The widow, p.13
The Widow,
p.13
Sterling kept a tight hold of her hand. “My only family is my cousin, Gwen, and I already know the two of you will become the best of friends. The rest of the Ruthless Dukes are already aware of my feelings for you and look forward, if you will have me, to welcoming you into our small circle. Indeed, I already have an invitation for us to dine with the Duke and Duchess of Melborne. An evening when I am assured they intend for the Prince Regent to also be present.”
To be entertained socially by such illustrious members of Society as the Duke and Duchess of Melborne, with the Prince Regent also in attendance, would, Elizabeth knew, ensure she was accepted by all in Society.
“You do not have to marry me to be given that invitation,” Sterling assured quickly when she made no reply. “The duchess assures me the two of you are already acquainted and that she likes you very much.”
Elizabeth had met the duchess several times at the charitable orphanage where they both offered their services to assist with the children. Elizabeth liked the other woman too. But that acquaintance had been before Grace married the Duke of Melborne.
Before the Duke of Bristol, Sterling, learned how brutally Elizabeth had been treated by her disgraced father-in-law.
She raised her chin as she met Sterling’s gaze. “Why?”
He looked puzzled. “Why what?”
“Why do you wish to marry me?”
Sterling stared at her for several long seconds before wincing. “Damn it, I omitted to mention the most important part of my proposal.” His hands tightened about hers. “Forgive me, Elizabeth, I am unaccustomed to talking of my feelings. I love you,” he stated emotionally. “I love everything and all about you, from the top of your golden head to the soles of your pretty feet. I love Christopher too, and would deem it the greatest honor if I you would allow me to become your husband and his father,” he added so she should be left in absolutely no doubt on that matter either.
She seemed stunned speechless for several seconds, her throat moving as she swallowed, those violet eyes awash with tears. “I love you too, Sterling, but I never believed… Never thought… Are you sure you wish to marry me?” she asked, voicing her uncertainty.
“Very, very sure,” he confirmed fiercely. “I love you so very much, and I intend to tell you that every day for the rest of our lives, if you will have me,” he assured as he moved so that he was now down on only one knee. “Darling Elizabeth, will you please marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?”
“Yes,” she cried as those tears cascaded over her lashes and down her cheeks. “Yes, yes, yes!” She threw herself into his arms.
Which was exactly where Sterling intended her to remain for the rest of their lives.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
One year later
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“I am telling you all will be well,” Melborne assured. He sat and watched Sterling pace up and down the drawing room where they awaited news from upstairs of Elizabeth giving birth to their first child.
The Duchess of Melborne and Sterling’s cousin, Gwen, were with Elizabeth, those three ladies having become fast friends. The doctor and Peggy were also in attendance.
Sterling rounded on his friend. “You cannot possibly know that.”
“Next to Grace, Elizabeth is the strongest woman I know,” Melborne admired before sobering. “She had to be with that monster for a father-in-law.”
The eleventh Earl of Whitlow had duly met his demise at the end of a rope only weeks after being arrested.
The twelfth Earl of Whitlow, five-year-old Christopher, was currently upstairs in the nursery with Mary, his nursemaid, awaiting news of his new brother or sister.
“And if I lost Elizabeth, I should not wish to live,” Sterling admitted bleakly.
The past year of having Elizabeth as his wife and Christopher as his son had been the happiest Sterling had ever known. He could not even tolerate thinking of a future without her and Christopher.
“You will not lose her—” Melborne broke off, both men turning toward the door as it was flung open and a flushed, disheveled, and obviously pregnant Peggy—she and Jimmy had married only a week after Sterling and Elizabeth—stood in the doorway. The weak sound of an infant crying could be heard in the distance.
“Elizabeth…?” Sterling choked.
“Waiting to see you upstairs, Your Grace,” the young woman beamed.
“Go to her, man,” Melborne encouraged.
Sterling gave Peggy’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze as he rushed from the room and up the stairs, barely acknowledging Gwen and the duchess as they stood in the hallway outside the bedchamber, the doctor with them.
It was the same bedchamber Sterling and Elizabeth slept in together every night, neither of them wishing to be apart from the other even for a night. Their dressing rooms were on either side of that main room.
His beloved Elizabeth had insisted on giving birth in the same bedchamber in which their son or daughter had been conceived.
Elizabeth smiled at her husband as he stumbled into the bedchamber. He looked less than his usually sartorial self, his face pale, his hair in disarray, his neckcloth askew. “All is well,” she hastened to assure him. “Come and say hello to your son and daughter.” She indicated the two tiny babies she held, wrapped in a warm blanket, one in each arm.
“My—” Sterling choked, his face becoming even paler.
Elizabeth’s smile was wide with her happiness. “We have given Christopher a brother and a sister, my love. We have another son, and we also have a daughter.”
Tears cascaded unashamedly down her husband’s cheeks as he leaned over to look at the two sleeping babies. “Are they both well? Are you well?” He looked at her anxiously.
“We are all perfectly well and happy, my darling,” Elizabeth assured, knowing it was true.
Because they were, and always would be, with Sterling to love and protect them.
NEWSLETTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
For news on upcoming releases in the Ruthless Regency Dukes, Kingston Security, Regency Scandal, Russian Dragon Heat, Regency Club Venus, Regency Men in Love, Regency Lovers, Steele Protectors, Regency Sinners, Dragon Hearts, Regency Unlaced, Knight Security, and Alpha Series please sign up to my mailing list/newsletter: http://www.eepurl.com/2rfzz
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carole Mortimer is a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2015, RT Career Achievement Award 2017, RT Pioneer for Romance Award 2014. She was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’. Carole has written over 275 contemporary, Regency and paranormal romance novels.
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She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!
OTHER BOOKS BY CAROLE MORTIMER
NEW Regency Series
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The Wager (Ruthless Regency Dukes 1)
The Mistress (Ruthless Regency Dukes 2)
The Widow (Ruthless Regency Dukes 3)
The Guardian (Ruthless Dukes 4)
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Kingston Security:
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Kingston’s Ransom (Kingston Security 1)
Kingston’s Captive (Kingston Security 2)
Kingston’s Redemption (Kingston Security 3) my 275th Book
Kingston’s Enigma (Kingston Security 4)
* * *
Regency Scandal:
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WANTON (Regency Scandal 1)
WILD (Regency Scandal 2)
WAYWARD (Regency Scandal 3)
SINFUL (Regency Scandal 4)
Series in now complete
* * *
Russian Dragon Heat:
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VLADIMIR (Russian Dragon Heat 1)
VAUGHN (Russian Dragon Heat 2)
VIKTOR (Russian Dragon Heat 3)
More books to come in this series.
* * *
Regency Club Venus:
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Bastian’s Surrender (Regency Club Venus 1)
Gabriel’s Torment (Regency Club Venus 2)
Benedict’s Challenge (Regency Club Venus 3)
Julius’s Passion (Regency Club Venus 4)
James’s Lady (Regency Club Venus 5)
Series now complete.
* * *
Dance with the Devil Series:
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MATTEO (Dance with the Devil 1)
LEON (Dance with the Devil 2)
KILLIAN (Dance with the Devil 3)
JERICHO (Dance with the Devil 4)
KIERAN (Dance with the Devil 5)
Series now complete
* * *
Regency Men in Love M/M (Written as C A Mortimer)
* * *
Hidden Lover (Regency Men in Love 1)
Hidden Desire (Regency Men in Love 2)
More books to come in this series.
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Regency Lovers Series:
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INDECENT (Regency Lovers 1)
OBSESSION (Regency Lovers 2)
CRAVING (Regency Lovers 3)
FORBIDDEN (Regency Lovers 4)
SURRENDER (Regency Lovers 5)
SCANDAL (Regency Lovers 6)
Series complete
* * *
Steele Protectors Series:
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LOGAN (Steele Protectors 1)
ATTICUS (Steele Protectors 2)
BRYCE (Steele Protectors 3)
ROURKE (Steele Protectors 4)
HAYDN (Steele Protectors 5) Author’s 250th book
LUCAN (Steele Protectors 6)
Series Complete
* * *
Dragon Hearts – Contemporary paranormal
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Nathaniel (Dragon Hearts 1)
Deryk (Dragon Hearts 2)
Bryn (Dragon Hearts 3)
Dylan (Dragon Hearts 4)
Grigor (Dragon Hearts 5)
Garrett (Dragon Hearts 6)
Aeran & Rhys (Dragon Hearts 7)
Dragon Reunion (Dragon Hearts 8)
Series Complete
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Regency Sinners Series:
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Wicked Torment (Regency Sinners 1)
Wicked Surrender (Regency Sinners 2)
Wicked Scandal (Regency Sinners 3)
Wicked Deception Regency Sinners 4)
Wicked Captive (Regency Sinners 5)
Wicked Temptation (Regency Sinners 6)
Wicked Sinner (Regency Sinners 7)
Wicked Christmas (Regency Sinners 8)
Series now complete.
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Regency Unlaced Series:
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The Duke’s Mistress (Book 1)
Claimed by the Marquis (Book 2)
Taken by the Earl (Book 3)
Pursued by the Viscount (Book 4)
Desired by a Lord (Book 5)
Captured by a Gentleman (Book 6)
Pleasured by a Duke (Book 7)
Seduced by a Marquis (Book 8)
Tamed by the Earl (Book 9)
Series now complete
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Knight Security Series: Spin-off to ALPHA series
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Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5)
Defying Asher (Knight Security 1)
Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2)
Capturing Caleb (Knight Security 3)
Tempting Zander (Knight Security 4)
Enticing Ian (Knight Security 5)
Seducing Ethan (Knight Security 6)
Series now complete
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ALPHA Series:
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Christmas Alpha (Alpha 1)
Dark Alpha (Alpha 2)
Shadow Alpha (Alpha 3) Author’s 200th Book
Midnight Alpha (Alpha 4)
Renegade Alpha (Alpha 5)
Warrior Alpha (Alpha 6)
Rogue Alpha (Alpha 7)
Savage Alpha (Alpha 8)
Series is now complete
Carole Mortimer, The Widow
