She leaned her head back against his shoulder. “When I read your letter, I knew. I knew what I should have admitted last night. I love you. I know you, here and now, and know that you would immediately own up to it if there were something like that in your past.”
He blinked as her words registered. “What was that?”
“I know you’d own up to it?”
“Before that.”
“I should have known last night?”
A slow smile crossed his face. She was doing it on purpose. “In between those two.”
“I love you?” Amusement colored her voice.
“Yes. That.”
She turned in his arms and slid her hands up his chest until they linked behind his neck. “I love you, Gabe. I can’t say that I did in my teen years or before we got married, but now I do, with my whole heart.”
That’s what he’d been longing to hear. “And I love you, Esme. More than I thought I did a decade ago. Deeper than I believed possible. Whatever happens with my father, with your father, we’ll face it together. I’m so grateful you decided that a spare would do.”
Esme kissed him softly. “You’ll never be a spare, Gabe. You never should have been. You’re a beloved child of the one true king. A joint heir with Christ. You know that. We never really talked about it in those terms, but that’s what kept running through my head last night and this morning. Neither one of us is more important in God’s sight. That’s what truly matters.”
She’d hit the nail on the head. Even if he was the second son, his parents never should have made him feel like an extra, a spare, one kept around in case something went wrong with the first.
He, and Esme, would make certain their second child, and more if they had them, never felt that way.
Esme leaned up until she could whisper in his ear.
“I think I’m pregnant again.”
Gabe did a slow blink. “What?”
Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I didn’t think I could be ready so soon, but here we are.” She giggled. “Mr. Spare, I’m pretty sure we’ve already got our heir on the way.”
Thank you for joining Gabe and Esme! If you enjoyed your time in Islas del Sargasso, would you consider leaving a review? You can do so by clicking here!
To be kept up-to-date on the rest of the goings on in the Quad Countries, be sure to sign up for my newsletter (and get your free copy of Love for the Ages, the story of King Aflred and Queen Eliana) by clicking here!
Letter to Readers
Dear Reader,
Thank you for joining Prince Gabriel and Princess Esme in The Spare and the Heir! I appreciate you and hope you enjoyed it! This is the sixth book in the Crowns & Courtships series!
Next up? Well, I’m not 100% sure, but I expect it will be Esme’s brother. He hasn’t started talking to me yet, but his heroine has! I hope by the time this actually releases in a few days, I’ll know a lot more. Check for a kindle update to this book and download it if there is one, check out my Amazon page, or join my newsletter or Facebook Reader’s Group, the Serenity Landing Book Club, to be kept up-to-date
(I know it sounds CRAZY, but he really hasn’t started talking to me! He hasn’t even told me his name yet! Fortunately(?), for me, he and Esme aren’t close - and he didn’t even stick around for his mother’s service. I’m sure we’ll find out a whole. lot. more. about him soon!)
And Gabe’s brother, Steven! He’ll be getting his story soon as well!
(That said, I’m taking the holidays mostly off! If there’s no info by 12/21, look for it early in the new year!)
In both of them, we’ll find out more about the consequences of paying off your mistress with public funds as well as how Esme is dealing (or not) with her mother’s death and the miscarriage.
I know there are others out there, likely many of you, who have lost a parent. She’s mostly dealing with it by not dealing with it at this point. That’s not healthy. Please don’t do that. Find someone to talk to!
And a blighted ovum…
I’ve been there. I’ve done that.
I have four amazing, healthy children, but I also have two babies in heaven. One of them barely gave me a positive on the pregnancy test before she was gone - but her fraternal twin hung around and is my third kiddo. The other never even did that much, and there’s no medical evidence that child ever existed.
But I know.
And I grieve.
It’s okay for you, too.
A life, even one barely begun before it ended, is still a life.
I like to think my babies are hanging out with their grandma in heaven, the only children of mine to know her at this point.
If you’ve experienced that, know you are not alone. One in every four women has been there.
If you need someone to talk to, check for a local MEND organization. I’ve never worked with them personally, but a very dear friend of mine is actively involved, and I trust her judgment.
You are not alone, and you are so very loved.
Serenity Landing Book Club
What is that?! It’s the Facebook reader group that started last summer! I’d love to have you there! It’s easier for you to see what’s posted than on a Facebook page and we do fun stuff! There will be discussion questions after the release of a book, sneak peeks of the next one, general discussion, and chances to win copies of books and other goodies! I’d love to have you there!
HEA-TV
I know I keep saying I’m working on it but… I am. I hope. I hope to get a couple done before TSATH releases, but…
In case you’re new, here’s what it’s going to look like (and already does in some places).
It’s found at www.hea-tv.com (that’s the name of the Hallmark type channel in this universe, remember?) you’ll find “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Carol Moncado’s Fictional Universe... & More”! There’s a “universe” timeline where you can see how everything fits together. Each book will have (or already has) it’s own timeline. There’s book wikis with character and location/business lists (what was that restaurant again?! ;)) with each entry as a glossary term so you can hover over it to find out more about that character/place, along with summaries of what that book was about. Hello, SPOILERS! :D
There aren’t any character or location/business wikis - yet. But eventually. Once we (and by we, I mean the AMAZING Tory with a little bit of help and direction from me ;)) get the book wikis caught up, we’ll work on the others.
Previews
In a few swipes, you’ll find chapter 1 of Good Enough for a Princess, book 1 in the Montevaro Monarchy series which is now available in Kindle Unlimited! Though it was two series ago, that book is the beginning of the events that lead to Reclaiming Hearts. The two timelines merged in King Benjamin’s story last summer, with his book picking up just a few hours after Benjamin’s last appearance in Prince William and Maggie’s story, Reclaiming Hearts.
Many of you have likely already read Finding Mr. Write, but if not, it too is FREE on all retailers!
Other Stuff
I see a meme floating around Facebook from time to time that tells readers what they can do to help their favorite authors. Buying their next book or giving a copy away is kind of a no-brainer, but the biggest thing you can do is write a review. If you enjoyed The Spare and the Heir would you consider doing just that?
I would LOVE to hear from you! My email address is [email protected]. To stay up-to-date on releases, you can sign up for my newsletter (there’s fun stuff - like a chance to get Love for the Ages free! You’ll also get notices of sales, including special preorder pricing! And I won’t spam!) or there’s always my website :). You can find my website and blog at www.carolmoncado.com. I blog about once a month at www.InspyRomance.com. And, of course, there’s Facebook and my Facebook page, Carol Moncado Books. But... the way pages work, sometimes very few people (often 1-5% of “likes”) will see anything posted. I keep trying to find the best way to get to know y’all and �
�spend time” together outside of your Kindle - at least for those of you who want to!
Thanks again!
Acknowledgments
This note has begun the same way for nearly thirty books now.
Because it’s true.
I sit at a computer and listen to the voices in my head tell me what’s going on in their lives - almost like they’re real people.
It can get lonely sometimes, but there’s so many people who come alongside me and make this all happen - either friends in real life or my virtual assistant who I’ve never met in person or you, dear readers, whose encouragement I love.
In the real world, first and foremost, there’s my husband, Matt, who has always, always believed in me. He went above and beyond when it didn’t look like this book would get done on time. It did, but only because he helped. A lot.
All of the rest of my family and in-loves who never once looked at me like I was nuts for wanting to be a writer. Jan Christiansen (my “other mother”) has always believed in me and Stacy Christiansen Spangler who has been my dearest friend for longer than I can remember.
Ginger Solomon, author of One Choice and a bunch of other fantastic books (but One Choice is still my favorite!), has been invaluable with her proofreading services. Check her books out!
Then there’s my writer friends. Bethany Turner (have you read The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck yet?!) and Mikal Dawn (AH! Count Me In!) have both been so wonderful the last few months keeping me laughing and my spirits up. Then Jennifer Major, a Canadian no less ;), who does life with me and loves me anyway!
There’s Jen Cvelbar (writing as Jennifer A. Davids and the best case of misidentification ever, not to mention best conference roomie - and had a new book last summer! A Perfect Weakness was SO GOOD! YAY!), and Joanna Davidson Politano and Stacey Zink, all of whom are amazing.
There’s my MozArks ACFW peeps who laugh with me, critique, and encourage to no end. Then there’s the InspyRomance crew, the CIA, my Spicy peeps (you know who you are!), and all of the others who’ve helped me along on this journey.
And Emily N., Ginger L., and Tory U. - my first readers - who are INVALUABLE to my writing process! I have NO IDEA what I’d do without the two of you! (No. I do. Cry a lot more before figuring out what happens next.)
I could keep going. On and on. I know I’ve forgotten many people and I hate that. But you, dear reader, would quickly get bored.
So THANK YOU to all of those who have helped me along the way. I couldn’t have done this without you and you have my eternal gratitude. To the HUNDREDS of you (I’m gobsmacked!) who pre-ordered and encouraged me without knowing it as that little number continued to climb, you have my eternal gratitude. I hope you stick around for the next one!
And, of course, last but never, ever, least, to Jesus Christ, without whom none of this would be possible - or worth it.
Available Now!
Charlie Brewer pushed the hood of his heavy winter coat back with one gloved hand. A fender bender? Really? Like he didn’t have anything else to do? Like get home to... Screaming interrupted his thoughts. He rapped on the window and prayed for it to stop. “Ma’am. Are you okay?” Stinging bits of ice pelted his face and peppered the car as he prayed she wasn’t hurt.
Abruptly, her mouth clamped shut.
Bits of sleet pelted his face as he knocked again. “Are you okay?”
The girl looked up and the first thing he noticed was her big hazel eyes, filled to overflowing with tears.
“Are you okay?” Broken records had nothing on him. He cupped his hands and peered in the window. She didn’t look hurt. He flinched. Except maybe for the gash on her forehead.
She nodded but didn’t say anything and didn’t roll down the window.
“I need to give you my contact information.”
The window creaked down half an inch or so.
“No. I do not need your information. I will take care of my own vehicle, thank you.” Even with the frantic note in her voice, he knew it would be almost melodic in a calmer situation. The window scratched its way back up and slid into the rubber casing.
He tried to take a deep breath but the frigid air pierced his lungs. “Let me buy you a cup of coffee. You’ll need a tow. Your wheel well is all messed up and you’ve got two flat tires.”
She bit her bottom lip as her eyes flickered to the café across the parking lot. The look in her eyes suddenly reminded him of a scared little girl.
With both hands held up, Charlie tried to look less threatening than he must have when she first saw him with his hood up and face shadowed. He gave the best smile he could with frozen cheeks. “I promise I’m a good guy.”
Finally, with a nod, she grabbed her purse from the front seat of the SUV, and turned the engine off. She reached for the handle on the inside of the driver’s door. It didn’t budge.
Bright lights caught him in the eye. A semi-truck passed a little too close for Charlie’s comfort. If she had that door open and slipped...
“This side,” he hollered at her and pulled on the handle.
She nodded and climbed across the center console while he pulled again.
Frozen shut.
Ice continued to fall, sliding down the back of his neck and into his shirt. If he wasn’t already frozen through, that would have done it.
“You push from that side,” Charlie yelled. “I’ll pull.”
Another nod and she pushed with one hand but it didn’t move. He closed his eyes and breathed a quick prayer. “Put your shoulder into it.”
Tears flowed, but she pushed against the door with her shoulder as he pulled. The door popped free and she tumbled out.
He caught her by the elbow to steady her on her feet, caught off-guard by the whiff of sunshine in her hair. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, her chin quivered just a little and Charlie gentled his hold on her. “I am. Thank you, sir.”
There was something in her voice, or maybe her perfect posture, that brought visions of Mary Poppins to mind. He shrugged them off and closed her car door behind her. With a slow steady pace, he continued to hold her arm as started toward the inviting warmth of the café.
Warmth? Yes. He couldn’t feel his nose anymore.
“You do not need to help me.” The dismissive note in her voice bothered him until she jerked her arm away.
And slipped, wobbled, then righted herself. But she didn’t fall.
Charlie contained his smirk and a dutiful bow. “I’m sure I don’t, miss, but I’d feel much better if you’d allow me. I already crashed into your car. If I let you get hurt in the parking lot, I’d never forgive myself.”
She sighed. A puff of white air blew out in front of her but she didn’t pull away again. The thirty-second walk took nearly five minutes. Slow, half-steps, muscles tensed, toes bunched inside his boots trying to grip the slippery surface on top of the asphalt. They finally made it to the door. Hot air and the smell of sizzling bacon blasted him.
“Have a seat anywhere, kids!” a woman’s voice called.
Charlie turned toward a row of booths along the front window. “After you?”
The woman pulled the knit cap off her head. Golden brown curls tumbled around her shoulders. She looked around carefully before walking all the way to the far end and sliding in the seat against the wall.
He sat across from her and held out a hand. “I’m Charlie.”
One corner of her mouth twitched up before she shook his hand. “Adeline.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Adeline. I just wish it was under other circumstances.”
“Agreed. A car accident...” A flash of awareness crossed her face and she set her large black bag on the table. She flipped open one flap and dug around. “Where is it?” she muttered as she searched. Somehow, even that action seemed delicate. She wasn’t from here.
“What are you looking for?”
“My phone. I need to call...” She stopped abruptly, gaze traveling to the café window. “Do we need
to move the vehicles?”
Charlie shook his head. “We’re far enough out of the main lane and the cars are stuck together. We’ll have to wait for a tow. It could be a while.” He pulled out his own phone to call roadside assistance.
“Should we call 911?” Adeline asked as she took a sleek black phone out of her purse. He tried to control an eyebrow quirk but failed. There were cell phones. There were nice smart phones. There were really nice smart phones. Then there was this one.
“No. They’re on emergency status only. As long as no one’s hurt, you deal with it yourself.”
“Of course,” She whispered and stared at her phone for a long moment. “I do not have a card for roadside assistance. Perhaps you could ask your service to send an extra tow truck for my vehicle?”
Something in the way she asked made him wonder if she’d ever called for auto help. The tilt of her chin and honest curiosity in her eyes reminded him of the children’s fairytales he used to read. Did fairies come into the real world during ice storms? “I’ll take care of it.” It made him feel protective. Almost manly. When was the last time he’d felt the need to protect a woman? Ever? He found the right entry and pressed the screen. After listening and going through the process, he finally got a real person. Holding up one finger to Adeline, he stood and walked toward the front door to explain the situation.
Crown Princess Adeline Julianne Elizabeth of Montevaro relived the sickening crunch of metal as her car slid to a stop in the ditch outside. She could still feel the steering wheel as she’d gripped it, trying to keep the tears, and the panic, at bay. Her unsuccessful attempts now showed on her face, she was certain. Red, blotchy eyes. Tear-stained cheeks. Moisture still leaking out from time to time. Her mother would be mortified.
She knew when she left the house an accident could happen. No one ever dreamed of letting the Crown Princess learn to drive on ice, of all things. But she had taken matters into her own hands. Adeline, the girl who never did anything wrong, who always did what was expected of her, had slipped away from her security detail, taken the safer of the two vehicles at her disposal, and left. All because she wanted a few moments of freedom before the ice storm settled in.
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