He smiled his lopsided smile, his blue eyes sparkling with mirth. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, my dear. I don’t need to marry you for money. I guess we’ll just have to marry for love.”
Epilogue
One year later, Yorkshire
“You wanted to speak to us, Grace?” She asked her daughter-in-law. The woman was in her bed, propped up by several pillows, her tiny daughter in her arms. “You should rest, my dear.”
“I’ll rest after we talk.”
Emma wasn’t used to such a firm tone of voice from the girl. She sat down in a chair next to the bed. Her husband John stood beside her.
“Geoffrey and I have decided to name our daughter Louisa Emma after the two women we respect the most.”
“Grace…” She couldn’t bear for the girl to have such a high opinion of her.
“Let me speak.” Grace shook a finger at her. “Forgive yourself. My mother forgave you, I forgive you. You are a different person now.”
Emma pulled the rose pin she always carried with her from the pocket of her day dress. “I want your daughter to have this. Your mother gave it to me on my first wedding day. When Louisa is old enough I will tell her about what a wonderful lady her grandmother was.”
“And I will tell her what a wonderful lady you are.” Grace reached out a hand. Emma took it. “Do you think Lily and I would have let you marry our Lord Albany if you didn’t deserve him?”
A low rumbling laugh came from her husband. The man who was her friend and confidante. A man who had shown her not only tenderness, but passion. She released Grace’s hand and playfully swatted at the man she loved. “John!”
“She’s right you know. Twenty years ago, we weren’t ready for each other.”
She nodded as she looked up at him. “I know. I needed time to appreciate you.”
“And I you, my love.”
The emotion in his words made her catch her breath. And then, in front of Grace and the baby, her Lord Albany leant down and gave her a very sweet and very long kiss.
THE END
A Bride for Lord Albany Page 6