by Gill, Tamara
Always…
Epilogue
Clara sat on the river back at Chidding Hall, her son stood beside Stephen, both with fishing rods in their hands as they tried to catch their dinner. She smiled as the two most precious people in her world spoke of the fish breeds available in Kent and what sizes they may catch if they were lucky.
“Did grandfather really not allow anyone to fish here?” their son, Maximus asked, looking over his shoulder at her.
Clara nodded, smiling at the many days her father had ranted and argued the point as to why no one should fish in this very stream, unless it was their gamekeepers of course. “Until your father that is. I probably should have realized at that point that your father was the one for me since father approved him.”
Stephen threw her a knowing smile before turning back to look at the river.
“I wish I had known Grandfather, Mama.”
She swallowed the lump that rose in her throat that always happened when they spoke of her dearest father and all the wonderful things he’d missed. “He was the best of men, Max. And he would have loved to have met you as well. I know he would be proud of the young man you’ve become.”
They were all proud. Max had excelled at Eton and would go on to college when the time came. Their only child, she would miss him dearly when he left, but, she reminded herself, there were still some years to go before that happened, he was only thirteen after all.
Stephen placed his fishing rod down and started toward her, coming to sit at her side. He leaned over and kissed her softly, and her stomach fluttered as it always had from the first time she’d argued with him in Hyde Park to the day they had promised their lives to each other before God.
“What are you writing in that journal of yours?” He tried to take it from her and she snatched it away, holding it away from him.
“Nothing that concerns you,” she teased. In truth, it concerned him and their little family in all ways. All their memories were in her journals, their lives, their travels, heartbreaks and triumphs. Everything written down so she would never forget, even if she one day succumbed to the illness that took her father. Not that she had any fears that her mind was failing her, but even so, at least she would never forget her life.
“Maybe one day you will let me read them.”
Clara put down her journal and shuffled closer to Stephen, wrapping her arms about his waist. He pulled her close, his hand idly running up and down her spine, sending a delicious shiver through her person.
“One day I will, but not this day.” She grinned up at him.
He reached around and slipped a strand of her hair that had tumbled free of its pin behind her ear. “You’re as beautiful as the day we met. I adore you.”
Heat rose on her cheeks and she marveled that he could still make her blush after all these years. “I love you too.”
Their son made a gagging sound and she laughed, knowing he disliked that they were so public with their affection. And they had been from the moment they were married, whether in town during the Season or at one of their many estates, they did not shy away from showing their love for each another.
Lord Peel had tried to mar Clara’s character, but Stephen and her Scottish brother-in-law, Laird Mackintosh, had put paid to his lordship’s continual threats by a good one of their own one day at Whites when no one had been about.
She grinned at the memory of it. Her fears that society would shun her for marrying a man beneath her social status had too been unfounded and instead of turning their noses up at them, they had never said a word. Certainly not to their faces at least, and she was content with that. Invitations arrived by the dozen each day as if she’d married a duke in lieu of a Mister.
How silly she’d been to have almost thrown away the one man who had made her life worth living. Had given her the gift of their boy, who squealed, reeling in his line all of a sudden.
Clara jumped and Stephen ran over to Max, helping him hold the rod as they reeled in the fish.
“I’ve caught one! It’s a big one I think,” Max said through his exertions.
She went over to them, watching as a large trout landed on the bank, gasping for air. Stephen patted Max’s back, congratulating him.
“Well done, Max. I don’t believe I’ve seen such a large fish being caught here for some years,” she said.
“Not even father has caught one so big?” Max asked, his eyes bright and excited.
“Well, I’m sure I have,” Stephen interjected. Clara shook her head.
“Not even your father.” She took the rod from Max as he picked up the fish, holding it at his side.
“Mrs. Pennell is going to be well pleased with this fish. Pity you did not catch one as well today, Father.”
Stephen messed up Max’s hair before their son turned for the house, trying to run as fast as he could, the large fish in his hand an impediment to his speed. Stephen reached over, taking the rod from her and taking her hand.
“I’m sure I’ve caught a fish of that size. You’re mistaken, my lady.”
“Hmm,” she said, “If you have it was before you gained approval to fish here from my father and I never saw it.”
He shot a look at her, his eyes wide. “I never fished here before I was allowed and you well know it. I wouldn’t dare bring the wrath of the Lady Clara Quinton upon my head.”
She chuckled. “To think that you and I officially started in this very spot. I can still see you walking across the grounds with Father, asking him if you may fish in his river. I was so annoyed that you had dared come here, but then I was pleased too. I always enjoyed sparring with you. A little at least.”
He pulled her to a stop, throwing the rod to the ground and hoisting her up against him. Her heart thrummed loudly in her ears and she reached up, clasping his face in her hands. How lucky she was he was hers. “I always enjoyed verbally sparring with you also, and everything else.” He grinned.
Stephen leaned down and kissed her and yet again, in front of the gardeners, gamekeepers and staff alike, the Lady Clara Quinton and Mr. Grant once again showed a public display of affection and couldn’t care less who viewed them doing so.
Certainly they did not.
Kiss the Wallflower series available now!
Read the Kiss the Wallflower series today! Will Louise Grant find love within an arranged marriage? Or will Lady Mary Dalton enjoy her first kiss under the Mistletoe? The complete series now available at Amazon or read FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
Lords of London series available now!
Dive into these charming historical romances! In this six-book series by Tamara Gill, Darcy seduces a virginal duke, Cecilia's world collides with a roguish marquess, Katherine strikes a deal with an unlucky earl and Lizzy sets out to conquer a very wicked Viscount. These stories plus more adventures in the Lords of London series!
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Also by Tamara Gill
Kiss the Wallflower series
A MIDSUMMER KISS
A KISS AT MISTLETOE
A KISS IN SPRING
TO FALL FOR A KISS
* * *
League of Unweddable Gentlemen Series
FROM FRANCE, WITH LOVE
HELLION AT HEART pre-order
DARE TO BE SCANDALOUS pre-order
TO BE WICKED WITH YOU pre-order
KISS ME DUKE pre-order
* * *
Lords of London Series
TO BEDEVIL A DUKE
TO MADDEN A MARQUESS
TO TEMPT AN EARL
TO VEX A VISCOUNT
TO DARE A DUCHESS
TO MARRY A MARCHIONESS
* * *
To Marry a Rogue Series
ONLY AN EARL WILL DO
ONLY A DUKE WILL DO
ONLY A VISCOUNT
WILL DO
* * *
A Time Traveler’s Highland Love Series
TO CONQUER A SCOT
TO SAVE A SAVAGE SCOT
* * *
Time Travel Romance
DEFIANT SURRENDER
A STOLEN SEASON
* * *
Scandalous London Series
A GENTLEMAN’S PROMISE
A CAPTAIN’S ORDER
A MARRIAGE MADE IN MAYFAIR
SCANDALOUS LONDON - SERIES BUNDLE
* * *
High Seas & High Stakes Series
HIS LADY SMUGGLER
HER GENTLEMAN PIRATE
HIGH SEAS & HIGH STAKES - SERIES BUNDLE
* * *
Daughters Of The Gods Series
DAUGHTERS OF THE GODS - SERIES BUNDLE
BANISHED-GUARDIAN-FALLEN
About the Author
Tamara is an Australian author who grew up in an old mining town in country South Australia, where her love of history was founded. So much so, she made her darling husband travel to the UK for their honeymoon, where she dragged him from one historical monument and castle to another.
* * *
A mother of three, her two little gentlemen in the making, a future lady (she hopes) and a part-time job keep her busy in the real world, but whenever she gets a moment’s peace she loves to write romance novels in an array of genres, including regency, medieval and time travel.
www.tamaragill.com
[email protected]