by Jen Turano
“Matters?”
“Indeed.” He kissed her hand again. “I have to tell you that I have loved you since the day you came to live with Rookwood. Back then, my love for you was that of friendship, but I thought, even as young as we were, that we were meant to be together forever—until circumstances tore us apart. We have been given a second chance, and that second chance has caused my love for you to change, to deepen and intensify. I’ll always consider you my best friend, but I’d like to be something more to you, something that would allow me to have you by my side for as long as we both shall live.”
Her breath caught in her throat as he kissed her hand again, his eyes shining with promise.
“Gabriella Goodhue Larrimore, would you do me the honor of marrying me and sharing my life from this point forward?”
“I would love nothing more than to share my life with you, so yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
Nicholas grinned, a grin she immediately returned before he rose from bended knee, joined her on the fainting couch, pulled her into his arms, and then . . . he kissed her.
Epilogue
CHRISTMAS EVE 1886
“While I understand why Pretty Girl is spending time at the boardinghouse since Charlie was worried her tender parrot feelings would be hurt if she was left behind at Nicholas’s house, you’re going to have to keep her up here,” Daphne said, weaving her way around the boxes Gabriella had packed up to move into Nicholas’s house after their wedding, which was now only one short week away. “She keeps nicking all the sparkly ornaments we’ve been setting out to decorate the tree once the men finally return with one.”
Gabriella smiled at the sight of Pretty Girl sitting on Daphne’s shoulder. “I’m surprised you’ve left your attic to help set out ornaments. I thought you were under a daunting deadline.”
Daphne let Pretty Girl hop to her finger, then transferred the bird to the top of a lampshade before she sighed. “Oh, I was under a daunting deadline, one I was convinced was going to be the death of me.” She grinned. “However, I managed to finish the book, and I think it’s one of my best works to date, although my editor might not agree, but I’ll worry about that later. I’m soon to start my next book, which means I now face the unnerving task of getting all of my latest characters out of my head to make room for new ones.”
“How do you go about that?”
“Mopping floors seems to do the trick, and since we—as in you, me, and Eunice—have gone in together to purchase a building to use as new premises for the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, I now have plenty of mopping opportunities in my near future.” She caught Gabriella’s eye. “It is lovely, isn’t it, how we’ve been able to create an inquiry agency, one that has forced all of us out of what I can only describe as somewhat lackluster lives?”
Gabriella smiled. “It is indeed. I’m sure we have many new adventures to look forward to as we take on more cases. But returning to your next book, are you intending to use any of the cases we’ve solved thus far for fodder?”
“Funny you should ask, because, yes, I’m considering writing a story about a bunch of street thieves, although a pirate has been springing to mind often of late, probably inspired by Winston.”
“I’m not sure how you’re going to incorporate a pirate with street thieves.”
“Neither do I, but that’s a problem I’ll worry about after the holidays and after your wedding,” Daphne said right as Henrietta skipped into the room with Bridget, Minnie’s daughter, on one side of her, and Charlie on the other.
Henrietta and Bridget were wearing darling dresses Phillip had made for them, while Charlie was wearing trousers that had seen better days and were stained with mud and pine tar.
“We’re back from cutting down the tree,” Charlie said, puffing out a chest that was not quite as thin as it had been the first time Gabriella had seen him. “Nicholas and Rookwood let me chop it down, and then Professor Cameron convinced them I was strong enough to drag it back to the wagon.”
Gabriella grinned at the clear delight on Charlie’s face.
Charlie had bloomed under Nicholas’s care, staying with him while Henrietta had stayed at the boardinghouse with Gabriella, both children content to know that they would not be separated for long, just until after the wedding.
“And I was quite right about that,” Professor Cameron said, walking into the room, Winston padding beside him while Precious pranced on the professor’s other side, her topknot bobbing up and down.
“Did you enjoy your outing?” Gabriella asked, accepting the kiss Professor Cameron gave her on her cheek.
“It was quite exhilarating because the wind is blowing about and snowing is falling.” He smiled. “I gave up a tea at Mrs. Astor’s house for this, and I’m certainly glad I did. It was far more diverting than any tea would have been, and I’m finding that giving up my status as a man who can always lunch is rather liberating.”
Professor Cameron had surprised everyone when he’d allowed society to learn what he’d done with Nicholas. Even more surprising, though, had been society’s reaction to his disclosure. They’d not turned their backs on him at all, proclaiming in almost total unison that they’d always considered Professor Cameron to be an eccentric sort, and his eccentricity was evidently enough for society to excuse his behavior and forgive him for it.
They’d not been as forgiving to Nicholas.
His membership in all the best clubs had been revoked, a situation he found vastly amusing, but not everyone in society had wanted him cast out of their midst. Alva Vanderbilt had become one of his staunchest supporters, and because of that, invitations still came his way, but not from the longstanding members of the New York Four Hundred.
Nicholas rarely bothered to attend any event he was invited to, unless it was one he felt could benefit the orphanage he and Professor Cameron had decided to help Rookwood complete. Nicholas was hopeful that by soliciting donations from society members with deep pockets, those society members might become more active with their own philanthropic endeavors, which would lend much-needed assistance to needy people living in the meanest parts of the city.
“What is everyone doing up here?” Nicholas asked, striding into the room with his hair wind-blown and looking more handsome than he had a right to look. He walked directly to Gabriella, gave her a warm but far-too-brief kiss, then stepped back.
“We’re keeping Gabriella company,” Daphne said. “However, it seems to be getting rather crowded in here. Children, let’s go inspect the Christmas tree.” She sent Gabriella a grin, then took hold of Henrietta and Bridget’s hands, walking with them through the door with Charlie tagging behind.
Professor Cameron watched Daphne leave before he sent a quizzical look to Gabriella. “I’ve noticed that Daphne has been spending a lot of time with Agent Clifton, which has me wondering if they might be developing romantic feelings for each other.”
“Don’t get your hopes up there, Professor,” Gabriella said. “Daphne and Agent Clifton are spending so much time together because Agent Clifton has gotten permission from the Pinkerton Agency to give our agency some lessons in investigation work. He evidently convinced them, given our combined efforts on the Knickerbocker Bandit case, that we might be useful to the Pinkertons in the future.”
“I think the ladies of the agency have already proven themselves capable, but I suppose additional training can’t hurt,” Professor Cameron said, moving to the door. He turned when he reached it and caught Gabriella’s eye. “I wasn’t going to mention this to you, my dear, not wanting to put a damper on your Christmas spirit, but Nicholas thinks you should know. I ran across Chauncey de Peyster at one of my clubs recently, and he made it a point to inquire about you. He then told me that Bernice decided to take herself off to Paris for an extended stay, and after that disclosure, he went on to inquire whether or not I thought you’d want that pocket watch with your mother’s portrait returned to you.”
“He wants to give me back his pocket watch?�
�
“I’m not certain if he actually wants to part with the watch, or if he was using it as a way to seek you out again. He seemed genuinely interested in hearing any news about you, which suggests he’s concerned about your welfare.”
“Which I find surprising, but perhaps he’s done some self-reflection and hasn’t liked what that revealed about his character.” Gabriella blew out a breath. “And while I’m still disappointed with him and his seeming lack of remorse for becoming involved with my mother, I don’t want to hold on to my disappointment forever. Perhaps in time I’ll be agreeable to speaking with him. If you encounter him before I do that, you may tell him that I have no need for him to return the watch, since I’ve now come into possession of a beautiful painting of my mother.” She looked up at the framed painting on her wall, one of Josephine and herself.
It was a painting she loved looking at because, given the expression on Josephine’s face, it was clear that she’d certainly cherished her daughter.
“A visitor has just arrived to see you, Gabriella.”
Turning from the painting, Gabriella smiled as Humphrey Rookwood strode into the room, but her smile faded when she caught sight of a woman following him, a woman who seemed slightly familiar.
Rookwood drew the woman to his side. “I’m not sure if you remember her or not, but this is Mrs. Goodhue, your old nurse.”
“Nanna is probably how you remember me,” Mrs. Goodhue said, opening up her arms, which was all that was needed for Gabriella to hurry over to her, the scent of vanilla bringing back memories that had long been buried.
“Merry Christmas,” she heard Rookwood say.
Giving Nanna Goodhue a squeeze, Gabriella stepped back and arched a brow at Rookwood. “How did you find her?”
He grinned. “I might be older now, and I might have abandoned my criminal past, but I still have connections. I thought you might enjoy having her help you with Henrietta and Charlie after you and Nicholas get married.” He nodded to Nicholas. “I figured you’d have plenty of space in that monstrosity of a brownstone you own.”
“Indeed we do, as well as enough space to entertain what is becoming a very large family.”
Gabriella smiled as the truth of that settled.
For so many years, she’d been on her own, but now she had a family, comprised of an odd assortment of people she’d come to love, and people who’d made her realize she’d never be alone again.
Not that she’d ever been truly alone. With every truth that had been uncovered, she’d come to see that God had never abandoned her. He’d been protecting, sheltering, and guiding her all along.
It was a comforting thought, as was the thought that God would continue to be right there as she and Nicholas went forward, protecting them as they tried to make a difference in the lives of others. It was a daunting prospect, given how many people were in need, but she knew God would help guide them as they moved forward with their plans.
“I think a cup of tea is in order because I’m still feeling rather chilled from the tree cutting,” Professor Cameron said, nodding to Rookwood and then smiling at Mrs. Goodhue. “Would you care to join us, Mrs. Goodhue? I’d be very interested in hearing stories about Gabriella while we enjoy tea.”
“I’d be delighted,” Nanna Goodhue said, accepting the arm Professor Cameron extended her, then walking out of the room with him. Rookwood sent Nicholas and Gabriella a bit of a wink before heading out of the room as well.
“I get the sneaking suspicion he left us behind on purpose,” Gabriella said.
Nicholas drew her into his arms. “Of course he did. He’s a very astute man and realizes that our Christmas Eve is not going to allow us much time alone since we’ll be surrounded by all the children, ladies of the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, everyone I employ, Winston, Precious, and Pretty Girl, and . . . well, I could go on and on, but that would waste the scant few minutes we have.”
“How should we spend those minutes?” Gabriella asked with a grin.
“Perhaps a game of whist?”
“I don’t know how to play whist.”
“You will after Professor Cameron is done with you.”
Gabriella’s grin widened. “He does seem determined to lend his knowledge about everything else he believes may help the ladies of the agency blend in to any situation. However, I might have to put my foot down at learning to play whist.”
Nicholas’s eyes began to twinkle. “Ah well, no whist then, but what about—”
“Kissing,” Gabriella said firmly. “We should spend our time kissing.”
“I believe that can be arranged.”
Taking hold of the lapels of his jacket, Gabriella pulled him closer. “Do you think you’ll always be this accommodating, even after we’ve been married fifty years?”
Warmth flickered through his eyes. “I daresay I will be, because you’ve completely stolen my heart and filled it with a love I know will last until my dying day.”
She smiled. “You’ve stolen my heart as well, and what a stealthy thief you were, since I tried my hardest to guard it from you.”
His lips curved. “Are you complaining about my success?”
She pulled him closer. “Not in the least.”
Sending her a smile that warmed her to her toes, Nicholas bent his head and captured her lips with his own.
It was a kiss that held the promise of a life to come, a life she’d get to experience with Nicholas—her best friend, future husband, and keeper of her heart.
Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and at jenturano.com.
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Table of Contents
Cover
Half Title Page
Books by Jen Turano
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
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Epilogue
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
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