Lewis grimaced. “And my friend Mr. Bachman wonders why I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about taking a wife.” He glanced at Marcy, and, not hiding his relief, he added, “I’m glad you’re nothing like your step-sister.”
“You’ll also be glad about something else,” the constable said. “I brought the Duke of Edmondstone from France because I needed to make sure your wife is who she claimed to be. There was no one in London in her past who could identify her. Now that I have verified who she is, there’s a matter of an inheritance to discuss.”
“Yes, that is why I had to come to London,” Baldwin agreed. “I wanted to make sure the rightful person received the money due to her. I want to make sure I do right by my uncle’s daughter. He would have wanted you to have your portion.”
Marcy blinked in surprise. She didn’t think she was going to receive an inheritance. She figured when she ran away, she was going to do without it for the rest of her life.
“Since you’re married, the money will go into your husband’s account, of course,” the constable said. “The inheritance is worth five hundred pounds.”
Lewis dropped his cup, and tea splattered across the floor. Marcy jumped up, grabbed a cloth napkin, and began to clean it up. The amount the constable had stated didn’t sink in until she had been wiping the floor for a few seconds.
When she realized just how much Baldwin intended to give her, she stood up and faced him. “You’re going to give us five hundred pounds?”
“I’m not giving you something that isn’t yours,” Baldwin said. “Your father left that for you. Your step-sister had wanted me to give her your portion of the inheritance, but I told her I wouldn’t do it until you’d been gone for a total of ten years. At that time, I figured we’d never find you.”
So that was why Pandora had been anxious to get rid of her. Marcy recalled Pandora mentioning something about the inheritance, and now it made sense.
“I thought you might like to know that something good came from all of this,” the constable told Lewis and Marcy. “We should probably handle the details of transferring the money now. Then I’ll be on my way, and you can spend time together without me hovering around.” With a smile, the constable rose to his feet. “It’s nice when things end well for people. I don’t always see that in my line of work.”
“Yes, we should go to your bank, Lewis,” Baldwin said and stood up. “I’m anxious to get back and catch up on old times with my cousin.”
Marcy returned her cousin’s smile then helped Lewis, who was still in shock, to his feet. “I’ll take care of the mess,” she said. “When you and Lewis return, I’ll have dinner ready. You’re welcome to stay here while you’re in London, Baldwin. I can have a room ready for you.”
“I’d be delighted to stay,” Baldwin replied.
Lewis couldn’t seem to manage to speak, so she encouraged him to join Baldwin and the constable as they headed for the door. She didn’t blame Lewis for reacting the way he was. He had married her thinking he wasn’t going to have any money, and they’d both just learned they were wealthy. It was going to take her time to get used to this, too, but she suspected she was going to have an easier time of it than him.
When they reached the front door, Lewis whispered, “Is this a dream?”
She chuckled. “No. It’s all very real.”
The constable opened the door, and she had to give Lewis a nudge so he’d step outside with the two gentlemen. He gave her one more bewildered look. How could she resist loving him? He had married her with no thought of money. All he’d wanted was her.
Remembering the others, she waved for him to go to the carriage and then shut the door. Then she went to clean up the mess and make dinner.
***
One Year Later
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Stephen said as the footman led him and Patricia into Lewis’ drawing room. Once the footman left, Stephen set Susanna on the floor so she could walk. He glanced at Patricia. “Am I really seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
Lewis rolled his eyes but chuckled as Patricia assured him, “Yes, Lewis is holding a baby.”
“I should be the one who’s shocked,” Lewis told Stephen. “I thought you vowed to never return to London. And yet, here you are in my townhouse.”
Lewis couldn’t make out the expression behind Stephen’s mask, but he was sure Stephen was smirking at him. “I had to come by and see if Marcy needed help calming you down. I remember how panicked you were when Susanna was born.”
“Well,” Lewis began while Stephen sat across from him, “you have to admit that babies are tiny.” His gaze went to his newborn son. Even now, he worried he might drop him or do something else to hurt the poor, defenseless child. But he was determined to overcome his fears. Besides… “I’ve held Susanna quite a bit over the past year. It’s not my fault she’d rather walk around the room than sit with me.”
“He has a point,” Patricia told Stephen as she followed Susanna while the girl walked along the desk. “Susanna hates to sit for any length of time. She’s more interested in what’s around her than she is in her uncle.”
“Hmm… I don’t know,” Stephen said. “You look pale. I hope you’re not going to faint.”
Patricia groaned. “He’s always been pale. He’s never had much color in his face.”
“Yes, but he’s more pale than usual,” Stephen insisted, gesturing to him.
“He is sitting right here,” Lewis interjected before they could go needlessly on about this topic again. It seemed like they had this particular discussion every time he held Susanna, and now they were going to do it when he was holding his son. “I’m beginning to wonder if it was a mistake to send you both a missive right after Valentine was born.”
“So that’s what you decided to name him!” Patricia smiled with pleasure. “I love that name. It sounds romantic.”
Stephen shook his head. “Romantic? Names aren’t romantic. They’re practical.”
“Practical?” she asked.
“Sure. How else do you know what to call someone?” His gaze went to Lewis. “I hope you didn’t faint on Marcy when the child was born.”
The butler came into the drawing room before Lewis could respond. “Dinner will be ready in a half hour. Is there anything you wish me to bring until then?”
Lewis glanced at Stephen and Patricia. “Do you want anything?”
“Green tea would be nice,” Patricia said. “I’ll save my appetite for the meal.”
Lewis nodded and instructed the butler to bring that. After the gentleman left, he asked, “How long will you be staying? You know you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want.”
“We thought we’d stay for three days,” Stephen said. “We need to visit my brother and sister while we’re here, too.”
“Do you like being back in London?” Lewis asked.
“It’s all right,” Stephen replied. “The best part is that I have Patricia and Susanna with me. I don’t miss the things I used to do. Patricia has completed my life much more than any of my past activities ever did. Speaking of wives… Where’s Marcy? You didn’t toss her aside once she gave you the heir you needed, did you?”
Lewis grinned at his friend’s joke. “I’d never do that. I love her far too much to ever get rid of her.”
“That’s good to hear,” Marcy teased.
The three looked over at Marcy as she entered the room, her steps slow since she’d given birth two days ago. Lewis got up and hurried over to her. He put one arm around her waist and helped her over to the settee so she could sit next to him.
“I can’t believe it,” Stephen told Patricia. “I just can’t believe it. He held the baby and helped Marcy to the settee at the same time.”
Patricia laughed. “You need to stop giving the poor man so much grief. He’s not going to welcome you in his townhouse if you keep it up.”
“Of course, he will,” Stephen said. “He and I have much business to discuss, and no
w that he’s received a good profit over the past year, he’s even more excited to see me. Isn’t that true, Lewis?”
Lewis settled next to Marcy, his body warming in pleasure when she wrapped her arm around his. He liked it whenever she showed him how much he meant to her, especially when others were around.
“I am very glad I made money instead of losing it,” Lewis admitted, “but it’s because of Marcy that I’m as well off as I am.”
“I never would have guessed you were the daughter of a wealthy duke,” Patricia told Marcy. “Stephen almost fell over when we read the missive. It’s a good thing he wasn’t holding Susanna at the time.” She winked at Stephen to show him she was joking.
“Thankfully, everything worked out the way it did,” Lewis said. “I came very close to losing Marcy that night in the cemetery.” Even now, he didn’t want to think about it. If he’d been a minute later in finding her and her step-sister, he would have been too late. Then he would have been empty and alone. “I can’t imagine my life without Marcy and our son. Getting married was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I can’t believe this, either.” Stephen pinched himself. “Patricia, hit me across the head. I think I’m dreaming, and I can’t wake myself up.”
“You’re not dreaming,” Marcy said. “All of this is real.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Lewis replied, giving her a smile.
She returned his smile, and, once more, he warmed with pleasure. Love was turning out to be much better than he’d thought possible. He couldn’t think of anything else to add to his life. He had a wonderful wife, a healthy baby, and good friends. There wasn’t anything else he could ask for. And better yet, he had the rest of his life to enjoy it.
Coming Soon in this Series:
The Wedding Pact (Marriage by Fairytale: Book 3)
Miss Ophelia Crowe has lived a life where everything has been managed for her. From what she could wear to who she could associate with to what activities she could do, each and every day has been structured for her. Her parents had been wealthy, but they had died before she could remember. For most of her life, she's been under the care of a guardian she's never met.
Then, on her nineteenth birthday, her guardian comes to pay her a visit. The kind benefactor she had expected turns out to be a cruel gentleman, and when she discovers that he plans to marry her, she runs away from the only home she's ever known.
Vicar Julian Roskin has led a quiet life. Still young and inexperienced, he is content to manage a small parish. Then, late one night, his safe and predictable world is turned upside down when a beautiful young lady ends up on his doorstep, in need of his protection. Protection, in this case, will require him to marry her.
Reason tells him not to do it, but her sweet and gentle spirit prompts him to agree to take her as his wife. What he doesn't realize is that the very thing that compelled her to seek his protection is the very thing that could kill him.
*This is loosely based off of Little Red Riding Hood.
Don’t Miss Book 1 in this series!
The Marriage Contract (Marriage by Fairytale: Book 1)
On her wedding day, Patricia Cotter, the widowed Lady of Pruett, signed a contract agreeing to the following:
1. She would never look at her husband’s face.
2. She would never remove the sheets covering the mirrors.
3. She would never ask her husband about his past.
In return for doing these things, she will have a secure place for her unborn child and her worries will be over. She has nothing to lose by agreeing to her husband’s terms.
Yes, she’s heard the rumors about Mr. Stephen Bachman. He was said to have killed his first wife, though there is no proof condemning him of the crime. He is aloof and never leaves his townhouse. He is practically a prisoner in his own home.
But as she gets to know him, she begins to believe her husband isn’t the beast everyone’s made him out to be. There just might be a gentleman worth loving beneath his hard exterior. The questions is, can she get him to let go of the past so he can open himself up to the possibility of a fairytale romance?
*This is loosely based off of Beauty and the Beast.
All Books by Ruth Ann Nordin
(Chronological Order)
Regencies
Marriage by Scandal Series
The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife
A Most Unsuitable Earl
His Reluctant Lady
The Earl’s Scandalous Wife
Standalone Regency
Her Counterfeit Husband (happens during A Most Unsuitable Earl)
Marriage by Deceit Series
The Earl’s Secret Bargain
Love Lessons With the Duke
Ruined by the Earl
The Earl’s Stolen Bride
Marriage by Arrangement Series
His Wicked Lady
Her Devilish Marquess
The Earl’s Wallflower Bride
Marriage by Bargain Series
The Viscount’s Runaway Bride
The Rake’s Vow
Taming The Viscountess
If It Takes A Scandal
Marriage by Fate Series
The Reclusive Earl
Married In Haste
Make Believe Bride
The Perfect Duke
Marriage by Fairytale Series
The Marriage Contract
One Enchanted Evening
Historical Western Romances
Pioneer Series
Wagon Trail Bride
The Marriage Agreement
Groom For Hire
Forced Into Marriage
Nebraska Series
Her Heart’s Desire
A Bride for Tom
A Husband for Margaret
Eye of the Beholder
The Wrong Husband
Shotgun Groom
To Have and To Hold
His Redeeming Bride
Isaac’s Decision
Misled Mail Order Brides Series
The Bride Price
The Rejected Groom
The Perfect Wife
The Imperfect Husband (coming soon)
Chance at Love Series
The Convenient Mail Order Bride
The Mistaken Mail Order Bride
The Accidental Mail Order Bride
The Bargain Mail Order Bride
South Dakota Series
Loving Eliza
Bid for a Bride
Bride of Second Chances
Montana Collection
Mitch’s Win
Boaz’s Wager
Patty’s Gamble
Shane’s Deal
Native American Romance Series
Restoring Hope
A Chance In Time
Brave Beginnings
Bound by Honor, Bound by Love
Virginia Series
An Unlikely Place for Love
The Cold Wife
An Inconvenient Marriage
Romancing Adrienne
Standalone Historical Western Romances
Falling In Love With Her Husband
Kent Ashton’s Backstory
Catching Kent
His Convenient Wife
Meant To Be
The Mail Order Bride’s Deception
Contemporary Romances
Omaha Series
With This Ring, I Thee Dread
What Nathan Wants
Just Good Friends
Across the Stars Series
Suddenly a Bride
Runaway Bride
His Abducted Bride
Standalone Contemporaries
Substitute Bride
Co-Authored Romances
Historical Romance Anthologies (with Janet Syas Nitsick)
Bride by Arrangement
A Groom’s Promise
Contemporary Anthology (with Catherine Lynn)
Bride By Design
Thrillers
Return
of the Aliens (Christian End-Times Novel)
Late One Night (flash fiction)
The Very True Legends of Ol’ Man Wickleberry and his Demise - Ink Slingers’ Anthology
Fantasies
Enchanted Galaxy Series
A Royal Engagement
Royal Hearts
The Royal Pursuit
Royal Heiress
Nonfiction
Writing Tips Series
11 Tips for New Writers
The Emotionally Engaging Character
Where to Find Ruth
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