by Martha Keyes
He threw his head back and laughed heartily.
No, life at Cecilia's side would decidedly not be boring.
Epilogue
Montreuil, France 1817
Cecilia stepped down from the carriage onto the dirt road, her gloved hand held within her husband's. He met her eyes with a smile—the smile she could never help but return, even three years later.
She steadied the bonnet on her head and looked to the large iron gate, black and rusted, which stood between them and the row of towering trees lining the drive.
Jacques, too, was looking down the lane, and Cecilia could see the mist of memory which clouded his eyes.
"Maman! Aide-moi, Maman!"
Their three-year-old daughter's hand hovered in the air from the door of the carriage.
"Viens, Caroline," said Jacques, turning to her and putting out his arms in an invitation for her to jump.
She squatted down with an elated grin and jumped, giggling as he began tickling her immediately.
Cecilia watched with a contented smile, putting a hand to her stomach. It had only started to round.
"Where are we, Papa?" Caroline said, her forehead wrinkled.
Jacques took in a breath and set her down on the ground. "This is where Papa and Grandpapa lived, many years ago."
"And you, too, Mama?"
Cecilia smiled and shook her head. "This is my first time here, too, Caro."
Caroline looked at the gate and up at the trees, then squinted down the lane. "But there is no house."
Jacques chuckled, sharing a glance of enjoyment with Cecilia. "There is! Let me show you."
He nodded at the coachman, and stepped toward the gate, opening it with a creak that made Cecilia clench her teeth and Caroline cover her ears.
"It sounds as though it hasn't been opened in years," Jacques said.
"Perhaps it hasn't," said Cecilia.
Jacques put out his hands, offering one to Cecilia and one to Caroline, and together they walked down the lane to the place where Jacques had spent much of his childhood.
"How does it feel?" Cecilia said as they approached the imposing seat of the Comté de Montreuil. Vines covered most of the facade.
"Very strange," said Jacques in a slow, thoughtful tone.
"Do you wish to leave?" Cecilia said, concerned. She hadn't been sure how her husband would react to seeing the place he had left so long ago, with its memories of an entirely different life.
He turned to her and exhaled, shaking his head and smiling. "No." He squeezed her hand in his, even as Caroline broke away to approach the mysterious house. "I want you to know where I came from."
She pulled him toward her, putting a hand behind his neck and bringing him in for a kiss. "Show me everything."
He stroked her cheek with his thumb, putting his forehead against hers. "I want her to know, too. I want her to understand."
Cecilia looked to Caroline, who was pulling the leaves apart to see what lay behind. "Then show us everything."
He looked at their daughter with a frown. "I don't want her to be ashamed of where her father came from."
Cecilia smiled at him. "Does she look ashamed?"
His half-smile appeared. Caroline was running toward them, bursting with excitement. "A door, Papa! A door!"
"If you are not ashamed, Jacques," Cecilia said, intertwining her fingers in his, "then she will not be ashamed."
"And you?" he said.
Cecilia brought their clasped hands to her lips and kissed his fingers. "How could I ever be ashamed of the man who taught me how to love? How to live in my own skin?"
She shook her head, looking intently into his eyes. "Show me everything, Jacques."
Read the next in series:
Hazelhurst: A Regency Romance
Other titles by Martha Keyes
If you enjoyed this book, make sure to check out my other books:
Families of Dorset Series:
Wyndcross: A Regency Romance (Book One)
Isabel: A Regency Romance (Book Two)
Cecilia: A Regency Romance (Book Three)
Hazelhurst: A Regency Romance (Book Four)
Phoebe: A Regency Romance (Series Novelette)
Other Titles:
Goodwill for the Gentleman (Belles of Christmas Book Two)
Eleanor: A Regency Romance
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Author’s Note
In Cecilia: A Regency Romance, you encountered a character named Lady Caroline Lamb. Lady Caroline is a historical figure who lived during the Regency era. She was a bit of a celebrity at the time, hailing as she did from a powerful family (she grew up in Devonshire House) and causing a great deal of scandal, largely connected to her affair with the famous poet Lord Byron. I have taken the liberty of incorporating her into this story, pulling general bits and pieces from her life and weaving them into the storyline.
Lady Caroline was eccentric, and she was known to dress as a man at times, shocking both her husband (who became Prime Minister after Lady Caroline’s unfortunate demise) and society as a whole. Her short but intense affair with Lord Byron was public knowledge, and its collapse greatly affected her for years. The scene in Cecilia at Lady Heathcote’s ball is based off of true events, gruesome as it may seem to readers. I hope I have managed to convey a bit of the complexity in Lady Caroline, even though she is a side character.
As always, I strive to be true to the time period by my research, but I am by no means perfect. I apologize if you encounter errors in Cecilia, and I hope that you enjoy the characters and the story.
Thank you for reading Cecilia.
Martha Keyes
About the Author
Martha Keyes was born, raised, and educated in Utah—a home she loves dearly but also dearly loves to escape whenever she can travel the world. She received a BA in French Studies and a Master of Public Health, both from Brigham Young University.
Word crafting has always fascinated and motivated her, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that she considered writing her own stories. When she isn’t writing, she is honing her photography skills, looking for travel deals, and spending time with her husband and children. She lives with her husband and twin boys in Vineyard, Utah.
Acknowledgments
There are always a few key people who are instrumental in the creation of a novel. My mom has rooted for me and my characters from the very beginning and given me valuable feedback. My dad has encouraged me on some of my worst days, providing a buoying influence during the ups and downs of the writing and publishing process.
My husband has given up precious work hours of his own in order for me to write, edit, write, edit, ad nauseum. My little boys are almost always good sports about their scatterbrained mom and my constant sneaking away to the computer to get down an idea while it’s fresh.
Thank you to my editor, Jenny Proctor, for her wonderful feedback—I’m so glad I have you!
Thank you to my Review Team for your help and support in an often nerve-wracking business.
And as always, thank you to all my fellow Regency authors and to the wonderful communities of The Writing Gals and LDS Beta Readers. I would be lost without all of your help and trailblazing!