She drew in a shaking breath, smiling through trembling lips. “How could I ever say no to the man who encouraged me to shine? Yes, William. I will marry you.”
He’d expected the answer—heavens, she’d already given him one. But to hear the words leave her mouth, his heart was fully encompassed.
His breathing shallowed, and he raised a hand to caress her cheek with the barest hint of a touch. As his fingertips rested at the side of her neck, he leaned forward, her sweet breath on his lips, her nose brushing against his.
He wanted this moment to last, he wanted to remember it forever, so he paused just before their lips could touch, emblazoning every moment, every breath, every sweet smell in his memory before continuing.
Then finally, he leaned just enough for his lips to graze against hers. Pulses of energy swirled deep within him, and warmth cloaked his heart. He raised his lips from hers, only to return to them in a deeper, more fervent kiss.
This was everything a kiss ought to be. Soft, sweet, and shared with the woman he loved. But he could not be satisfied. He pulled away again, tipping his head to the side, hovering just above her lips. Their breath mingled warmly amidst the swiftly cooling autumn air until Amy’s hands slid up his waistcoat, grasping his lapel and drawing him forward until their lips met in a firm, lingering kiss.
His smile begged to be released, to feel her own desire mixed with his, but he would do nothing to end the kiss he shared with the woman he loved—with the woman who loved him in return.
Amy had waited long enough for this kiss and was done with William’s teasing. Of course, she’d hesitated pulling him in for a deeper kiss, but then, when had she ever hesitated being forward?
Certainly, this time, her forthright behavior had paid off.
A deep sigh, so deep it nearly sounded as a soft moan, rumbled in William’s chest. Her heart quickened, their lips moving against each other in perfect symmetry.
This was what she’d dreamt of for so long. This was what she’d longed for. Not just a kiss from the man she loved, but to feel his love for her in his affection. To feel his arms wrap around her, possessive and protective. To feel as if she was worth all the money in the world to this man who held her so comfortingly.
After a short time, their affection slowed, and they pulled apart, arms wrapped around each other as William rested his forehead against hers.
“I suppose we had better get inside before your father comes looking for us.”
She nodded with a mumbled affirmation, though there was nothing she wanted to do in that moment more than kiss the man for the rest of her days.
There would be time enough for that later, though.
She pulled back, tracing his lower lip with her finger. “I love you.”
He reached forward, placing a kiss to the tip of her nose before leaning back and taking her hand in his and leading her toward the cottage.
“Who would have ever thought a simple chicken being thrown in my face would have led to a marriage?” Amy said with a small curve of her lips.
He glanced toward her with a raised brow. “For the record, I did not throw the chicken at your face. She merely leapt from my hands.”
“Because you were not—”
“Holding her properly, I know, I know.”
They shared a smile.
“I just hope you will learn how to properly hold a child before we have any, otherwise I don’t know how I would feel about one leaping from your hands.”
He chuckled, stopping their progression to the cottage and sliding his arms under hers, wrapping his hands around her back. She linked her fingers at the back of his neck, smiling up at him.
“How many will we have, do you think?” he asked.
“Oh, ten, at the least.”
His eyes rounded. “Children?”
She laughed. “Hens, silly. Children, we’ll have a hearty dozen.”
She winked, and he peered down at her, his green eyes holding the warmth of his love for her within them.
And as he leaned down to press his lips against hers once again, she was overcome with gratitude for where her life was, and for all that had occurred to get her to that point.
Thank heavens for William. Thank heavens for the cottage by Coniston. And thank heavens for hens.
Epilogue
William stood in front of Birchwick Hall, clasping his hands behind his back as Amy came up to stand beside him, lacing her hand through his arm.
“They cannot be much longer, can they?” She peered down the long drive, standing on the tips of her toes.
William smiled, placing a kiss to the top of her head. After six years of marriage, her impatience still endeared her to him. “You know you cannot see farther down a straight road by being taller, do you not?”
She looked up at him, pursing her lips in feigned frustration. “I just cannot wait. It’s been so very long since we’ve seen them last.”
William nodded. They hadn’t seen Mr. and Mrs. Paxton for months, and Hugh for nearly a year. Amy’s parents still came every autumn—and occasionally in the spring—to the Lake District. Though William offered them rooms at Birchwick, they only ever requested to stay at the cottage.
“We have such fond memories there,” Mr. Paxton often said. “It is where our Amy finally found her happiness.”
William peered down at her, her smile beaming and eyes aglow. She certainly was happy. Just as he was.
Amy gasped, moving up and down on the tips of her toes. “I see them!”
William followed her gaze to where a carriage with two black horses rode toward them on the drive. The grass was no longer pristine, though it was still tidy, and a few of the trees had already begun to drop their leaves in the chilly, autumn temperatures. Grandfather had always required the leaves to be cleaned frequently so as not to hide the grass.
Amy, however, loved the leaves on the grounds and requested they be kept there as long as possible. She would often take the children on walks, crunching the leaves beneath their boots and jumping into piles.
Marrying her had been the best decision William had ever made, and for so many reasons—including improving the state of Birchwick’s stilted air. In the six years they’d lived there together, her brilliance and vivacity for life had brightened every dreary corner and invigorated every lifeless room, until William had finally grown to love his home for the life he and Amy had created there.
Laughter and soft footsteps pattered behind them, drawing him back to the present.
“Mama! Papa!”
William turned around in time for their oldest son to barrel into William’s hip. Philip, who had just turned five, staggered back with a laugh, wiggling his head back and forth with a silly expression.
“Are you all right, son?” William chuckled, steadying him.
“Yes,” Philip said, moving toward him for a slower embrace. “Even after running into your large bott—”
“That is quite enough of that, Philip,” Amy said with a raised brow, though her eyes twinkled.
She reached for the toddler in the nursemaid’s arms, giving her a grateful nod before the woman backed away. “And how are you today, John? My darling little boy.” She kissed their younger son on his full, round cheek. “Excited to see your grandparents again?”
“Yes, yes!” John squealed, clapping his chubby fingers together. “An’ gifts!”
“Oh, yes! Grandmother and Grandfather always bring the best gifts!” Philip added.
Amy gave William a look. “I suppose it is clear what makes the two of them happy.”
William chuckled, resting one hand on Philip’s head and wrapping the other arm round Amy’s shoulder as the four of them turned to the carriage nearly upon them.
Gifts certainly did make their boys happy, but William couldn’t blame them. Gifts made William happy, as well. And the greatest of all his gifts were standing right there beside him.
He didn’t know what he’d done, being so blessed beyond measure with
his wife and children. But Heaven knew he would do his best to always live worthily of their love.
Amy couldn’t wait any longer. The moment the carriage door opened, she bounded forth, wrapping her arms around her mother. “I’ve decided you both need to relocate here permanently, Mama. I cannot bear only seeing you twice a year.”
Mama laughed, pulling away so Father could embrace Amy next.
“How are you, cricket?” he asked, placing a warm kiss to her temple. He pulled back, leaning down to better see John, who was still in Amy’s arms. “And how are you, my littler cricket?”
John reached forth, wrapping his little arms around his grandfather’s neck.
As William greeted Mother and Father, Hugh stepped down from the carriage, and Amy moved to embrace him next. She’d been so angry with him in the days leading up to William’s proposal, but after he’d convinced Mr. Roberts to not go through with the duel, she’d managed to forgive him yet again. Now, she actually enjoyed his company. Not living in the same house as the man suited her very much, indeed, for there was less time for him to tease her.
“It is lovely to see you again, sister.”
“And you, Hugh. Tell me, how is Bath? And our old friends?”
“Very much the same, I think. Miss Jones recently became engaged, and Mr. Tenney.” He peered down at her. “And our Mr. Roberts has finally found himself a wife, too.”
“Heavens.” She never thought she’d see the day. The man had been trying for years now. “How did he manage that?”
“As a matter of fact, he fell in love—and somehow convinced the girl to love him, too.”
Amy smiled. “Well, I am happy for him then. And I wish his poor betrothed all the luck in the world.”
They shared a smile and turned to face the others, though Amy’s mind wandered to where it always did at the thought of Mr. Roberts or their lives before she’d married William.
Charity.
Amy had had the opportunity to speak with her before the wedding years ago, and though the encounter had been tense and uncomfortable, Amy was able to apologize for hurting her. Charity had been more than gracious, though understandably uncomfortable, and a few weeks later, she and her mother had relocated permanently to Yorkshire.
However, only a year ago, Charity had sent a letter to them that brightened both of their hearts.
I wish you both to know that while I was hurt then, I have always been grateful for your honesty. Were it not for that, I would never have found the love of my life, nor have given birth to my beautiful daughter. I truly hope you both are happy, as I am now myself.
The letter had been a relief for Amy and William both, for neither of them had wished to hurt the woman.
“Uncle Hugh!”
Amy blinked, coming out of her reverie and focusing on her son as he barreled toward Hugh.
Hugh caught him in a wide embrace. “Philip! Look how you’ve grown! You’re nearly as tall as I am now.”
“I’ll be taller than you one day, Uncle Hugh,” Philip said with a sure nod. “But I won’t be as silly as you are, because I’m going to get married when I’m older.”
Amy’s eyes widened, her cheeks burning, and William stifled a cough that sounded suspiciously like laughter.
Hugh glanced pointedly at Amy. “I see you’ve been listening to your mother’s opinions again, haven’t you, Philip?”
“Yes! And Papa’s, too.”
“All right, son,” William said with another chuckle. He leaned toward Amy as he led the group forward. “He gets that blunt trait from you, you know.”
Amy waved a hand. “Nonsense.” Though she shared an amused look with her father.
Their small party headed indoors, Papa walking ahead with Hugh, William, and the children. “Will your parents be joining us soon, William?” Father asked.
“Yes, for dinner this evening.”
“And are they enjoying living in the manor?”
“I believe so. I’ve never seen them so happy.”
Amy couldn’t help but agree. William had protested the idea of his own parents moving out of the house that was rightfully theirs, but his father had insisted.
“It is time we put this place behind us, Will,” he’d said a few months after their marriage. “Your mother has always wanted to live in the manor, and now, I finally get to give her what she has always wished for, what she more than deserves.”
William was gaining a better relationship with his parents daily as Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood finally grew into their own people—away from Grandfather’s influence.
“I do hope Mrs. Rutledge will be joining us this evening, as well,” Mama added as they moved through the corridors. “How I miss that woman each time we leave this place.”
“Oh, of course,” Amy said. “She is looking forward to seeing you, as well.”
Amy and William called on Mrs. Rutledge twice a week, if not more. The woman now had a young lady living with her as a companion, and they both seemed quite content. Though, Mrs. Rutledge often spoke of how she missed her dearly departed Philip.
“I have faith we shall meet again,” she’d say each time she mentioned his name.
Amy had learned a great deal from the woman, and she owed much of her happiness in Coniston to her. After all, had it not been for Mrs. Rutledge’s public support of Amy and William’s marriage, the village could very well still despise Amy.
She couldn’t blame the members of town for being standoffish. They’d been expecting William and Charity to wed for years. But little by little, Mrs. Rutledge’s goodness rubbed off on the others, and her vocal defense finally convinced the village to accept Amy as one of their own.
Amy would be forever grateful to Mrs. Rutledge for helping it come about.
With a deep, contented sigh, she trailed after her family as they made their way to the drawing room. How her life was so perfect was beyond her. She really could ask for nothing more.
Except, perhaps…another child.
She pressed a hand to her churning stomach, a secretive smile touching her lips.
“What are you smiling about?”
She glanced up, William falling back from the group to walk beside her. He offered her his arm, which she readily took.
“Merely how happy I am,” she said with another sigh. She would tell him about his third child soon—especially the inkling she had that this one was a girl. But for right now, she wished to relish in how perfect everything was. “I do love my life.”
“Is that just because your parents are here?” he asked with narrowed eyes.
She swatted his arm. “You know that is not the reason I am so happy.”
“What is the reason then?”
She smiled up at him, holding his arm so they stopped alone in the corridor.
She rested a hand on his cheek and reached up to place a lingering kiss on his lips. After a moment, she pulled back, but he leaned closer, not yet ready to end their kiss. A smile crept across her lips, and he pulled back with a contended sigh.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you, too.”
And after another shared smile, the two of them linked arms and followed their family into the drawing room.
How blessed they were to have each other. How blessed they were to share such a love, to have such a light between them. For they both knew their love and that light would only continue to grow all the brighter as the years moved on.
And what could be better than that?
THE END
Next in the Seasons of Change series
Book Six, A Haunting at Havenwood by Sally Britton
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for reading my book! I hope you enjoyed it! Writing about Coniston was a sheer delight. The Lake District is gorgeous—one of my British husband’s favorite places to visit! My goal as an author is to transport my readers to new places—places that I love myself—so I hope I was able to do so with this book, as well!
If
you enjoyed “The Cottage by Coniston,” please consider leaving a review. And if you’d like to receive the latest news about my future novels, sign up for my newsletter. I always share newly released and discounted clean romance novels, as well as fun polls, quotes, and giveaways. My newsletter subscribers are also the first to see sneak peeks and cover reveals!
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I hope to connect with you soon!
Deborah
Acknowledgements
This book, like every book, was a challenge to write. I couldn’t have finished it without the help of so many wonderful people in my life.
Usually, I end the acknowledgments by thanking my husband, but for this book, he needs to come first. After all, he was the one who suggested I write about the Lake District in the first place. Thank you for always encouraging me and supporting me. I don’t know how you have the patience to listen to me day in and day out, but I will always be grateful that you do! I love you. (Now for reals…tell me if this book is good enough to be dedicated to you…)
Next, I need to thank my wonderful friend, Kasey Stockton. Not only is she an amazing author, she’s also one of my greatest friends. She listened to me when I first started plotting this book, she encouraged me to keep pushing through the hard days, and she dropped everything to help me edit, beta read, and improve my writing. Thank you! Now go reward yourself by listening to Sam Heughan’s accent.
To the rest of you who helped me with this book—Martha Keyes, Jess Heileman, Joanna Barker, and Jennie Proctor—thank you all so much! Because of you, I was able to push past my insecurities and deliver this book on time.
And finally, I want to thank my lovely, wonderful readers. You are the reason I write. Receiving your reviews, hearing your kind words about my own written words, means more to me than you will ever know. It spurs me on to write and lifts me during my low points. Thank you, to each and every one of you!
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