by Rose Pearson
“No, no,” Adlington said, hoarsely, one hand reaching out toward Frederick. “No, you cannot!”
“I can and I shall,” Frederick answered, curtly, turning his back on his brother. “The few notes there, you may keep, but you shall have nothing more. I take no interest in your life, into your welfare nor into the choices that you choose to make. Good day, Adlington.” So saying, he walked from the house, feeling the bonds begin to loosen within him as he left his brother behind, knowing that there was nothing more to keep him here.
“Lord Greaves!”
Lady Beatrice was hurrying out after him and, as he turned, he saw her face ashen white, her eyes flared wide with evident alarm.
“Yes, Lady Beatrice?” he asked, catching her hands in his as Lady Smithton and Lord Havisham walked out of the house and, quietly, moved away so that Frederick might speak in peace to Lady Beatrice. “Is something wrong?”
She stared at him for a few moments, as though willing him to speak, as though expecting him to say something of great importance. Then, when it became clear he had nothing to say, she shook her head and pressed his hands tightly, her face an expression of sorrow.
“I am truly sorry for what you have had to endure,” she said, softly. “I can understand if you need a little time to –”
“I have never seen or felt things more clearly,” he interrupted, feeling his heart fill with none but her. “I have seen my brother for who he truly is and, whilst I will not pretend that I am not hurt nor pained by what he has done, I can honestly say that my heart will now choose to forget him, to set his behavior in the past and to look now to my future. A future,” he continued, with a quiet happiness beginning to build in his heart, “that I hope I might be able to share with you.”
Lady Beatrice dropped her gaze to the floor, her cheeks suddenly coloring. “Lord Greaves,” she whispered, clearly a little surprised by his announcement that had come so quickly after the realization of his brother’s wrongdoing. “I do not know what to say.”
“Say that you will marry me, Lady Beatrice,” he said, softly, looking deeply into her eyes and knowing that she was the only thing he wanted, the only thing he would need in his life from this day onwards. “I once thought ill of you, thought that you would not be the wife I required, and yet I have come to see that you are not only what I need but what I long for.” He took a step closer, his hands loosening from hers and running gently up her arms, reaching her shoulders and then spilling down her back to her waist. She was so soft, so gentle, so filled with beauty in both face and spirit that Frederick felt as though he was in the presence of an angel. “I believe I have come to love you, Lady Beatrice, and I want to spend the rest of my days alongside you.”
The smile on her face gave him her answer before she spoke. The way she pressed her hands lightly against his heart, the warm tenderness in her eyes and the happiness in her smile told him all that he needed to know – and his own heart exploded with joy.
“I love you also, Lord Greaves,” Lady Beatrice told him, looking up into his face. “I thought that I was lost to rumor and gossip, only to find the one gentleman in all of London who gave no time to such things!” Laughing softly, she smiled up into his eyes. “I do not think I shall be a part of the Spinsters Guild any longer.”
“It shall be entirely dissolved,” he answered, with a quick smile. “Lady Smithton and Lord Havinsham will be wed and so, it seems now shall you.”
Again, that beautiful smile warmed his heart. “With all the time we have spent together, I have found my heart lost to you, Lord Greaves. I have longed for this situation to be brought to an end so that I might tell you the truth of what I feel, although I am sorry that it has been so painful for you.”
Leaning down, Frederick kissed her gently, aware of just how much his joy overflowed, over just how his whole being yearned for her. “You are the balm to my wounds,” he whispered, pulling her close. “You are all I need, Lady Beatrice, from this day forward until the very last of my days.”
Epilogue
Lady Emily Smithton drew in a long breath, smoothing her hands down her gown as she looked up at the church. She had never thought such a day would come but now that it was here, she felt happier than she had ever expected.
“Lady Smithton!”
Her breath caught as four ladies hurried out from the church towards her, their faces bright with happiness. She took them all in, not moving forward but rather watching them approach her, looking from one to the next and finding her own joy growing steadily. There was Lady Emma Morton, Lady Sarah Ruddington, Lady Amelia Montague and finally, the newly married Lady Beatrice Greaves. They had all been a part of ‘The Spinsters Guild’ but now they were spinsters no longer. Happily married and each deeply in love with their husbands, Emily felt her heart soar to the skies with sheer contentment.
“Lady Smithton!” Lady Greaves called, her eyes filled with warmth. “You look quite beautiful.”
She smiled and took Lady Greaves’ hands. “I thank you,” she said, her throat clogging with emotion as she smiled at each of her friends. “This is truly a wonderful day and I am so glad that you can each be here.”
Lady Morton laughed and embraced her. “We would not be here if it were not for you,” she told her, smiling at Emily. “Without your help, we might now be in disastrous situations without any sort of friendship between us at all.” Her eyes warmed as she looked around the group. “We have all struggled with great difficulties but you have guided each one of us through them.”
“I do not think I did a very great deal,” Emily answered, smiling a little ruefully. “But now that I see you here with me on this most joyous of days, I am truly glad for you all.” Her heart was filled with such happiness that it was difficult for her to find the words to express all that she felt. “And now, it seems it is to be my turn!”
The ladies all laughed and smiled as one as they walked together towards the church, surrounding Emily with their happiness. Walking through the church doors, Emily felt her breath catch, realizing that this was the first moment in her new life. She was about to step into the church, make her vows and promise the rest of her life to a gentleman she loved with all of her heart.
“Lord Havisham is waiting for you,” Lady Ruddington murmured, as Emily smoothed her gown for one final time. “We are all so very happy for you, Lady Smithton. He has proven himself to you and it is obvious to all that he loves you desperately.”
“He does, yes,” Emily agreed, softly, recalling just how much Lord Havisham had given to her. Time and again, he had done what he did not wish to, had offered his help when he had not needed to and had proven his loyalty to her in almost everything that he did. The day he had told her he loved had made her heart cry aloud for joy, knowing that she too held a love for him that could not be denied. This felt like the right thing to do, the right path for her to take, and now she could hardly wait to make her vows and become Lord Havisham’s wife.
“And ‘The Spinsters Guild’ is no more,” Lady Montague said, happily, as they took their places behind Emily. “Thank you, Lady Smithton, for all you have done.” Her hand touched Emily’s shoulder. “We are all so grateful to be a part of this wonderful day.”
Emily turned her head and took them all in one more time. She smiled gently, her heart pounding with a furious joy that spread all through her. “I thank you,” she said, looking at each one in turn. “I thank you for being here with me today. I thank you for your friendship and your kindness. To be here, surrounded by my friends and marrying the man I love is the happiest day of my life.”
Taking in a deep breath, she nodded to the two footmen standing on either side of the doors, her eyes fixed straight ahead as they pulled the doors open wide, revealing the church and the congregation. She walked in with swift, sure steps, her gaze lifting to Lord Havisham’s face and seeing the love that was held in his eyes as he smiled at her. He reached out and she took his hand, feeling how he pressed her fingers and feeling h
er heart quicken with anticipation and excitement.
“I love you, Havisham,” she whispered, unable to keep those words from her lips as they turned towards the front of the church, ready to make their vows. “Truly, I do.”
His fingers squeezed hers again, his eyes fixed tight to hers, holding an intensity of affection that burned in his gaze. “As I love you,” he replied, his expression of tenderness filling her heart completely. “I have longed for this day and now to have you standing by my side is to see my hope fulfilled, my life complete and my heart filled with joy.”
There was no more time to say anything more, for the congregation was asked to stand as the vicar began to speak. Still holding Lord Havisham’s hand, she turned to face him, feeling overwhelmed with joy as they looked into each other’s eyes, ready to make their vows. Vows that would tie her to Lord Havisham for the rest of her days, vows that would make her promise before God to love and honor him until they were irrevocably parted. Vows that she wanted to make, knowing that he returned her love and that, in giving him her promise, she had nothing to fear with only joy and happiness awaiting them in their future – a future she could hardly wait to begin.
I hope you enjoyed The Spinsters Guild series! Do you love Boxsets? Why not try The Smithfield Market Romances: A Sweet Regency Romance Boxset
My Dear Reader
Thank you for reading and supporting my books! I hope this story brought you some escape from the real world into the always captivating Regency world. A good story, especially one with a happy ending, just brightens your day and makes you feel good! If you enjoyed the book, would you leave a review on Amazon? Reviews are always appreciated.
Below is a complete list of all my books! Why not click and see if one of them can keep you entertained for a few hours?
The Duke’s Daughters Series
The Duke’s Daughters: A Sweet Regency Romance Boxset
A Rogue for a Lady
My Restless Earl
Rescued by an Earl
In the Arms of an Earl
The Reluctant Marquess (Prequel)
A Smithfield Market Regency Romance
The Smithfield Market Romances: A Sweet Regency Romance Boxset
The Rogue’s Flower
Saved by the Scoundrel
Mending the Duke
The Baron’s Malady
The Returned Lords of Grosvenor Square
The Returned Lords of Grosvenor Square: A Regency Romance Boxset
The Waiting Bride
The Long Return
The Duke’s Saving Grace
A New Home for the Duke
The Spinsters Guild
A New Beginning
The Disgraced Bride
A Gentleman’s Revenge
A Foolish Wager
A Lord Undone
Convenient Arrangements
A Broken Betrothal
In Search of Love
Wed in Disgrace
Betrayal and Lies
A Past to Forget
Engaged to a Friend
Christmas Stories
Love and Christmas Wishes: Three Regency Romance Novellas
A Family for Christmas
Mistletoe Magic: A Regency Romance
Home for Christmas Series Page
Happy Reading!
All my love,
Rose
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