by Abby Ayles
The thought was staggering. She had never dreamed that such responsibility would one day lay on Elias’s shoulders. Now she understood his preoccupation with duty.
Her father waited for her at the gate of the church and helped her from the carriage. He hooked her arm in his, and he slowly led her to the door. The organ began to play the moment she came into view, and suddenly Helena’s heart began to dance in her chest.
Her eyes moved to the altar and there, standing in his best new suit, looking as dashing as she had ever seen him, was Elias. His smile radiated and brought a smile to her own lips as her father walked her toward him. There was no one else in the room save him. Her eyes could only see his own.
They reached the altar and Helena’s eyes still could not leave her fiancé’s. Her father turned her toward him, and she kissed his cheek as he hugged her before placing her hand in Elias's.
“You look beautiful,” he said the moment she turned back to him.
She smiled. Words could not describe how she felt.
The reverend cleared his throat, and they turned toward him as he began the ceremony.
Helena hardly heard the words, her heart was beating so hard in her ears. It wasn’t until the time came for their vows that her hearing returned to her.
She turned to face Elias as he took hold of both of her hands. He repeated the words the Reverend Peter Hardwick recited. The smile on Elias’s face was one Helena would never forget. Then it was her turn.
Helena recited the words after the reverend. She smiled with every word she spoke and could hardly contain the joy that could be heard in her voice. Finally, it was time to face those congregated.
The reverend made a speech that was mostly for those present than for the couple, but it was a heartfelt message from the people of Lendenbarrow to their future Earl and his bride. Elias blushed and Helena couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her handsome husband turning red in the face.
The organ began to play once more as she hooked her arm in his. He led her from the church to a standing ovation from those gathered. She noticed her mother and sister dabbing their eyes as she passed them on the way out of the church. Her father was smiling.
Those who lined the path from the church to the carriage began to toss rice into the air as they walked between them. Helena laughed as it rained down upon them.
Elias boarded the carriage first and then helped her after. They sat beside each other and waved to those who watched them. A moment later, the carriage was driving down the lane toward Balwell.
Elias took her hand in his as the carriage rolled towards home. He kissed her gloved hand. “I love you, Mrs. Repington,” he mused.
“I love you,” Helena answered.
They returned to more applause as the entire household lined the outside of the house to await their return. Everyone from the butler to the groom was there in their best clothes to welcome them home.
Mrs. Ruskin walked down the stair toward them. She hugged them each in turn. “Congratulations,” she said sincerely. “You have done well, young man,” she teased Elias, and Helena smirked at the comment.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ruskin," he replied with a boyish grin.
Everything was prepared as promised. The house was spectacular, even more impressive than when she had it prepared for Elias’s party.
Chalk art was on the floors, the chandeliers had been polished and the candles lit. The house smelled divine. Helena could only imagine the menu Cook had prepared for them.
Helena was right. Cook had prepared a feast as she had never done before. Seven courses awaited them and, by halfway, Helena’s taste buds were beyond delighted.
“Cook has outdone herself,” she commented to Elias as she savored every morsel.
“It is the only gift she could give,” Elias answered with a smile.
Lord Wismoth sat at the head of the table, and when the meal was done, stood for all to see.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate this most momentous occasion. I know I speak on behalf of myself and Mr. Leeson, that we are very proud to call you friends and to have you with us to congratulate our children making our two families one. Now, my son has something to say.”
Helena turned to her husband as he stood before the room of their closest friends, family, and associates. He never liked making speeches, but now she found him smiling and confident as he addressed them.
“On behalf of my wife and I, we would like to thank you for being with us to commemorate this day. Indeed, the love and support we have received from you all far surpasses expectation. You astound us.” He turned to Helena.
“Helena, you are the woman every man dreams of. You are a Venus de Milo to look at, and the woman described by King Lemuel's mother in character. You are a dream within a dream, and you inspire me to be a better man than I have been the day before. Your love has made me, and I will cherish you every day for as long as I live.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as Helena listened to her husband. She stood when emotion stole her speech and instead allowed her lips to speak for her as she pressed them lightly to his to the cheers of all who witnessed it.
When they parted, Elias turned back to their guests. “Now that you have eaten your fill, we invite you to join us for dancing in the great room.”
A procession of guests waited to greet them and give their congratulations as they proceeded from the dining hall. By the time they were finished, all of the guests were gathered in the great room awaiting their entrance.
The music began to play the moment they walked in. Helena held on to Elias’s arm as she smiled at various people they passed along the way. He swept her on the floor as the music increased.
She felt as if she were floating the moment Elias began to lead her. Her eyes never left his face as he smiled at her.
“You are the most beautiful woman here,” he said.
“And you the most handsome man,” she answered. She chuckled. “You’re dancing by choice. Have I finally converted you?” she mused. “My years of persuading have finally yielded returns.”
“You may persuade me every day for the rest of our lives, my darling. I would rather yield to you than any other woman in the world,” he said with a smile as he held her closer. She raised her chin to him and he kissed her lightly as they danced.
Helena was lost at his kiss, and the music just sent her into the heavens. She could never be happier. All the hurt, pain and disappointment they had lived through was forgotten. There was nothing but happiness from that day forward. She knew it in her heart. Their days of sadness were over. The Viscount had his Lady and she had her husband. There was no better end for them. No greater story they could ever tell but their own.
The Extended Epilogue
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A Message from Abby
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed every page and I would love to hear your thoughts whether it be a review online or you contact me via my website. I am eternally grateful for you and none of this would be possible without our shared love of romance.
I pray that someday I will get to meet each of you and thank you in person, but in the meantime, all I can do is tell you how amazing you are.
As I prepare my next love story for you, keep believing in your dreams and know that mine would not be possible without you.
With Love,
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About Abby Ayles
Abby Ayles was born in the northern city of Manchester, England, but currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband and their three cats. She holds a Master’s degree in History and Arts and worked as a history teacher in middle school.
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Falling for the Hartfield Ladies - Preview
Chapter 1
Regina Hartfield concentrated on her stitches. Elizabeth was banging away at the pianoforte just one room over. It was threatening to disturb her calm.
She did feel rather bad. It wasn’t Elizabeth’s fault she couldn’t play well. And she wasn’t trying to disturb anybody. But every time it gave her such a headache.
“Elizabeth!” Natalie entered the room. Her hair was only half done up. “For the love of all that’s holy would you stop! You can hear it through the whole house!”
The pianoforte stopped. Regina breathed out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Honestly,” Natalie grumbled. Then she spied Regina. “Oh, darling, you must start getting ready!”
“I don’t think I shall be going tonight.”
“But you must!” Natalie looked crestfallen. Although part of that might have been her half-done hair. “Regina, everyone will be there.”
“Precisely.” Regina focused back on her stitching. The idea of being among such a large crowd of people for hours terrified her.
“Have you told Father?” Natalie asked.
Regina didn’t answer. She was a horrible liar. And she hadn’t told Father. She’d tactfully avoided the subject of tonight’s ball all week.
She had been hoping that, being ensconced in the side parlor, she could avoid Father. Then when it was time the flurry of her four elder sisters climbing into the carriage would disguise her lack of presence. By the time Father realized she wasn’t there they would hopefully be halfway to the ball. Far too late to turn back for shy mousy Regina.
It was too late for that now. Natalie would be sure to tell Father.
“I think that you should go,” Natalie maintained. “It’s always such fun.”
“For you it is,” Regina replied. It was widely maintained that Natalie was the prettiest of the Hartfield sisters.
Regina supposed that depended upon one’s taste. Natalie was the only sister with blue eyes. That helped her to stand out, certainly. Paired with a sweet, heart-shaped face and dark red hair, every man in the county wanted to marry her.
Personally, Regina preferred the cat-like green eyes of her other sisters. Not that Regina took after them. She had red hair like all of her sisters. Gotten from Mother, God rest her soul. But Regina had boring brown eyes and far too many freckles. She was tiny as well. Elizabeth liked to joke about Regina being the runt of the litter. What man wanted to dance with a girl when he had to crane his neck down to look at her?
It wasn’t her looks that truly made Regina reluctant to go to the ball. She just didn’t like people. And all that exercise. She wasn’t the adventurous type. A quiet evening stitching and reading suited her just fine.
Not that Father would see it that way.
“It would be fun for you as well if you would make an effort,” Natalie replied.
“I’m sure that stitching would be just as fun for you if you made an effort,” Regina pointed out.
Natalie sniffed. She’d always hated stitching. “I’m going to finish getting ready. You should as well. Elizabeth!”
Elizabeth appeared, looking peevish. Elizabeth was the second youngest and had taken to it like a martyr. Her red hair was orange and fiery to match her temper and her green eyes were always flashing.
“It’s hours yet, Natalie, I don’t have to get ready.”
“You should start now. You know your hair takes longer to tame.”
Elizabeth had also inherited their father’s tight curls. It did make her hair rather difficult to get under control.
“Not all of us need half a day to make ourselves fit enough to be seen by society,” Elizabeth replied.
Regina focused back on her stitches. She really didn’t want to be privy to another spat between Elizabeth and Natalie.
“You could learn from my example. Perhaps then someone would ask you to dance a second time.”
Regina shrank a little farther back into the chair. Luckily the spat was ended when Bridget entered the room.
Bridget was the oldest of the five Hartfield sisters. She was also Regina’s favorite. Although, it wouldn’t do to tell any of her other sisters that. Bridget was everything that Regina wished she could be. Bridget was confident and tall with pale creamy skin and a serene face. She had dark red hair and quick green eyes. Furthermore, she was wickedly funny, well read, intelligent, and could make anyone love her. Natalie was the prettiest Hartfield, everyone said, but Bridget was the wittiest and the most well-liked.
“Elizabeth, please go and get ready.” Bridget didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t need to. “I’ll join you in a moment. Natalie, could you remind Father that he needs to speak to the gardener?”
Natalie and Elizabeth looked like they knew exactly what Bridget was doing but they hurried off anyway. Everyone always did what Bridget asked.
Meanwhile Regina was pretty sure that if the house was on fire, nobody would listen to her if she told them to get out.
Bridget smoothed out her skirt and sat down on the settee next to Regina’s chair. “That’s a lovely set of stitches.”
“They’re for the Lord and Lady Morrison.”
Bridget smiled. “We shan’t be seeing them for another two months, at the masked ball.”
“Yes, but I want it to be perfect.” Regina focused down on her stitches. She’d chosen the flowers for their meanings. They all meant some version of love and devotion, wishes for a happy marriage.
Bridget placed her hand carefully over Regina’s. “Darling. You are quite accomplished at that.”
“It’s merely practice.”
“Precisely.” Bridget’s voice was gentle. “I think that if you practiced just as much at your social skills as at your needlepoint, you needn’t find it all so intimidating.”
Regina set aside her sewing. She wasn’t going to get any more done today. Not if Bridget got her say—and she always did.
“I simply never know what to say,” Regina admitted. “I always say the wrong thing. And the men are terrifying. They all think they know better than I do. And they’re loud and pompous and I can’t bring myself to look them in the eye. Everybody gossips and says nasty things about one another. About Father and about Mother sometimes as well.”
Bridget sighed and squeezed Regina’s hand. “Father is a good example of how not to deal with grief. And what does it matter what they say about Mother? We know the truth. And they know the truth as well. They just like to pretend otherwise when they’re bored and there’s nothing else to discuss.”
Regina waited. She knew that there was more Bridget wanted to say by that look of discomfort on her face.
Sure enough, after a moment, Bridget spoke again.
“I don’t like the idea of you being alone all the time, darling.”
&
nbsp; “But I’m not alone. And I won’t be for quite some time. Unless the four of you have gotten engaged and neglected to tell me so.”
Bridget chuckled. “Now darling, you know it won’t be long for any of us. Natalie will be off as soon as she finally chooses one suitor.”
