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!
The wedding of Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Winthrope, was held precisely four weeks after the public announcement was toasted in London’s Botanical Gardens.
Before returning to the country estate at the close of the Season, the Duke insisted that he take his bride on an extended trip to visit beautiful places around England and even to Paris, France.
With winter closing in, however, travel became difficult. Despite the fact, the Duke wished to spoil his wife more with worldly adventures, he knew that such a thing would be too difficult.
“I would much rather return to our home anyway, my love,” Ella ensured him on their return trip to the estate.
“Wish to make it your own, I suppose?” he asked. “I hope you will not mind that mother and Pammy will be there too with us.”
“Not at all. I hoped for it actually. I don’t care so much to make things my own. I’m sure everything will be wonderful as it is. It will just be nice to spend our first holiday together as a family.”
“Perhaps we could even convince your mother to join us?” the Duke suggested.
“It wouldn’t hurt to try,” Ella responded though she didn’t seem as certain as her husband.
Though Mrs Ward had attended their nuptials just before the close of summer, she had done so somewhat reluctantly. Ella guessed her mother didn’t think she would fit well in Ella’s new life and was resolved to just go on living as usual without her daughter being a part of her existence.
Ella and the Duke, of course, had other ideas on the matter, but Ella was keenly aware that it would take some time before her mother came around. She hoped that eventually, she would leave the shop to be run by others under her and choose to retire at the country estate.
Ella still wished to create her designs and showcase them in the dress shop window, a dream that the Duke fully supported and encouraged. Still, she also understood that her life as a Duchess would be very different from what she had planned.
She would never sit at the counter of the shop again helping customers or stay up late and stitch by candlelight. Instead, those tasks would be delegated to others. However, now the shop would continue to house her designs. She would still stop in from time to time at first to visit her mother, and perhaps later to check on its progress after her mother’s retirement.
Even though Mrs Ward wasn’t entirely willing to be a part of Ella’s life, she had still sent her letters over the months from all their different destinations. She even sent a few packages of unique finds along their travels.
“If you tell her about this, she will be sure to come around a lot faster,” the Duke suggested placing a gentle hand on her belly.
“It’s too soon, my love,” Ella reminded her husband. “We only just found out ourselves a week ago.”
She could tell that the Duke was already bursting with excitement at the prospect of being a father so quickly.
“I suppose if you want we can wait a while longer to share the news, but when you start showing, you can’t expect me to hold my tongue.”
“When I think of you, it is not someone who keeps his opinion to himself, so I would expect nothing less,” Ella teased.
The Duke gave her a smouldering look from across the carriage they were riding in. He came to sit next to her in a swift movement, wrapping her tight in his arms in the small seat.
“I do believe you are trying to rile me, my Duchess,” he spoke in a deep lustful tone.
“I would never, my Duke.”
He gave a gruff grunt of disapproval at her teasing before enveloping her in a deep kiss. She was nearly about to tell him they had better stop before they were caught in a very compromising situation by anyone who might catch a glimpse into their windows when the driver rapped on the roof of the carriage.
“Coming up on the estate now, Your Grace,” he announced.
“Oh good,” Ella squealed in excitement.
She quickly untangled herself from her husband amid his moans of protest.
“Oh, don’t gripe. You’re the one who told him to announce when we were close. You said the view was too good to miss.”
“Yes, well, I think I changed my mind. I think my view from right here in the carriage is much better.”
He reached forward and gently tugged at the hem of her deep blue cotton skirt. She easily swatted his hand away and pressed her face against the glass of the window.
Resting his jaw on his hand, he gave out a sigh of resentment.
“It’s on the other side, my Duchess,” he said with a bemoaned tone.
“Oh, don’t be so sour. No one likes a beastly Duke,” Ella giggled.
She crawled the short distance across the velvet cushion and pressed her face against the cold glass.
“Oh, it’s beautiful,” Ella exclaimed as the stone structure arose from the surrounding trees.
She felt the slight sink of the cushion as her husband came to sit next to her again. She could feel the warmth of his breath against her neck as he leaned in for his own look at the view.
“Welcome home, my Duchess,” he said softly before placing a gentle kiss on her neck just below her ear.
Ella turned around and smiled at her husband.
“You are my home,” she said resolutely.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her lips against his pouring all her love for him in that single kiss.
Readers who read this book also liked
 |
 |
 |
 |
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 dears, I hope you enjoyed the book and the Extended Epilogue! I will be waiting for your comments here. Thank you 🙂
You have managed to bring us another amazing story, with a brilliantly thought out plot. A wonderful rags to riches tale, that has some exquisitely crafted characters, who have the strength and determination to overcome their social differences and detractors. The extended epilogue as usual, is a great device that brings their stories to an amazing conclusion. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Thank you for your kind words, my dear Stephen! I’m so happy to hear that!
Beautiful love story
Rags to riches
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Davi!
A very interesting and enjoyable story. The extended epilogue is a definite nice ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced story. I could hardly put it down. I especially loved the ending part and could not help but smile at the ‘come-uppance’ being delivered. Thank you for such a wonderful read.
Please read the comments I sent to your email. (Nothing bad, I promise.lol)
Thank you, my dear Melody. So glad you enjoyed the book!
This is a very different sort of book.It ends quite lovely and it is full of interesting details. Nice viewing of dresses and you can imagine them as Well written. they are described so well
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Wilie. So happy to hear that.
Loved the story. I agree with the others a rags to riches humility in a perfect love story. Would have loved to read more about pammy.
Lovely! Thank you, my dear Chantel!
Enjoyed this regency romance by Ms. Barton. A delightful love story, with a happy ending and zinging comeuppance to the villain.
Thank you so much, my dear Barbara! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story! Make sure to stay tuned because I have more coming 🙂
I couldn’t stop reading it! I loved the extended epilogue a lot too.
Thank you so much, my dear Mary! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story! Make sure to stay tuned because I have more coming 🙂
I love your books the best by far of every other author but this one was my absolute favorite!! It was hilarious and I laughed out loud so many times at Ella’s frank way of telling it like it is. I had to go back a re-read the funny parts! It was a fabulous love story and I really wished Ella would have “socked” Clarissa the villian in the stomach! Lol
Lovely! Thank you so much, my dear Julie!
A wonderful read with wonderful characters!
Was distracted, however by the grammatical errors in the book- perhaps a proofreader actually reading the book instead of using spellcheck? Most of the mistakes were homophone related, so spellcheck would not have caught them.
Thank you so much for your feedback, my dear Ellen. I will look into this with my editor and try to avoid such issues in the future.
I loved this wonderful book and the next Extended Epilogue. It was hard to put the book down. I’ll be looking forward to reading another one of your next books.
Thank you so much, my dear Carolyn! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
Truly love the story, beautiful characters, read it in one go,
I was captivated from the start. And a superb finish. Thank you .
Thank you so much, my dear Jocelyne! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
A very good and enjoyable rags to riches story Glad Lady Clarissa was out in her place
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Gwen!
I enjoyed the sweet story. Thank you.
Sally
Thank you, my dear Sally! Appreciate your comment 🙂
This is another splendid tale by Bridget Barton! I appreciate the extended epilogues, because I’m never ready to leave the characters I’ve come to know so well. Thank you, Mrs. Barton, for sharing your stories with us!
Lovely! Glad you liked it, my dear Gina! Thank you so much!
I loved the story couldn’t put the book down,
Would like hear about Pammy and lord Melvin.
Thank you so much, my dear Marsha! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
Another succes! I was riveted to the book and could not absorb it fast enough. I loved the plot and the masterful character development. Simply beautiful.
Thank you so much for your sweet words, my dear Lisa!
Love your stories of romance and life in early history. The rigid separation of the well to do and the ĺower classes was very prominent and rarely broken. Many marriages were arranged by parents to ensure good or noble matches.
These customs certainly offer intŕigue, mystery and scandals in the stories and an appreciation for history.
It was a different time and reading gives us just a glance how different family life was.
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Patricia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
A good plot, with enough twists to keep it from being trite, and the characters are believable, but the proofreading is atrocious. Words reversed in a phrase, incorrect use of I and me, misspellings, etc. It really distracts one from the story.
Thank you so much for your kind feedback, my dear Julie. I trly appreciate it. I have already discussed this issue with my editor.
A. beautifully written rags to riches story that provides insight to the life of women years ago. One realizes how far society has come today in allowing women to pursue their dreams of marrying for love and in accomplishing their professional goals. Thanks for such an inspiring story.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, my dear Emily!
ROSE. Thank you so much for a most delightful story. Clarissa was a really spitefull person who got her comeuppance. Always enjoy your stories.
Thank you so much, my dear Rosemary! I truly appreciate your kind words! 🙂
As usual, I couldn’t do anything productivity until I finished the book! I think we need to see what happens next….write a sequel.
So happy to hear that, dear Marmarie! Thank you! 🙂
Another beautiful story, this is one of my favourites, I too loved the rags to riches story.
How the ladies of the ton back then put title over love and happiness makes this so refreshing to read.
I too noticed many spelling mistakes.
Thank you so much for your feedback, my dear Arlene. I deeply appreciate it!
This enchanting, enthralling, entertaining Novella is an excellent, exciting read. Enjoyed each pleasurable moment, I received as I read it. Deserves to be in everyone’s collection of
lovely, wonderful, uplifting stories.
Thank you so much, my dear Greer. You make me so happy!
I really enjoyed this book and would like to see thier characters carried over into a book about Pamala and Melvin – is it in the cards?
Thank you so much, my dear Patricia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story! The book is standalone, but I will consider your suggestion!😊
Learning a lot about the life of the upper class, the ton the lower class , London’s weather Etc thru your clean romantic stories . would like to hear if Mrs. ward finally came around and embrace Ella’s new life
Thank you so much for your comment, my dear Noemi!
Loved the story but agree it needs proofreading. Also, a milliner makes hats not gowns and using the term ‘the miss’ came over as a very odd phrase.
Thank you so much for your feedback, my dear Jane!
Excellent story line. Enjoyed reading.
Thank you kindly dear Irene! I am glad! 😊
How did Pamala age backward from 18 at the beginning (she missed a couple of seasons due to her father’s death and mother’s grief) to age 16 a few chapters later when she meets Ella? There were alsoa several spelling errors.
Thank you for your valuable feedback, Kay! I will make sure to proofread better to avoid this kind of mistakes!