Bethany cleared her throat. “She is fortunate to have Charles. I hope she truly appreciates him when her expectations grow larger than her new station will provide. Please don’t blame me if I think she has more than she deserves.”
“I agree,” Sara echoed.
Bethany clasped her hands together and rather hesitantly added, “And to add to my sins, I’m delighted that my uncle and aunt are stripped of all of my possessions. My aunt will be blessed if she has a char-woman for the heavy chores.” Bethany could not suppress a crooked grin. “And Uncle Arthur won’t be able to afford his mistress.”
Royce wiggled his brows. “His just deserts, I say.”
Bethany glanced at her husband and shifted uneasily. “Laurent told me he’s the one who killed Perry.”
“What?” Royce erupted.
Bethany bobbed her head. “Yes, he excused his actions by claiming Perry had nearly caught him with the documents John now has in charge. Laurent said Perry pretended not to notice, but Laurent scoffed at that. He actually laughed. He followed Perry and stabbed him to death anyway.”
Royce’s grim expression gradually softened. “It’s a good thing I didn’t realize the blighter killed my brother at the time. I would have hit him harder.”
John laughed. “You managed a lot with the one blow.”
Bethany leaned against his shoulder and patted his hand. “His evil is at an end.”
Royce scoffed, “Perry probably didn’t even know Laurent had anything in his hand. Perry was in a fit of the dismals that day. We’d had words before he stomped out.”
Bethany squeezed his hand to comfort him.
“Let it go. I’ve hounded Bethany with those words. But it’s difficult. Still, there are always consequences with every choice, some bad and some good,” Royce owned. He gently patted Bethany’s stomach. “Our little consequence,” he whispered.
Later, when Bethany snuggled into his arms and quiet settled over Stroter Hall, Royce gathered her close. He kissed the top of her head. “I love you so much.”
She pushed back a little and gazed into his eyes. “I love you as well, nearly from the first moment when I nearly ran you down with my gig. I thought you were so handsome, so strong and able.” She chuckled. “I also thought you were an arrogant and totally ruthless man—and dangerous. I was correct about that.”
He drew her back against his shoulder. “And don’t you forget it, my love.” He stroked down her back to her hips and up her spine again. “I haven’t always treated you with the gentleness you deserve, but I shall in the future. If I forget, blow up at me.”
“You may count on it.”
“You managed to hold on, to survive all that life had to throw at you.” He gently kissed her lips. “We are joined together for better or for worse. We shall face hard times again, but we’ll face them together.” He gave a grateful sigh and held her close in his warm, sheltering embrace. “A warning indeed. Whom God has joined together, let no man put asunder.”
Bethany and Royce, entwined in love and totally involved with only each other, allowed the world to fade away.
Also from Soul Mate Publishing and Wareeze Woodson:
AN ENDURING LOVE
Born and raised in Latvia, Rebecca Balodis marries Rhys Sudduth, an English diplomat. Shortly thereafter, he is summoned home to attend his father’s deathbed. Rebecca cannot accompany him at the time and becomes trapped in the turmoil plaguing her country. He is informed she died in the upheaval.
Nearly four years later, Rebecca escapes and arrives in London with their son in tow. Arriving in the middle of his sister’s ball proves awkward, especially since Rhys plans to announce his betrothal to a young debutante later in the evening.
Can this pair ever find or even recognize an enduring love?
Now available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pkxhzwp
CONDUCT UNBECOMING OF A GENTLEMAN
Recently widowed Lady Laurel Laningham flees Landings to escape her untenable position. Alone now and at the mercy of her sister-in-law, she decides to nestle under her aunt’s wings for a spell. To add to her burdens, her young son’s new guardian, Lord Adron Gladrey, has announced his intentions to take complete charge of his ward. The killer is stalking her and a devious jewel thief is stealing the family jewels. Can she convince her son’s guardian she is not a dangerous lunatic and is perfectly capable of raising her son or will he always consider her untrustworthy as a mother to his ward? Will his stubborn blindness send her straight into the path of the murderer, or will he relent in time to save her from following her husband into the grave?
Now available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pkxhzwp
A Lady's Vanishing Choices Page 30
