by S. White
❄Chapter Eighteen ❄
Simon stood outside his bedroom door. He heard his Kathleen scream again. He touched the door handle and tried pushing down. The door was locked. His mother knew so well. She figured he would try to barge into where he didn’t belong. Woman’s work was being done on the other side of that door, but it was so hard to do nothing while he wife suffered such pain.
His only option was to stay as close as the locked door let him. He paced the floor in front of the door. He counted the steps over and over again.
Simon started over everything Kathleen screamed. If there was any way for him to take his beloved Kate’s he would gladly do it, but all he could do now was wait and pray.
After what seemed like an eternity, he heard the sound of a baby’s cry. He stopped pacing and knocked on the door.
After a moment of silence, he heard the lock click and the door opened.
His mother stood in the doorway with a smile on her face. “Come in, Simon, and meet your son.”
“And Kate?”
“Tired, but fine. Her labor wasn’t as long as I thought it would be.”
Simon stepped into the room. His eyes immediately sought his wife on the bed. Kate was sitting up and smiling at him. She held a small bundle in her arms.
He went to her and knelt down. “How are you, my love?”
“Well, Simon. Meet your son.” Kate opened the bundle to reveal the face of a newborn. The child’s eyes opened. He looked around but settled on his father. He raised a fat fist. Simon offered the boy a finger. The child wrapped his hand around his father’s finger.
Simon glanced at Kate in awe.
❄
Emily walked down the stairs carrying a box. David watched from the shadows as she set the box on the floor under the entrance to the drawing room. She dragged a ladder-back chair under the archway entrance.
David rushed forward to help her. “Let me help with whatever you are doing.”
She was so startled that she almost lost her balance on the chair.
“Thank you, David. Please hand me that box.” Emily pointed to the box on the floor.
David lifted the box and handed it to her. She removed the biggest kissing bough he had ever seen. Emily fastened it to the center of the archway, but it was still a couple of feet over their heads.
“There. Does that looked centered, David?”
Without looking at the ball of mistletoe, he said, Perfect. Just perfect, Em.”
David helped her down from the chair. When she made a move to walk away, He grabbed her hand. “Let's test it.”
David pulled her into his arms. He looked up at the most perfect kissing bough he had ever seen.
He glanced down at her upturned, expectant face, His lips met her in what started as a gentle kiss. They only broke apart when neither could breathe.
He refused to let her go until he said what he needed to say. “Emily Audley, I love you. Will you marry me. I know you ...”
“Yes, David, I will marry you. I love you too.”
“You do?”
“Of course, I do. I have for a very long time.”
At that very moment, they heard the cry of an newborn child.
David gave Emily a quick kiss. “Perfect timing, my love. Love is in the air this Christmas Season.”
“This is the most wonderful Christmas ever.” Emily smiled.
They heard footstep running down the stairs. Simon stopped on the second landing. “It's a boy! I have a son!”
As quickly as he appeared, he disappeared up the stairs again.
David hugged Emily. “Do you know what will make this a perfect Christmas?”
“No. What do you have in mind?”
“If you and I marry this evening. Your Uncle James is here. He can give is a license and marry us.”
Emily grinned. “I will like nothing better. I have waited long enough for you.”
❄Epilogue ❄
At six on Christmas Evening, the family gathered in the large drawing room to witness the marriage between Lady Emily Audley and Lord David Chambers.
A fire glowed red in the fireplace with a wreath, made of pine boughs tied together with a red ribbon, hanging above the mantle.
Softly glowing candles were everywhere. The Christmas bough still hung in the entryway. Diana played the pianoforte with her new husband turning the pages.
Caroline, her husband, and their children sat I in chairs as they witnessed her sister's wedding.
Simon carried Kate with their son in her arms downstairs so she could witness his sister marry his best friend.
The Dowager Countess sat close to her daughter-in-law with her sister, Evelyn beside her.
Bishop James Tellison stood with his bible in hand in front of the French doors. David stood anxiously beside him. He glanced now and then at the doorway.
No Emily. Where is my bride? Did she change her mind?
Emily suddenly appeared in the doorway dressed in a confection of White silk and lace. She carried a bouquet of white roses.
A knot caught in David's throat. He had never seen a more beautiful bride. Simon joined his youngest sister offering her his arm. She placed her gloved fingers lightly on his arm before they walked slowly towards their Uncle James and David.
David's and Emily's eyes locked until Simon placed Emily's hand in his. Only then did David turn to face the Bishop.
The Bishop smiled at the couple and then those gathered to witness the marriage.
“Christmas is a time of miracles and this Christmas Season has been very generous to this family.” The Bishop cleared his throat. “We are here to witness the marriage of this man and this woman...”
A Very Merry Christmas Indeed!
About The Author
S. J. White is the pen name of a California author. A broken romance propelled her into reading romanic fiction. From there it was a short leap to Historical Romance. At that point, she decided screenplays were the thing to do, but unfortunately historical movies tend not to sell. She received a certificate from UCLA in Professional Screenwriting.
It was then she decided to put her Bachelor's of Arts degree in History to work and wrote her first novel which turned out to be Sensible. Just before this book was published she joined the California Writer's Club.
One of her favorite things to do is to attend Highland Games. So three or four times she packs her bags and takes of to the Games in various cities around California.
She learned to play the bagpipe. Sort of. She got as far a the practice chanter when she severely broke her wrist. Now, she is considering leaning to play the drums.
She has always been fascinated with English and especially Scottish history. After years of research in her family's history she discovered a multitude of ancestors from England and Scotland. She was fortunate that most left records for some were lords and kings, but most were landed gentry.
In 2014, she journeyed with the Clan Campbell Society of North America to Scotland. They toured Inveraray Castle and had lunch with the Duke of Argyll. They visited Oban, the Isle of Iona, Stirling Castle, Scones Palace, Blair Castle and Edinburgh among other places.
At Melrose Abbey, she paid a visit to the gravesite of one of her multi-great-grandfathers as well as finding where Robert the Bruce's heart, her hero, was buried. This trip interested her in writing a novel set in Scotland. Fire and Sword, inspired by the Massacre at Glencoe, was her third novel to be published. Her first book, Sensible, was published in 2016 followed by Secrets and Lies. Both were set in Regency England. Scoundrels and heroes and Sarah's Choice, also set in the Regency period, were published in 2017. In March, 2018 she published Chasing Sun. It is an American WWII drama with romance and espionage. She was privileged two Airforce Service Pilots. They inspired her write this novel.
On June 1, 2o18 she published her fourth book and final book in the Man of her Dream series, Scandalous.
Borrowed Time is her first attempt at a Time Travel Novel and just maybe
it won't be her last.
She lives in California with her pint-sized dog, Heather Rose and the newest addition to the family, Annie Belle, a lovable but mischievous pup.lots. They inspired her write this novel.
Book By S.J. White
Man of her Dreams Series
Sensible
Secrets and Lies
Scoundrels and Heroes
Scandalous
Other Regency Novels
Sarah's Choice
Ace of Hearts
A Berkshire Christmas
Mayfair Crime Club (A Cozy Regency Mystery - 2020)
Americana Series
Chasing the Sun – World War II novel (Available now)
Below the Mast – a Revolutionary War novel
(Available December, 2019)
Time-Travel
Borrowed Time – A Scottish Time-Travel novels
Other Scottish Novels
Fire and Sword – The Glencoe Massacre
