Julia patted her father’s hand. “Papa, you have to stop crying or people are going to think you don’t approve.”
“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I just need a moment.” He’d said that five times now.
Julia kissed his cheek, wiped off as many tears as she could, and let him hand her up into the saddle. It was time.
Violins began to play when Tryphosa reached the designated marker. The music floated through the fantasy land that looked exactly how Julia imagined. She barely saw any of it, though. At the end of the long tunnel of draping cloth canopies and candles was Jasper.
He stood waiting for her in gold and white with his hands crossed in front of him. Every careful step brought them closer together. It had taken so many to get them this far.
If he hadn’t told her he loved her. If she hadn’t followed him after he left. If they had let the queen’s rejection break them. Any one thing and none of this would have happened, but here they were, eye to eye, in the world they’d imagined, surrounded by people they loved, who loved them in return—even when they’d thought Jasper and Julia were embarking on something completely foolish.
Now the archbishop was standing beside Jasper, and there wasn’t anything pretend about any of it. She was going to be his wife—in the eyes of each other and the law.
Tryphosa reached him. Jasper stepped close, squeezing her foot in the stirrup. “Will you come down, Rapunzel?”
She grinned. “I suppose I could. I don’t have anything else planned.”
He grinned back. “Good, because I do.”
He helped her down, and they stood on the dais of the gazebo. Amelia had joined Nicholas beside them, witnesses to their intention.
The archbishop turned to their assemblage of loved ones. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony.”
Lady Bishop let out a sniff and a wail. Amelia rolled her eyes, and Julia saw Nicholas nudge her.
“Which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man’s innocence, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church: which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought…”
Julia let the archbishop’s words drift into the background. She and Jasper looked into each other’s eyes, and their lips started to curve upward. Her eyes started to tear up.
“Therefore if any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.”
Julia had a moment of fear that someone would object—namely Ruby—but blissfully, the onlookers remained silent.
The archbishop took Jasper’s right hand and placed it on Julia’s right hand. “Lord Jasper Augustus DeVere, wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded Wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?”
It was impossible to keep the smile from her lips.
“Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Jasper opened his mouth to answer and had to clear his throat twice. “I will.”
“And wilt thou, Lady Julia Elizabeth Bishop, have this Man to thy wedded Husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony?”
Always.
“Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
It was her turn to be too choked up to speak. She’d practiced the words a hundred times, but never thought she’d have the chance to say them. “I will.”
There were more words—a lot more; the archbishop of Canterbury was not in any hurry to relinquish his pulpit—but they’d said the ones Julia cared about. She stood still like she was supposed to, and she bowed her head when she was expected to, but through the entirety of the sermon she was only waiting for one thing.
“For as much as Jasper and Julia have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and this company, and thereto have given and pledged their troth either to other, and have declared the same by giving and receiving of a ring, and by joining of hands…”
This was it. This was the moment.
“I pronounce that they be Man and Wife together, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.”
They turned to each other, and Jasper raised her hand to his lips like he’d done so many times before. He looked at her like she was the most beautiful woman on earth, and said, “Amen.”
“Amen,” Julia repeated. It was everything she’d hoped for, and it was only the beginning.
Epilogue
After their wedding breakfast, during which they did more receiving of congratulations than eating, Amelia pulled Julia aside for one last moment.
“Your grace.” Amelia dropped into a low curtsy.
They erupted into matching grins.
“Remember what I told you last night.” Amelia took her hand and led her toward the drive. “You may not be a scandalous mistress, but you can still come hide with me for a while if you want a break from being a duchess.”
Julia nodded. “I still want my room at your house. Don’t change anything.”
“Not even if we turn it into a nursery?” Amelia’s eyebrows lifted.
“Your house has plenty of other rooms.” As what Amelia said sunk in, Julia stopped walking. “Were you just teasing me, or are you really having a baby?”
“I’m not going to tell you until we meet you in Italy. You’ll have to stew about it for two whole weeks while you’re on your honeymoon.” Amelia smirked.
“Enough,” Jasper announced, swooping in and catching her around the waist. “I demand you give me back my wife.”
“Amelia is trying to torture me by not confirming if she is or isn’t pregnant.”
“I can solve that. She is—Nick already told me.” He kissed Julia’s cheek while Amelia cursed him for ruining her surprise. “You’ll have plenty of time to talk about it in Italy. Until then, I’m claiming my right as husband and abducting my wife.”
He dragged Julia off to the curricle parked in the drive under protest.
“If you’re in the mood to disclose secrets, will you finally tell me where we’re going?”
“I will not. Any one of these nuisances could overhear, and I don’t want anyone interrupting us. Not even Ruby will be able to find us.”
It sounded delightful, especially considering Julia’s mother was already trying to ingratiate herself with Jasper's sister. Julia did not want any part of that match-up. Amelia’s news would still be news when they set off on their tour of the continent together.
She was half in, half out of the carriage saying a teary good-bye to Lord Bishop when Jasper pulled her the rest of the way in, shouting, “We’re not going to be gone that long. I promise I’ll bring her back in one piece!”
“I didn’t realize you would start manhandling me so soon after we said our vows.” Julia righted herself as they lurched into motion.
“I’d manhandle you some more, if I didn’t have to drive this rig.”
“You might have to feed me before we handle anything.” With the archbishop officiating, the ceremony had gone on much longer than anyone planned. They’d had to cut the wedding breakfast short, and lunch would come and go while they were in the carriage. Julia was starving.
“I promise to feed you within the hour.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Almost to the minute, they pulled up outside a cottage surrounded by rose bushes. Jasper hopped down, turning to help, and pulled a hamper full of delicious smells from the tiger seat on the back.
“You had that the entire time?”
Jasper winked at her, carrying the basket in one hand and leading h
er into the house and up the stairs with the other. He let go of her hand to turn the knob on one of the doors and kicked it open with his boot. Jasper set the hamper down on the table by the bed.
The fire was already lit, giving the room a warm glow. “Do you remember our first dinner, by the fire in Amelia’s library?”
He wrapped his arms low around her waist. “It was unforgettable.”
Julia put her arms around his neck, looking up into his eyes. “Do you still believe all the greatest love stories end in tragedy?”
She would never tire of the way his eyes traveled over her. He looked at her with reverence. With wonder. With need.
“I think the greatest love story is ours, and we”—he leaned in close, brushing his lips over hers—“are going to be shamelessly happy for the rest of our lives.”
From now on they would do exactly as they pleased, when they pleased. And what pleased her in this moment was to have him very, very naked. She pulled the shirt from his trousers. “Take me to bed, husband.”
“As you wish.”
Author's Note:
While it's never specifically named in the series, my research and writing for Julia's disability was done on spina bifida. Spina bifida was identified and named in the mid-1600s by an anatomist named Nicolaes Tulp, but the milder form that Julia has—spina bifida occulta—didn't get its name until 1875.
The first piece of historical documentation I found (which, of course, I've somehow managed to lose in my research notes) was from a doctor in the late 1700s experimenting with iodine injections. Every example sketch was of crying toddlers being held by their mothers. Even though they were just meant to be medical diagrams, I was struck by how terrifying and painful the procedure must have been for a young child. I also realized the lengths these parents were willing to go for the chance at one or two more years with their baby, and the incredible risk of infection dealing with exposed spine treatments in the eighteenth century.
The fact is, spina bifida survival during that time was almost non-existent. The iodine injections were only successful in about one third of the cases, mostly in children between ages one and three, and each of those children eventually suffered complications because the past was not a gentle place to live. Having Julia survive to adulthood was a little bit of an author's liberty, but I believe in perfect conditions (wealth, lack of the need for an occupation, and vigilant parents with a dedicated staff) it would have been possible.
Since there aren't any historical accounts I could find from adults with spina bifida occulta, the rest of my research focused on modern day young women. I'd like to give special thanks to two fantastic youtubers: Andrea Lausell, who gives first-hand information through her #spinabifida videos, and Jorden at JordenMakeup. They're both very open about living with spina bifida, but their videos really drove home how much more their lives are about. Their combined exuberance helped shape Julia's personality and her enthusiasm for adventure.
If this is the first you've heard about spina bifida, I hope my book encourages you to find out more about it. And if you're one of the Andreas or Jordens of the world, kicking ass and being fantastic while managing a disability, I hope I did Julia justice for you. Any failings are mine as a writer, not hers as a character.
Thank you.
Acknowledgments
Once again, I’ve got to thank my brother Mark. He shoveled snow seven hours a day—by himself—through the craziest winter Tahoe has seen in a long time while I tried to get this book written. He also hiked through knee-high snow with a hangover to come rescue me.
My sister Amy deserves a very special thanks. She’s been harassing Ellen to have me on her show since before my first book published (she refuses to believe I’m not famous) and if we hadn’t shared a room through childhood, Julia and Amelia’s conversations would be way less interesting.
Thank you to the members of #RWCHAT for reminding me that I’m kind of living the dream. Thank you to Chelsea, Robin, and Alexis for telling me to quit complaining and write the damn book.
Thank you to my agent, Rachel Brooks, for understanding the stories I want to write. Thank you to my editor, Kate Brauning, for not letting me shortchange them. Thank you to the entire Entangled Publishing team for doing such a great job.
Lastly, but definitely not least, thanks to my mom. She has supported me from day one, even though she’s still not-so-secretly hoping I’ll write a book without sex in it.
Q & A
Kimberly Bell
Author of
The Importance of Being Scandalous
Originally published on USA Today’s Happily Ever After Blog
Please tell us a bit about your new release.
The Importance of Being Scandalous is a friends-to-lovers, boy-next-door story. Amelia and Nick have been friends since childhood, even though Nick’s family disapproves. Nick has been in love with Amelia from day one, but Amelia has no idea.
Amelia gets engaged to someone else and realizes a little too late that her fiancé isn’t the right man for her (and possibly not a good man in general) so she asks for Nick’s help to try and cause a big enough scandal to get dumped. Nick is more than happy to sabotage her engagement, especially if it means he’ll get a chance to finally tell her how he feels.
What’s coming next, or what are you working on now?
I just finished editing the sequel, A Scandal By Any Other Name, featuring Amelia’s sister Julia and Nick’s friend Jasper. They stole the show a little in the first book, so they had to get a book of their own. That should be coming out early next year, and now I’m rolling around ideas for the next series.
What inspires your book ideas?
Most of my ideas start with the question “What if falling in love was the worst possible thing that could happen to you?” It might just be my personal experience, but when you’re trucking along, trying to achieve your goals and be a healthy, self-sufficient individual, and then Love shows up…it’s a massive inconvenience. That’s probably why all my books end up funny—trying to stick to your plan when life has other ideas usually ends up comical.
Do you write by the seat of your pants, or do you carefully plot your stories?
I wish I plotted my stories. Unfortunately, I’m kind of at the mercy of the characters. They move into my head and I’m kind of just their chauffeur.
Would you like to share a favorite moment from your writing career?
Oh, man. At a conference in 2015, I got to meet Jo Beverly. I’ve met more than a few movie stars and other famous-type people and, historically, I’ve always kept my cool, but with Jo Beverly I went full spaz.
She refused to let me walk away in embarrassment. It took about twenty minutes, but she kept asking me questions and telling me borderline dirty jokes until I turned back into a human being who could have a functional conversation. I bumped into her a few more times during that conference, and she would always wink or made a joke. It made me feel incredibly special.
Jo passed later that year, and I wouldn’t trade meeting her for anything.
Is there a TV show that you’ve recently binge-watched?
I recently made way through The White Queen and The White Princess in an embarrassingly short amount of time, and now I’m heartbroken that the other books aren’t series’ yet. I’m also super upset none of my books have magic or river goddesses in them.
Do you have a pet that hangs out with you while you're working? (Feel free to include a picture!)
What Willis does isn’t so much “hang out with me” as glare at me while pondering his next spot to passive-aggressively vomit, because he doesn’t think I take his warning’s that we’re under constant attack seriously enough. He is, however, a first rate cuddler, and when he gets super excited his eyes cross which is hilarious.
Do you listen to music while you write? What are some tunes on your playlist?
I try to add new songs to my writing playlist with each new book. Some of my favorite new additions from this l
ast book were Painting Greys by Emmit Fenn and I Found by Amber Run. No matter what, all of my playlists have Retrograde by James Blake on them. It reminds me that the book isn’t going to write itself, and that I can do this.
I don’t suppose you’d want to share a picture of you with your ’80s or ’90s hair or perhaps a prom picture?
I didn’t go to prom, but I do have a picture of me as a little kid from the 80’s in the coolest coat I have ever owned, looking thoroughly unimpressed with everything and everyone. This picture is also unique because, in every other picture from my childhood, I refused to wear any clothes, regardless of how formal the picture-taking occasion. (My mom deserves a sainthood.)
Do you have anything to add?
I was a historical romance reader long before I ever wrote in the genre. With every book I write, I try to capture the way those 90’s era Amanda Quick novels make me feel. If I can manage that, then I’ll consider myself a success.
About the Author
Kimberly Bell is a historical romance author and the cofounder of #RWCHAT, a twitter chat for romance writers. Kimberly splits her time between the mountains of South Lake Tahoe and the coastal paradise of San Luis Obispo, California—tromping around with her dogs through forests and beaches without favoritism. She loves cheeseburgers, spreadsheets, and apparently being wildly inappropriate at exactly the wrong time.
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Amara Historical
The Importance of Being Scandalous
by Kimberly Bell
None of the society-shocking scandals and pranks Amelia Bishop has pulled off lately are scaring away her stuffy, egotistical fiancé. The only thing left is to entice childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield into a truly engagement-ending scandal.
Nicholas’s parents have made it clear a wife from the Bishop family would be unacceptable. But he’d give up his family and his fortune if Amelia would ever see him as more than a childhood friend. He’ll go along with her scheme, even if it means ruining them both, because he’s got a plan that will change her mind about him being the boy next door.
A Scandal by Any Other Name Page 24