She blinked as if she were trying not to cry. “You must be sure, Nicholas. I could not bear to see you unhappy. I would. . .”
“Shhh!” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the lips. After a moment, he leaned back and smiled lovingly into her shining eyes. “I love you, Christina, and that love will never go away, no matter who disapproves of us. Will you marry me and take away this misery I’ve been feeling for the last five days without you?”
“Oh, Nicholas. That was so beautifully spoken, I think I might cry,” she said, sniffing.
“Do you think perhaps you could answer my question before you cry? I do feel a bit at loose ends here!”
She laughed as she threw her arms around his neck. “I love you with all my heart, Nicholas. Of course I’ll marry you!”
He hugged her to him and closed his eyes, soaking in how wonderful it felt to hold her in his arms.
“I have something for you.” He stepped back and reached in his coat pocket for the small velvet box. When he opened it, her eyes grew round at the size of the ruby within. The stone was centered in an ornate setting of gold, surrounded by small diamonds.
“Nicholas,” she whispered as he took the ring and reached for her hand, placing it on her finger.
“There! It fits you perfectly. Just as you fit me perfectly,” he whispered back. “God brought you to me, Christina, and I’ll thank Him every day of my life.”
She smiled, turning her hand so that she could lace her fingers with his. “I knew He led me to you. I just didn’t realize the full purpose. Actually, I couldn’t imagine an earl ever being interested in an ordinary vicar’s daughter.”
“Ah, but there is nothing ordinary about you, my love. Ordinary girls do not climb trees to save cats or nurse half the animals in the shire back to health. Nor do they hide puppies in ballrooms or badger a bad-tempered man into realizing that life is too precious to waste feeling sorry for oneself.”
Christina winced. “Could we just forget about the tree incident? I’m not really proud of that particular escapade.”
Nicholas laughed. “Oh, no. It shall be a tale that will be told to our children and to their children. Not everyone can say their true love fell from above and directly into their arms.”
She suddenly remembered something. “Oh no! What about my father? Suppose he does not give us his blessing? He’s always been a little wary where you are concerned.”
Nicholas put a finger to her lips and smiled reassuringly. “I’ve already asked him. That’s how I found out about you being gone from Malbury. Though he didn’t know the details, he explained about my aunt’s visit and where you had gone afterward.”
“And his answer was. . .?”
“His answer was yes. But only after he was sure I was the kind of man you needed—the Christian man I needed to become.”
He cradled her face with both hands. “In a very short time, Christina, you are going to be the Countess of Kenswick. Do you suppose you could get used to all the bowing and scraping that goes with the title?”
“Oh my,” she cried after a quick intake of breath. “I have no idea what is required of a countess.” She looked worried for a moment. “I do not have to give up all my animals, do I?”
Nicholas laughed as he leaned down and gave her another kiss. “You may have as many animals as you please as long as you keep them out of the ballroom.”
She smiled. “I think I can manage that!”
❧
Two months later, Reverend Wakelin married Christina and Nicholas in the parish church. After the ceremony, Christina stood with her husband on the lawn of Kenswick Hall as their guests mingled about.
She sighed happily as she felt Nicholas’s hand on her back, drawing her close to him. “Happy?” he asked.
“Very.” And she was. So very happy that, at last, he was her husband.
What made this occasion even more joyous was the support he’d received from high-ranking members of the ton. She’d met so many noble families in the last two months, and though they were hesitant at first, they all seemed to accept her into their elite group.
Christina was glad, not because being a part of them was important to her, but because she knew it was important to Nicholas to restore his family’s good name.
“Did you see Ty when Mrs. Sanborne brought him down earlier? Fine-looking little man, don’t you think?”
“Just like his handsome uncle,” she acknowledged as someone walking from the courtyard into the side lawn caught her attention. The man looked so much like Nicholas, Christina thought he might be a cousin.
“Nicholas, who is that man over there?”
Nicholas looked to where Christina pointed, and she felt him tense as if shocked at what he saw. “I cannot believe my eyes,” he whispered hoarsely, shaking his head. “This cannot be. . . .”
“Who is it, Nicholas? Why does this man upset you?”
“It’s my brother!” he gasped.
“What?”
“My brother. Christina, that is my brother, alive and breathing, walking across my lawn!”
❧
Watching his brother stride toward them was the most surreal occurrence Nicholas had ever experienced. As if in a trance, he walked out to meet him.
Thomas Thornton saw him also, and with a smile Nicholas new so well, he waved at him.
The two men embraced before speaking a word, slapping each other heartily on the back. Finally, Nicholas drew back, holding his brother by the shoulders as he studied him.
“You look quite healthy for a dead man,” he said, his voice quavering with emotion.
Thomas chuckled. “I’m not dead yet, Brother. Almost, but God saw fit to save me.”
Nicholas’s eyes moved over his brother once again. “What happened, Thom? Why were you reported dead?”
Thom shook his head. “Our ship capsized in a bad storm, and a small group of sailors and I were able to cut loose one of the life boats and hold on until the storm passed. We were rescued by a merchant ship two days later, but, unfortunately, they were sailing to Canada to drop off a load of goods, so it took awhile to get back and notify my superiors in the Royal Navy that I had survived.” He spread his arms out to indicate his lack of uniform. “And as you can see, I’ve also resigned my commission. I’ve had quite enough of the sea.”
“How long have you been back?” Nicholas asked with a frown.
“About a fortnight. You see, after speaking to the navy, I went straight to Rosehaven to see. . .Anne.” Thom’s voice broke.
“Then you know.”
He nodded. “I hate that I was not there for her, Nicholas. Even though our marriage was arranged by our fathers, I was truly fond of her. I might have grown to love her if given the proper time.”
“Well, you must also be aware you are the father of a very bright and handsome little boy!”
“Indeed, I am! Can you take me to him?” he asked eagerly.
“Of course.”
“Nicholas!” Christina called as he turned to see her walking toward him. She’d obviously given him time to speak to his brother, but curiosity had gotten the better of her. He smiled as he noticed her eyes darting back and forth between his brother and himself.
“Isn’t this the vicar’s daughter?” Thomas asked. “The mischievous scamp who used to play tricks on you as a child?”
Nicholas chuckled. “It is indeed.” Smiling teasingly, he put an arm around Christina as she came up beside him. “Thomas, meet my wife. I believe you two already know each other.”
Thomas’s eyes widened as he stared at them. “But I thought you. . .uh. . .” He let his voice drift, unsure of how to say what he wanted to say.
“Were to marry someone else? Yes, I was, but it’s a long story for another day. Suffice it to say God sent this special woman into my life again, and I knew I would be a fool to let her get away.”
“It’s so wonderful to see you are alive, Lord Thornton. This is truly the best wedding present we coul
d have asked for,” Christina told him.
Still dazed at the news, Thomas shook his head as he smiled at her. “Little Christina, the vicar’s daughter,” he mused. “I have kept many a sailor entertained on long journeys across the ocean with tales of your antics as a child.”
“Not you too!” she groaned as Nicholas laughed.
“Wait until you hear what she’s done lately!” he trumpeted, ignoring the small fist pounding him on the arm at the suggestion.
“I can’t wait!” Thomas replied eagerly. “But before you ruin your wedding day, why don’t we go and see my son.”
Once they had gone back to the house, both Christina and Nicholas watched from the nursery doorway as Thomas reverently picked up his small son and held him close to his chest. A tear ran down his cheek as he bent to kiss the whisper-fine hair on his soft head.
“I know this means Ty will no longer be ours to raise, but I cannot be too disappointed when I see how much Thomas loves him,” Christina whispered to her new husband. “I shall miss him, but I know he will be well taken care of.”
Nicholas bent and placed a kiss on her hair. “Rosehaven is not very far from here. We’ll see them often. And once our children are born, perhaps it will make the pain of losing Ty easier to bear.”
She sighed. “Our children. I like the sound of that.”
“I suppose one consolation will be that he’ll have to take Mrs. Sanborne with him.”
Christina put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile. “But I was planning on hiring her back once our first child was born!” she teased.
“Then I shall begin now to search the countryside for a replacement, just to ensure you don’t!”
She laughed softly, turning her face upward to look at him. “Even though you can be a bit boorish at times, I love you very much, Lord Thornton.” Her tone matched her mischievous grin.
“Although you nearly broke my back falling on me from out of that tree, and you want to turn my home into a menagerie, I love you very much too, Lady Thornton.”
Nicholas nodded toward his brother. “I hope he finds the same happiness in life I have. He truly deserves it after all he’s been through.”
“Do you think he’ll ever remarry?”
“I hope so,” he answered softly. “Perhaps a young lady will fall out of his tree.”
“It would take a miracle!” she declared, shaking her head.
Nicholas looked down at her with love in his eyes. “It just so happens I believe in them.”
About the Author
KIMBERLEY COMEAUX is a pastor’s wife who wears many hats, including: choir director, women’s ministries leader, and Web designer for her church. Her first love, however, remains dreaming up and writing inspirational romances for the wonderful Heartsong readers! She lives in Cajun Louisiana with her husband, Brian; teenage son, Tyler; and their two dogs.
Dedication
To my husband, Brian, for taking me to England and inspiring this story and to my son, Tyler, who shares my love of history
A note from the Author:
I love to hear from my readers! You may correspond with me by writing:
Kimberley Comeaux
Author Relations
PO Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
Vicar's Daughter Page 14