Hannah followed her aunt into the room, taking note of the subtle changes in the space. Most days now, the drapery was opened to let in the bright sunlight. Vases of fresh flowers adorned the side tables and the mantel over the hearth, filling the room with a subtle promise of spring, even though it was a few months away. Even Edward himself was lighter, less brooding, and his more colorful clothing matched his new attitude.
“All set to go?” Edward smiled as he rounded the desk to greet them. He kissed Hannah’s cheek and clapped Nolan on the back.
Once again, Hannah thanked God for Edward’s change of heart. Ever since Teddy’s birth, he’d been supportive and welcoming. The miracle of their son had gone a long way toward bringing them closer as a family.
“Other than Hannah’s nerves and your summons, nothing is holding us back.” Nolan grinned at his father.
Edward laughed. “Well, let’s get right to it then, and you can be on your way. I’m looking forward to spending the night looking after my grandson.”
Iris cleared her throat and raised a slim brow.
“Correction. I’m looking forward to assisting Iris as she looks after my grandson.”
“That’s more like it.” Iris laughed as Edward motioned the group over to the sitting area.
“Please have a seat for a minute. I have some news to share with you.”
Hannah’s curiosity spiked as she and Nolan perched on the settee. Had something happened between her aunt and Edward? But Iris’s questioning expression as she took a seat in one of the wing chairs told Hannah she had no idea what Edward was about to say.
Leaning an elbow on the mantel above the blazing fire, Edward glanced at all of them. “I received a letter from Victoria today. First and foremost, she tells me that Evelyn is doing better and has filed for a divorce. She believes there should be no impediment to her request, now that Orville is in prison for the foreseeable future.”
Hannah nodded. “It’s for the best. Evelyn deserves a fresh start with an honorable man.”
“One can only hope,” Edward said. “As for Victoria, it seems congratulations are in order. Her suitor Sebastian has at last asked for her hand in marriage.”
“Took him long enough.” Nolan chuckled. “I thought he’d have proposed long ago.”
“From what I gather, swiftness is not one of Sebastian’s prominent personality traits. His motto is more along the line of ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ Still, Victoria is very happy now that she, Evelyn, and Ophelia can begin planning the wedding.”
“I do love weddings.” Iris sighed, her expression euphoric.
Edward moved across the carpet to stand closer to the threesome. “On that note, I have one more piece of business to attend to.” He glanced at Nolan and cleared his throat. “It’s no secret that my life has changed tremendously over the last year. Before I found out you were my son, I was a lonely, bitter man who lived a hermit’s existence, rarely leaving Stainsby. I owe you all a great debt of gratitude for bringing me out of that darkness and back into the land of the living.” Edward laid a hand on Nolan’s shoulder. “The greatest gift I’ve ever received is learning I had a son. Because of you, Nolan, I’ve become a better man.”
Hannah looked at her husband, her heart swelling with joy for him. At last he had the father he’d always longed for.
“Thank you, Father.” Nolan’s voice was gruff. “I must admit I had my doubts that we would ever form a real bond. But I truly believe God has helped us overcome our differences.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Which brings me to my next point.” Edward turned his full attention to Iris. His gaze bore down on her as though Hannah and Nolan were not even in the room. “I must confess, Duchess, that when I first met you, I found your outspoken ways to be most annoying.”
Hannah stifled a gasp. Iris, however, did not seem offended in the least. Her lips tipped up in an amused half-smile.
“But the more I came to know you, the more I realized what a wise and admirable woman you are.”
“Oh, Edward.” Iris blushed. The flames in the hearth added to the glow on her face.
Hannah’s pulse quickened as she suddenly guessed where this conversation might be heading.
Sure enough, Edward dropped to one knee before Iris’s chair and took one of her hands in his. “My dear Iris, you are a woman of great beauty—both inside and out. When I’m away from you, my life is not complete. To my utter amazement, I have found myself in love again at this late stage of my life, and I wondered if you might do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
Tears rolled down her aunt’s cheeks. The love that radiated from her eyes told Hannah what her answer would be.
“Nothing would make me happier, Edward.” Iris leaned forward to meet him in a kiss.
Edward wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him in a passionate embrace.
Nolan leaned over to nuzzle Hannah’s cheek. “Look what we’ve started.” He chuckled softly.
Hannah smiled as she moved back to look into her husband’s eyes. “You don’t mind sharing your father?”
“Not at all. My father is entitled to happiness after all the misery he’s been through. And I think Iris is more than a match for him.”
Hannah laughed. “I think you’re right.” She rose, pulling Nolan up with her, and they went to offer their congratulations.
Edward beamed, his wide smile splitting his face as he hugged them both.
“I’m so happy for you, Auntie.” Hannah kissed Iris’s cheeks.
“Thank you, Hannah dear. You’ll never know how grateful I am for that fateful day you and Molly knocked on my door. Since you came into my life, I’ve gone from a lonely widow to a woman blessed with more family—and more love—than I ever could have imagined.”
Hannah looked at Nolan and smiled. “I think the Lord knew we all needed healing in one way or another and brought us together for that purpose.”
“How wise is our God,” Iris murmured.
“Amen.” Edward dropped his arm possessively around his Iris’s shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Nolan tugged Hannah’s hand. “And on that happy note, my dear wife, let us be off before these two decide to elope.”
“No worries there. I think this family has had enough elopements for one lifetime.” Edward winked at them.
A burst of laughter followed Hannah and Nolan out the door, and she marveled once again at the power of love to bring about such astounding changes. Who would have ever believed that the formidable Earl of Stainsby could turn into such a doting father and an eager husband-to-be?
And who would have ever believed that a stable boy—her stable boy—could turn into a most noble heir?
Proof once again that with God and with faith, all things are possible.
Letter to the Readers
Dear Reader,
Some books are born from pure imagination, but some are born from true life events enhanced by imagination. A Most Noble Heir falls into the second category.
I’ve always loved reading any type of romance novels, but when I first started penning my own stories, I wrote strictly in the contemporary genre. I used to say, “I could never write historicals. Imagine the research involved.” Well, as I’ve discovered many times in my life, never say never!
During the 2006 Christmas holidays, my mother made a comment that sparked a journey I never could have anticipated. She said she wished she’d asked her mother more about her family history, because she knew nothing about her background. She didn’t even know the names of her maternal grandparents. My mom’s mother, Iris Irene Colver, had been told by the aunt who raised her that her mother had died in childbirth, and her father followed soon after from a broken heart. Despite my romantic nature, I instinctively knew that George Colver did not die of a broken heart. And so I took it upon myself to uncover the secrets of my ancestors. My instincts proved correct, and I learned that my great-grandfather had indeed been alive all that time,
remarried with another family. My grandmother never knew she had a living father, as well as a stepmother and half-siblings. Would that have made any difference in her life? Sadly, we’ll never know.
Needless to say, I was fascinated with the questions that arose from my research. But the most intriguing story I uncovered was that of my great-great-grandfather, Charles Henry Colver, who I learned was a stable hand at a great English estate called Stainsby Hall. He married a girl named Mary Hannah Burnan, a kitchen maid at the same estate. I had great fun imagining how their romance had unfolded. Unfortunately, their love story had a tragic end when Henry’s early death left Mary Hannah a young widow with two babies.
Nevertheless, their tale sparked my imagination and became the seeds of Nolan and Hannah’s romance. Of course, I couldn’t give them such a sad ending, so I started imagining different scenarios. What if one of the stable hands at Stainsby Hall was actually the heir? What would happen to his love for the kitchen maid then? That led me into the world of English aristocracy, and once I started the research, I found I rather liked it!
Thank you for taking this journey with me back to Derbyshire, England, in 1884. I hope that you enjoy Nolan and Hannah’s story and that my characters will do justice to the real Charles Henry and Mary Hannah who inspired this book.
Warmest wishes,
Susan
Acknowledgments
This book has had quite a journey from conception to publication, much like the ancestors who inspired it.
First, I must give thanks to God for His divine inspiration—for taking the whispers of my ancestors and turning them into a story that will hopefully entertain and encourage others.
Second, I have to thank my agent, Natasha Kern, who, when she discovered I had this completed manuscript hidden away, said something to the effect, “That will never make you money sitting on your computer!” Thank you for making me take it out, dust it off, and eventually get Nolan and Hannah’s story out for the world to enjoy.
I’d also like to thank Sue Brower, who first bought the book for Gilead Publishing. Thank you for believing in this story, despite it being a somewhat unconventional romance. I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Gilead, but it was wonderful to know you loved the story and that it had merit. I also wish to thank Amy Drown, a freelance editor, who made me rewrite the beginning six chapters of my book and challenged me to make the story so much stronger.
Thank you to my amazing critique partners, Sally Bayless and Julie Jarnagin, for your wonderful insights and suggestions. I wouldn’t be the writer I am without your input. And my sincere thanks to my former critique partner, CJ Chase. An expert in all things pertaining to English nobility, she was the first to point out some serious errors I’d made concerning inheritance laws and the aristocracy and offered great suggestions to make the story work!
A big thank you to David Long, my editor at Bethany House, who eventually bought this book and saved it from going back to the slush pile! Thanks for taking a chance on something a little different from my normal stories and giving it a good home. And thanks to Jen Veilleux, whose keen eye during the editing process really made the story shine.
Thank you to my family, to my husband, Bud, and my children, Leanne and Eric, who support me through all the ups and downs of this crazy business.
Last, thank you to my wonderful readers, who are so encouraging with their support and praise. We write for an audience, without whom there would be no stories, no characters, no spiritual journeys, or happily-ever-afters. Thank you for spending your precious time with my characters. I appreciate you all so much!
Susan Anne Mason describes her writing style as “romance sprinkled with faith.” She loves incorporating inspirational messages of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness into her characters’ journeys. Irish Meadows, her first historical romance, won the Fiction from the Heartland contest sponsored by the Mid-American Romance Authors chapter of RWA.
Susan lives outside Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two children, and one rather plump cat. She loves red wine and chocolate, is not partial to snow even though she’s Canadian, and is ecstatic on the rare occasions she has the house to herself. Learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanannemason.net.
Books by Susan Anne Mason
COURAGE TO DREAM
Irish Meadows
A Worthy Heart
Love’s Faithful Promise
A Most Noble Heir
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