by Mary Nichols
At last they were satisfied and Kate was ushered off to change her clothes, which operation was achieved in record time and then, dressed in the blue evening gown she had worn to the Hartingdon charity ball, she went downstairs again where Simon had returned after dashing home to change into evening wear himself. Then all four went to Morland House, where the story of Kate’s bravery and Simon’s rescue had preceded them. It was here they realised the gossip would not be anything like as bad as they had feared. Far from castigating them for what had happened, they applauded them and the fact that the Viscount had so quickly found someone else proved Kate had been right to turn him down.
The tale of little Joe was told over and over again, but once everyone’s curiosity had been satisfied and they had been invited to another wedding, everyone went home. After a little conversation with Lizzie and James, the Morland coach was called up and Kate, Simon, the Reverend and Lady Morland went back to Holles Street.
As soon as they arrived, the Reverend suddenly discovered he had work to do in his study, which he had not been able to set his mind to in the last two days, and Lady Morland pronounced herself fagged to death and took herself off to bed. Kate and Simon were alone at last. They sat together on the sofa, his arm about her shoulders and her head nestling in the curve of his neck, and made plans for a wedding.
‘Let it be soon,’ he said, kissing the top of her head. ‘No fuss, just a quiet ceremony to make you my wife.’
‘That is exactly what I was thinking.’ She turned her head up to look at him. Her eyes were shining and her lips were temptingly parted. He bent his head to kiss them, setting up such a delicious quake all through her it was some time before she could add, ‘With Annie as my attendant.’
‘Of course. We must not forget Annie, must we?’
‘Guess what she said to me on the night of the Embassy ball?’
‘I am sure you are about to tell me.’
‘She said she did not like the Viscount and that I ought to marry you.’
‘How perceptive of her! In that case we must certainly invite her to our wedding.’
‘I can’t wait.’
‘Neither can I,’ he said, kissing her again and again, each time more passionately. ‘And if I do not take myself off home this minute, I shall disgrace myself.’
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. ‘Goodnight, my darling girl, sleep well, and before you know it, it will be morning and I shall be on your doorstep again.’
The wedding took place three weeks later and this time Kate had no doubts, no doubts at all. She was going to spend the rest of her life with the man she adored. Simon had been cleared of all wrongdoing and reinstated at the Hartingdon Home, which had benefited from all the publicity over their adventures, which, according to the newspaper reports, now favourable, came from their dedication to the cause of the deprived children. After a short holiday in the West Country, they returned to live in the villa Simon had leased for them, where Alf and Janet, now part of their domestic staff, waited to welcome them home.
A year later, they and their newborn son, were guests of honour at the opening of the new Hartingdon Home, built away from the slums in the clean air of Paddington. It was light and spacious and able to accommodate two hundred children in small family units. Simon looked down at Kate, who was nursing little Thomas, surrounded by the children from the home, and his heart swelled with love and pride. He bent and whispered in her ear. ‘I love you, Mrs Redfern.’
She looked up at him and smiled, her answer in her bright eyes.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6042-3
HONORABLE DOCTOR, IMPROPER ARRANGEMENT
Copyright © 2009 by Mary Nichols.
First North American Publication 2010.
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