***
A Year Later
Christmas Day
Ophelia sat by the fire with her four-month-old son, Hector. He was resting in her arms, his eyelids drooping as he was getting ready to take a nap. She had a warm blanket wrapped around both of them and was comfortable in the chair.
She was reading a book to him. Even though he was too young to understand the story, reading aloud offered her good practice. She read slower than Julian did, and she had to pause from time to time as she sounded out the harder words. There were a few words she didn’t know the meanings of, so she had to guess and move on. Overall, however, she was happy with her progress. It was nice to be able to pick up any book and find out what was in it.
The front door opened, and she stopped reading. Julian came into the cottage with an arm full of chopped wood. He came over to the fireplace and set the wood down in a neat stack.
He shivered and put his hands in front of the fire. “It’s going to get colder tonight. January’s definitely coming.”
Hector barely stirred in her arms. The poor baby must really be tired if he didn’t perk up at the sound of his father’s voice.
She chuckled and turned her gaze back to Julian. “You didn’t figure out it was almost January when you saw the calendar?”
Shooting her an amused look, he rose to his feet and shrugged out of his coat. “Just wait until we go to a cold church in January and February. No matter how much I try to heat the place up, the best I can ever get it at is a comfortable enough temperature where people’s teeth aren’t chattering all through the service.”
“I remember that from last year. I noticed you kept your sermons shorter during those months.”
“Well, I can’t have someone dying on me because I let the sermon go on too long.” He glanced at the kitchen. “It smells good in here. What are you making?”
“Stew, potatoes, and biscuits. I even made scones this time.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “You finally took the chance on making those?”
“I figured it was time to stop letting fear dissuade me from doing it. The recipe turned out to be easier than I thought.”
“Can I have one now?”
Despite the hopeful expression on his face, she didn’t hide her disappointment. “What if you spoil your appetite?”
“We won’t have dinner for another hour. I’ll only have one.” When she sighed, he added, “I worked up a big appetite with cutting all that wood.”
“All right, but only eat one. I don’t want you to eat almost all of them like you did with the crumpets I made.”
“You should take my enthusiasm for your food as a compliment. I wouldn’t be eating so much if you weren’t any good at cooking.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “I do appreciate the compliment. It’s nice to know I can cook well. I just want to make sure you have enough room in your stomach when it’s time for dinner. There have been a couple of times when you’ve been too full to finish everything on your plate. I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t make anything between meals.” Even if it did help her to have something to nibble on from time to time.
“I’ll take a scone from the kitchen and come out here so you can see that I’m only going to have one.”
He hurried to the kitchen before she could respond.
Hector let out a contented sigh in her arms, and she saw that he had finally fallen asleep.
Julian returned with the scone and showed it to her. “It was the smallest one I could find.”
“All right,” she replied. “That doesn’t look too big.”
He sat in the chair next to hers and put his feet up on the ottoman. Before he could take his first bite, there was a knock at the door. He glanced at her. “I hope nothing’s wrong with someone from the church. Christmas day should be the one day of the year where nothing bad happens.”
He set the scone on the ottoman and went to the door. Making sure not to disturb Hector, she was careful as she turned to see who was at the door.
To her surprise, Lewis and Marcy were there with their son, Valentine, who was about the same age as Hector. As Julian greeted them, Ophelia noticed they were with another couple, Mr. Stephen Bachman and his wife, Patricia, and their two children. Ophelia stood up from the chair and carried Hector to the door. The last time she’d seen Stephen and Patricia, Patricia hadn’t given birth yet. She was excited to find out if they had another girl or if they had a boy.
“We thought we’d invite you two over to our manor for dinner this evening,” Stephen offered as he held two-year-old Susanna in his arms.
Ophelia’s eyes went to the newborn in Patricia’s arms as Julian said, “Ophelia already started dinner.”
“So early in the day?” Stephen asked in surprise. “It won’t be dark for another couple of hours.”
“I presided over a sermon this morning,” Julian replied. “We ate breakfast early.”
“You’re welcome to join us,” Ophelia offered. “We’ll find a way to squeeze all of you in here.”
“If you don’t want to spoil your appetites, we can give you a small plate,” Julian added.
“I told you we should have invited them over sooner,” Lewis told Stephen.
“I wasn’t planning on having a dinner party until you and Marcy arrived,” Stephen replied. “It doesn’t seem right to have one without inviting them since we’re all friends.”
The newborn let out a cry, and Ophelia waved for them to come in. “You might as well come in and warm up. There’s no sense in standing out in the cold.”
They all came into the cottage. Julian and Ophelia had never had both couples over at the same time before. The place seemed much smaller with everyone in it. She glanced at the coachman and footman who were waiting with the two carriages. There was no way she could fit them into the cottage with everyone else.
“This isn’t going to work,” Stephen said for her. “We’re too cramped in here. I’m just going to offer a formal invite to a dinner party. We’ll do it on a day when you don’t have a sermon to do.”
“Now that the Christmas sermon is done, I only do them on Sundays,” Julian replied.
“Then we can do next week.” Marcy suggested as she shifted her son to her other hip. “What do you think?”
Julian glanced at Ophelia, who nodded. “We’ll be happy to be there.”
“Before you go,” Ophelia began, directing her question to Stephen and Patricia, “who’s the new member of your family?”
Patricia smiled. “Cordelia. She was born last week.”
“She’s almost exactly two years younger than Susanna,” Stephen added. “Had she come two days earlier, she would have the same birthday as her big sister.”
“You were hoping for that, weren’t you?” Patricia asked.
Stephen shrugged. “It would have been easier to remember their birthdays if they were born on the same day.”
“Yes, but it would have been a shame for both of them to have to share the celebration of their births on the same day,” Lewis said. “It’s better this way. They can have their own special day.”
“I suppose.” Though Stephen rolled his eyes, Ophelia caught the smile on his lips. “All right. We’ll see you next week. Come by at four. That will give us plenty of time to play games and talk before we eat,” he told Julian and Ophelia.
As the couples left the cottage with their children, Ophelia asked, “Don’t you want something to eat or drink before you leave?”
“We appreciate the offer, but we can wait,” Stephen replied. “My manor isn’t too far from here.”
Ophelia waited until Julian shut the door before sighing in disappointment. “If I’d known they were going to come over to invite us to a dinner party, I wouldn’t have started dinner.”
“They understand why we said no.”
“I know they understood it.” She sat back down, surprised Hector hadn’t woken up through all of that. “It would have been nice to spend an even
ing with them. I like them.”
Julian tucked the blanket around her and their son. “I like them, too. We always have a good time together.” He returned to his chair and picked up the scone from the ottoman. “But sometimes it’s nice when it’s just the two of us, too.”
Unable to resist teasing him, she gave a reluctant shrug.
His eyes grew wide. “You do like it when we’re alone, don’t you?”
“I suppose.” When he frowned, she laughed. “I’m just jesting. Of course, I do. I love you.”
He made a big show of relaxing. “Good. I’d hate to think you’re bored of me.”
“Boredom is no problem. I can always read a book.”
He’d almost been ready to bite into his scone but lowered it and directed his full attention to her.
She laughed again. Hector squirmed in her arms, so she made herself stop. “You mustn’t take everything so seriously, Julian. I’m not bored with you. You’re delightful company. You’ll recall that I stopped reading when you came into this cottage.”
He relaxed. “It’s not good to tease your husband like that. He’s likely to worry about the state of his marriage if he has to wonder whether or not his wife is happy.” He ate his scone.
“I’m very happy. I can’t imagine being with anyone but you.”
He smiled. “Good. And I feel the same way about you.”
“I’m sorry I worried you. To show you I mean it, I’ll let you have two scones instead of one before dinner.”
“You’re fortunate I am so easily pleased. Other husbands might have required more from their wives.” He stood up and gave her a kiss. “But I’m a kind husband and will bring you a scone to eat as well.”
“And this is why I love you as much as I do,” she replied.
He squeezed her shoulder affectionately, gave his son a pat on the head, and then went to the kitchen to get them both a scone.
Already Available in the Marriage by Fairytale Series
The Marriage Contract (Book 1)
On her wedding day, Patricia Cotter, the widowed Lady of Pruett, signed a contract agreeing to the following:
1. She would never look at her husband’s face.
2. She would never remove the sheets covering the mirrors.
3. She would never ask her husband about his past.
In return for doing these things, she will have a secure place for her unborn child and her worries will be over. She has nothing to lose by agreeing to her husband’s terms. Yes, she’s heard the rumors about Mr. Stephen Bachman. He was said to have killed his first wife, though there is no proof condemning him of the crime. He is aloof and never leaves his manor. He is practically a prisoner in his own home.
But as she gets to know him, she begins to believe her husband isn’t the beast everyone’s made him out to be. There just might be a gentleman worth loving beneath his hard exterior. The question is, can she get him to let go of the past so he can open himself up to the possibility of a fairytale romance?
One Enchanted Evening (Book 2)
Lewis Cotter, the Earl of Pruett, has just inherited his title, and his first order of business is to find a wife. He never thought he would need to get married, but after the death of his older brother, it’s up to him to secure the estate.
While he has to marry for money, he doesn’t want to marry just anyone. He wants a love match. But he doesn’t even know where to begin in finding the perfect bride. And worse, he has a terrible time being romantic. He doesn’t know the first thing about being a suitor.
His friend offers the perfect solution to his problem. He’ll host a masquerade ball and invite all of the available wealthy ladies in London to attend. Then, Lewis can meet them, and the masks will help Lewis overcome his shyness.
Miss Marcy Shoemark hadn’t originally planned to go to the ball. She’s a lady’s maid. She has no money to offer a prospective husband. But when she finds out the purpose of the masquerade ball is for Lewis to find a wife, she decides to attend it. She’s been secretly in love with him, and this is the one chance she has to get him to know her as a lady, not as a servant who’s out of his reach.
Her plan works. She manages to get his attention. But sooner or later, the masquerade has to end, and she has to reveal the fact that she’s only a servant. Will he still want to marry her once he discovers the truth? Or will he choose a wealthy lady who can secure his estate?
All Books by Ruth Ann Nordin
(Chronological Order)
Regencies
Marriage by Scandal Series
The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife
A Most Unsuitable Earl
His Reluctant Lady
The Earl’s Scandalous Wife
Standalone Regency
Her Counterfeit Husband (happens during A Most Unsuitable Earl)
Marriage by Deceit Series
The Earl’s Secret Bargain
Love Lessons With the Duke
Ruined by the Earl
The Earl’s Stolen Bride
Marriage by Arrangement Series
His Wicked Lady
Her Devilish Marquess
The Earl’s Wallflower Bride
Marriage by Bargain Series
The Viscount’s Runaway Bride
The Rake’s Vow
Taming The Viscountess
If It Takes A Scandal
Marriage by Fate Series
The Reclusive Earl
Married In Haste
Make Believe Bride
The Perfect Duke
Kidnapping the Viscount
Marriage by Fairytale Series
The Marriage Contract
One Enchanted Evening
The Wedding Pact
Fairest of Them All
Historical Western Romances
Pioneer Series
Wagon Trail Bride
The Marriage Agreement
Groom For Hire
Forced Into Marriage
Nebraska Series
Her Heart’s Desire
A Bride for Tom
A Husband for Margaret
Eye of the Beholder
The Wrong Husband
Shotgun Groom
To Have and To Hold
His Redeeming Bride
Isaac’s Decision
Misled Mail Order Brides Series
The Bride Price
The Rejected Groom
The Perfect Wife
The Imperfect Husband
Chance at Love Series
The Convenient Mail Order Bride
The Mistaken Mail Order Bride
The Accidental Mail Order Bride
The Bargain Mail Order Bride
South Dakota Series
Loving Eliza
Bid for a Bride
Bride of Second Chances
Montana Collection
Mitch’s Win
Boaz’s Wager
Patty’s Gamble
Shane’s Deal
Native American Romance Series
Restoring Hope
A Chance In Time
Brave Beginnings
Bound by Honor, Bound by Love
Virginia Series
An Unlikely Place for Love
The Cold Wife
An Inconvenient Marriage
Romancing Adrienne
Standalone Historical Western Romances
Falling In Love With Her Husband
Kent Ashton’s Backstory
Catching Kent
His Convenient Wife
Meant To Be
The Mail Order Bride’s Deception
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Omaha Series
With This Ring, I Thee Dread
What Nathan Wants
Just Good Friends
Across the Stars Series
Suddenly a Bride
Runaway Bride
His Abducted Bride
Standalone Contemporaries
Substitute Bride
&nb
sp; Co-Authored Romances
Historical Romance Anthologies (with Janet Syas Nitsick)
Bride by Arrangement
A Groom’s Promise
Thrillers
Return of the Aliens (Christian End-Times Novel)
Late One Night (flash fiction)
The Very True Legends of Ol’ Man Wickleberry and his Demise - Ink Slingers’ Anthology
Fantasies
Enchanted Galaxy Series
A Royal Engagement
Royal Hearts
The Royal Pursuit
Royal Heiress
Nonfiction
Writing Tips Series
11 Tips for New Writers
The Emotionally Engaging Character
Where to Find Ruth
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The Wedding Pact (Marriage by Fairytale Book 3) Page 21