The Bride's Secret (33 page)

She raised up on her elbow, her brows lowered.

“I've never loved anyone but you, Carlotta. I think I even loved you when . . . when we were on The Peninsula.”

She threw herself into his arms. “Then you
did
ask me to marry you because you really loved me?”

“I'd hardly wish to spend the rest of my life with a woman I did not love.”

“I was so worried the only reason you married me was out of responsibility toward Stevie.”

“I need hardly have shackled myself to exercise my responsibilities.”

She contentedly lay her face against his chest. “I am so happy you've shackled yourself to me.”

“Speaking of shackles, Jeremy has offered for Peggy.”

Carlotta squealed with delight. “It seems Cupid is in danger of injuring his arm from all the arrows he's been shooting of late.” As she spoke, she was careful not to disengage her arms from around her husband's back.

“When you left,” she said, “I wanted to die. Then I scolded myself.
What would James want you to do?
I asked myself. I knew you would have wanted me to be strong and minister to your yeomen's needs, to take your place in your absence. It gave me strength. For the first time in my life I was strong and capable and, I like to think, unselfish.”

“You've made me very proud, but nothing has ever made me more proud or more happy than the news you imparted to me last night.”

She tightened her hold on him. “I'm happy, too.”

“But I do so worry about you,” he said gently. “Are you sure it's all right to . . . to allow me access?”

She laughed. “I am most sure. Now, could I, per chance, persuade you. . .?”

EPILOGUE

Eighteen months later

After an unusually warm summer, Carlotta was happy to welcome autumn. Stevie especially enjoyed jumping on the heaps of russet leaves in an attempt to smash them.

“I believe I'll have you carry one of these baskets of apples, lamb,” Carlotta said to her son, “for, I declare, my arms are aching.”

“Papa says your arms should ache right off from constantly holding the baby.”

“Your papa's a fine one to talk,” she mumbled. “There never was a more coddled babe than that brother of yours.”

“I wish he were bigger so he could have come with us today.”

“We must learn to be happy with what we have and not go wishing our lives—or Jimmy's life—away”

He took the smaller basket of apples from his mother. “Can I have one?”

“May you?”

“May I?”

“Not now, lamb. Yours are at home. These are for the Covington family.”

She heard a clapping sound behind them and turned to see her husband, flicking the ribbons to his tilbury. He drove it up to within a feet of her.

“And what brings you this way?” she asked.

“I learned that you were carrying two rather large baskets of apples and decided I should have to relieve you, my lady. Have I not scolded you often enough about curtailing your activity . . . in your condition?”

“But, my darling man, 'tis merely a basket of apples. Stevie took the other. And I assure you I feel fine.”

“Here, Stevie, take the ribbons,” James said, handing the reins to the boy as he jumped down. He gave his wife a hand up. “I must insist you ride, not walk.”

She pouted, but obliged him.

Once they were on the road, she asked James if the wool fetched a good price.

“Indeed it has. The best ever, I'm told. That, of course, I expected. I'm not known as the luckiest man alive for nothing.” He lifted his wife's hand and kissed it. “My lucky star was shining the day you agreed to become my wife.”

“You know what, Papa?” Stevie chimed in.

“What, son?”

“My lucky star was shining the day you became my father.”

The End

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The Bride’s Secret
(
The Brides of Bath Series, Book 3
). If you did, would you please consider posting a review by the book's listing at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Smashwords or a site where you might have read it? If you do, please send me an email at
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