by Merry Farmer
Arthur was speaking with such vehemence that both Alex and James were wriggling and making uncomfortable sounds, but Arthur wasn’t finished saying the things that he couldn’t keep inside any longer.
“I love Clara,” he declared, more emotional than was seemly, but as genuine as could be. “I don’t care where she came from or what misfortunes she was forced to stoop to in her past. I love her, and I want to marry her.”
Alex blinked at Arthur in bleary disbelief.
“I am going to marry her,” Arthur corrected. “Regardless of what you think of the match. As far as I’m concerned, Clara has shown herself to be a beautiful woman, inside and out. She will be, she is, a wonderful mother, and she will be exactly the sort of spiritual guidance that this town so sorely needs.”
“I—” Alex started, but didn’t seem to know where to go from there. He glanced from Arthur to Clara, something close to terror in his eyes.
Arthur glanced Clara’s way too, then did a double-take when he saw tears wetting her rosy cheeks. “My darling, what’s wrong?” he asked, his tone suddenly tender, moving to slip an arm around her back.
Clara shook her head and tried to smile. “You think I’m a wonderful mother?”
A burst of bittersweet emotion hit Arthur as he imagined how she might have heard the words, considering her sad history with motherhood. For a woman to have given a child away to be told, unsolicited, that she was a good mother after all went beyond anything Arthur could imagine. He looked her square in the eyes and said, “Absolutely. And I intend to stake my life on that truth. We’ll have ten children at least, each one happier than the next.”
Clara laughed and sobbed at the same time, squeezing his arm with her free hand. “Not ten, please. No more than we can handle.”
“As many as you’d like, then,” he said, then leaned closer to whisper so that only she could hear, “And we’ll have an amazingly good time making them.”
Clara giggled and blushed, then sniffed rather wetly and wiped her eyes. Arthur didn’t let it rest there. He shifted so that he could plant a long, damp kiss on her lips, even though Alex continued to sit there, staring at them.
“I’m sorry,” Alex said at last, his voice choked, tears in his own eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Of course, you are,” Arthur told him with a wry grin. It could have been the joy that wouldn’t stay trapped in his heart, no matter how miserable his friend was, but he sensed that they had all turned some sort of corner.
As if to prove they had, the tension drained from Alex’s back and shoulders, and he buried his face in his hands, his elbows resting on the table. “I never loved Violetta like that,” he sobbed. “I should have, but I didn’t. And now she’s dead, and it’s my fault.”
“It’s not your fault.” Clara stepped forward, shifting James in her arms. “Everyone dies, Mr. Croydon, but new life begins every day too.”
She reached for his shoulder, pushing him back from the table and depositing James in his lap before Alex could raise any sort of protest. Alex was forced to tighten his hold on the boy so that he didn’t wiggle and fall as Clara stepped back to Arthur’s side.
Part of Arthur wanted to say something, to lecture Alex on his responsibility or appeal to him to see the innocence in James’s eyes, but within seconds, it was apparent that words weren’t necessary. Alex stared at his son as James squirmed and fussed, then focused on Alex’s face, and eventually settled. At first, Alex’s expression was pinched with pain and regret, but as father and son stared at each other, the pain slowly vanished. Bit by tiny bit, it was replaced by something softer. At last, the first glimmers of a smile filled Alex’s eyes.
“We can give him a home, Alex,” Arthur spoke gently into the moment, sliding his arm around Clara’s waist. “For as long as you need us to, we can give your son a home. And someday, maybe someday soon, you will marry a woman who you truly love, beyond youthful fancy. Maybe you’ll have a chance to fix the mistakes of your life and start anew. We’ll keep James safe for you, and when you’re ready for him, he’ll be waiting for you.”
Clara tensed at Arthur’s side. He turned to look at her. Unmistakable lines of worry creased her brow as she watched James. For a moment, Arthur worried that he had spoken out of turn and that it would be far too difficult for Clara to fall in love with James only to have to let him go someday. But she shifted to meet Arthur’s eyes and nodded.
“I’ll be his mother for as long as you need me to be,” she told Alex.
Alex dragged his gaze away from his son and up to Clara. “Even though I said those unspeakable things to you?”
“Even so.” Clara shrugged.
Alex blinked, his expression growing even more stricken. “I was sick and you cleaned me up. Even as I said those things.”
“You needed help.”
Alex shook his head. He glanced down at James—who was falling asleep in his lap—then up to Arthur. “Hold onto her, Arthur,” he said. “Clara is one woman in a million.”
“She is,” he agreed, smiling at Clara with all the love he had and so much more that he never dreamed he could have. He wanted to kiss her, but instead he faced Alex again. “So, we have your blessing to wed?”
The first hint of humor that Arthur had seen in his friend for ages lit Alex’s eyes and pulled at his mouth. “As if you ever waited for anyone’s permission to do anything.”
Relief rushed through Arthur. It would likely still be a long road, but Alex was on his way to being whole again. “I always have been a bit of a rebel,” Arthur admitted, turning to wink at Clara as he did.
“Odd egg is more like it,” Alex said.
“Good.” Clara pivoted to face Arthur, looping her arms around his shoulders. “I like odd eggs. I’m one myself.”
“Then we make the perfect pair.” Arthur pulled her flush against him and kissed her, not caring who knew just how much he loved her. As far as he was concerned, his life hadn’t really started until Clara made her way into it. They belonged together, and always would.
EPILOGUE
Dear Noelle,
So many strange and wonderful things have happened to me since we last sat and giggled at the Paradise Ranch boys over tea at the saloon! And since you’ll be making your journey to England to take up that position in Lord Waltham’s house in London this winter, Bonnie asked me to write to you to give you a glimpse of what you’re in for.
First of all, I must admit that I didn’t last the month as a maid at Mr. Croydon’s house. Just like Pearl predicted. But good old Pearl could never have guessed what would actually happen to me. Would you believe that I’m already married? And to a vicar at that! The Rev. Arthur Fallon. Arthur is the very best of men. He is so patient and good, even though he claims to be the worst vicar to ever take up a parish in the history of England. He doesn’t give himself enough credit. He is kind and compassionate toward everyone in town, even the people that some of the snobbier sort turn their noses up at. He gives short, sweet sermons on Sunday, then goes out and demonstrates the things he preaches about in the way that he lives. But I do think our congregation would be mighty surprised to learn how vigorous and passionate Arthur is in bed. The truth would definitely have some of the older ladies fanning themselves in their pews.
Speaking of which, I am eagerly looking forward to starting our family. Chances are I’ll have an announcement to make any day now. But it could easily be said that we have already started our family. Ever since his mother died, Arthur and I have been caring for baby James. I hardly know how to tell you about James’s past. Even though he’s scarcely half a year old, he’s lived quite a colorful life. His mother was a woman like us, and his father is—well, I don’t suppose anyone in Haskell will make a scandal out of it, so it’s all right to say—his father is Mr. Croydon himself. It’s such a sad story too. But because Mr. Croydon is a wealthy, respected man and a Member of Parliament, he can’t openly acknowledge James as his own. At least not at the moment. So that’s why Arthur
and I are raising him.
I have to admit, Noelle, it’s a bittersweet thing to act as mother to little Jimmy, as Arthur and I have taken to calling him. Mr. Croydon has promised that he won’t rip Jimmy away from us unless it becomes absolutely necessary. But beyond that, every time I look into Jimmy’s bright, joyful eyes, I can’t help but think of the baby I left in Everland. I can only hope my daughter is being cared for by a woman who has come to love her as much as I love James. And I hope they gave her a good name too. You know I couldn’t bring myself to name my girl, knowing that I was going to leave her the way I did. I just hope that someday I come to learn what name she’s been given, and to find out she’s living a happy life.
Meanwhile, life here in Wiltshire is turning into everything I could have dreamed of and more. The only shadow in my and Arthur’s otherwise peaceful life is Mr. Croydon. Arthur says he will recover from the heartache and trauma of this autumn in time. Arthur also believes that Mr. Croydon will eventually marry the right woman and start a new life, just as I have, and just as you will too.
I’m so excited for you and your new home in London! You must write to me as soon as you are settled in Waltham house, and tell me all about London and Lord Waltham. Arthur tells me that he and Mr. Croydon knew each other many years ago, along with Lord Dunsford, who Millie went to work for. Wouldn’t it be grand if, someday, all of us who came over from Haskell were able to get together for tea in one of these great houses with our new families? I look forward to that day.
All my love,
Clara
I hope you have enjoyed A Place to Belong. I don’t usually leave things on a slightly unsettled note, but fortunately, Alex Croydon will get his chance at real love next year in August Sunrise, part of The Silver Foxes of Westminster series. But what about baby James? Will his father ever be able to give him the love and recognition he deserves?
And if you’re curious about the next one of Bonnie’s girls to come over to England to start a new life, you’ll get to read all about it in A Second Chance. But unlike Millie and Clara, things don’t start out as smoothly for Noelle Walters. Her troubles begin almost from the moment she steps off the ship. What will she do when it turns out that there isn’t a job waiting for her after all? Could she get the help she needs from Lascar, Ram Singh, or will Ram be the wrong kind of distraction? Find out in two weeks! (But you can pre-order A Second Chance now!)
Finally, what about Clara’s baby? The one she left behind in Everland. Fortunately, both Clara and I have handed the little girl over to a wonderful new home and a new author! You can read all about her in Caroline Lee’s latest Everland Ever After novel, The Prince’s Pea.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I hope you have enjoyed A Place to Belong. If you’d like to be the first to learn about when new books in the series come out and more, please sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cbaVMH And remember, Read it, Review it, Share it! For a complete list of works by Merry Farmer with links, please visit http://wp.me/P5ttjb-14F.
Merry Farmer is an award-winning novelist who lives in suburban Philadelphia with her cats, Torpedo, her grumpy old man, and Justine, her hyperactive new baby. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always have something to write about. Her books have reached the Top 100 at Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble, and have been named finalists in the prestigious RONE and Rom Com Reader’s Crown awards.
Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
About the Author