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Four Years Later
“Simon, don’t let him climb that!” Amelia’s voice rang out, half-exasperated and half-amused, as she hurried across the sunlit garden.
Simon glanced up from the stack of papers he’d been reviewing on the garden bench. “Which one?” he called back, though he already knew.
Their son, Henry, had taken to exploring every tree, nook, and cranny of their sprawling London estate. At four years old, he was full of boundless energy and curiosity. He had just scrambled halfway up the cherry tree near the terrace, his dark curls wild and his grin triumphant.
“Henry Edward Campbell!” Amelia’s voice grew sterner, but her lips twitched with a smile. “What have I told you about climbing?”
“That I should wait for Papa,” Henry replied cheerfully, though he showed no signs of coming down.
“And yet here you are, halfway to the sky without him,” she said, planting her hands on her hips.
Simon rose, brushing off his waistcoat and suppressing a chuckle. He crossed the lawn and easily reached up to lift Henry down into his arms. “All right, lad, let’s not give your mother heart palpitations before luncheon.”
Amelia shook her head but couldn’t hide her smile as Simon set Henry back on the ground. “You spoil him.”
Simon smirked. “I call it cultivating his adventurous spirit. One day, he might make a fine duke.”
Amelia rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. “And what of Emily? She’s been suspiciously quiet all morning.”
Their three-year-old daughter was indeed unusually subdued. They found her a few moments later, seated beside her cousin Sophie, Eliza’s eldest. The two girls were arranging daisies into little crowns, their giggles filling the air.
“Emily’s inherited your focus,” Simon remarked softly, watching their daughter with pride.
“And her father’s charm,” Amelia added, leaning into him. “Not to mention her knack for persuasion.”
As they stood there, the sound of approaching hoofbeats drew their attention. Moments later, a carriage rolled into view, and Benedict’s familiar figure leapt down before it had fully stopped.
“Eliza’s inside,” he called, striding toward Simon and Amelia with his usual boisterous energy. “And the children—well, let’s just say it’s a full house now.”
Amelia laughed, stepping forward to embrace her brother-in-law. “Welcome home, Benedict. How was the journey?”
“Long,” he said, but his grin widened as his gaze fell on Henry and Emily. “Though it’s worth it to see all of you again.”
Eliza followed, carrying their youngest, a cherubic toddler, as Sophie and her twin brothers trailed behind. The sight of the children rushing to greet each other warmed Amelia’s heart, and she shared a knowing smile with Simon.
“We’re lucky, aren’t we?” she murmured.
Simon’s hand found hers, his grip firm and reassuring. “More than lucky,” he replied. “We’re blessed.”
***
“Is that what you’re wearing?” Priscilla’s voice was teasing as she eyed her mother’s latest attempt at a gown.
Lady Davenport, seated comfortably on the settee in the drawing room of Amelia and Simon’s London home, raised a brow. “I believe it’s quite fashionable, don’t you?”
Priscilla snorted, a sound so unladylike that even her mother paused to glance at her with a mixture of surprise and amusement.
“Fashionable?” Priscilla folded her arms, a mock disbelief in her expression. “That’s one way to put it, Mother. But I’m not sure it’ll get you an invitation to any decent balls in the season.”
“Oh, Priscilla,” her mother sighed, shaking her head. “Your opinions on fashion have always been a bit too… bold for my liking. Just like your father’s.”
Priscilla laughed, her tone lighter than it had ever been in the past. It was an old joke between them, one that Amelia knew well.
Since Priscilla’s first season, which had ended in a disastrous matchmaking attempt with Lord Pennington, she had taken an entirely new approach to her debut. With guidance from her mother, Priscilla had grown into a confident young woman.
“Do you think Simon would approve?” Amelia asked with a knowing smile, leaning against the doorframe.
Priscilla rolled her eyes. “No need for that, I already know what I think of his opinions. He’s too kind to be of any use to me.”
“But I suspect he’s far too fond of you to ever say otherwise,” Amelia said, grinning.
Priscilla’s expression darkened briefly, but she quickly regained her composure. “My father’s finally come to terms with the fact that I don’t need a title to be of value. And my future husband already has a title, thanks to you.”
Amelia smiled at her niece’s words. “You’ve turned out well,” she said quietly, walking toward her. “And your father’s learning, too. It takes time for some men to understand the value of family.”
Priscilla softened. “He’s trying. And now he’s proud of you too—proud that you’ve married Simon.”
***
Simon had just finished a letter to Benedict, when Amelia entered the study, her footsteps light on the thick carpet. She stopped just behind him, her fingers brushing against his shoulder as she leaned in to see what he was writing.
“Another letter to Benedict?” she asked, her voice soft but warm.
He smiled and turned to kiss her cheek. “Yes. He and Eliza are settling in well in London. Their children are already excited about the idea of visiting the country estate.”
“It will be lovely to have them back,” Amelia said, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. “Our families were always meant to be together.”
Simon nodded. “Benedict and I have come a long way. It was always a matter of time before we found our place together.”
Amelia smiled at the mention of Benedict. The years since their marriage had been full of growth for both of them. Watching Benedict and Eliza return to England after their time in America was a joy, and the cousins, once rivals, now shared a bond of respect and friendship.
Simon set the letter down and looked up at his wife, his gaze warm with affection. “I’ve been meaning to ask you,” he began, “Do you think it’s time we finally talk to the children about… Angus?”
Amelia’s expression faltered briefly. “You mean his trial?”
Simon nodded. “Yes. His actions caused so much heartache for you, but I want our children to understand. They’re old enough now to know the truth.”
Amelia sighed softly, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s not something I’m eager to revisit. But I agree. They need to know. And Angus is still in jail, isn’t he?”
Simon’s lips tightened, his eyes darkening. “Yes. It seems that even after all this time, his fate is sealed. The law doesn’t take kindly to his kind of betrayal.”
Amelia gazed out the window. “It still feels surreal. How could we have known then that he would go so far?”
Simon walked over to her, resting his hand on her back. “We didn’t know, but we know now. And the most important thing is that we’ve been able to protect our family from him. He may still be in jail, but we’re free from the fear he once held over us.”
Amelia turned to face him, her eyes soft. “Yes, we are. In time, our children will know that their father and uncle did everything they could to protect them. That will matter more than the stories of the past.”
“And they’ll grow up knowing how much you’ve overcome, Amelia,” Simon said, his voice rich with emotion. “You’ve shown them what it means to be strong, to never give up.”
She smiled, her heart filled by his words. “And we’ve shown them what it means to love, Simon. To always come back to each other, no matter what.”
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Hello, my dear readers! I hope you truly enjoyed this extended epilogue! I would love to know your thoughts on it! Had you imagined a different conclusion for our couple? I am eagerly waiting to read your replies here! Thank you – always! 💗
It was a lovely story with lovely characters and loving relationships between the brother and sister, the friends, the niece and her aunts and of course Simon and Amelia. The uncle was a nasty man but became around in the end. Because it was read as an ARC, I have to point out your mistakes and hope you can fix the errors. Normally Simon would become the duke and his mother the dowager when his father died. However, you have Simon writing to his father for business advice and both parents ride with Eliza to the wedding. You should remove references to the father and the book would be fine. Your alternate is to put in a reason why Simon became the duke even though his father has not died. Though my first suggestion is better. You never explained how Angus and the earl teamed up.
There are many more errors in the extended epilogue but those are easier for you to fix since that ish set your control and not puYblished. To start with your epilogue is 4 years later but they already have a 4 year old son. It would make more sense if the epilogue started 5 years later taking into account 9 months of pregnancy. Priscilla is daughter of aunt Cecily and not lady Davenport. How could Emily be playing with Sophia when Eliza arrives later with her 4 children including Sophia. Simon and Benedict were friends and not rival cousins. Also Amelia is Priscilla’s cousin not aunt.
Thank you, Madhu! You are right, it is not clear why Simon is the Duke while his father is still alive, so I fixed it. I will also look into the issues you described in the Extended Epilogue! I appreciate you reaching out with suggestions and corrections, thank you so much for your care and support! Your level of involvement is phenomenal, and I am immensely grateful! 🥰
Thoroughly enjoyable. I had a couple observations about the relationshps in this EE but Madhu already pointed it out.
Thanks for another winner. Eliza
What would I do without my fantastic readers, Sharmama? You often point out to me things my proofreader does not catch! Thank you! You are life-savers!
My thoughts were the same as Madhu. The same questions about time and relationships.
Good story line!
There was a mix-up here, Carol, but I will fix it as soon as I can. You are very kind to reach out and I am glad you enjoyed the storyline!
I agree with Madhu and Sharmama, I thought this was a really sweet romance. No love/hate before falling in love with each other. It was rather refreshing to see how kind Simon was as were all the characters except Uncle, the Earl and Angus. I am a big fan of you and your books.
You are always here, and you share this journey with me, Shirley! Thank you so much! I’m glad the book resonated with you, it’s fantastic when that happens! Thank you for your support, truly!
I really enjoyed reading this book! I couldn’t wait to see what the ‘bad men’ did. Thank you for your books!
Glad you enjoyed it Carolyn! I thank you for the support and your kind words!