“Uncle did not wish it to be mine,” Adam said stoically. “And I find I trust his judgment more now than I ever did before. Let Miss Chapple alone, Mother. She is too fine a woman to be brought low by your envy and spite.”
After a moment of cold silence, she spoke again. “I have written to Richard. I do not think you will remain in his house for much longer.” His family had threatened him and punished him all his life by taking the things he loved most. His prized dogs, the room he had thought his, and any number of small enjoyments through the years. To regain all he had lost had once been his sincerest wish. Obtaining his uncle’s riches in full would have given him even more and allowed him to show his family how little he needed them.
But those things no longer mattered. Not to him.
“I will pack my things tomorrow,” he said.
“What?” The sharp word brought his attention to his mother at last and he looked down into her angry face, covered in red splotches and warped by her deep frown.
Carefully, Adam repeated, “I will pack tomorrow. Perhaps I will be gone by nightfall. There is the inn in Orford. I will do well enough there, for a time.” Then he turned from his mother, sighting Philippa. “Excuse me, Mother. I am going to ask my sister to dance.”
He walked away.
After a set with Philippa, Adam found Elaine again in time for the supper set. As promised, she had saved the two dances for him.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked, the high color in her cheeks and the way she danced as if upon air evidence enough of her answer before she gave it.
“Everyone is so kind. I am having a marvelous evening.” Every time they joined hands, Adam counted himself the most fortunate man in the room.
Midway through the second dance in the set, as Elaine stepped around him she spoke. “Would you like to have the banns read on Sunday?”
Adam stumbled, barely recovering in time to return to his position before being run over by the next gentleman. It took all of Adam’s self-control not to scoop Elaine up in his arms and kiss her. “I thought you said—”
She lifted her lovely chin up. “I have changed my mind.”
He laughed and crossed to her, taking her hands and removing them both from the row. She followed, blushing beautifully, and then they were outside on the terrace. The summer night was warm, the gardens well lit, but Adam still managed to find the perfect bush to hide behind in order to kiss the love of his life most thoroughly, the heady scent of roses surrounding them.
Chapter 20
The banns had been read twice and wedding preparations were well underway. Elaine had managed to plan for their wedding to take place the same day as the third reading. Since they both claimed the same parish as home, it was an easy matter.
Elaine sat in the late Peter Gillensford’s study, behind his large oak desk, looking over the plans and letters for the Ipswich school. Adam had already laid much of the groundwork for her and found all the necessary funds to begin. It was just a matter of Elaine putting her personal touch to the endeavor. The work occupied her mind wonderfully, which kept her from dwelling too heavily on the coming wedding.
If she could change anything about the situation, she would only wish for Adam’s family to be more understanding. Adam had taken up residence at the inn, and when his brother the earl returned there was no effort made toward reconciliation. But the family had not spoken against the match, and Adam had said that in itself was a miracle.
There had been no immediate response from Mr. Tuttle-Kirk, though Elaine had sent a second letter with their wedding date. Adam engaged an Ipswich lawyer to draw up a marriage contract with all the things he had promised Elaine. Her inheritance would be hers alone, he would not touch it.
Elaine had protested several times, insisting that she trusted him and knew his heart well enough. But Adam only kissed her upon the cheek and said, “I know, love. I gave you my word, though, and I will have no one say I married you for your fortune.”
The rumor of Adam’s strange marriage contract had reached most of the grand homes, and quite a few of the less grand, too. People were surprised, of course, but Elaine had more than one young miss express their congratulations to her while sighing about the romance of a love match.
Elaine tapped her fingers upon the desk, wondering if she might replace it with something more suited to her tastes. Standing, Elaine stretched her weary back and arms before exiting the room. Walking down the long hall to the entrance, Elaine admired the fine paintings along the walls. It seemed a shame to make any changes to Tertium, but Philippa had taken to pointing out all the furnishings that were out of date.
“I do this because you are to be my sister, Elaine,” she had said during her last visit. “You simply must replace some of the furnishings. And all of the wallpaper.”
Perhaps she would. But there was one thing that Elaine knew she would always leave in place. The portrait of young Peter Gillensford and his beautiful wife, Mary. They stood together, love in their eyes, her dress like satin sunshine. Standing before their wedding portrait, Elaine admired what they had built together.
A step made her turn to find Adam approaching, his eyes on the portrait too. “I wish you could have known them both,” he said, coming to put his arm around her shoulders. “Though I am grateful, with every breath I take, that you met my great-uncle.”
“As am I.” Elaine rose on toes to place a kiss upon his cheek. She had given up trying to understand it.
A knock on the large front door startled Elaine and Adam both. She looked to the door, then up at her betrothed. “I did not even hear a carriage.”
Graham appeared, hurrying across the entryway. He only cast them a cursory glance, and then an approving smile, before he answered the knock. “May I help you, sir?”
“Tell Miss Chapple that Mr. Tuttle-Kirk is here to speak to her.” The man himself entered, case clasped tightly to his chest and bristling with energy. He spotted Adam and Elaine straightaway, and smiled so widely that his mustache seemed to turn up at the corners, too.
“Ah, Mr. Gillensford. I am delighted you are here, too. I have a letter for you both.”
Puzzled, Elaine glanced up at Adam to see his equally bemused expression.
“Please come in, Mr. Tuttle-Kirk. Will you join us in the study?” Elaine asked, motioning down the hall.
“Of course, of course. Oh, and I did receive your letters, Miss Chapple. I hope you will excuse the delay in my answering, as I had to take care of a few pressing things before coming along to answer you.”
“You did not have to come all this way yourself, surely,” Adam said, amusement in his tone.
“I did, in fact. It was a stipulation in the will. I have to ascertain for myself that the two of you are in love, after all.” The solicitor spoke as though Elaine and Adam knew what he was about, but his words only confused Elaine more. Still, she led them into the study and offered the older gentleman the most comfortable chair before she settled in another next to Adam.
“Thank you for coming, Mr. Tuttle-Kirk. I hope our decision to wed has not complicated matters.” Elaine reached out for Adam and he immediately took up her hand. “But even if it has, we hope to be wed anyway. Adam’s solicitor has a marriage contract I am to see today. Perhaps you would be willing to look at it with me and give your professional opinion?”
“Yes, I would be delighted.” Mr. Tuttle-Kirk examined her a moment, then Adam, and then looked at their joined hands before chuckling to himself. “Your great-uncle was one of the smartest men I ever knew, but even I had my doubts about his plans this time.” He opened his leather satchel still humming with amusement.
Adam gave Elaine a rather abashed smile. “The will was something of a shock at first. Yet now I fully credit my uncle with my happiness.”
“He thought you might,” the solicitor murmured, somewhat distractedly.
Elaine and Adam both returned their attention to him sharply.
“Whatever do you mean?�
� Elaine asked. “How could Mr. Gillensford know—?”
“He wrote you a letter. If I could find it….” Mr. Tuttle-Kirk huffed and turned the bag upside-down upon his lap. Several papers, unfolded and folded, fell out. He sorted through them quickly until he found what he was looking for. “Here it is.” With a triumphant flourish, he stood and handed it across to Elaine, clutching the rest of the papers to his chest.
Elaine accepted the letter, addressed to “The Honorable Mr. Adam Gillensford & Miss Elaine Chapple.” Puzzled, she handed the missive to Adam.
He broke the seal and opened the letter.
“To my great-nephew and the kind seamstress, I hope you will read this letter not long after meeting one another. It is to be given to you in the event that, after Miss Chapple has inherited, you two will fall in love with one another.”
Adam stopped reading and narrowed his eyes at the paper. “He could not possibly have known that would happen.”
Elaine continued to read.
“Miss Chapple came into my life at the precise moment I needed her influence, and her reminder that there is always a little sunshine to be had. She instantly reminded me of my late wife, who cheered my days with her love and gentle heart. As Adam reminds me greatly of myself at his age, and as I have no wish for him to make all the foolish mistakes I made before I met Mary, I have sent Miss Chapple to him through the inheritance.”
“Absolutely brilliant old gentleman,” Tuttle-Kirk muttered, sorting his papers only to stuff them back into their case. “He told me when we penned the will how it would be. When I received your letters, Miss Chapple, I could hardly believe it.”
Adam studied the paper in his hand, a smile slowly growing upon his face. “My uncle was rarely wrong, Mr. Tuttle-Kirk.”
“He gave you both his blessing.” Mr. Tuttle-Kirk beamed at them. “I am to release Mr. Adam Gillensford’s inheritance to him upon your wedding day.”
They read and reread the letter, which had a great deal of marital and financial advice as well as the pronouncement that the late Peter Gillensford had found a way to play matchmaker even after he passed away. Mr. Tuttle-Kirk planned to take a room at the inn and would stay for the wedding. He did not linger after making that pronouncement but promised to return the next day to look over the marriage contract.
Once the solicitor departed, Elaine and Adam gathered the children for an afternoon walk through the gardens. On Adam’s arm, Elaine watched William and Nancy skip and run on the well-manicured garden paths.
“You realize what my uncle’s letter means, do you not?” Adam asked when they came near the gate to the meadow.
Elaine glanced at him only from the corner of her eye. “That he was something of a prophet?”
Her beloved chuckled. “No. Well. Perhaps. But I believe it means one thing most assuredly. You belong here, Elaine. Tertium Park is your home, and I am meant to be here with you.” He wrapped an arm about her waist at the same moment he pushed the gate open. “You, the children, and me. Garden, meadow, roses, and wildflowers. They are all part of our home.”
Elaine leaned upon his shoulder, her heart full. The children scampered past, now chasing after Tabby who had slipped out of the garden to go bounding through the meadow after butterflies.
Home, a beautiful word, and theirs would be full of laughter, joy, and love.
* * *
If you enjoyed this book, make sure you check out the next one in the Entangled Inheritances series, Rivals of Rosennor Hall, by Rebecca Connolly. Or go back and catch the first book, A Provision for Love, by Heather Chapman.
Notes
Orfordness Lighthouse, located on Orford Ness, is a real place. A long time ago, there were two lighthouses there, too, but later in the 19th century the “lower” lighthouse collapsed due to the eroding sand beneath it. Lord Braybrooke owned the lighthouse and surrounding land for a time. The lighthouse still standing has seen a great deal of history, and it was even subjected to machine-gun fire during World War II.
Orford is real, too, and I’m planning to visit someday soon. They really have a castle that one of its owners wanted to tear down, and a church that was neglected for many, many years. But if you visit Orford today, you can enter both buildings and enjoy the incredible architecture.
As always, I strive for historical accuracy with my books. It’s a delicate line to walk, keeping things factual while appealing to modern readers. For any mistakes I have made, I apologize and hope you will overlook the in favor of enjoying the romance.
Also by Sally Britton
The Inglewood Series:
Book #1, Rescuing Lord Inglewood
Book #2, Discovering Grace
The Branches of Love Series:
Prequel Novella, Martha’s Patience
Book #1, The Social Tutor
Book #2, The Gentleman Physician
Book #3, His Bluestocking Bride
Book #4, The Earl and His Lady
Book #5, Miss Devon’s Choice
Book #6, Courting the Vicar’s Daughter
Forever After:
The Captain and Miss Winter
Timeless Romance:
An Evening at Almack’s, Regency Collection 12
Acknowledgments
As always, I want to thank my readers. Your patience with my imperfections, your kindness in your reviews, and your enthusiasm for each new book is often a driving force in my writing.
I need to thank my friends in the author world who keep me going, even if I’m asking absurd research questions after midnight. Thank you to Joanna Barker, Arlem Hawks, Shaela Kay, Heidi Kimball, and Megan Walker.
I’d also like to thank Heather Chapman for including me in this project, and the fabulously talented Rebecca Connolly and Ashtyn Newbold for their contributions to the Entangled Inheritances series.
My wonderful editor, Jenny Proctor, worked miracles on this book and in such a short time. She deserves heaps of praise and chocolate. My proofreaders, Carri Flores and Molly Rice, gave invaluable help at the end of the day, too.
Thank you to my Facebook group, Sally’s Sweet Romance Fans, for helping me stay sane. You ladies remind me on a daily basis why I started this journey in the first place.
About the Author
Sally Britton lives in the desert with her husband, four children, and two rescue dogs. She started writing her first story on her mother’s electric typewriter, when she was fourteen years old. Reading her way through Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, and Lucy Maud Montgomery, Sally decided to write about the elegant, complex world of centuries past.
Sally graduated from Brigham Young University in 2007 with a bachelor’s in English, her emphasis on British literature. She met and married her husband not long after and they’ve been building their happily ever after since that day.
Vincent Van Gogh is attributed with the quote, “What is done in love is done well.” Sally has taken that as her motto, for herself and her characters, writing stories where love is a choice.
All of Sally’s published works are available on Amazon.com and you can connect with Sally on her website, AuthorSallyBritton.com.
His Unexpected Heiress: Entangled Inheritances Page 22