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!
“Might I bring him a blanket?”
“You are very kind, my dear Emily. What a wonderful elder sister you have proven to be, both to Sophia, Stephen, and now to Thomas.” Alaric watched with pride as Emily, now flushed by his compliment, settled the blanket around the infant who slept soundly in his cradle. In the last year, his life had been a stark contrast to the year before, when he had been lost in darkness and grief. The birth of their baby, named after Anna’s elder brother, had been an even greater joy than he could have imagined, humbling him with all he had been given.
“Aunt Lucy is here!” Sophia ran into the drawing room, her eyes bright with excitement as Emily shushed her quickly, citing the sleeping baby. With wide eyes, Sophia put one finger to her lips and tiptoed toward the cradle, only for her shoulders to drop in relief. “He is still asleep, Papa. I did not wake him.”
“Grandmother and Grandfather have arrived!”
The door slammed back against the wall, startling the baby as Stephen grabbed Alaric’s hand. “Hurry, hurry! Let us go to greet them!”
“The baby has woken.” Alaric, unwilling to berate his son for his excitement, ushered Stephen out of the room. “Let me settle him while you go to greet them all. Make sure to bring them directly to the drawing room.”
Not one but three children scurried off at once, leaving Alaric to pick up his youngest son and rock him gently in his arms. Humming a quiet song, he looked down at the tiny features and felt his heart overflow with love.
“My love.”
His head lifted, his eyes taking in the breathtaking sight of Anna as she drew near, a gentle smile on her face. Her gown was the color of crimson roses, her figure elegant and refined. Faint flickers of gold caught in the candlelight as if the gown itself had fire sparks woven into it. A few gentle curls of hair escaped from her pins, framing her face and begging for him to brush them back with his fingers. The familiar longing settled in his chest as she stepped closer, the scent of cinnamon and honey demanding his full attention. “You are beautiful, Anna.”
She smiled up at him. “You tell me so every day.”
“I mean it with all my heart,” he swore, gazing into her eyes. “Every time I set eyes upon you, my breath is quite stolen away.”
Their kiss was soft and sweet, not lingering, but long enough to set a fire to his bones. It was only when Thomas shifted in his arms that he was forced to pull himself back, looking down at their baby and rocking him gently.
“Our guests have arrived,” Anna murmured, leaning against him and gazing down at their son. “Would that I could still pause and stay in this moment with you.”
There was no time for that, however, for the door opened again and, along with the three children, came Lord and Lady Harcourt, Lord Ravenshaw, Lucy and Lord Martin, and, much to Alaric’s delight, Lord Markham and his new bride, Marie. Anna immediately went to greet each one in turn, exclaiming over her younger sister’s wonderful news that soon, she, too, would have a child.
“I am afraid you have no choice but to permit my wife to hold your son.” Lord Markham chuckled and then gestured to Marie, who smiled, bobbed a curtsy, but then held her arms out expectantly. “We intend a large family, I think. She is quite besotted with children!”
Alaric, handing the sleeping baby to the lady, grinned at his friend. “And you will do whatever you can to bring her as much happiness as possible, which, I am sure, means that you will soon be overrun with children.”
“Indeed, I shall.” Lord Markham sighed contentedly as he looked at his wife, only to turn again to Alaric. “You are happy again, my friend.”
Nodding, Alaric let his gaze pass over the room, taking in each person present. Lord and Lady Harcourt were in deep conversation with Emily and Sophia, who, much to Alaric’s delight and Anna’s joy, now referred to them both as their grandparents. His father-in-law, Lord Ravenshaw, was seated in an armchair close to the hearth, his gaze fixed on his grandson who was, for whatever reason, tumbling across the carpet. There was no frown on Lord Ravenshaw’s face, no harsh words ready to escape from him as he watched Stephen. Instead, there was a small smile dancing about the gentleman’s lips, his eyes warm with affection. Lucy and Lord Martin were talking with Anna, the sisters as close as they had always been given the multiple letters that were exchanged between them. Alaric could practically feel Anna’s joy over her sister’s news, his own heart glad that they lived only a day’s drive away so could visit just as often as they pleased. The room hummed with warmth and happiness, and Alaric let out a long, slow breath that consisted of nothing more than sheer contentment.
Again, his gaze returned to his wife, unable to look away from her for long. Perhaps sensing his gaze upon her, Anna looked back toward him, the soft firelight catching her eyes as he took her in.
A tremor passed through his frame, a simple smile undoing him all over again. Between them, there was a love so vast and so profound, he felt as if he would never be able to fully comprehend it. It had remade them, shaped them into something new and wonderful. Love had settled itself in him from the very moment he had declared it aloud, growing steady and sure, woven from their trust and belief in one another. He could sense it in her steady presence at his side, the tenderness in her interactions with the children, in the way he reached for her in the dead of night.
The room expanded again with sound and life as she looked away, her attention caught by Lucy, but the emotion swelling Alaric’s heart remained. Their love was a promise shared, unspoken but absolute. Whatever lay ahead of them, whatever the future might be, they would walk it together – a path shared by love.
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 can’t wait to read your lovely comments here. Thank you for being so wonderful! 🥰
I really enjoyed this story. Arctic and Anna finding each other along with the children with everything coming together. The suspense in them finding each other and his father.in law realizing the truth made the story that much more enjoyable. Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed the story, dear Loretta! Thank you so much for your comment and support!
Loved this beautiful story as I love Almost every o e of your novels! Thank you so much for bringing a couple of hours of peace and enjoyment into my very old life!
Pat
Thank you so much for your lovely comment and support, dear Pat! So glad you enjoyed the story!