Reese's Bride (30 page)

Three months later

E
lizabeth stood next to Aunt Agatha at Briarwood, behind the house on the brick path leading down to the stable. Reese and Jared were preparing their horses, getting ready for their morning ride.

“I knew he would be a good father,” the frail old woman said. “I think it was that same caring that made him a good leader of men.”

“Yes, perhaps that was it.” For Reese was both of those things. A marvelous father and respected leader. Amazingly, a very good landlord and gentleman farmer. His tenants admired him and worked hard to please him. They were getting ready to plow, preparing to plant a very large barley crop, which Royal had assured them he would purchase for his extremely successful brewery business.

And Reese seemed to enjoy the work. She hadn’t been certain he would be happy giving up his military career
and the life of adventure he once seemed to love, but she could see the satisfaction in his face whenever he looked out over the fields. He was happy at Briarwood.

And the knowledge made her happy, too.

“I heard they locked up that dreadful Holloway woman for half a century,” Aunt Agatha said. Over the past few months, she and Elizabeth had moved beyond the old animosity into a steady sort of friendship. Elizabeth believed their mutual love for Reese and Jared was the underlying cause and hoped their relationship over the years might grow even deeper.

She had lost her mother far too young. She appreciated the old woman’s counsel and hoped she could win her affections.

“Mr. Morgan personally brought the news of her sentence,” Elizabeth said, “though it was in all of the newspapers.”

The old woman nodded. “I heard, also, that scoundrel, Travis Greer, outdid himself and married the lovely widow, Annabelle Townsend.”

The word
scoundrel
was said with a twinkle in the old woman’s eyes. Elizabeth knew the dowager had always had a soft spot for Reese’s best friend.

“Once they tried Sandhurst and his cohorts for treason and found them guilty,” Elizabeth said, “the captain’s complete innocence was proved. He has become a man of some celebrity in the journalistic community.”

“I am sorry I was unwell the day of the wedding.”

“It was lovely. I think he and Lady Annabelle make a very good match.”

The old woman sniffed. “Indeed.”

They looked out toward the barn, watched as Reese
lifted Jared up on Dusty, the dapple gray pony, then swung himself up into the saddle of his big black gelding. Warrior snorted and danced, but Reese handled him easily. His leg rarely bothered him. He would always carry a scar and walk with a bit of a limp, but he no longer required the use of his cane, though on occasion he still carried it.

Elizabeth imagined he liked the protection the implement offered, with its hidden six-inch blade.

“Rule, that wicked boy, has probably arrived by now in the colonies. Perhaps all that hard work will straighten him out.”

The colonies being America. Rule had promised his father he would strengthen the family’s position by working to build ties with the Americans, though he was planning to return to England as soon as he could. One thing Elizabeth had learned, the Dewars were men who kept their word.

“Rule is a good man,” she said. “He is young yet. In time, he’ll know better what he wants.”

Aunt Agatha grunted. “He wants under the skirt of every pretty girl he sees. He needs a wife, that boy. A woman who will bring his reckless nature under control.”

“As I said, once he is older…”

“I suppose you’re right. None of the Dewar men marry young. I doubt Rule will be any different. But mark my words, one day that boy will meet his match. I hope I am still around when that happens.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I think you will outlive all of us, my lady.”

The dowager just smiled.

Father and son urged their horses into a canter and
rode off toward the fields, and Elizabeth’s heart went with them. She could feel it beating, throbbing softly with love for her men.

Aunt Agatha’s gaze followed hers. “I told you it would all work out.”

And it had. Reese loved her and she loved him and they both loved their son. The old woman had an uncanny way of predicting the future.

“You have a lot to look forward to,” the dowager said as if she had read Elizabeth’s thoughts. “Reese is certain to give you more children, and the two of you will live a long and happy life together.”

Elizabeth had learned to trust the old woman’s instincts. As she watched her husband and son, she thought of the passionate night she had spent in Reese’s arms and her odd feeling of contentment this morning. Gently, her hand settled protectively over the curve of her stomach.

This time Elizabeth was the one who smiled.

I hope you enjoyed
Reese’s Bride
, the second in the trilogy that began with
Royal’s Bride
, a series about the handsome Dewar brothers and the feisty women they come to love.

Rule’s Bride
is the final book in the trilogy. Rule, the youngest Dewar, is now head of a highly successful London manufacturing company. To honor a promise he made his dying father, Rule entered into an arranged marriage three years earlier with the sixteen-year-old daughter of wealthy American Howard Griffin. Rule hasn’t seen Violet since the day they were wed.

Since actually becoming a husband is the last thing Rule wants, he is stunned to find his grown-up child bride standing on his front door. Violet Griffin Dewar has matured into a beauty, he discovers, and he is eager to claim his husbandly rights.

Unfortunately, the only thing Violet wants from Rule is to end their unconsummated sham of a marriage.

I hope you’ll watch for
Rule’s Bride
and that you enjoy all three books in the trilogy.

Warmest wishes,

Kat