OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Lustful Lords and Ladies", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Priscilla walked out into the ballroom, which was decorated with cedar trees cut down from the nearby forest. There were candles twinkling everywhere, ribbons wound around the trees, and a piano played softly. The guests turned as one to look at her and Priscilla smiled at them. Medea, Bridgitte, and Gwen walked ahead of her as her wedding party.
Lord Chaplin led her down the aisle line. He gave her an encouraging smile. But it was not needed. Priscilla had never felt more confident in any decision. George was waiting with his brother beside him at the altar.
The smile on George’s face made her wish the procession was faster. She wanted to just skip the ceremony and begin their life together. She drew in a breath and smiled back at him.
Her father stopped before the altar and handed her over to George with a smile. George bowed to him and guided Priscilla into position beside him. She shivered and George gave her a look of concern.
“Nervous,” she whispered.
The clergyman gave them a look and cleared his throat. The oaths never changed. Priscilla repeated them behind the man as did George. This was just something they had to get through.
Lord Rowley must have been thinking the same thing, as his lips quirked up into a grin when Priscilla’s eyes happened to move over to him. She quickly put her eyes back on the clergyman lest George’s brother made her laugh and embarrass herself.
It seemed ages before the man presented them as man and wife. Priscilla breathed a sigh of relief and grinned to hear much of the same from George. They shared a grin with each other as the guests clapped.
Medea came up and took her bouquet so she could go to sign her marriage papers. “Congratulations,” Medea whispered.
Priscilla grinned at her sister-in-law and went with George to sign their legally binding papers. It was just one more formality, but this would protect her and so she had to make sure she did it. Not that she thought George would suddenly abandon her on a whim.
She signed the papers dutifully and then walked back out to the front with George. Lord Rowley held up his hands to silence the well-wishes for just a moment. “I know that you all love our good doctor very much, but you can wish him and my new sister-in-law much health while dancing as soon as we clear the floor. There are refreshments set up in the dining hall.”
The mention of food seemed to get the crowd moving. George took her hand as they waited for the crowd to disperse. Lord Rowley was already directing men to move the chairs that had seated the guests along the walls. “There we go, boys! Move them all so we can truly toast my brother’s good fortune!”
George chuckled. “I think he has been drinking already.”
Medea popped up by George’s elbow. “He started at lunch.”
Priscilla laughed and covered her mouth. “It must run in the family.”
“You were nervous as well,” George reminded her.
She nodded. “Yes, but even I could tell you had had a nip of brandy.”
“I do not drink very often,” George said with a smile.
Medea clucked her tongue. “A little spirit is good for you now and then, Doctor Rowley.”
Bridgitte came over. “What are we all huddled up talking about?”
George shook his head. “Apparently drinking habits.”
Philip appeared beside Bridgitte and extended his hand to George. “Let me be among the first to extend my well-wishes to you and your new bride.”
“Thank you, Philip,” George said. “And thank you for not marrying her.”
Priscilla joined the other girls in their giggles at the look on Philip’s face. She nudged Bridgitte. “I think he made the right choice.”
Bridgitte tipped her head to her sister. Medea shook her head. “Now that we are all sisters, you two should really meet my sisters.”
“How many sisters do you have?” Bridgitte looked a bit alarmed as she asked the question.
Bridgitte grinned. “Four.”
Bridgitte whistled. “I went from one to five sisters very quickly.”
George chuckled as Lord and Lady Chaplin came over with Sir Randall. Lady Chaplin smiled at them all. “It does my heart good to see you all together like this.”
“Family should be together,” Sir Randall agreed.
Lord Chaplin seemed to give that some thought. “Perhaps we should make this a tradition then?”
“I like the sound of that,” Priscilla said. “What do you think, George?”
George looked around the hall and nodded. “It sounds perfect.”
(Two Years Later)
“Oh, George, what are you doing?” Priscilla looked down at her husband who was still asleep, or at least playing at being asleep. She saw his eyelids flutter. She frowned down at him. “Do not pretend to be asleep, George Rowley.”
“I am not pretending,” George mumbled.
Priscilla asked, “Then how are you answering me?”
“Well, see,” George said as he slung his arm over her and pulled her into the bed. “a woman came in and started yelling at me.”
“Oh, just some woman?” Priscilla teased.
George’s arms tightened around her as Priscilla attempted to get up. She laughed and laid back helpless on the bed as he levered himself over the top of her. “Not just any woman. Why, any other woman who had come into my room would be tossed out on her rear end.”
“Is that right?” Priscilla keened her neck up and was met by George’s kiss as her reward. She opened her mouth to him and George groaned as he deepened the kiss.
He finally pushed up and away from her as she grumbled. “Now you cannot start grumbling about my not ravishing you. You are the one who invited all of kingdom come to our home.”
“I did not,” Priscilla said with a laugh. “You know my sister is looking to move back near us.”
George nodded. “Yes, but does that mean literally on top of us?”
“For a few weeks until their house is ready,” Priscilla said coaxingly as she ran her foot along his leg. “Is that really so bad?”
He scolded, “You cannot use your feminine wiles against me. It is unseemly.”
“Oh, yes, so unseemly for the woman whose belly is heavy with your seed to use her wiles against you,” Priscilla giggled as she teased.
George’s hand brushed her round stomach as he leaned over to kiss her affectionately. “Fine. You may use them against me all you like. I am a fool for your very breath so it makes little difference.”
Priscilla grinned at her husband. “It will not be that bad. They will soon be in their own home.”
“Yes, but they will be right down the road,” George said with a grimace.
Priscilla laughed. “And half the time you will be at your practice. I shall welcome the help with the baby.”
“I suppose,” George said with a sigh. “Have you heard from Nathaniel?”
Priscilla shook her head. “Your brother sent no messenger, but I am sure that he will let you know when he will be holding your father’s birthday party.”
“Their little one should be old enough to walk soon,” George said as he rolled over and released Priscilla.
Priscilla nodded and crawled on top of her husband. “He should be. I cannot wait for all of our children to play together. What wonderful holidays those will be!”
“I think my mother would have liked it,” George said, his voice taking on a softness.
Priscilla leaned over and gave him a kiss. “I think she likes it when we come to visit.”
“Father certainly does,” George said with a grin. “I think he loves his daughters more than his sons.”
Priscilla shushed him. “I think his sons just argue too much.”
“We do not,” George said with a chuckle.
Priscilla lifted her shoulders in shrug. “If you say so, Doctor Rowley. Speaking of doctoring, should you not be off to do rounds?”
He groaned and shook his head. Priscilla leaned over and pressed her lips against his. He kissed her back roughly and she felt herself being pulled firmly against him.
Priscilla rocked back and forth and was rewarded when George pulled her down into a kiss. There was a knock at the door and George muttered, “What in the world?”
“That is probably, Gwen,” Priscilla said with a sheepish grin. “She promised to let me know when Bridgitte arrived.”
George sighed and shook his head at her. “It is a good thing I love you.”
“I love you too,” Priscilla said before she gave him a quick kiss and got up out of the bed, adjusting her dress and hair. “Rest all you want, but eventually you have to come out of the room.”
George grumbled something noncommittal and Priscilla left her husband with a smile. She went out in the hallway and found Gwen with a grin on her face. “Did I interrupt?”
“Oh, it is fine, George needs the sleep anyway. He was out late last night at the clinic.” She looked down the hallway. “So, was that Bridgitte?”
Gwen nodded. “I put them in their rooms.”
Priscilla sighed and folded her arms over her stomach. “It seems so odd that we are all here.”
“Life is like that sometimes,” Gwen said with a smile.
Priscilla nodded. “I thought that George deciding on this townhouse was lovely so I could be close to Mother and Father when we were in London, but now I shall have my sister too.”
“And your little one,” Gwen said.
Priscilla smiled down at her stomach. “And my children will grow up in a loving family, a very large loving family.”
Gwen smiled. “I think all children deserve that. So, I guess your doctor was worth it.”
“Worth every moment,” Priscilla told her friend. She smiled at the thought of all the years still ahead of them. Worth every single moment.
Readers who read this book also liked
 |
 |
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Lustful Lords and Ladies", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello, dear reader! I hope you enjoyed this story and the Extended Epilogue! Please feel free to leave your comments below. Thank you 😊
I love the story. I think you were too kind with Bridgette and Phillip but I’m hard to forgive and forget. I should learn from your character. They are not perfect, they have flaws like any of us and it’s easier for the reader to identify with them, their experiences, difficulties and triumphs.
Thank you so much for the kind and honest feedback, my dear Mercedes. I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!:)
This was a great story Emily and I am so addicted to the Extended Epilogues… It’s like a cherry on top of a luscious dessert….
Thank you so much, my dear! I’m so glad you liked it!:)
I absolutely loved this story!
In spite of their terrible conduct in handling things, I am so glad that Priscilla was able to forgive Bridgitte and Philip for their awful behaviour. I think that’s part of what family is all about. Of course, I’m sure it helped her that she had George as a distraction!
Thanks so much for writing the story, and good luck with all your future writings. Take care.
Cynthia
You’re welcome, my dear Cynthia! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Beautiful story. Usually in stories like this, the parents are not amenable as this. Bridgette ‘s attitude made more sense when the truth came out.
Thank you so much, my dear!
Wonderful story and all worked out for the best especially when the truth came out about Bridgette and Philip so that they could marry legally instead of just running off together with Priscilla tied to him but left behind. Priscilla was therefore able to find love with Dr. George Rowley whom she had spotted across the ballroom and was attracted to.
In the extended epilogue, when the subject of sisters came up, it wasn’t Bridgette that had four sisters, it was Medea and the total number of sisters may have been five BUT if Priscilla, Bridgette and Medea considered themselves as sisters with Medea’s four sisters wouldn’t that make six?
Thank you for your feedback, my dear Shirley! I will take a look into it immediately. Have a lovely week!
Refreshing and different romance story. Engaging the reader with similar decisions by our heroine.
Thank you so much for leaving a comment, my dear Sue!:)
Enjoyed the love story very much. Wished the extended epilogue was developed further.
Thank you so much for the feedback, my dear Luzette. Have a great day!
I loved the story and all the suspense and a clean romance and the extended epilogue ( am I gushing).
I’m so happy to read your comment, my dear Linda!:)
Lovely book. Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns throughout. Many thanks
Thank you so much, my dear Karen!:)
Very lovely story..I enjoyed it so much..
Thank you so much, my dear!:)
A very lovely story and it was so nice
That George and Priscilla were able to find love and happiness and Priscilla was so easy to forgive Phillip and Bridgette I enjoyed reading
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Gwen!:)
I loved this story so much! Made realize that although we sometimes complain about things, life has become easier regarding the ways of life. Good work!
Thank you so much, my dear Linda!:)
I enjoyed the story. Priscilla always wanted to be close to her sister and finally she gets the chance, but there is a lot of heartache before it happens. Bridgette has to grow up and really take responsibility for herself and the choices she has made in the past.
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Barbara!:)
A lovely story. I enjoyed reading it. Bridgette was a woman in despair about her love marrying her sister but both she and Phillip should have been honest about their feelings for each other. Had the accident not happened and Priscilla had married Phillip her life would have been ruined so while the betrayal hurt Priscilla it also worked to her benefit and she was able to marry her true love. True love conquers all and I’m glad they were all reunited as families should be. It would have been nice to know what gender their child was and if Nathaniel had any children. A great story.
I love the story. I knew George and Priscilla would get together somehow. I really thought that Bridgette pushed her sister down the stairs. I’m glad that wasn’t the case. Her and Phillip should have come clean and told her they were in love. It would’ve been a tragedy if he married her then left her. All and all the story ended well.
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Kathleen. 🙂
Good story, I enjoyed reading it. George and Priscilla found happiness and they all reunited as families should be.
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Carmen!:)
I very much enjoyed reading book ,look forward to more books
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear June. I’m glad you enjoyed the book. Have a lovely day! 🙂
I very much enjoyed this story. But you were too kind to Philip and Bridgette. I would have banished them to Africa never to be seen again! It hurts to be lied to and cheated on.
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Judy. I’m glad you enjoyed my story. Have a lovely day! 😊
Good read. So glad Bridgette did not push her sister but she and Phillip should have been honest except then we would not have had a story lol. I am not one for extended epilogues I would prefer it to be within the story but nicely done. You could have easily added a few chapters with more detail. All in all a good read and satisfying ending. Hmm how many sisters? Is this a tease for future stories? I just love familiar characters in a series.
Thank you so much for your comment and honest feedback, my dear Diane. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. I’m afraid that there is no tease for future stories, but that’s a great idea. I hope you have a lovely day! 😊
Thoroughly enjoyed the book and am glad Priscilla and George found their HEA. The extended epilogues help give insight to the lives of the characters. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Ann. I’m glad you enjoyed the book. I hope you have a lovely day!😊
What a wonderful story to read! Couldn’t wait read to the end.
Wonderful story. So happy that everything worked out as family.is family no matter what.
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear Toni!
This was a beautiful story. I’m not sure that I would have been able to forgive as easily, however the Regency era and its nobility had their own rules. It seems that George and Priscilla finally built the family they dreamed of, and at least the despicable Phillip lost the dukedom. I assumed by the way he was introduced to George’s brother without the title. What a snake!
I loved reading this book, and the first two in the volume of the first three books. I have reviewed each book separately. Great series!
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear Lisa!
I really enjoyed the story.
I loved your story! I knew sort of how it was going to go but still loved how you went about it. We always like a happy ending, sort of a way to live through another’s life. Thanks for the epilogue. I always wonder…what then!
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear!
I have really enjoyed this story. It was so good to read that Priscilla and her sister were finally able to be reconciled.
Thank you so much for your kind words, my dear!
Really enjoyed the book. It kept me guessing what would happen next. Had a little surprises that I didn’t see coming. Love the Happy Ever After.
Thank you so much, my dear!
Truly enjoyed reading this book. It kept me reading anxiously through the suspense of finding out what Priscilla couldn’t remember…The relationship between Priscilla and George was a really true and special one. They were both such kind people….although, perhaps too kind to her sister at times. Wish the Extended Epilogue went on just a little longer!
Enjoyable book. Kept me interested all through it. Very pleasing to see all the family together for the holidays.
From all the comments, seems we all have the same ones. Wonderful!!!!!!