by Jane Charles
“You are both stubborn,” she laughed. “You never liked being told what to do, and Kilsyth likes ordering people about. It worried me at first, until I saw you stand up to him a few times and knew that you’d both found your perfect match.”
“I wasn’t always so stubborn,” Eve hedged and kicked at the sand.
“You refused to learn to speak proper English. You weren’t going to change yourself for others, remember?”
Heat scorched Eve’s cheeks. She’d been a bit difficult when she was younger. “Yet, you took to the lessons well. You wished to better yourself.”
Cait sighed. “I’m glad I did.”
The two clasped hands and looked out over the water, toward Ireland.
“Mother and father would be happy for you Eve.”
“Father hoped that we’d marry titled gentlemen. Except he expected it to be you before me.” Eve hated that her sister hadn’t found someone of her heart. “Come to London. Live with me.” At least then Cait would have the opportunity to come in contact with titled gentleman and perhaps she too might find love.
“I’m happy here,” Cait insisted. “I’m needed, and in the end, that’s really all a person wants, just as Kilsyth needs you.”
“What of happiness?”
“I am happy, Eve. I promise you that.”
Eve wasn’t so certain but she’d accept her sister’s answer for the moment.
“Besides, if I want more, I do have ten thousand pounds to help me get by.”
In addition to obtaining the Special License for Henry, Norbright had visited her father’s solicitor and learned that Cait also had a dowry that Brendan had been unable to touch. And, as Cait had reached her majority, it was now hers.
It might not be such a large sum to the gentlemen up at the manor, but it was nearly a fortune to Cait and Eve who had once wondered if they’d ever eat again.
“Look, the seals are sunning themselves.” Cait pointed to some boulders along the shore where a number of seals lay.
The two of them walked closer, as they had done when they were children. Such gentle creatures and she’d envied that all they needed to do all day was swim in the ocean and sun on the rocks.
“I hope there are seals at Kilsyth’s estate,” Eve wondered out loud.
Cait frowned. “I don’t believe you’ll find many in Mayfair.”
Eve giggled. “His family seat is outside of Blackpool in Lancashire. The manor looks out across the ocean, much as Harrington Manor does.”
“Toward Ireland,” Her sister sighed.
“Aye.”
They settled on a boulder now occupied by the seals, not bothered that they were surrounded by the mammals.
“I promise to visit as often as I can,” Eve assured her. Cait was the only family she had left. Henry might be her husband and her future, but nothing could replace a sister.
“I’d like that.” Ciat smiled. “And I’ll visit whenever I have a holiday.”
They may live far apart, but they’d not lose touch and one day, perhaps they’d live closer to one another. Only time would tell.
“You should return to your husband,” Cait said. “I’m certain that he doesn’t wish to be parted from you for long.”
“I should.” Eve stood. “I love you Cait.”
“I love you too, Eve, and I wish ye all the happiness.” After the two hugged, Eve had to turn away and brush the tears from her eyes. This wasn’t an ending, but a new beginning, and even though her heart was heavy leaving her sister behind, she grew lighter when she spotted Henry as she neared Harrington Manor.
“Is all well?” he asked with concern.
“Aye. Memories and promises and a bit of nostalgia.”
“I’m not taking you away tomorrow,” he assured her. “In fact, we’ll be staying for the duration, until Pickmore, Ashford and Keegan can travel again, so you’ll have more time with your sister.”
“Thank you, Henry.”
“Eve, don’t you know that I’d do anything in my power to make you happy.”
She grinned up at him. “And I you.”
“Even when I’m being unreasonable?” he questioned with a wink.
“Especially then.” She laughed. “As I’ll not let ye get away with it either.”
Henry laughed and pulled her into his arms before he lowered his mouth to hers. Every time he kissed her, heat scorched her veins and butterflies took up residence in her belly. It was delightful.
After a moment he broke the kiss. “It grows late, we should retire.”
At those words, a new kind of nervousness invaded. She didn’t fear what was to come, but was still uncertain what to expect. “It’s not so late.” She’d been waiting for the moment when she and Henry could be alone, but suddenly she wished to put it off. What if he found that he was sorry that he had married her? They may deal well with one another in the library, but the intimacy of the bedchamber was a place in which she wasn’t so secure. “It’s still light outside. We’ve not had our supper.”
“A nap perhaps,” he suggested. “It’s been a few trying days and I might still be recovering from my illness.”
“Then I should leave you to rest so that you can recover fully,” she teased.
“Eve, I love you.”
His eyes bore into hers.
“I love you.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course.” She may have had doubts before he asked for her hand, but no longer.
“Then put your faith and trust in me.” Then he leaned in. “I promise, you shall not be disappointed.”
Heat suffused her cheeks. Claudia had explained what to expect, as far as the mechanics of becoming a wife, but assured her that there was so much more to be enjoyed than the simple joining of bodies.
“I look forward to learning all there is to know about you, Eve. Your likes, dislikes and passions.”
Goodness, the timbre of his voice and intensity in his eyes heated Eve to her core.
“I as well,” she finally admitted.
“Then, shall we retire?”
“Yes, Henry.”
Eve expected him to offer his arm and guide her back to the manor. Instead he bent, swept Eve up in his arms and strode to the nearest door.
“What are you doing?”
“Not giving you a chance to change your mind.” He winked before he kissed her again then strode up the servant’s stairs and into his chamber, kicking the door shut behind him.
All fear disappeared when he tossed her on the bed and came down upon her with a bone melting kiss and she knew in that moment, life with Henry was going to be quite an adventure.
About Jane Charles
Jane Charles is a USA Today Bestselling Author and has lived in the Midwest her entire life. As a child she would more likely be found outside with a baseball than a book in her hand. In fact, Jane hated reading until she was sixteen. Out of boredom on a long road trip she borrowed her older sister's historical romance and fell in love with reading. She long ago lost count of how many novels she has read over the years and her love for them never died. Along with romance she has a passion for history and the two soon combined when she penned her first historical romance, and she has been writing since with the loving support from her husband, three children and three cats. She writes both historical (set in the Regency period) and Coming of Age contemporary.
Connect With Jane
www.janecharlesauthor.com
Also by Jane Charles
HISTORICAL
Wiggon’s School For Elegant Young Ladies
To Walk in the Sun
Ghosts From the Past
The Witching Hour
Curse of the Mayfair Mummy
The Tenacious Trents
Compromised For Christmas
Landing a Laird
A Misguided Lord
A Perfect Gentlemen
Devil in Her Dreams
A Lass For Christmas
A Reluctant Rake
Lady Revealed
Lady Disguised
Lady Concealed
A Tenacious Trent’s Wedding
Lady Admired
The Spirited Storms
Christmas Spirits
Ruined by a Lady
Weathering Captain Storm
A Gentleman’s Guide to Once Upon a Time
His Impetuous Debutante
His Contrary Bride
His Not So Sensible Miss
His Christmas Match
Muses
Her Muse, Lord Patrick
Her Muse, Her Magic
Her Muse, Her David
Her Muse, His Grace
Magic & Mayhem
Her Gypsy Lord
His Mistletoe Miss
Scot to the Heart
Courting the Scot
Kissing the Lass
The Heart of a Governess
Sacked
Handfasted
Ruined
CONTEMPORARY
Baxter Boys
Rattled: Rattled #1 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
Rattle His Cage: Rattled #2 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
All Horns and Rattles: Rattled #3 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
Shake, Rattle & Roll: Rattled #4 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
Rattling Around: Rattled #5 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
The Christmas Rattle: Rattled #8 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
Slightly Rattled: Rattled #7 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
The Rattle Box: Rattled #8 (Baxter Boys Series ~ Rattled)
Baxter Academy
Valentine Wishes: The Legacy #1 (Baxter Academy Series ~ The Legacy)
Colors of You: The Academy #1 (Baxter Academy Series ~ The Academy)
Shadows of Memory: The Academy #2 (Baxter Academy Series ~ The Academy)
Casting Doubt: The Academy #3 (Baxter Academy Series ~ The Academy)
Between the Lines: The Academy #4 (Baxter Academy Series ~ The Academy)
