Falling in Love Again
Page 29
“We will be fine,” she said.
He smiled down at her. “Yes, we will. Peterson told me that most of my debts have been satisfied by the sale of my properties and possessions. They sold everything except Craige Castle. Louis had had papers drawn up that made it appear the castle was his property.”
A few minutes later, they trotted through the gates of her beloved home and up to the front door. John dismounted and placed his hands on her waist to help her down, then paused for a moment. “Do you know, Mallory, I can’t say that I’m sorry he did any of it.”
“You aren’t?”
“No.” He pulled her from the saddle and cradled her in his arms. “Because if he hadn’t stolen my money, I would never know what I know now.”
Mallory looped her arms around his neck. “And what is it you know now?” she asked softly.
“That the richest of all men, my dearest love, is a happily married one.” He turned the handle of the door and carried her over the threshold. “Welcome home, darling.”
Afterword
For now she’ll be my bride,
My joy and my dear,
And now she’ll walk with me anywhere.
“My Man John”
John and Mallory Barron, Viscount and Viscountess Craige, lived to celebrate fifty-one years of marriage together.
Lord Craige took his seat in the House of Lords and became one of the most respected members of Parliament. He was known for his intelligence and compassion, and especially for his knowledge of issues pertaining to agricultural matters.
When the Duke of Wellington’s party came into power, he asked Lord Craige to serve as a member of his cabinet, which Lord Craige did for two years, until 1830. At that time, he was named British Ambassador to Italy and later to the even more difficult position, Ambassador to France.
Many inside the government believed the success of his ambassadorships had much to do with the charm and grace of his wife. Lady Craige could converse comfortably with anyone from the lowest chimney sweep to the highest grand dame, and so great was her influence in society that she almost made freckles fashionable.
The Viscount and Viscountess had five children, four sons and a daughter, all of whom went on to successful positions in society and government.
To this day, Craige Castle remains in the hands of the Barron family.
As a note of general interest to the reader: no works written by Lord Bartholomew Woodruff have been passed down to us today. It is not known whether he ever finished his great epic poem, “The Fields of Harvest,” or if publishers found it unpublishable. However, parish records from St. Michael’s in Tunleah Mews document several “harvest poetry readings” held by Bartholomew Woodruff, 4th Baron Woodruff, between 1814 and his death in 1827.
The records also show a harvest home has been celebrated in the great barn at Cardiff Hall from 1813 until the present day.
And may its rafters always ring with music, love, and laughter.
Acknowledgments
My thanks to Alex Tillen and his staff of historical interpreters at the Museum of American Frontier Culture in Staunton, Virginia, for their patience in answering my questions concerning English country life.
I also wish to express my appreciation to Chelsea Maxwell, Chris Peirson, Mary Burton, Pamela Gagné, and Donna Whitfield for their assistance, and to Damaris Rowland for her always wise counsel. Nor do I want to leave out any of my traveling companions on Lady Barrow’s Tour of London, 1996. Such a lovely day in the country, ladies, a lovely day!
The verses on the title pages of each chapter are from English folk songs.
About the Author
Romantic Times magazine claims Cathy Maxwell is “…an author who understands the human heart and whose stories touch our souls.” To that end, she spends hours sitting in front of her computer wondering “Why do people fall in love?” The question remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness.
She lives inn Midlothian, Virginia, with her three children and her husband, Kevin, who drives her crazy in all the very best ways.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Books by
Cathy Maxwell
BECAUSE OF YOU
FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN
MARRIED IN HASTE
THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT
A SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE
THE WEDDING WAGER
WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE
YOU AND NO OTHER
Coming Soon
THE LADY IS TEMPTED
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN. Copyright © 2006 by Cathy Maxwell. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
ePub edition November 2006 ISBN 9780061742774
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