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Four years later
The mine was running well. Ore had finally been found by the bucket load, and life couldn’t have been better for Max or his family.
Though he was committed to his work at the mine, he couldn’t help wishing that he was at home with his wife, who would soon be welcoming their second child into the world.
He loved his three-year-old daughter, Dorothea, more than anything in the world, but the prospect of having a son to carry on the family name excited him more than he had ever imagined.
“Are you alright, Max?” George asked, causing him to jump. He had been thinking so intently on his growing family that he hadn’t noticed his friend coming up behind him.
When he turned into the entrance of the mine, where he had been overseeing the world, he found George and Hattie stood watching him.
Their four-year-old little boy, George Junior, was running about without a care in the world behind them. Max couldn’t help laughing as he stumbled about after a butterfly he would never be able to catch.
His little sister, Henretta, wobbled about on her two-year-old legs, sticking close to her mother’s skirts. The thought of someday soon having two of his own made Max’s heart swell.
He thought, not for the first time, of Emily sitting at home waiting for things to begin.
“I’m sure he has a lot on his mind at the moment.” Hattie smiled, and Max couldn’t help mirroring her expression as he watched the way that she stroked her overripe belly.
“I can imagine you have much the same on your mind,” he mused.
“Things become much easier when you have already done it twice.” Hattie chuckled and rested her other hand on Henretta’s glossy blonde head.
Max dropped down into a crouch before the little girl and asked with a smile, “Are you excited to meet your little brother or sister?”
It was a question he’d asked his own daughter many times before.
Henretta nodded shyly and continued to hide behind Hattie’s skirts.
“Are you hoping for a little sister?” he asked, knowing that was what his daughter was hoping for.
“Eww, no!” Henretta screwed up her nose and shook her head. “I want a little brother. George Junior says little girls are stinky.”
Max couldn’t help offering up a haughty laugh at her response.
“Don’t get too over-excited, Max, but it looks as though there is news,” George commented, and Max stood, turning to the base of the hill where the stable boy was charging up the path on Chestnut, the brown mare.
The horse looked as though it was riding at full pelt, every muscle in its legs working to get to its destination.
Even as they reached the hitching post, Max was hurrying down the hill to join him, George close on his heels.
“What is it boy?” Max asked as he reached the bottom of the hill.
The stable boy was already swinging down from his horse, panting as though he had been the one running.
“Its begun, My Lord.” The boy gasped for breath, “The Lady Camborne is in labour.”
Max’s excitement turned instantly to fear. The realisation of the weight of what was happening made him fearful for her life.
“Oh God!” he gasped his face growing pale as fresh fallen snow.
George clapped him on the shoulder, “Well? What are you waiting for?”
Max nodded, knowing his friend was right.
“Be off with you!” George insisted. “And don’t worry about the mine. I have everything taken care of here.”
Max thanked him quickly before swinging himself up onto his horse.
“Come on, boy!” Max told the stable boy.
“Go Max! Worry about him later,” George insisted, “I’ll give him refreshment and send him on his way back to you.”
Max nodded and turned his horse in the direction of home.
Kicking his heels in sharply, he sent the stallion charging along the path.
I pray I get there in time, he thought as he urged the horse on faster and faster.
The Cornish scenery whipped past him. Quite forgotten was its beauty in his urgency to be home.
“Come on, boy!” He kicked the horse again until he was riding at full pelt, racing along the cliffside path.
The world around him faded away as Radcliffe House came into view.
The gardens that had been tended by the men hired by his wife were finally blossoming in all their glory.
Not a weed could be seen as Max charged down the pathway and reared his horse to a halt.
Sweating profusely from his hurried ride, he swung down from his saddle, relieved to see Mr Travers rush from the house to meet him.
“Thank you,” he said breathlessly as the butler took the reins from him, “where is she?”
“The master bedroom, My Lord.” Mr Travers offered up the location of his wife, and Max was off like a shot.
His feet flew over the freshly polished floorboards as he took the staircase two steps at a time.
The door to the nursery had been left open leaving no obstacles to stop him as he swept through to the north wing.
As he entered the hallway, he saw Catelyn slip out of the master bedroom carrying a bowl of water and blood-soaked cloths.
“My Lord.” Catelyn looked shocked to see him, struggling to curtsey with the heavy weight in her hands.
“How is she?” he asked.
Even as he asked the question the sound of a shrieking child erupted from the room behind her, and his heart skipped a beat.
Before Catelyn could answer him, he charged past her, almost knocking her over on his way into the room.
The door swung backwards so hard that it rattled against the door.
“Hush!” Hester hissed at him as she turned from where she stood at the end of the master bed.
Louisa who stood at the left side of the bed, blocking his view of Emily, turned and smiled at him. “I sent for the doctor, but it appeared she had no need of him.”
“Is she alright?” Max struggled to speak past the lump in his throat.
“I am perfectly well, my love,” Emily’s soft voice sounded as the baby began to cry again.
Louisa stepped out of the way then to reveal Emily who was sat up in the bed, cradling a small infant in her arms.
Though her face was reddened, and her eyes drooped with exhaustion, she looked more beautiful than Max had ever seen her. Her auburn hair cascaded around her like ringlets of gold.
“Come here, my love,” Emily insisted, reaching out with one hand. “Come and meet our son.”
Max felt his entire world shift at her words, and he stumbled over to sit on the bed beside her.
“Hester, would you bring Dorothea to us?” Emily asked the elderly woman who quickly nodded and disappeared from the room.
“I shall be just outside if you have need of anything,” Louisa assured them before excusing herself.
Max found himself gazing down at the tiny babbling baby in Emily’s arms, and he felt his heart swell with love.
“What do you think?” Emily asked, smiling up at him, “Did we do well?”
“You did amazingly, my love,” he told her as he leaned forwards to press his lips against her slick forehead.
“Is he to be Maximillian?” Emily asked, her smile continuing.
Max thought for a moment and then shook his head, “He shall be Robert.”
Emily looked at him in astonishment.
“Robert?” she gasped.
“Yes, after your grandfather. For without him, you would not be here.” Max placed his hand upon hers. “It seems only right he be named after him.”
Emily twisted her hand beneath his to squeeze his fingers.
“What did I ever do to deserve a husband as wonderful as you?” she asked.
Just then the sound of small knuckles knocking came from the door, and they both turned to find their auburn-haired daughter rushing in, followed by Hester.
“Careful now, girl,” Hester warned her as she went racing to the bed.
“I’ve got her,” Max assured her as he reached down and pulled Dorothea up onto his knee.
The little girl’s heart-shaped face that was so much like her mother’s lit up with excitement when her emerald green eyes fell upon the small bundle in Emily’s arms.
“Dorothea, meet your little brother, Robert,” Max told her as Emily pulled the blanket back from his face to give their daughter a better view.
“He’s so small!” Dorothea exclaimed.
“Quietly now, you don’t want to frighten him,” Max reminded her, and Dorothea quickly placed a hand over her mouth.
“That’s a good girl,” Max told her as he stroked her hair back from her face.
“Can I hold him?” Dorothea asked, her voice much softer now.
“Perhaps not just yet,” Max told his daughter, “there will be plenty more time for you to hold him when he is bigger.”
“Max, will you take him from me?” Emily asked, suddenly looking more exhausted. Max lifted Dorothea to place her on the bed beside her mother before he stood and leaned over to take the infant in his arms.
The baby let out a squeak of protest as he was transferred between their arms.
“Hush now, little one,” Max said softly, bouncing the baby gently in his arms.
He crossed the room to the window and held the baby so that he could see out to the gardens beyond.
“One day all of this shall be yours,” he promised the tiny baby in his arms. He slipped a hand into the blanket and felt the infant grip hold of his finger tightly.
The gesture caused him to smile, tears pricking in his eyes.
“Can I see him some more?” Dorothea asked as she shuffled off the bed and came to pull on the leg of Max’s trousers.
Max dropped down onto the window seat, and she pulled herself up beside him so that she could gaze at her little brother.
When Max looked up again, he found Emily smiling at them with great affection brimming in her green eyes.
“If only I were a painter.” She sighed. “I could capture this moment forever.”
Max couldn’t help chuckling at his wife’s words.
“I don’t think you shall be doing anything but resting for a while,” Hester said from where she remained close to the door. “Speaking of, we should allow you to do so.”
Max nodded and gave Dorothea one last look at her brother before standing to offer the baby into Hester’s capable hands.
“I shall look after them both,” Hester assured him.
Max placed a hand on the old woman’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, “I know you shall. This family owes you a lot.”
“You have given me more than enough,” Hester insisted. Looking from Max to Emily and back again, she added, “The both of you have.”
Max gave her another smile before he turned to Dorothea and suggested, “Shall we go to the nursery and play while mama rests?”
“I’ll race you!” Dorothea exclaimed in delight, all concern of being quiet gone from the little girl’s mind.
“Once we are out of the bedroom,” Max reminded her.
He crossed the room to press his lips to Emily’s forehead once more. “Well done, my love. Very well done indeed.”
Turning to Dorothea, he instructed, “Come and give your mother a goodnight kiss.”
“But its not night yet, Papa.” Dorothea chuckled as though she thought she was the smartest child in the world.
“It may not be for you,” Hester explained to the little girl, “but your mother will likely sleep until tomorrow morning. Now, say goodnight as your father bid you.”
Dorothea hurried across the room and propped herself up on the edge of the bed to kiss her mother upon her cheek.
Then she slipped her hand into Max’s palm, and he guided her from the room.
“May we race now, Papa?” Dorothea asked as soon as he clicked the door closed behind them.
“Of course.”
“Catch me if you can!” Dorothea said gleefully as she hurried off down the hall.
Knowing that he would catch her easily, Max kept his pace slow, hobbling behind her to be sure to let her beat him to the nursery door.
As he entered, he found her already sitting upon the edge of her bed, smirking at the fact she had won.
“You are too slow, Papa,” she insisted.
“Well it looks like you win.” Max laughed.
He took in the nursery for a moment, remembering how it had looked when the north wing had been all but off limits. He cringed at the thought of the thick layer of dust that had collected about the place.
Now it could barely be mistaken for the same room.
The walls had been painted a bright sunflower yellow. Dorothea’s bed sat adjacent to the crib that would soon be Robert’s. An abundance of toys was spread across the rug in the centre of the room. Each one of Gracie’s paintings still hung from the wall. Emily had been determined to keep a reminder of her great-aunt, who had been treated so unkindly for much of her life.
“What shall we play, Papa?” Dorothea asked as she dropped down from the bed and onto her knees.
“Whatever you would like, sweetheart,” Max replied as he came to kneel on the rug beside her.
As he gazed at her, he couldn’t help thinking of how much she looked like her mother.
I hope we have many more daughters who look like her, he thought. And perhaps more sons who will look like me.
For now, he would have to wait for Robert to grow before he could see how he might turn out.
“Are you pleased with your baby brother?” Max asked.
“Very.” Dorothea smirked up at him, “Are you, Papa?”
“More than I ever could have imagined.” Max nodded.
The urge to take his daughter into his arms overwhelmed him as a swell of emotion took over him.
“Come here you!” He chuckled as he swung the little girl up into his arms and tickled her, causing her to laugh uncontrollably.
At that moment, he knew that no matter what came, he would always be happy in the knowledge that he had his beautiful family to come home to.
Emily had given him all that he had ever dreamt of and more. Her love for him had lit the darkest parts of his life, and he owed her more than he could ever hope to make up for.
I shall work every day to be the man that she deserves he vowed to himself as Dorothea’s laughter rang in his ears.
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OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Whispers of Regency Love", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello my dears! I hope you enjoyed the Extended Epilogue of my new book! I am excitedly looking forward to your lovely comments here. Thank you for being so wonderful! 🥰🥰
I really loved it. A modern gothic edwardian love story. The roller coaster had me all the way. The reveal, of the mad great aunt was great. The epilogue had me enthralled. Thank you. Very enjoyable.
Really enjoyed this book, couldn’t leave it down, I have just read the last three hours to finish it, brilliant, thank you
I just did the same. I couldn’t put it down.
I am so glad, thank you so much!!
Lovely book and epilogue. The characters were interesting and held me all the way through.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Anything a person could wish for in a story lies in these pages
Delightful reading. A suspense she tries to find out about. He is pretty distrustful of women since his 1st wife had left him for another & then died during childbirth (the father the man she left with). Mysteries in his household. Many different emotions of all who live there. The answers will be discovered and a surprise to all.
You crafted this book in such a way that it became a mystery for me. Emily’s strength was very encouraging with her standing firm to what she felt and believed. She remained true to her commitment to solve her Grandmother’s mystery. You wrote the mystery so well that I was amazed at the solving of Emily’s grandmother’s mystery!
You wrote a superb story with a very happy ending which I thoroughly enjoyed. Keep on writing!!
Ione Heinrichs
My dear, these are just the loveliest words, I am deeply humbled by your wonderful insight on my story. Thank you very much and I hope I don’t disappoint you in the future!
OMG!! I LOVE your writing! You took a historical romance and twisted it into a mystery! Nicely done! It was thrilling and exciting from start to finish! I would have loved to hear more about the renovations to the mansion, but all in all a great book. Thank you for the hours of entertainment. Well done!….:)
I am so delighted to know you enjoyed this much!!
Thankyou for a very intriguing storyline.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters within.
There were some fantastic surprises throughout the story, keeping one in suspense.
Thank you so much dear for the lovely thoughts!
Smashing story stayed up late as could not stop reading look forward to the next story thank you so much
I am so delighted to know you enjoyed this much!!
Ms Aria
A Fateful Twist of Love was a great book and extended epilogue. I enjoyed Emily and Max so much and was amazed at all they went through just to be together. It was sad that Martha turned out to be the wicked one of the sisters. I was happy when she had to exit Radcliff. Thank you sincerely for another good reading.
Thank you so much for your support and review, dear Sharon!
So glad you enjoyed it!
I always love your books but I think you have outdone yourself on this one !!! This is an exceptional story with so much suspense, some light and some darkness, and wonderful love to the happy ending and topped with extended epilogue…. I Loved it all… Thank you for the outstanding entertainment !!!
Thank you so much for your review and support, dear Virginia!
A sweet exciting book that was hard to put down.
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. Your feedback means a lot!
I was unable to put down this book until I had finished it. This is a delightfully written story with a wonderful plot. The characters are portrayed brilliantly and there are some great surprises. Unfortunately the extended epilogue appears to be for another book. Otherwise great work.
Thank you so much my dear Stephen for your lovely words, they truly mean a lot! So glad you enjoyed this story! 🙂
Lovely book, was looking forward to the extended epilogue. To my great disappointment it was from another book entirely.
Hello my dear! The right one has been posted, I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Truly wonderful story. Loved it so much, I couldn’t put it down. Beautiful plot. The suspense was killing me. Looking forward to the extended epilogue, unfortunately, what I got looks like it belongs to another book. I would love it, if you could send me the correct one.
Thank you so much my dear, I am so incredibly happy you enjoyed this storyline, it means so much! I hope you have enjoyed the actual extended epilogue too! 🙂
Wonderful story .Couldn’t put it down.But the Extended Epilogue was not for this story.Funny but that story was fantastic too.Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much my dear Pauline, so glad you enjoyed the story! Hope you enjoy the extended ending too! 🙂
Really enjoyed.. Loved to a great historical story that was clean! Thank You!
Thank you so much my dear Rhonda, your comment is much appreciated! 🙂
I enjoyed the book very much. Every time I had to stop for anything I could not wait until I could pick it back up to finish the story. Usually you can figure out what is happening in the story, but the suspense was great, kept you trying to figure out what was going to happen next. It was a very good book. I really loved it and was happy to see in the extended epilogue that it was a happy ever after. A great way to spend an afternoon.
Thank you so much my dear Lina, your wonderful words mean the world to me! So happy you enjoyed this storyline, I hope you love my next ones too!
This is a wonderful story and it was full of suspense so glad Emily survived Martha’s assault and extended epilogue showed what happened to Gracie and Martha and also the happiness of Max and Emily
Thank you so much my dear Gwen, I am beyond happy that you enjoyed the ending of this story! Stay tuned for my next one! 🙂
It is so lovely when a book ends with such a lovely, joyful extended epilogue. The twist as to whom the painter was and who Hester was to her was such a surprise. The only unsatisfactory conclusion was what happened to Martha, wasn’t she too old to go to the America’s?
Thank you so much my dear Jo for your kind words, I am so glad you enjoyed this epilogue! 🙂 I always like to leave a few mysterious details to the reader’s imagination, as I don’t think an extended epilogue should completely suppress this aspect!
Enjoyed the story,especially during covid isolation, almost like going on a trip. Always feel sad when family secrets last through generations and
Cause so much unhappiness.
Thank you so much my dear Ilse for your comment, it means so much that you enjoyed my story! Hope you enjoyed my last book too! 🙂
On another 5 star! I loved this story!!! I was really caught up in the mystery. Great ending.
I loved the story. Lots of suspense.
(A little more careful attention to editing would be a great idea.)
Lots of twists and turns with this story and full of intrigue but love really does conquer all fabulous
This story had me going all the way through. It was good to find story that was quite a surprise.
I’m so happy you enjoyed my story dear Beverly! Thank you for letting me know! 🙂
I loved this story, lots of intriguing twists and turns! If l have a criticism it is the wrong spelling of the word rein, the horse has reins, the Queen reigns. Sorry but I am a stickler for correct spelling, and language of the period, so things like lighten up are really out of place. However in saying that l enjoyed the book immensely, including the extention. Well done!!
Thank you for your comment my dear, I’m so happy you enjoyed my story! I really appreciate your kind and honest feedback, it’s always welcome! I’ll be sure to check with my editor about the issue you pointed out 🙂
This has been a great read.. Love the happy ending..
I’m so happy to hear you liked my story dear Genie! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
This book was an enjoyable read with only a few errors. I was surprised when I went back to find that I had reported 30 errors. I do hope that Anazon really do investigate these error reports. These included reigns/reins, stead/steed, loathe/loath, their/there and rung/wrung.
couldn’t put is book down. Twist and turns and back and forth. It just kept me reading and guessing. They came alive to me.
I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed it so much dear Barbara! 🙂
A wonderful story I enjoyed reading. I could not put it down. The story deserved a happy ending. The extended epilogue completed all the characters story apart from Amandas…..What happened to her ? Did she whatever happy ending ? Is Amanda’s story another book to come ? I hope so
Wonderful story line. I thoroughly enjoyed the book! Thank you for sharing your creative talent with us! (And thank you for keeping it “clean”! Blessings !
I really enjoyed this book. The plot and characters were so interesting and shrouded in such mystery and suspense that I eagerly read until I got to the exciting conclusion. Thank you for the heartwarming epilogue also. I love happy endings!
WOW! One great story. You had me sad, upset, angry, sorrowful, angry again and happily elated. That’s alot for one story but oh so good. Thank you for the entertaining story!
Thank you so much!! This means a lot to me dear Vickie. I always aim to make my readers feel like our heroes. It seems that it was a success here!
Wow, i really loved this story. Each book seems the best until I get to the next one. I love your writing style. You always have such wonderful characters as I have said before.
Dear Candyce, thank you so much for your kind words, dear! Your feedback means so much to me!
A gripping, intriguing,poignant Romance
This must -read, entertaining, historical Romance kept me enthralled from start to finish. Sure to please your fans, who will marvel at this excellent, exciting tale and want to add it to their collection of favourite, fascinating uplifting stories. Enjoyed immensely. Heartily recommended. Loved extended epilogue.
Thank you so much for these lovely words! 🙂🙂
A delightful story full of suspense. Emily was a strong character determined to win the love of the strange Max who had experienced much sadness in the past.
Thank you, dear, I feel so happy I could give a fullfilling life to these two…!
I have been thoroughly enjoying your stories! In your compilation book, Sweet Memories of Dashing Ladies, several of the extended epilogues are mixed up. I have been able to find the correct ones, but it does take some searching.
Thank you so much dear for the lovely thoughts!
This story had many interesting turns and each character is meaningful to the story. The care of the house staff & mine workers was lovely to see
Thank you so much dear for the lovely thoughts!
I loved this story. But I would have liked more romance in the story. Beautiful writing, kept my interest start to finish. Didn’t want to put down. I recommend everyone to read this book. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Katie 1/24/23.
Thank you, dear Katie! I hope you find all the romance you’d like in a next story of mine maybe!
Great reading! So loved the romance!
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, dear Karen! I truly appreciate it!
So glad you enjoyed the story!
A wonderful story and some cliff hanging moments .Everything so beautifully described Thank you really enjoyed it!
Thank you so much for your support and review, dear Valerie!
Great story line really an enjoyable read
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, dear Patricia!