October Revenge

by Farmer, Merry

  “Maybe in our bedroom,” Kitty told him with a wink.

  A weight lifted off Mark’s shoulders as the rest of the family broke into giggles and comments about how fetching Kitty had been in her younger days. It was a small miracle to Mark that they weren’t shocked by her pose in the painting or her state of undress, but as he learned when they invited him and Angelica for tea, the Walker family was lively and open, and just a hint raucous. He relaxed, perhaps more than he had since he was a boy—more than he had in his entire life—as they drank tea, ate cakes, and told funny stories of Kitty’s life with her husband and children.

  “That was a far more pleasant afternoon than I could have dreamed of,” Angelica said hours later, as they walked back to Penrose House in the fading sunlight.

  “The Walkers are good people,” Mark agreed. “I’m happy that Kitty has lived such a good life with such people.” He paused. “I’m happy that she didn’t suffer.”

  Angelica hugged his arm as they walked. “It’s enough that one of you suffered. It’s too much, if you ask me.” She sent him a smile full of regret.

  “I’ll try not to suffer anymore,” he said, letting out a sigh. “It’s time we look to the future.”

  “Yes, it is,” Angelica said, a hint of mischief in her tone. “Which is why I have half a mind to ask Mrs. Walker for advice on raising children to be as carefree and polite as hers are.”

  It took a few more steps for her words to sink in. When they did, Mark stopped, turning to her. “Are you….” he started, but couldn’t finish the sentence as hope welled so suddenly in him that it took his breath away.

  Angelica nodded, bursting into a bright smile. “I’ve suspected for quite some time, but I didn’t want to say anything with this trip looming. “

  “My Angel,” he sighed, pulling her into his arms. “This is the most wonderful thing I’ve heard in…ever.”

  Words were inadequate for the joy that flooded him, so he kissed her. The moment his lips met hers, he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back, no matter how delicate her condition. Angelica had brought him to life, filled him with joy and confidence that he never could have imagined. He couldn't help but kiss her passionately, tasting her fully and holding her close. She was life and love personified, and together they’d managed to create new life.

  “I will love this child and any others you want to have with my whole heart,” he vowed.

  “I know you will.” She slipped her arms around his shoulders, smiling at him with bliss that felt like sunlight itself.

  “This child will want for nothing,” he continued. “Not material things, and most especially not love. I lost my father too soon, but not so soon that he didn’t teach me the kind of father I want to be. I will be all that and more for this little one.” He rested his hands over her hips, rubbing his thumbs as close to her stomach as he dared. “And if this one is forced to face evil in this world, I will be by his or her side.”

  “So will I,” Angelica promised. “And I will be by your side as well. From here on out, we face the world together.”

  * * *

  I hope you’ve enjoyed Mark and Angelica’s story. I always knew Mark wasn’t a baddie, like Shayles. I’m glad that Sir Christopher Dowland saw the hero in him too. So what about Christopher? Is he really the fool that so many people think he is? And if you’ve been wondering whatever happened to Mariah’s sister, Victoria, from December Heart, your wait is over. Once bitten, twice shy, Vicky is hesitant about giving her heart and her body away to a man a second time. But she also wants children. Christopher seems like the natural, benign, even boring answer to her wishes. But when she meets a mysterious, masked man at a masquerade ball, she might be ready to give her heart away again…but she has no idea her mystery man is Christopher himself. What will Christopher do when he realizes that by winning the girl, he loses her forever? Find out in May with the release of June Forever, the seventh and final book in The Silver Foxes of Westminster!

  But don’t worry, the end of The Silver Foxes series won’t be the end of the story. The younger generation will get their turn (three years later), starting with Cece Campbell and Rupert Marlowe. Will true love endure or will time and distance drive a wedge between the two of them? You’ll find out this summer with A Lady’s First Lie, the first book in an all new series, The May Flowers.

  Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so that you can be alerted when all of these exciting books are released!

  Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer.

  About the Author

  I hope you have enjoyed October Revenge. If you’d like to be the first to learn about when new books in the series come out and more, please sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/cbaVMH And remember, Read it, Review it, Share it! For a complete list of works by Merry Farmer with links, please visit http://wp.me/P5ttjb-14F.

  Merry Farmer is an award-winning novelist who lives in suburban Philadelphia with her cats, Torpedo, her grumpy old man, and Justine, her hyperactive new baby. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized one day that she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. She then went on to earn not one but two degrees in History so that she would always have something to write about. Her books have reached the Top 100 at Amazon, iBooks, and Barnes & Noble, and have been named finalists in the prestigious RONE and Rom Com Reader’s Crown awards.

  Acknowledgments

  I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my awesome beta-readers, Caroline Lee and Jolene Stewart, for their suggestions and advice. And double thanks to Julie Tague, for being a truly excellent editor and assistant!

  Click here for a complete list of other works by Merry Farmer.