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“It’s such a perfect day, isn’t it, Jacob?” Charlotte said, her voice filled with contentment as she sat in the garden, the warm sunlight bathing her in its gentle glow.
Jacob looked at his wife, her form gracefully rounded with their first child, and nodded. “Indeed, it is, my love. The garden is in full bloom, much like you.”
Charlotte laughed softly, resting her hands on her swollen belly. “You always know how to say the right thing. It’s been a wonderful year, hasn’t it?”
Jacob took a seat beside her on the wooden bench, the scent of roses and lavender filling the air. “It has. Your book’s success has brought so much joy, not just to you but to everyone who has read it. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with happiness. “I can hardly believe it sometimes. Seeing my name in print, knowing that people are enjoying Isabella’s story… it’s like a dream.”
Jacob reached over and gently squeezed her hand. “And now you’re working on your second book. Your talent is undeniable, Charlotte. I’m just glad my publisher friend recognized it too.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Jacob. Your support means everything to me.”
Jacob chuckled softly. “Nonsense. You’ve always had the talent. I merely provided a little encouragement. And now look at you, an author with a contract for more books. It’s incredible.”
Charlotte smiled, feeling the baby kick gently. “Our little one seems to agree. I wonder if they’ll grow up loving books as much as we do.”
“I’m sure they will,” Jacob said, placing a tender hand on her belly. “With you as their mother, they’ll have the best stories to inspire them.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, enjoying the tranquility of the garden. The past year had been a whirlwind of change and joy, culminating in the anticipation of their child’s arrival. Charlotte’s success as an author had been the icing on the cake, bringing her dreams to life in ways she had never imagined.
As they sat together, a servant approached, bowing respectfully. “My Lord, My Lady, Miss Olivia has arrived.”
Jacob frowned slightly. “Olivia? What could she possibly want now?”
Charlotte sighed, feeling a mix of emotions at the mention of Olivia’s name. “She’s been sent away for her behavior, but perhaps she’s come to make amends.”
Jacob stood, offering his hand to help Charlotte rise. “We shall see. But I won’t tolerate any more of her schemes.”
They walked slowly towards the house, Jacob’s arm protectively around Charlotte’s waist. The garden gate swung open, and Olivia stepped through, her expression one of surprise and hesitation as she took in the sight of Charlotte’s pregnancy and Jacob’s obvious devotion.
“Jacob,” Olivia began, her voice uncertain. “I… I wasn’t expecting…”
Jacob’s gaze hardened. “Olivia, what are you doing here?”
Olivia’s eyes flicked to Charlotte, and then back to Jacob. “I thought… I thought perhaps things might be different.”
Charlotte felt a pang of pity for Olivia, but she knew better than to let her guard down. “What do you mean, Olivia?” she asked, her tone calm but firm.
Olivia shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Charlotte’s rounded belly once more. “I’ve been staying with my aunt. I thought perhaps Jacob might still… that is, I hoped…”
Jacob’s expression softened, but only slightly. “Olivia, if you’ve come here to cause trouble, you can turn around and leave now. I have no interest in rekindling anything with you. My life is with Charlotte, and soon, our child.”
Olivia’s face fell, and she took a step back. “I see. I just thought…”
Charlotte stepped forward, her voice gentle but resolute. “Olivia, you need to understand that Jacob and I are happy. We’re starting a family. If you truly care about him, you’ll respect that.”
Jacob nodded, his hand tightening protectively around Charlotte’s. “And if I hear any more rumors or slander about my wife, I’ll know exactly where they’re coming from. Consider this your final warning, Olivia.”
Olivia’s eyes filled with tears, and she looked away, her face flushed with a mixture of shame and regret. “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
Charlotte sighed, her heart aching a little for the girl she once considered a friend. “Perhaps in time, you’ll find your own happiness, Olivia. But it’s not here. Not with us.”
Olivia nodded slowly, her eyes still downcast. “I understand. I’ll leave now. I wish you both well.”
With that, Olivia turned and hurried away, her departure as abrupt as her arrival had been. Charlotte watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and lingering sadness.
Jacob turned to Charlotte, his expression one of concern. “Are you all right, my love?”
Charlotte nodded, leaning into him for support. “Yes, I’m fine. I just… I hope she finds her way.”
Jacob kissed her forehead, his touch reassuring. “You’re too kind-hearted for your own good. But that’s one of the many reasons I love you. Let’s focus on us, and our future.”
Charlotte smiled, feeling the warmth of his love envelop her. “You’re right. Our future is all that matters.”
Jacob led Charlotte back to the bench, his arm still around her waist. “Come, let’s sit for a while longer. You need your rest, and the baby needs you to be calm and happy.”
Charlotte sighed contentedly as she settled back onto the bench. “It’s hard not to feel at peace in such a beautiful place. Our garden truly is a haven.”
Jacob nodded, taking her hand in his. “It is. And it’s a place where we can build many happy memories. Speaking of which, I believe you had some pages you wanted me to look over?”
Charlotte’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Yes, as you know, I’ve been working on the second book. I think you’ll like the direction it’s taking.”
Jacob smiled, eager to see what she had created. “I’m sure I will. Your writing always amazes me, Charlotte.”
As she reached for her manuscript, the garden gate creaked open again, and both of them looked up to see Olivia standing there, hesitating. She looked markedly different from before—her once proud and haughty demeanor seemed subdued.
“Olivia?” Jacob said, his tone cautious.
Olivia took a tentative step forward. “I’m sorry to intrude again. I just… I wanted to apologize properly. To both of you.”
Charlotte exchanged a glance with Jacob before turning her attention back to Olivia. “We’re listening.”
Olivia wrung her hands, her eyes downcast. “I behaved terribly. I let jealousy cloud my judgment, and I caused so much trouble. I’m truly sorry for everything. I see now how happy you both are, and I have no right to interfere.”
Jacob’s expression softened slightly. “It takes courage to admit one’s mistakes, Olivia. Thank you for apologizing.”
Charlotte nodded, feeling a surge of compassion. “I hope you can find happiness for yourself, Olivia. Everyone deserves a chance to start over.”
Olivia’s eyes filled with tears, but she managed a small smile. “Thank you, Charlotte. That means a lot. I’ll be leaving for Bath to stay with my aunt indefinitely. Perhaps some time away will help me find my path.”
Jacob nodded in approval. “Bath is a good place for a fresh start. I wish you well, Olivia.”
With a final, grateful nod, Olivia turned and left the garden, leaving Charlotte and Jacob to their peace. Charlotte watched her go, feeling a mixture of relief and hope.
“She seemed sincere,” Charlotte said softly.
“I think she was,” Jacob agreed. “Perhaps she’s finally realized the error of her ways.”
Charlotte leaned against him, feeling a sense of closure. “I hope so. I’d like to believe people can change for the better.”
Jacob kissed her temple, his voice tender. “You have such a kind heart, Charlotte. It’s one of the many reasons I love you.”
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the gentle rustle of the leaves and the distant chirping of birds creating a soothing symphony. Eventually, Charlotte handed Jacob her manuscript, eager for his thoughts.
“Here it is,” she said, her eyes shining with anticipation. “I’ve been working on it every day, and I think it’s coming together nicely.”
Jacob took the pages, his eyes scanning the neat handwriting. “I have no doubt it’s wonderful, my love. Let’s see…”
As he read, Charlotte watched his face for any sign of reaction. His expressions shifted from concentration to amusement, to admiration, and she felt a flutter of excitement.
“This is incredible, Charlotte,” he said, looking up at her with genuine admiration. “Your talent never ceases to amaze me. The characters are vivid, the plot is engaging, and your prose is beautiful.”
Charlotte blushed with pleasure. “Do you really think so?”
“I know so,” Jacob affirmed. “This is going to be another success, without a doubt.”
Relieved and overjoyed, Charlotte placed a hand on her belly, feeling the baby’s gentle movements. “I hope our child will love stories as much as we do.”
Jacob placed his hand over hers, smiling warmly. “I’m sure they will. With you as their mother, how could they not?”
They shared a tender kiss, the promise of a bright future ahead of them. The trials and tribulations of the past year had only strengthened their bond, and now, with a baby on the way and Charlotte’s writing flourishing, their life together was filled with love and hope.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the garden, Charlotte felt a deep sense of contentment. “Thank you, Jacob. For believing in me, for loving me, and for being my partner in everything.”
Jacob squeezed her hand gently. “And thank you, Charlotte, for bringing so much joy and love into my life. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us and our growing family.”
With hearts full of love and a future full of promise, they sat together, embracing the peace and beauty of the moment, ready to face whatever came next, together.
OFFER: A BRAND NEW SERIES AND 2 FREEBIES FOR YOU!
Grab my new series, "Noble Gentlemen of the Ton", and get 2 FREE novels as a gift! Have a look here!
Hello, my dear readers! I hope you truly enjoyed this heartwarming romance! I would love to know your thoughts on it! Had you imagined a different conclusion for our couple’s love story? I am eagerly waiting to read your comments here! Thank you – always! ♥️💫
It is a lovely story starting from the first meeting between Charlotte and Jacob to the end of the book. It has romance, ugly villains and some suspense too. I did notice that on one page you referred to Jacob twice as a duke instead of an earl. Your proof reader should have caught that mistake.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention! I’m glad you enjoyed the story.
Brenda, this is your best book yet! I was hooked from the 1st page in. I loved the characters, my faves being Charlotte, Sara, Mrs. McDonald and eventually Jacob. I didn’t have much respect for him for a good share of the book. But he changed my mind when he finally changed his opinion of Olivia. In the extended epilogue I was glad to see that Olivia had changed some. Great book!
Thank you for your kind words!
I am glad to see your writing get better and better. The book was great until the ending. It did not seem as well developed and as noted the proof reading was lacking. But all in all I am glad to have found you as an author and love seeing how improved you have become with each book.
Thank you for your kind words and constructive feedback dear Marilyn! I’m thrilled to hear that you’ve enjoyed my writing and noticed the improvement over time. I appreciate your honesty about the ending and proofreading, and I’ll strive to improve further in future books. Your support means a lot to me!
Such a lovely story, filled with memorable characters and great action. I found it interesting to watch Charlotte grow in her confidence. My favorite character was (gasp!) Olivia. She was the perfect villain, one you “love to hate”!
I was amazed, however, by the use of so many hyphens. Most, unfortunately, were used incorrectly or not needed at all.
Thank you for your kind feedback dear Jan! I’m delighted that you enjoyed the story and the characters, especially Charlotte and Olivia. I appreciate your observation about the hyphens and will take that into account for future editing. Your insights are very helpful, and I’m glad you shared them.
Again another book you can’t put down!All the Characters were so believable and I felt like I was stepping right into the book.I loved how you incorporated happiness,anger, surprise and most of all love and forgiveness in the plot.I also noticed that the Earl was called Duke,but the extra epilogue totally was wonderful the title was forgotten.Again well done Bridget,so glade I’m on your team
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic feedback, Barbara! I’m thrilled to hear that you found the characters believable and the plot engaging. I appreciate you pointing out the title inconsistency, and I’ll make sure to address it. Your support means a lot to me!
A wonderful story filled with romance and intrigues. Very well written with a wonderful plot and fascinating characters. Love the way the story developed and ended. Magnificent. Thank you for sharing. Please continue writing, as it brings much joy to the readers.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the romance, intrigue, and characters in the story. Your support truly means a lot, and knowing that the writing brings joy to readers like you is incredibly rewarding. I’ll definitely keep writing and hope to continue sharing stories that captivate and entertain. Thanks again for your encouragement!