Authors: Elizabeth Johns
“Ignore her, Gwen. Elly is the spitting image of Gran. She was famous for the larks she kicked up in her day.”
“You may go ahead.” The Dowager shooed him and the string of rabbits away. “Gwen is capable of walking me back to the house.”
“As you wish, ma’am.” He bowed and walked away with a roguish smile.
Gwen lovingly watched him leave.
“Are you very tired, ma'am?” she asked as she and the Dowager strolled.
“Not a bit. I think sea travel agrees with me. I might head to Italy and the Greek Isles from here. I've always wanted to see them, but never thought I cared for seafaring. I suppose one is never too old to try something new.”
“No, indeed.” Gwen’s eyes twinkled.
“Now, dearest, tell me why you insisted on waiting to marry that handsome grandson of mine. If it had been me, I would have held that shotgun at his back and marched him down the aisle at the first opportunity.”
“It did not seem proper to not have you here. And, the plantation was devastated. I know you cannot tell by looking now, but the entire place was under water. It would not have been right to have insisted on my happiness at that moment.”
“Very well, suit yourself. I, on the other hand, would not have had the self-restraint. Perhaps I am biased.”
Gwen choked on her laughter.
The Dowager’s eyes crinkled and she cast a sideways glance at her. “Well, now that Easton, Elly and Sir Charles are here, we may see you married and leave the rest in their hands. Because I have a notion to winter in Italy and Greece, I need some escorts. She leaned in closer and whispered even though there was no one around, “I sleep very soundly.” She winked at Gwen and hurried into the house, leaving Gwen staring after her in astonishment.
Andrew had already found his niece and was cuddling her to him. If Gwen had held any doubts, at that moment a maternal urge stirred and silenced them forever. She watched in adoration and did not notice Lord and Lady Easton standing beside her.
“Adam, you’d best send for Reverend Norris. Abe can escort you,” Elly said knowingly, as she caught Gwen watching Andrew.
“Yes, dear. But first, Miss Lambert, would you mind if we spoke in private?”
She looked surprised, but said, “Not at all. I believe the study would be quiet.” She led him into the room and closed the door.
“I apologise for seeming strange, but I felt it best to inform you of what I found before you proceeded.”
She sat and waved for him to do the same.
“Do you recall that I inquired of the Kendall's solicitor before you left?”
“Vaguely. I confess I had all but forgotten.”
He nodded. “There was much to be desired in the way Kendall dealt with you.” He handed her a letter. “We decided it would be best for him to explain the circumstances to you himself.”
She took the letter sceptically and opened it. She began to read the lines in disbelief.
“He humbly begs my pardon,” she read aloud with a gasp. “Very civil of him.” She had no doubt what had led him to apologise.
“He says my grandfather left a marriage portion to me in his will.”
She muttered through a few more lines, “His father attempted to have it overturned. I do not doubt for a moment,” she said with distaste. “You did teach him a proper lesson, did you not?”
He nodded. “With pleasure. He will be fortunate to produce heirs in the future.”
She looked satisfied and went back to the letter. “If we had married each other, the entire fortune would have been his. That explains much.”
She continued, “If I married another, I would receive half.”
She dropped the letter into her lap. “I suppose greediness overcame good sense.”
“Perhaps.” Easton remarked, amused. “Did you read to the end?”
She looked back to the paper and saw the amount. Her eyes grew wide. “Greediness indeed!”
“Miss Lambert, you are a wealthy woman. And you will not have to worry about Kendall again.”
“Only if I marry.”
“What do you mean
if
you marry?” Andrew demanded, as he entered the room still holding baby Henrietta.
Easton stood with a smile on his face and walked over to take his precious bundle from Andrew. “I believe I will see to the good Reverend now.”
“You have some explaining to do.”
She pulled his face down to hers. “After we're married.”
“You do not have to tell me twice.”
He made do with the nonverbal explanation for now.
Chapter Twenty
One year later…
“Well, my dear, does it fulfill your expectations?” Andrew asked as he put his arms around his wife from behind.
Gwen looked out over the crystal blue waters from their terrace. “It is beyond what I'd imagined. I cannot wait to paint it.”
“Paint as much as you like. When you fill every wall, I will build more walls,” he murmured, while continuing to shower his beloved with gentle kisses.
“How long will we be here?”
“Until I surprise you with somewhere new.”
Gwen could not help but smile. This was the third country they’d visited since they had left America.
“Will we ever return home?”
Andrew stopped his attentions abruptly. “Do you want to go home?”
“Perhaps one day.”
“I am here to fulfill your heart’s desire.” He smiled rakishly down at her.
Gwen blushed, even after nearly a year of being married.
“I know.” She stopped to bestow a handsome kiss on her love. If someone had told her two years ago how her life would have changed for the better, she would not have believed it possible. “I do wish to see your family again. To have our children know their family.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?”
“No. Not yet.” Gwen subconsciously touched her stomach. She had thought she would be with child by this point. She refused to feel disappointed. She was blessed beyond measure. If she could not have her own, she would be the best aunt to Elly and Sarah's children she could. Or maybe they could adopt some orphans. Perhaps she was too old for her own.
“Why the glum face?” Andrew asked with a furrowed brow. “Because I will do anything in my power to erase it.”
She shook off her reverie and smiled lovingly at him. “I think returning to England after we have had our fill of Italy would be nice. We do not have to see the entire world in one trip.”
Andrew looked at her with guilt.
“What is it?”
“I might have promised the family we would meet them in France for Christmas.”
“Will everyone be there?”
He nodded. “Everyone,” he said emphatically. “The
entire
Loring-Abbott clan.”
She smiled. “That will be lovely. I look forward to it.” And she would. She had longed for a large, loving family. Hers had never been such, even before they’d been isolated by her father's disgrace.
“You do realise that includes the Duke and Duchess, Nathaniel, Lydia, Amelia, Robert, Easton, Elly, Charlie, Gary, Lizzy, Hettie, Vernon, Beatrice, Olivia, and Ben?” He inhaled after rattling off the list. “I'm exhausted thinking on it.”
She laughed. “Afraid of your nieces and nephews?”
“Absolutely!” He looked at her as if she were daft.
“You brought it upon yourself.”
He eyed her with mock disdain.
She wrinkled her face. “You did not mention your grandmother. Does she mean to stay here?”
He shrugged. “I've no idea. She hasn't said.”
“You do not think...” her voice trailed off.
“Who can say? I have never seen her act like such a ninny around a man.”
“The Count is lovely. I would think you would be happy for her, Andrew. No matter your age, everyone deserves love.”
“Do you think it love? I never considered it. Nor do I wish to.” He shook his face with mock repulsion.
She swatted at him.
“I had better look into this count more closely tomorrow.”
“I think she can take care of herself.”
“I would have thought so too, until I saw how she was behaving around him.”
“Oh, Andrew.”
“Do not deprive me of this chance to meddle with my grandmother.” He began nibbling on her ear.
“Let us not talk anymore about them. I want to behave like a ninny with you.”
He began to loosen her tapes, and all thoughts of the Dowager were gone.
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Shadows of Doubt
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About the Author
Like many writers, Elizabeth Johns was first an avid reader, though she was a reluctant convert. It was Jane Austen's clever wit and unique turn of phrase that hooked Johns when she was ‘forced’ to read Pride and Prejudice for a school assignment. She began writing when she ran out of her favourite author’s books and decided to try her hand at crafting a Regency romance novel. Her journey into publishing began with the release of Surrender the Past, book one of the Loring-Abbott Series. Johns makes no pretensions to Austen’s wit, but hopes readers will perhaps laugh and find some enjoyment in her writing.
Johns attributes much of her inspiration to her mother, a former English teacher. During their last summer together, Johns would sit on the porch swing and read her stories to her mother, who encouraged her to continue writing. Busy with multiple careers, including a professional job in the medical field, writing and mother of small children, Johns squeezes in time for reading whenever possible.
Preview of the Upcoming Ashbury Triplet Trilogy…
Gavin looked at the letter in his hand in utter disbelief. His heart was tearing in two. His brother, wife and three children had been killed when their carriage had slipped off the side of a cliff.
“This canna be true.” He shook his head and fought back tears.
“I'm afraid it is, my lord.”
“My lord? No. I doona wish for it. I'm a simple country doctor. I have a humble life and practice here.”
“I'm terribly sorry for your loss, my lord. But you are, in fact, the eleventh Baron Craig, and have some rather large holdings that are now your responsibility.”
“This was not supposed to happen. Iain had three strapping young lads!”
The solicitor looked grave. “Perhaps, my lord, it would be best for you to return to Castle Craig and see for yourself.”
The solicitor was met with a blank stare from a set of startling blue eyes, the look common to those having been met with grievous news, but not having yet assimilated the ensuing change in circumstances.
“Verra well. I'll join you there as soon as I have made arrangements.”
Gavin went through the motions of closing up his house and seeing his practice into the hands of his apprentice from the Easton’s school. He had taken many trips to England to the school in Sussex of late, and had left the practice in his junior’s capable hands. He had toyed with joining the school as an instructor full time, but he had never been able to cut ties with Scotland. How would he practice medicine as Lord Craig? He would have to find a way, but he would also do his best to carry on with his brother’s works in Parliament.
Gavin had seen more death than most, but he was not prepared for his brother or his family to die. They were the last family he had left. He'd never given a thought to running a large estate, and hoped desperately that his brother had a trustworthy steward.
His carriage was loaded with his immediate necessities. His servants would send the rest of his belongings with those of his staff that wished to join him at the new residence. He had one final stop before setting off to bury his brother and begin his new life.
He pulled through the gates of Alberfoyle Priory, one of Lord Vernon’s estates that served as an orphanage. He had become attached to a family of children there; the boy he was supporting through medical school, but the two girls still lived at the orphanage. It would pain him to leave these children more than anything else. In fact, since he had no family of his own, perhaps they would consider allowing him to adopt them.
“Dr. Gavin!” Maili came running when she saw him and greeted him with a hug. She was promptly lifted off her feet into his arms.