No. Despite the terrible enormity of Lady Tremont’s lie, it had allowed Ellie and Kit to find their true way to one another, to follow the compass of their hearts without going astray.
“I imagine your young man will be glad of the news,” the solicitor said. “He must think quite highly of you, if he believed, er . . .”
“That he was marrying a penniless orphan?” Ellie said tartly. “As a matter of fact, he does love me, very much. And while this is a very welcome circumstance, it will not matter to our happiness.”
Lady Merriweather cleared her throat. “I assure you, it will make a difference—though I’ve no doubt you would have been happy either way. But it is far easier to be content in life when one has a small fortune at one’s disposal. Speaking of which, I rather fancy the thought of coming to India for your wedding. Perhaps I’ll be your chaperone until you’re wed. What do you say to that?”
Ellie smiled at her. “I think it would suit very well.”
She and Kit had decided to have the ceremony abroad so that his parents might attend—and so that her stepmother might not. After the revelations of the afternoon, Ellie preferred never to set eyes on that dreadful woman again.
“Then it’s settled,” the baroness said. “We set sail next Wednesday. In the meantime, I’ll help you with opening bank accounts and the like. One doesn’t want a sum that size sitting about in bills, after all.”
“Very wise,” the solicitor said. “We can meet tomorrow at the Royal Bank. Two o’clock?”
While her godmother settled the particulars, Ellie contented herself with imagining telling Kit the good news. With the investment from Lord Brumley, she had no doubt the tea plantation would thrive.
And with her inheritance, she had no doubt their family would, too. She closed her eyes a moment, conjuring up a vision—a house with a wide veranda tucked beside a prosperous tea plantation, she and Kit sitting outside, watching their children play. Two—no, three of them, a girl and two boys.
Henderson was there, and Mr. Atkins, who found the heat a blessing to his old bones. The baroness visited every few years, bringing the children strange, exotic items from England. And surprisingly, Abby would visit as well, along with her ambassador husband, who altogether doted upon her.
Through it all—the year of drought, the monsoons that washed away a third of their crop, the blight five years after that—she and Kit persevered. And, at last, found financial prosperity.
But it was nothing compared to the wealth of love and companionship they would share together till the end of their days.
Ready for more sweet Victorian romance? Pick up a copy of Noble Holidays for a delightful quartet of tales that will warm your heart!
Other Works
Discover all of Anthea’s books~
~NOVELS~
Sonata for a Scoundrel
Mistress of Melody
Fortune’s Flower
To Heal a Heart
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~COLLECTIONS~
Kisses & Rogues
Regency Sweets
Noble Holidays
Noble Pleasures
Music of the Heart boxed set
Passport to Romance boxed set
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~SHORTER WORKS~
To Wed the Earl
A Countess for Christmas
A Duke for Midwinter
Five Wicked Kisses
Maid for Scandal
The Piano Tutor
About the Author
A USA Today bestselling author and two-time RITA nominee, Anthea Lawson was named "one of the new stars of historical romance" by Booklist. Her books have received starred reviews in Library Journal and Publishers Weekly. A Lord’s Chance is the newest title in her Passport to Romance collection.
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Anthea lives with her husband and daughter in sunny Southern California, where they enjoy fresh oranges all winter long. In addition to writing historical romance, Anthea plays the Irish fiddle and pens bestselling, award-winning YA urban fantasy as Anthea Sharp.
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Find out about all her books at anthealawson.com, and join her mailing list, tinyletter.com/AntheaLawson, for a FREE STORY, plus all the news about upcoming releases and reader perks!
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