The Countess' Lucky Charm
Page 26
Yes, it had been a wonderful day.
Epilogue
Children of all sizes and shapes tumbled about the play yard of the Leavenby Home for Unfortunate Children. And playing amongst them, a golden-haired, blue-eyed girl of perhaps three years.
“Papa,” squealed the moppet running toward her father as fast as two chubby little legs could carry her, “Papa, catch me!”
“Bloody hell,” Temple groaned. “I vow that one will put me in an early grave.” He got to his feet.
“Temple,” Simone teased, “wasn’t it you who told me running after Isabella would keep you young?” One hand on Trumpet’s head, she rocked lazily in the garden swing that hid in the dappled shade of the tree at the corner of the orphanage yard.
“Up, papa, pick me up.” The golden-haired moppet held out her arms.
“True,” Temple said wryly. “But I hadn’t anticipated being run off my feet every waking minute. And you, Bella,” he said to his little girl as he swung her high overhead, “must learn to say please.”
“Your fault.” Simone flashed him a saucy grin. “You could allow Tess to fulfil her duty. That is why we have a nanny,” she added, “so you could give over your duties as papa.”
“What? And miss one precious second? Never.” He shook his head and propped the little girl on one hip.
She wriggled and squirmed until he set her down whereupon she darted away only to promptly return to hug Temple’s knee. She stuck a thumb in her mouth and looked up with adoring eyes at her papa.
“What shall you do when her sister arrives?” Simone looked down and rubbed her swollen stomach. “You can’t be in two places at once.”
“Let us cross that bridge when we come to it, shall we?” Temple smiled. “Why are you so sure it’s a sister? What about a brother for Bella?”
“This one kicks just as much as Isabella. Therefore, it must be another girl.” She gave him a triumphant look at her reasoning.
“Papa, come with me,” Isabella pleaded. “There’s a pony.” The little one darted away again toward a plump black pony being lead toward the orphanage by one of the Leavenby Manor stable lads.
“Yes, Bella, Papa’s coming. And you,” he said, tweaking Simone on her nose, “must rest.”
“My, you are impossible. I will rest but not until I speak with Mrs Dougherty about the new schoolmaster for the children.”
“Darling, I see her coming now.”
“Go.” She gave him a little push. “Or you shall lose Isabella somewhere in the milling crowd.” It was true, shouting, clamouring children now surrounded the patient pony.
“Lady Leavenby,” Mrs Dougherty said, dipping her head.
“Please, call me Simone. Lady Leavenby makes me sound like Temple’s mother.”
“Nay, it isn’t proper. Ye be the Earl’s lady and that is just how it is. Speaking of your mother-in-law, how is she?”
Simone sighed. “I don’t suppose we shall ever be fast friends. But at least now and again she comes to visit. More so for Isabella than Temple or me, I am sad to say, however, it’s a beginning. Enough about me. What about you?” She leaned over and squeezed Mrs Dougherty’s hand. “Is being the matron of the Leavenby Home for Unfortunate Children all you had hoped?”
“Oh, aye,” beamed the other woman. “All that and then some. The children are content and so excited about the new schoolroom. As for me—” She tipped her head back to look at the blue sky. “I’m back where I’m the happiest, away from the smut and smudge of London city.”
“You have a home here as long as you wish.”
“I second that,” Temple chimed in as he strode up, a red-cheeked Isabella sitting on his shoulders. “The children love you.”
“Oh. I love them too. It is so different here than the Bishopsgate workhouse. Here the children are valued.”
“Thanks to your excellent care,” said Temple. “If I may claim my wife? Lady Joanna arrives this evening and Simone needs her rest. ”
“Of course, my lord, if you would excuse me.” A visibly pleased Mrs Dougherty plodded off in the general direction of the mayhem surrounding the pony.
“You do so enjoy ordering me about, don’t you?” Simone pretended to pout.
“Indeed I do and that shall never change so you had better become accustomed to it.”
“I suppose I shall. One day.”
“Who would think Lord Scoundrel would leave behind his wild ways and become a gentleman farmer and proprietor of an orphanage,” Temple mused as they began the trek back to Leavenby Manor.
“And who would think Mona Dougherty would leave behind her thieving ways and become a proper lady?” Simone teased.
“Well, thanks to those thieving ways, you have plucked the one prize I never thought to lose.”
“That is…?” Her question drifted on the breeze, mingling with the nonsensical burbling of Isabella.
“My heart. You have stolen my heart.”
“For now and forevermore, I hope.”
“Aye.” He clasped her hand, raising it to drop a kiss on her fingers. “For now and forevermore.”
The End
Author’s Note:
New Caledonia is now known as Washington State and British Columbia. Stuart Lake Outpost, the administrative centre of New Caledonia for the North West Company, is modern day Fort St. James in the province of British Columbia. In 1820, the North West Company merged with its chief rival, the Hudson’s Bay Company, which is still in existence today.
Daniel, Lisette and Polly Harmon, Baptiste Boucher and Chief Kwah were all real people. Many of the details about daily life in Stuart Lake Outpost I learned from Daniel Harmon’s journal.
For the sake of the story, I’ve glossed over some facts. The first white woman did not live in Stuart Lake Outpost until the late 1800s. Also, the journey from Montreal to Stuart Lake Outpost took nine months and I didn’t wish to impose a trip of that length on Simone and Temple!
About the Author
From vikings to viscounts, join the adventure, live the romance.
Living by the motto "You don't know unless you try", A.M.Westerling started writing historical romance because she couldn't find the kinds of stories she enjoyed. After all, she thought, who doesn’t enjoy a tasty helping of dashing heroes and spunky heroines, seasoned with a liberal sprinkle of passion and adventure?
Westerling, a former engineer, is a member of the Romance Writers of America and active in her local Chapter. As well as writing, she enjoys cooking, gardening, camping, yoga, and watching pro sports.
Visit her at:
http://www.amwesterling.com
www.facebook.com/A.M.Westerling
www.Twitter.com/AMWesterling
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter
Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Epilogue
Author’s Note:
About the Author