by Leah Conolly
James thanked him and followed him into the foyer.
“I’m afraid that Lord Gladstone is occupied at the moment,” the butler continued.
“I’m here to see Elizabeth,” James said, still a little breathless from the long ride. “I must speak to her immediately.”
The butler shifted his stance uncomfortably. “My apologies, my lord, but Lady Elizabeth is not available for callers at the moment.”
“Then she’s here!” James felt hope spring up inside him. Without waiting a second longer, he hurried toward the stairs leading to the second floor of the house.
“My lord!” the butler called behind him, but James was long gone. His heart pounded in his chest. He reached the second floor, but he wasn’t sure where Elizabeth’s room was. Then he heard someone crying softly and followed the sound to an open door. He poked his head inside and saw Elizabeth leaning against the wall, her hands covering her face as she cried.
James walked in. It felt like he hadn’t seen her in months. “Elizabeth,” he said softly.
She looked up at him with a gasp. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her skin was pale, almost matching the color of the white wedding gown she wore. She stared at him for a moment as if not comprehending.
“James?” she whispered.
“Elizabeth, I...” The whole way here he had been thinking about what to say, but now that he was actually in her presence, he found that he couldn’t think of the right words. “You cannot marry Lord Huxley,” he stated.
She uttered something of a laugh mingled with a sob and asked, “Why not?”
“Because…” On an impulse he stepped forward, took her chin in his hand, and kissed her gently. “Because I love you, Elizabeth, and I am asking you to marry me instead.”
Tears filled Elizabeth’s eyes. She covered her mouth, as she laughed. “James.” She touched a hand to his cheek. James grinned and placed his hand over hers.
“We must ask my father first,” Elizabeth said. “I will go and find him. Wait for us in the study.”
James swallowed, overcome with emotion. “Very well.” He allowed her hand to slip from his, though he didn’t want to let her out of his sight for fear that she would be lost to him again. He did as she asked and found the study. He stood just inside and waited, frantically wondering if her father would agree.
After a few minutes, he heard footsteps. Elizabeth and Edward entered, the latter looking exasperated as he greeted James.
“It is a pleasure to see you again, my lord. Elizabeth tells me there is something urgent you wish to speak to me about?”
Despite James’ thoughts, he thought he saw a spark of hope in Edward’s eyes. Could it be that even he didn’t want Elizabeth to marry Huxley?
James bowed his head. “Forgive me for the hasty manner in which I have arrived.” He was all too aware that he looked a mess after riding all night. “The matter is extremely urgent. I wish to marry Elizabeth if she will have me.” He glanced over at her and let her smile fill him with hope.
“I made a mistake before,” he continued, meeting Edward’s eyes again. “I took Elizabeth for granted, and I will never do so again. I will provide for her and for your estate, and she will make me the happiest of men.”
Edward looked relieved. He turned to Elizabeth. “What do you say to this?”
“I want to marry him, Father.” She smiled at James through her tears.
James’ heart soared. He looked at Edward, waiting for his judgment. He seemed to think for a moment, and then sighed. “I have vowed to do what I think is best for Elizabeth. Now that you have come back into her life, I believe you are what is best. I would be honored to have you as part of my family.”
James breathed out a long sigh. “Thank you, sir. I promise that I will take care of her.”
Edward smiled. He looked so very tired. “I am sure that you will. Now, I must go and cancel some arrangements.” He walked off and began giving instructions to the butler.
James met Elizabeth’s eyes. They both laughed, and James grasped her hands.
“Elizabeth,” he sighed, “I must tell you how sorry I am for betraying your trust.”
Elizabeth laughed and shook her head, though tears still tracked down her cheeks. “James...” She seemed to be lost for words.
Remembering something very important that he had told himself he would do, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a worn, folded-up letter. “Please read this whenever you wish. I fear that my words are not sufficient to convey the depths of my sorrow for how I treated you, but this letter may do it some justice.”
Elizabeth took it carefully from his hands. “You do not need to apologize anymore, James. I forgive you. In fact, it is I who must ask for your forgiveness. I had no right to push you away like I did. If I had only talked to you, we could have resolved our differences.”
“Do not blame yourself.” James pressed her hand. “I acted appallingly, and you had every right to refuse me. I need you to know that I trust you, Elizabeth, more than I trust anyone. You are an amazing woman, and I will say it every day for the rest of my life.”
Chapter 41
Elizabeth took a deep breath, as she sat down in the parlor. While a light luncheon was prepared, James was talking to Edward to see how he might help in canceling the wedding. Elizabeth took the moment of solitude to open the letter that James had given her, which was unsealed and creased.
She had difficulty reading the sloppy penmanship. It was clear that James had been in earnest while writing. It was dated the day that their separation had taken place.
Dearest Elizabeth,
How can I begin to express how much I regret my actions? No words are strong enough to convey the depths of my guilt. I am such a fool for ever doubting you. When you needed me the most, I turned my back on our friendship and everything we have been through together. I have acted despicably. Even though it may be too late, I must tell you.
I love you, Elizabeth. I love you so deeply that I hardly even know how to put it into words. You are the most incredible woman I have ever met, and I cannot bear the thought of losing you. I have loved you ever since that night at the ball when we danced, and you were brave enough to accept my proposal, even though you hardly knew me. Since then, every moment spent with you has only made me love you more.
I will beg your forgiveness for however long it takes. If you ever find it within yourself to pardon me, I will spend the rest of my life telling you how much I love and adore you.
I love you, Elizabeth.
The letter wasn’t signed. Elizabeth read it through again and was so moved at the openness of his words that she cried. When James walked into the room, he met her eyes and immediately looked horrified. He rushed to her side and took her hands in his.
“Elizabeth, what’s wrong?”
Elizabeth uttered a breathy laugh and held out the letter. “I have just read your letter. I hardly know how to reply, except to say that I love you too, James.”
James smiled. “I truly mean it, Elizabeth. I will tell you that I love you every day for the rest of our lives.” He delicately kissed the back of her hand.
“I am sorry for being so stubborn.” Especially after reading James’ letter, Elizabeth couldn’t help but continue to feel guilty for how she had acted. “I never wanted to cause you so much pain.”
“Please put it behind you. When I wrote that letter, I was more ashamed of myself than injured by you. Now, I am the happiest man on earth.” His eyes shone with so much adoration that Elizabeth didn’t doubt his words.
Soon, luncheon was served, and James and Elizabeth moved to the dining room.
“Where is Father?” Elizabeth asked.
“He has many things to attend to today, but he said that he will join us when he is able,” James replied as they sat down.
For the first time in a long while, Elizabeth looked at the food served and found she was starving. However, she forced herself to eat at a steady pace.
; “I confess,” she said with a small smile, “that it has been a long time since I have eaten properly.”
James didn’t seem to find any humor in the matter. He frowned and his eyes showed concern. “I hate to think of everything you have gone through. I wish that I had tried to speak to you sooner.”
“Do not think about it any longer. We are together now, and everything is as it should be.” Elizabeth gasped suddenly, as she remembered something. “The countess!” she blurted out. “Did you get my letter? What happened?”
James placed his hand on top of hers. “It is all over. The Countess of Chester was apprehended yesterday by the Bow Street Runners.”
Elizabeth sighed and sat back in her chair. “You believed me, then?”
“Of course, I believed you. I wanted to take action immediately, but it took me a few days to come up with a plan. I informed the constables, and they found sufficient evidence against her. It is because of you that she was brought to justice.”
Elizabeth was glad that Victoria could no longer hurt anyone, but she found herself frowning anyway. “I do feel sorry for her.”
“I do too. It was not easy to see her being taken away. But the most important thing is that we are safe.”
“This is outrageous!”
Elizabeth jumped as the loud voice rang through the house. She met James’ eyes. She knew that voice.
“I have never been treated like this. You cannot treat me like this!” the voice thundered, ever closer.
Elizabeth shot to her feet, fearing the storm that was coming. Lord Huxley barged in, his face red and deeply wrinkled with anger. Edward followed close behind.
“William, please listen to me,” Edward said.
“You are not being sensible.” Huxley eyed Elizabeth first, then James before he turned back to Edward. “She is mine. You cannot break off our betrothal.”
James took a confrontational step towards him. “Excuse me, sir.”
Edward held up a hand and moved into Lord Huxley’s path. He stood resolute and determined, as Elizabeth had never seen him before.
“Elizabeth has chosen whom she loves,” Edward said, “and it is not you. I must ask you to leave immediately, and never show your face here again.”
Huxley looked as shocked as Elizabeth felt. She had never seen her father take such a stand before, and she found it very touching that he would do so on her behalf. She had already cried so much today, and yet she felt tears in her eyes once more. If she had ever doubted, now she knew just how much her father cared about her.
Lord Huxley looked like he was going to continue his tirade, but finally he simply stormed off without another word. Edward sighed. Elizabeth ran forward and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you, Father,” she whispered.
“I could not bear seeing you so unhappy, Elizabeth.” He pulled away from her with a smile. “I even considered calling off the wedding myself, because of the way you were acting. I can see why now. James is the one who makes you truly happy.”
“Yes.” Elizabeth glanced back at him. “Yes, he does.” She embraced her father once again. She could hardly believe that such a terrible day had turned into the best day of her life.
Epilogue
James could hardly believe, it as he walked down the aisle with Elizabeth, now his wife. Yellow flowers were everywhere, adding beauty to the scene, and complimenting Elizabeth’s bright hair. James smiled over at her and thought that she was too radiant for words. He knew that he would never forget this day. He was happier than he had ever been.
“Does this mean you are my mother now?” Oscar asked Elizabeth, as they left the church.
Elizabeth laughed in reply. It seemed that the day was filled with laughter and smiles. Everyone wished them well—Felicia, the Earl of Presport, Isabelle, Erin, and Edward, and many others besides. Elizabeth seemed especially pleased to see Felicia again, and James smiled, as the two shared their excitement over Felicia’s engagement to the Earl of Presport.
The wedding was the talk of London for weeks. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and talked about people’s fickleness, how they had only been too happy to deride her character just weeks before. Isabelle, for one, was overjoyed. She couldn’t stop talking about how it was the most beautiful wedding she had ever attended. In the end, she even admitted that the yellow flowers had been a splendid touch.
A few weeks after the wedding, James and Elizabeth traveled to Paris to spend some time alone. Elizabeth was delighted as they toured the city, and she loved it just as much as James had thought she would.
One morning at breakfast, they sat on a balcony overlooking the Seine. The sun had just risen, and James was content with the companionable silence, as he drank in the warm air and the smells of the bakery just below them.
“I do not think I could ever grow tired of Paris,” Elizabeth said, eventually.
“Nor I,” agreed James. “Especially when you are with me.”
Elizabeth smiled at him.
“Did you ever think you would be able to come here?” James continued.
“No,” Elizabeth said, shaking her head. “It was a dream I thought would never come to pass. But as several of my dreams have come true recently,” she said, taking James’ hand, “perhaps I should start dreaming more.”
James chuckled. “I find myself believing in impossible things too.” He looked out over the water and knew that a few months ago, he would have never believed he could be this happy. “Our lives will never be the same from now on.”
Elizabeth gazed deeply into his eyes. She placed a hand on her stomach. “Yes. Our lives are changed forever.”
James read the look in her eyes and gasped. He jumped out of his chair so quickly that it nearly toppled over and knelt by Elizabeth’s side. He reverently placed his hand over hers, hardly able to imagine that they would soon have a child. “Elizabeth,” he whispered in awe.
Elizabeth took his head in her hands. Her eyes shining with tears, she smiled. “I love you, James.”
“I love you, Elizabeth.” He kissed her tenderly. “And I cannot wait for this new adventure.”
The Extended Epilogue
I want to thank you with all my heart for reading my novel “A Rebellious Lady for the Brokenhearted Duke”!
Would you like a sneak peek in Elizabeth and James’ future?
Click on the image or the link below to connect to a more personal level and as a BONUS, I will send you the Extended Epilogue of this Book!
http://leahconolly.com/extended-epilogue-sample/lc-book-01-exep/
A Preview of my Upcoming Novel
Chapter 1
Charlotte closed her eyes, allowing the light spray of ocean water to mix with the salt of her tears. She had not spoken a word to her maid on the carriage ride to the docks, despite the young woman’s attempts to engage her in enthusiastic conversation.
The maid chattered away, Charlotte presumed, in an attempt to improve Charlotte’s thoughts about the trip. She did not fault the young woman for being so joyous, or for wishing to spread her jubilance to her mistress, but no amount of effort could possibly eradicate the cloud of doom that Charlotte felt hovering over her. She focused on her tears instead of the maid’s words, and resisted the desire to request silence.
Charlotte understood her companion’s fascination. She knew that her maid was excited about the trip and was looking forward to seeing France. Truthfully, if the circumstances were different, Charlotte might share her excitement. However, as things were, she did not share her maid’s sentiment.
She thought back to the dreams that had haunted her in the weeks leading up to today. After each one, she soothed herself with promises that she would find a way out of her looming future. She told herself that she would be able to get her parents to see reason; to see how much she wanted, needed, to choose her own path. However, it became painfully clear that her pleas and hopes had gone unheard with her parents kisses goodbye that morning.
She dreaded the upcoming
new chapter of her life with every fiber of her being, despite the fact that such a time should be a happy, exciting one. What woman would not be blissfully happy to be wed to a French count? Charlotte knew the answer, of course. However, it did not change the fact that she would not only not be blissfully happy, she would be downright miserable.
Comte Francois was, by all appearances, a respectable man. He was quite successful in his business endeavors, had great wealth, and managed his title as Comte with elegance and renown. However, at the edges of France’s high society, and within the London ton, rumors perpetually surfaced regarding the Comte. Charlotte had heard that he sometimes shafted business partners, making them believe that the percentages of revenue that came in were less than they actually were, or that they had agreed to give him a greater share of the profits than they received.
