. A “must see” if you are ever in that part of the world. They were discovered by the Steward of Littlecote in 1727.
About the Author:
Believing variety is the spice of life, in addition to Regency Gothics, I also write Regency historicals, lighter Regencies in the Jane Austen tradition, as well as Romantic Suspense, Mystery, and the Futuristic Paranormal series, Blue Moon Rising.
The Golden Beach (GB) books are not a classic series. Some have connected characters; others, only a connected setting, a very real Florida Gulf Coast resort and retirement community whose name has been changed because the residents would like to keep its uniqueness a deep, dark secret.
I am always delighted to hear from my readers. I can be contacted at [email protected].
My website: http://www.blairbancroft.com/.
My blog: http://mosaicmoments.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @blairbancroft
Blair’s books currently online:
Regency Gothics
Tangled Destinies
The Welshman’s Bride
The Demons of Fenley Marsh
The Mists of Moorhead Manor
Brides of Falconfell
The Regency Warrior Series (in order)
The Sometime Bride
Tarleton’s Wife (returning 2017)
O’Rourke’s Heiress
Rogue’s Destiny
Other Regencies & Historicals
Steeplechase
Lady of the Lock
The Courtesan’s Letters
The Temporary Earl
The Harem Bride
A Season for Love
A Gamble on Love
Lady Silence
Mistletoe Moment
The Last Surprise (returning 2017)
The Captive Heiress (Medieval)
Airborne - The Hanover Restoration (Steampunk)
Regency Darkside (18+)
Belle
Cecilia
Holly
Juliana
Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
Shadowed Paradise (GB)
Paradise Burning (GB)
The Art of Evil
Florida Wild (returning 2017)
Death by Marriage (GB)
Orange Blossoms & Mayhem (GB)
Limbo Man
Contemporary Romance
Florida Knight (GB)
Love at Your Own Risk
Tangled Destinies Page 22