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Bath, 1825
The grand, imposing doors of the Viscount of Somerset’s mansion swung open, welcoming a steady stream of guests. It was a day of double celebration, and the air buzzed with anticipation and joy. Each footfall echoed through the halls of the manor, filled with the genteel murmuring of the Regency-era aristocracy.
Adeline, now the Viscountess of Somerset, was ensconced in the sitting room on the first floor, a room bathed in warm sunlight filtering through the tall windows. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she cradled her month-old son, Oliver, in her arms, his tuft of dark hair matching Alexander’s.
Her husband, the viscount, stood by the fireplace, a warm smile gracing his handsome features as he watched over his wife and their newborn son. The love in his gaze was unmistakable and all-consuming, a love that had only grown stronger over their years of marriage.
“Darling, our guests are waiting,” he gently reminded her, his deep voice resonating in the quiet room.
“I know, dear,” Adeline replied, her gaze never leaving their son. “Just a moment longer.”
Alexander walked over to his wife, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You’ve done well, my love,” he said, looking down at Oliver.
Adeline gave him a grateful smile. “We have done well,” she corrected. “And I could not have done it without you.”
Alexander’s eyes softened at her words, a silent acknowledgement of the trials they had weathered together. Adeline’s last pregnancy had taken a severe toll on her health, leaving her weak and bedridden for weeks. The midwife and the physician had given strict instructions that she was not to leave the bed, a thought that weighed heavily on Alexander.
But today, they put the worries aside. It was a day of celebration, the day marking the birth of their fifth child and Adeline’s twenty-seventh birthday. The house was filled with laughter and chatter, the air scented with the fragrance of fresh flowers and the aroma of delicacies from the kitchen.
As the first guests entered the sitting room, Adeline felt a surge of joy. Her oldest son, Edmund, who was nearly six, entered, leading his sisters, the four-year-old triplets, Amelia, Isabelle, and Victoria. Dressed in their Sunday best, they were a sight to behold. Their innocent giggles filled the room, making it feel more alive than it already was.
Edmund, much like his father, had an air of gentle authority about him, his young features already showing hints of the handsome man he would grow into. The triplets, with their mother’s sparkling eyes and infectious enthusiasm, were a whirlwind of energy, their youthful exuberance bringing vibrancy to the occasion.
“Mama!” Edmund cried, rushing over to his mother, his sisters trailing behind him.
“Look, Mama, we’ve brought you flowers,” Amelia said, presenting a small bouquet of wildflowers.
“Happy birthday, Mama,” Victoria chimed in, a bright smile on her face.
“And Oliver is one month old today!” Isabelle added, her little hands clapping together in excitement.
Adeline’s heart swelled with love for her children. She thanked them, bending down to kiss each one on the forehead.
“Thank you, my loves,” she said, her voice brimming with warmth.
Amidst the sounds of happy children, bustling servants, and chattering guests, Adeline and Alexander shared a knowing look. This, they realized, was the life they had always dreamt of, a life they were living to the fullest, filled with love and a family that was their pride and joy. The hardships they had encountered along the way had only served to strengthen their bond, forging an unbreakable connection that was palpable to anyone who witnessed them together.
The party was a joyous affair, the rooms filled with an ensemble of guests who had come to offer their congratulations and birthday wishes. Adeline received them all with grace and charm, her contentment radiating outward to touch everyone present. Alexander remained by her side, ever the attentive husband, ensuring she was comfortable and well taken care of.
At the heart of the festivities, Edmund, Amelia, Isabelle, and Victoria were the centre of attention. They pranced around, playing and laughing, their youthful exuberance infectious. Laughter echoed through the high-ceilinged rooms, a testament to the love and warmth that pervaded the mansion. Amidst the constant hum of conversation, their joyous voices were the most beautiful symphony to their parents’ ears.
In the midst of the celebration, a lull came over the room as a towering cake was brought in, lit with twenty-seven glowing candles. The sight of it elicited a gasp of delight from the triplets and a wide-eyed look of fascination from Edmund.
“Make a wish, Mama,” Edmund said, his young eyes serious.
Adeline looked at her son, then at Alexander, and lastly at little Oliver sleeping peacefully in his cradle. Her heart overflowed with a profound sense of gratitude for the life she had been blessed with. She closed her eyes, her lips curving into a gentle smile. She didn’t need to make a wish. Everything she could ever wish for, she already had.
As she blew out the candles amidst a round of applause, Adeline looked at her family, her gaze lingering on Alexander. She saw the same contentment she felt in his eyes, a mirror of her own happiness.
“Shall we retire for the night, my love?” Alexander asked softly, his hand reaching out for hers. “Our guests will understand. You need your rest.”
Adeline nodded, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. As they made their way out of the room, their guests’ cheerful voices filled the air, along with the children’s giggles and the soft coos of their youngest. It was the sound of their happiness, their life—a life they wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Once they were alone in their room, Alexander turned to Adeline, his eyes soft with affection. “Happy birthday, my love,” he said, pulling her into his arms.
Adeline rested her head on his chest, her heart beating in sync with his. “Thank you, Alexander. For everything.”
“No, Adeline,” he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. “It is I who should be thanking you. For our children, for our life together, for your love.”
He gently lifted her chin, his gaze locked onto hers. Their lips met in a tender kiss, a silent promise of their undying love. As they pulled apart, Adeline whispered, “Here’s to living life to the fullest, together.”
“And loving each other without restraint,” Alexander added, sealing their pledge with another loving kiss.
This, they knew, was just the beginning. There was so much more life to live, so many more memories to create, and they looked forward to every moment of it together. The past trials were just that: past. The future held only promise, a promise they intended to fulfil, for themselves and their family. Adeline and Alexander were living their happily ever after, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
The night had fully settled in, and the glow from the lanterns outside bathed the room in a warm, golden hue. The echoes of laughter and cheerful chatter from the party that had ended hours ago still lingered in the air. Adeline and Alexander were alone in their bedroom now, the quiet a stark contrast to the earlier bustle of the day.
“Alexander,” Adeline said, looking at him with a soft, loving gaze, “we are blessed, are we not?” She held his hand, squeezing it slightly.
Alexander, seated on the edge of the bed next to her, turned to her tenderly. “Yes, we are, Adeline,” he agreed. His voice was firm, steady, but his gaze betrayed the deep emotion he felt at that moment. He reached out and gently brushed a loose curl away from her face. “We have five healthy, beautiful children and a home filled with love.”
A wistful smile played on Adeline’s lips. “I remember when I used to yearn for this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I used to dream of a life filled with love and laughter, a home, a family. And now, it’s all come true.”
Alexander nodded, his thumb gently caressing her hand. “I remember those days too,” he said. He let out a soft laugh. “I also remember how you used to sneak off into the woods, away from your parents’ watchful eyes. You were always so full of life, so eager to explore and experience everything.”
Adeline laughed softly at the memory. “Oh, those were the days,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “I was so restless, so eager to break free from my restrictions. And now, look at us. We have everything we could ever wish for.”
Alexander’s gaze turned serious. “But you almost lost your life,” he said, his voice strained. “After the last pregnancy… I… I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”
She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his cheek. “I know. But I’m here, aren’t I? The worst is behind us. We are together, and we are happy. That’s all that matters.”
He nodded, placing his hand over hers. “Yes, you are right. We have each other, and we have our children. We are blessed, indeed.”
There was a moment of comfortable silence between them, the only sounds being the soft rustling of the curtains and the distant hoot of an owl. The tranquility of the night provided a fitting backdrop for their heartfelt conversation.
Alexander held Adeline’s gaze, his emotions welling up. “Adeline,” he declared, his voice thick with emotion, “I promise to live each day to the fullest with you, to love you with unrestrained passion, and to cherish every moment we have together.”
Tears welled up in Adeline’s eyes, her heart swelling with love for the man before her. “And I promise the same, Alexander,” she replied, her voice choked with emotion. “We have a lifetime of love and laughter ahead of us.”
Their promises to each other hung in the air, binding them together even more firmly. They held each other’s gaze for a long moment before Alexander leaned over, pressing a tender kiss to Adeline’s forehead. It was a simple act, yet it spoke volumes of their love and commitment to each other.
The following morning, sunlight streaming through the windows and the chirping of birds heralded the start of a new day. Adeline and Alexander found themselves seated in their sun-drenched parlour, their children bustling around them. Their oldest son was helping his sisters with their reading, their voices mingling with the coos and gurgles of the baby boy in Adeline’s arms.
As Alexander poured tea into delicate porcelain cups, he couldn’t help but marvel at the scene before him. It was a simple moment, a snapshot of their everyday life, yet it was imbued with so much love and happiness that it took his breath away.
“This,” he said, his voice filled with contentment as he handed Adeline her cup of tea, “is our happily ever after.”
Adeline accepted the cup with a warm smile. “Yes, it is,” she agreed. “And it’s more beautiful than anything we could have ever dreamt of.”
As they sat there, surrounded by their children, bathed in the warm morning light, they knew that they were living their dream. They had overcome adversity and emerged stronger, their love for each other unyielding. This was their life, their love story. And they wouldn’t have it any other way.
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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 the book and how the story concluded for our beloved heroes! Was there any scene you would single out as your favourite? Had you imagined any different happily ever after for Adeline and Alexander? I am eagerly waiting to read your replies here! Thank you – always! ♥️🏵️
As a new member of your ARC team I am happy to comment on your book “Falling for the Duke’s Daughter”. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I like that it is clean and wholesome. I also liked the introduction of a “sickly” young woman meeting someone in the woods. This was a unique way of introducing the characters. I also liked how you show their internal thoughts in italics, and I liked the morals of the characters and their observation of people in general.
Wanda
Welcome to the team dear Wanda! I am glad you enjoyed the story and I appreciate the lovely support and the precious feedback!
A good and wonderful read
Thank you dear Gwen!
I loved this heart warming story. The strong connection between Alexander and Adeline was felt on every page. The only thing I pondered over was, when Clair and Alexander were in the park as part of the scheme that was put into action to separate Adeline and Alex; why were they walking alone without a chaperone? The same for Adeline, when she went to the park to see evidence of something between Claire and Alex; why was Adeline in the park without a chaperone? Other than those thoughts, I loved this story!
You are right my dear Terry! That detail must have slipped my mind when writing the story! Sometimes I am too into it to think of the details! Thank you so much for your feedback and I am glad you enjoyed the story nonetheless!
I really enjoyed this story. But in the extended story they are duke and duchess, how can that be she had brothers?
Thank you for the comment my dear! Yes, the title has been a small mistake from my part! I hope you enjoyed the story nonetheless!
I love the story very much. The characters are absolutely wonderful and interesting as well as as entertaining. The journey is full of adventure and romance as well as mischief. I found myself having to go back and reread some parts where the use of wrong pronouns for the characters being mentioned was he for her or viceversa or the wrong name. Any way over all is an absolutely beautiful and heartfelt journey of love with a very inspiring happily ever after. Thank for sharing this amazing book. Definitely a must read and highly recommend it.
Thank you so much for the loving support and the feedback dear Lourdes! I hope the typos did not ruin your reading experience and you were able to dive in the story completely! I absolutely appreciate your comment! 💕
A fun read. I like that you Explore the concept of Romance with someone who Has Health deficits. You explain the yearnings of not being able to be outside During your youth. You had a good eye for the subject and for the context Thank you for this I look forward to more.
I am glad you liked the story! It is a sensitive matter indeed and I am glad you thought it was a nice approach!
This was a lovely story starting from their unusual meeting in the woods and then again 6 years later. There were a few things you missed though such as the letter written by Ashleigh to Alexander pretending to be Adeline. Alexander should have recognized that the handwriting was different since he had received other letters from Adeline previously. For Claire to entrap Alexander in a public park where Adeline would see them also meant that Claire had to arrange for no one else to be there and that would be impossible. She should have set up such a scenario in the garden or in the house with the same results. In the epilogue, they should still be a viscount and viscountess. That would have been good enough ending. It seems you forgot their titles and mistakenly called them duke and duchess. If you really meant them to be duke and duchess then you should have explained how they gained those titles. The last thing I want to point out is that they got married months after her 21st birthday so how could it be her 26th birthday when the eldest of the 5 children is already 6? The math is incorrect. It is probably too late to change the original book but the mistakes in the epilogue should be easier to correct. Apart from some mistakes, it was a really good story. It was clean, sweet, romantic and all the characters were well developed. Even Claire and the earl were not too villainous even if they tried to keep them apart for their own selfish reasons.
Thank you so much dear Madhu! Your sweet support and your precious feedback are always much appreciated!
A very enjoyable romance story between Alexander and Adeline which spanned over the years since they accidentally net in the woods. After trials and tribulations caused by the Earl and his cousin Claire, their sweet love overcomes all the mystery and drama. Including their thoughts and feelings in italics added to the story story in a special way. As a newer ARC reader of your books, I found it a very enjoyable clean and sweet romance novel. I recommend this and any future writings of this author for others to read, they will enjoy.
Thank you so much dear Darlene! Your support means the world to me! ❤️
A good clean and wholesome plot with good interplay between the characters. Enjoyed the book and looking forward to the next one.
Thank you so much dear Margaret! ❤️
Wonderful read with wonderful characters. I. recommended it to several of my friends.
Thank you so much dear! You are so sweet!
I enjoyed your book immensely. I loved the two main characters from the start. I felt throughout they would find happiness at some time. Surprised that she was able to carry triplets considering her early years. Where are those caring men now??
Thank you dear Nancy! Maybe the answer to your question lies in other books 😊 Stay tuned to enjoy more stories like this!
Love this story. It’s wholesome and the way it is written is just what a woman my age would enjoy. No violence and just a light and subtle intrigue to spice the story. Here’s a toast for more of the same genre.
Thank you so much dear Ness! So glad you enjoyed it!
I enjoyed thé book very much. Thé story Bégan in a unique Way which captured m’y interest immediately. Thanks y ou for a lovely and wholesome story.
Thank you dear Emily! I am so glad you enjoyed it! ♥️