by Gill, Tamara
He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs, kissing her softly. “I understand why you did. I will never hurt you again, Hallie. Nor Ammon. I give you my word as a gentleman and a man who’s adored you from the moment you stopped your carriage and glanced out at me as if I were a madman. I fell in love with you that day, and nothing has ever changed that emotion in me. I love you so very much.” He pulled her against him, holding her tight. The familiar longing rose in her and she could not stop herself from kissing along his neck, up toward his ear.
“I thought you so handsome, so untouchable the first time I saw you. I think I too fell a little in love.”
He groaned as she nipped his earlobe. “Only a little in love?”
“I told you that I would never keep anything from you again, or lie. I’m telling you the truth.”
He pushed her back into the pillows, kissing her soundly. Heat thrummed through her and she could not help but wish they were alone, locked in a room and already husband and wife. “Hmm. Perhaps spare me those truths. A man does have his limits.”
She chuckled, sliding her hand up under his shirt and feeling the corded muscles flex beneath her fingers. “You do?”
“I do, and let me be honest now, Miss Evans, you’re pushing me to the edge of mine right now.”
“Good, because you push me too.” Not that she didn’t love every moment of it.
Epilogue
Two Years Later, Somerset
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Hallie heard the awful, loud bellow of an animal she’d not thought to hear emanating from their garden in Somerset. She pushed up from her desk where she was looking over the latest finds at the castle she was helping Arthur renovate and glanced out the window. “What on earth,” she gasped, unable to believe what she was seeing.
A camel.
“What are you up to, my dear?” she mumbled to herself, watching with amusement as her son cautiously walked over to where Arthur was, standing beside him as the camel bent down to sit on the ground, two front legs first, followed by the back legs.
She rubbed her ever-increasing belly as the baby kicked, laughing as the camel gave out a mournful moan.
Hallie went to the doors leading out onto the terrace and pushed them open, going to stand at the balustrade. “Should I even ask what you’re about, Arthur?”
He laughed, showing Ammon he had nothing to fear by touching the camel’s neck. He called over a man she’d not seen standing aside. The owner of the camel she presumed.
Arthur kissed her as he came to stand beside her, wrapping his arm about her waist. “With our travels abroad planned in the next couple of years, I thought it necessary to show Ammon a camel. We’ll be riding them, I have no doubt, when we get to Egypt.”
She rolled her eyes, laughing at his forethought. “They have horses in Egypt, you know. Carriages too. We do not need to be riding camels.”
He shrugged, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Where’s the fun in that?” he said, throwing her a wicked smile that two years after their marriage still made her heart flutter and miss a beat.
Arthur had fulfilled all his promises he’d made to her that day in her cousin’s home. He’d taken revenge on Mr. Stewart. Had hired a bow street runner and had the man arrested for bribery and kidnapping at a gambling hell one of Arthur’s friends owned. A man Hallie had never met, but apparently had been friends with both the duke and Lord Duncannon since Eton.
Hallie couldn’t help but feel sorry for Mr. Stewart living his days in Newgate prison. It would not be a place that she’d ever wish to be, but then whenever she had those thoughts, she reminded herself that all of what she had now would have been impossible if Mr. Stewart’s plan had succeeded.
As for Ammon, well, Arthur had excelled as his step-papa. They were a pair to be seen about the estate. Always had their heads together, talking of books and horses, one of Ammon’s favorite animals and one her new husband had gifted her boy upon their marriage. A gentleman always had a horse Arthur had declared.
Arthur lifted Ammon up on the camel and she clasped the railing. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. It’s very high up there.”
“No, Mama, it’ll be fun.”
With her heart in her mouth she watched as the camel stood, her son’s eyes growing wide at the jerky action and height. “Hold on tight, Ammon.”
Arthur came back over to her as the owner led him about the yard. “I have something to tell you.”
Hallie kept an eye on Ammon, making sure he did not fall off. “What is it?”
“Ammon called me Father this morning at breakfast.”
Hallie gasped, turning to look at Arthur. “He did?” Her vision blurred and she bit her lip, having never thought he would ever call anyone that term. They had been honest and told him of his father, of how brave and good he was. The letter Mr. Stewart had written to Omar’s family did not evoke the response that he wished. In fact, the family responded with only one letter, disputing her claim and asking not to be contacted again. Hallie had been disappointed for Ammon who deserved to know where he came from as much as anyone, but she had expected that kind of reply. They had not welcomed her into their home when Omar was alive, it was unlikely they would now that he was gone.
“He did and that brings me to what else I have decided to do.” Arthur picked up her hand, kissing it.
“Please tell me you’re not going to keep the camel?”
He chuckled. “No, not that. But I have decided to have Cadding Castle bestowed to Ammon upon my death. That part of the land is not entailed and with it I shall include several thousand acres to support the estate. The castle will be rebuilt in a couple of years and I’d like to see it go to my eldest son, even if he is not mine by blood, he is mine in every other way. I want him to know that I love him as much as I will love the little child that we’ve created. I’ll not see any of my children go without.”
Hallie threw herself into Arthur’s arms. How had she been so fortunate? “You’re too good to me. Thank you, Arthur. Thank you for doing such a wonderful thing for our boy. If Omar were here, he would thank you for caring and loving Ammon when he could not.”
He pulled back, clasping her face in his hands. “What is life if it is not for living, for loving and making those you love happy? I love you, Hallie, so very much. Ammon is not just your child, he is mine as well.”
Hallie kissed him, deep and long. A heady ache thrummed in her veins and she wrapped her arms about his neck. If only they could go upstairs, disappear for a few hours… “I love you too. Thank you for being mine.”
He threw her a wicked smile. “Thank you for saying yes. I always knew we’d be perfect for each other.”
And they were…perfectly happy.
Author Note
As you’ve probably noticed, I did take some creative license in regards to my heroine being an Archaeologist/Egyptologist/Historian. Of course, during the Regency period, such positions were not open to her sex, but I wanted her to have the life she longed for.
Women have come a long way from being ostracized from these careers, but that doesn’t mean that in the nineteenth-century women didn’t tread a path for those who came later and wanted to explore and learn about lost civilizations and cultures.
Some of these women, whom I recommend you look up and admire are listed below.
Margaret Murray (1863-1963)
Gertrude Bell (1868-1926)
Gertrude Caton-Thompson (1888-1985)
Dorothy Garrod (1892-1968)
Dare to be Scandalous
League of Unweddable Gentlemen, Book 3
Want to read Miss Willow Perry’s story?
Dare to be Scandalous,
Coming April 14, 2020!
Finished Hellion at Heart - Start the Lords of London series!
Have you heard about my Lords of London series? Dive into these charming historical romances! In this six-book series, Darcy seduces a virgin duke, Cecilia's world collides with a roguish marquess, Katherine strikes a deal with an
unlucky earl and Lizzy sets out to seduce a very wicked Viscount. These stories plus more adventures in this fabulous Regency series.
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About the Author
Tamara is an Australian author who grew up in an old mining town in country South Australia, where her love of history was founded. So much so, she made her darling husband travel to the UK for their honeymoon, where she dragged him from one historical monument and castle to another.
* * *
A mother of three, her two little gentlemen in the making, a future lady (she hopes) and a part-time job keep her busy in the real world, but whenever she gets a moment’s peace she loves to write romance novels in an array of genres, including regency, medieval and time travel.
www.tamaragill.com
[email protected]
